Bill de Blasio, who criticized the growing income inequality in the city and promised to restore respect for teachers and unions, was elected mayor of New York City on Nov. 5.

In his victory speech, he painted a vision of a city where "we all rise together."

"The challenge before us today is distinct," he said. "The growing inequality we see, the crisis of affordability we face, has been decades in the making. But its slow creep on this city cannot weaken our resolve."

UFT President Michael Mulgrew said a de Blasio mayoralty represented a new day for the city and its schools.

"With Bill de Blasio, New York has elected someone who will show the rest if this country what public education can and should be.," he said.

Proposal No. 1 on casino gambling, which the union supported, also passed. The new casinos promise to generate new revenue for schools.

The union's other endorsed candidates, including Scott Stringer for city comptroller and Letitia James for public advocate, also claimed victory.

De Blasio's election returns a Democrat to City Hall for the first time since David Dinkins was mayor in the early 1990s.

During the campaign, de Blasio said he disagreed with the growing emphasis on high-stakes tests and called for a moratorium on closing schools. He promised to review controversial co-locations of charter schools on public school property and said he would consider charging rent to charters that can afford to pay. In addition, he said he would raise taxes on the wealthy to pay for universal full-day prekindergarten and after-school programs.

Lynette Azar, the chapter leader at PS/IS 180 in Borough Park, Brooklyn, said de Blasio's prekindergarten proposal would be a boon to her school.

"I have three prekindergarten classes in my school, and they are amazing," Azar said. She also was happy that the new mayor was supportive of unions, and hoped that would translate into long overdue contract negotiations.  "I like that he is willing to work with us, and I'm hoping for a fair contract," she said.