De Blasio pushes ‘aggressive agenda’ at Sharpton meeting

Aaron Feis and Michael Gartland nypost.com In one of his first speeches as mayor-elect, Bill de Blasio on Saturday did what any liberal politician in the city would do before taking office — he trucked up to Harlem to kiss Al Sharpton’s ring. “Every year Reverend Sharpton is becoming stronger as a leader, is reaching farther as a leader,” de Blasio fawned at Sharpton’s National Action Network meeting. “You never have to wonder if he will remember where he came from, and he’ll be the first one up to stand up for justice. I gotta tell you guys, he’s a blessing for all of us. Let’s thank Reverend Sharpton.” The event at times seemed like a leftist lovefest with de Blasio, Councilwoman Letitia James and incoming Brooklyn DA Ken Thompson all heaping praise on Sharpton. James, who’ll replace de Blasio as the city’s public advocate next year — chanted “No justice, no peace” at one point. Sharpton — who was expected to back Bill Thompson, the only African-American candidate in the Democratic field for mayor — eventually threw his considerable weight behind de Blasio, helping him secure 42 percent of the city’s black vote in the primary. “It’s one thing to win an election, it’s another thing to achieve an agenda,” de Blasio said Saturday. “We are going to get on with a very — not only progressive — but aggressive agenda. And it will work if you help us achieve it.” to read more click here: nypost.com