Athens Mayor Haris Doukas welcomed former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio to City Hall on Monday, September 29, for a working meeting.
The two leaders, taking part in the Athens Democracy Forum, are set to exchange views on the pressing challenges facing modern cities and the role urban centers must play in supporting democracy and governance.
Bill de Blasio, an American politician and member of the Democratic Party, served as the 109th Mayor of New York from 2014 to 2021. Before that, he held office as New York City’s Public Advocate (2010–2013) and represented Brooklyn’s 39th district on the City Council (2002–2009).
During his mayoral tenure, New York City financed the preservation and construction of more than 200,000 affordable housing units. In 2019, de Blasio launched The Journey Home, a pioneering six-point action plan aimed at tackling long-term homelessness. The initiative combined expanded access to housing and healthcare with direct interventions to support people living on the streets.
The Athens Municipality emphasized that the exchange of ideas between Doukas and de Blasio highlights the increasingly vital role cities play in addressing global challenges and defending democratic values.
