Mayor Bill de Blasio got a warm reception Thursday at a town hall meeting in Queens, part of his effort to take his message directly to New Yorkers and avoid questions about the investigations of his administration. NY1's Grace Rauh filed the following report.

When Mayor Bill de Blasio goes before the City Hall press corps, the questions are still flying about the investigations into his activities. He is pushed to explain his fundraising practices, a questionable real estate deal on the Lower East Side and his efforts to help Democrats retake the state Senate.

But when the mayor and city officials are grilled by everyday New Yorkers, the line of questioning is quite different.

"Are you going to be giving out book bags to the public schools this year?" said one New Yorker.

"As a new business owner in the area, I would like to know what your plans are to enhance and improve the business district around the JFK Airport area," said another.

It's much of the same when the mayor goes on the radio for his new weekly call-in show. Quality-of-life issues dominate the mayor's back and forth with constituents.

At the town hall meeting, the mayor embraced the dynamic. He delivered an update on a new police precinct for the neighborhood.

"My goal is that we will determine the location by the end of this summer and then get to work building the building," de Blasio said.

And a question about transportation needs in southeast Queens allowed the mayor to talk about his citywide ferry plan.

"There are five boroughs in this city, and when we invest in transportation, we have to reach all five boroughs," he said.​

The mayor seems at ease in town hall settings. Even though he may not always deliver the answer his audience is looking for, he seems to appreciate the questions.