Photo by: Karla Ann Cote

De Blasio will be judged against the expectation he has raised that he’ll change the landscape for poor- and working-class New York.

When Bill de Blasio becomes mayor of New York City in 20 days he’ll recite a 53-word oath in which, basically, he’ll promise to try his hardest to “faithfully discharge” his duties.

That doesn’t begin to describe what he’s signed up for. Not only is de Blasio moving from the low-profile, low-power post of public advocate—a kind of civic watchdog unique to New York and invisible to many of its citizens—to the enormous challenge of managing a $70 billion budget and occupying the most intimately scrutinized elected position in America. He has to do all that with the hopes of the progressive movement on his back.

That may sound na