For de Blasio, No Magic Lost in Budget Draft

By MICHAEL POWELL

Mayor Bill de Blasio’s first budget draft, released on Wednesday, puts welcome flesh on his campaign promises.

As to the expired labor contracts that rise like a Himalayan range over his budget? He flashed that sly smile that is vaguely funny and vaguely condescending and declined to say. Reporters pressed and he let slip a hint. “We’re in the great unknown,” he said. “We are going to need cost savings and efficiencies to get through this.”

Which is another way of saying unions will have to give to get. Maybe that means paying a bit for health benefits. Maybe that means park workers picking up the pace. It will be yet another test for this mayor.