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Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer received a standing ovation Thursday at his annual State of the Borough Address. The theme of the night: Reclaiming New York for the middle class.

Stringer talked about working to create a city income tax system to protect those residents - not unlike the proposals put forth by Governor Andrew Cuomo earlier this year.

"Under my plan, only those who earn more than a million dollars a year will pay more in
taxes. And families that make less than $300,000 will get a tax cut," said Stringer.

The BP also spoke about the need to preserve affordable housing available, he says, in more than 100,000 foreclosed apartments in the five boroughs.

"I am proposing that the city create a $250 million fund. That’s a five-fold increase over current efforts to rescue these foreclosed homes and buildings," said Stringer.

Stringer says under his plan, the city would offer loans and grants to non-profit developers to renovate foreclosed units and put them back on the rental and re-sale markets at affordable prices.

"I have no doubt that his speech resonated with the needs of the average New Yorker, especially the working class and the middle class," said City Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez.

"All of the things that he said were really things that are doable. They weren't pies in the skies, they were doable things that we can start today and do," said Stanley Gleaton of Community Board 10.

Stringer touched on everything from small business retention to the New York City Police Department's stop-and-frisk policy.

Stringer's speech definitely had a citywide tone, leading some in the audience to wonder whether the rumored mayoral candidate is already thinking past the confines of Manhattan.

"It says to me that Scott Stringer came this close to practically announcing tonight that he's running for mayor or some citywide position," said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Junior.

When asked, Stringer didn't really answer whether he's looking for another job.

"The best thing I can do for this city is do my job and that is what my focus is and part of what I'm talking about are issues that do resonate beyond Manhattan," said Stringer.