De Blasio touts school plan in first major speech since election

Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio’s first major speech Monday since winning election doubled down on a hallmark of his campaign — that his early education proposals be funded with taxes on the city’s wealthiest residents.

The Democrat called the tax hike “the right path” despite criticism that state legislators would not approve the measure and a suggestion Monday by mentor and former Mayor David Dinkins that he alternately consider reviving the commuter tax.

De Blasio more than a year ago began calling for higher taxes on those making more than $500,000 to fund universal pre-kindergarten and after-school programs.

“It is a small addition to their local taxation. It will make a huge difference in the lives of our children, a transformational difference,” he said. “It will be an investment that we feel the positive result of for years and decades to come, if we get it right.”

His election margin — 49 points — gives him a “clear mandate,” he said.

De Blasio delivered the keynote speech at the New York City Summit on Children at Columbia University, speaking on inclusive education programs that he called the “first step toward a more just society for all.”

Though his talk mostly rehashed his campaign positions de Blasio said he would soon announce an early-education “working group” of experts to analyze research and other cities’ approaches to programs and financing similar to his aims.

De Blasio in forming his administration as he prepares to take office Jan. 1 has disclosed his police commissioner candidates but Monday admitted his search for a schools chancellor is not as far along and declined to name the contenders.