Former Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang, 46, officially announces his bid to run for New York City mayor

Former Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang has officially announced he is running for mayor of New York City in this year's elections.

The 46-year-old entrepreneur and father-of-two announced his mayoral bid late on Wednesday.

'I moved to New York City 25 years ago. I came of age, fell in love, and became a father here. Seeing our City in so much pain breaks my heart. Let’s fight for a future New York City that we can be proud of – together,' he said in a message posted on his campaign website.  

'I am running for mayor because I see a crisis - and I believe I can help.'

Yang stressed the need for a basic income program and an accessible healthcare system.

Former Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang has officially that he is running for mayor of New York City in this year's elections

Yang had built an ardent grassroots following in attempt to become the Democratic Party's nominee for the presidency last year with a pledge to create a universal basic income that would pay every American $1,000 a month

He said he would implement the largest cash relief program in the history of the US to help New York City emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Yang had built an ardent grassroots following in attempt to become the Democratic Party's nominee for the presidency last year with a pledge to create a universal basic income that would pay every American $1,000 a month. 

More than a dozen other mayoral candidates have already declared, including Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer and Maya Wiley, a civil rights activist and lawyer who previously worked for current Mayor Bill de Blasio.

Registered Democrats will vote for their nominee on June 22, 2021 primary, ahead of the general election on November 2.

Yang is a native New Yorker and an Ivy League-educated son of Taiwanese immigrants.

The entrepreneur would be the city's first Asian-American mayor.

The city's Campaign Finance Board disclosed back in December that Yang had filed papers to run for the role.

The 46-year-old entrepreneur and father-of-two announced his mayoral bid late on Wednesday. He is pictured with his wife Evelyn Yang and their two children

Yang, in a video message announcing his candidacy alongside his wife , said: 'I am running for mayor because I see a crisis - and I believe I can help.'

He came under fire earlier this week for his 'tone deaf' comments about working in his two-bedroom Manhattan apartment while his children are there amid the pandemic. 

Yang has bounced between his Hell's Kitchen apartment to his $500,000 weekend home in New Paltz, New York, which is about 80 miles outside Manhattan, since the COVID-19 pandemic first hit.

During an interview with the New York Times last week Friday, Yang, who has an autistic son, talked about fulfilling his duties as a CNN commentator from his apartment.

'We live in a two-bedroom apartment in Manhattan. And so, like, can you imagine trying to have two kids on virtual school in a two-bedroom apartment, and then trying to do work yourself?' he said. 

It prompted immediate backlash from parents and others over his 'tone deaf' remarks.  

'I didn't know 2 bedroom apartments existed for working class families in Manhattan,' one person wrote. 

Yang is a native New Yorker and an Ivy League-educated son of Taiwanese immigrants. The entrepreneur would be the city's first Asian-American mayor 

He came under fire earlier this week for his 'tone deaf' comments about working in his two-bedroom Manhattan apartment while his children are there amid the pandemic. He is pictured speaking at a press conference announcing his candidacy on Thursday

Another wrote: 'A bit comical. imagine it? that's the lives of millions in NYC --and Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia... now you're sounding silly again, Andy.'

'Lots of respect for Yang. He pushed the candidates to have a real conversation about a lot of issues that would have never made the top of a newscast. However, this run is pure ego and hubris. We don't need ideologues in this race, we need doers,' one person shared.

'Hi @AndrewYang, If you don't know that countless parents in NYC are dealing with this exact or worst circumstance (little to no access to the internet or a working computer, heating issues, unemployment, food insecurity, etc) you shouldn't be running for mayor of our city,' a third shared.

'He just lost the election with that line. I'm sorry but plenty of families manage, it's not fair but they do it. If Yang fails to acknowledge that, he's actively ignoring most New Yorkers,' one user tweeted.

Another wrote: 'No one, except every parent in NYC.'

'Hi @AndrewYang, I am one of those New Yorkers who got excited knowing you'll run... but I'm also one of those parents working and homeschooling in a (very tiny) 2-bed apartment and I'm VERY proud I'm pulling this off. Be better,' one person shared. 

Yang has bounced between his Hell's Kitchen apartment to his $500,000 weekend home in New Paltz, New York, which is about 80 miles outside Manhattan, since the COVID-19 pandemic first hit 

He came under fire earlier this week for his 'tone deaf' comments about working in his two-bedroom Manhattan apartment while his children are there amid the pandemic

But some people slammed Yang for fleeing the city amid the pandemic, especially since New York City was once the epicenter