Mayor Bill de Blasio’s fifth State of the City address saw the immediate creation of a Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants, a plan for increased worker protections, expanded 3K program, while also promoting a plan for guaranteed healthcare and a paid two-week vacation proposal for employees.

Surprisingly, there were some specifics for the Bronx, a point that was not lost on Democratic colleagues like Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., who’s expressed interest in running for mayor in 2021.

Still, Diaz criticized de Blasio’s proposal to take buildings away from landlords with a history of harassment and poor building management.

“We could talk about landlords who are not doing what they’re supposed to be doing, but if you ask me, and many New Yorkers, the landlord with the most egregious examples of tenant violations is the New York City Housing Authority,” said Diaz. “So, based on his logic, is he talking about giving up the New York City Housing Authority or taking it away?”De Blasio did mention plans for NYCHA, including a broader goal of providing “new everything” to the beleaguered housing authority, where some 400,000 of New York City’s low-income residents live. That will include “new roofs to new kitchens to bathrooms.”

On housing matters, the Mayor said the newly created Office to Protect Tenants will use task forces to root out bad landlords.

“When a landlord tries to push out a tenant by making their home unlivable, a team of inspectors and law enforcement agents will be on the ground in time to stop it,” said De Blasio. He didn’t mention them by name, but he said office will hold every city agency, including the city Department of Buildings and the city Housing Preservation and Development Department accountable in ensuring tenant protections.

“We’ll use every tool we have. We’ll fine the landlords. We’ll penalize the landlords. But if the fines and the penalties don’t cut it, we will seize their buildings,” said de Blasio.

It’s unclear whether the office’s threat to remove a landlord from ownership of a poor building can hold. Legal action to seize apartments takes an act from the Albany Legislature, which is currently controlled by Democrats.

De Blasio leaned heavily on Albany Democrats in his speech to carry out his goals. State Sen. Jamaal Bailey, who represents Norwood, said several factors must be weighed first before building is completely taken from a landlord.

“Everything is contextual,” said Bailey. “Are you creating an uninhabitable condition for the tenants? Are there things that have been dis-repaired for years and years and years? What’s the nature of the disrepair? How flagrant are the violations?”

De Blasio also seeks Albany’s help in improving the deteriorating subway system, pleading to Democratic lawmakers to fund the system by April 1, the day the state budget is due, or “lose our very best opportunity to address these problems.”

Mid-way through speech, de Blasio touted a plan to extend ferry service to the Ferry Point section of the Bronx, adding to existing ferry service in the neighborhood of Soundview. Soundview will also be included in the mayor’s expansion of the 3K program, which offers free education to three-year-old children in New York City.

The Bronx was the only borough mentioned for a new plan that will see more teachers in some of the Bronx’s poorest neighborhood schools. “[W]e’re launching a new plan to attract the best and brightest teachers, get them to those schools, keep them in those schools in the Bronx that need them the most.”

De Blasio, however, did not get into specifics of the plan.

In his overarching quest for equity, de Blasio has put the Bronx first on some occasions, mostly recently on Jan. 8 when he announced NYC Care, a plan that guarantees affordable healthcare to low-income New Yorkers, including undocumented immigrants. The Bronx, a borough with a history of poor health outcomes, will be introduced to the program first.

Citywide, de Blasio announced a revamping of the city’s Department of Consumer Affairs, which will now be called the city Department of Consumer and Worker Protection.

“When a home healthcare aide – when their pay is withheld or any worker is mistreated, the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection will intervene,” said de Blasio, earning applause. “Whether you’re an employee or a temp, whether you’re paid by check or cash, whether you’re documented or not, if you work in New York City, then we will work for you.”

The hourlong speech was not without hints of a yearning by de Blasio to enter the national stage. De Blasio, who’s been asked several times whether he’d like to run for President of the United State in the future, pointed to the city’s accomplishments under a progressive Democratic tent, suggesting a greater ambition ahead.

“It certainly had a lot of national overtones, and perhaps that’s the reason why New York City-based issues like NYCHA were given less of a thought,” said Diaz.

Notwithstanding any insinuation of his political future, de Blasio, who was given 115 rounds of applause during his speech, noted “there’s more to do in this town.”