Mayor Bill de Blasio met with President-elect Donald Trump in Midtown Wednesday, where he offered "perspective" on New Yorkers' fears and concerns as the billionaire prepares to make the transition to the White House. NY1's Grace Rauh filed the following report.
Mayor Bill de Blasio says he went into Trump Tower with a message for the President-elect.
"I let him know that so many New Yorkers are fearful, that more had to be done to show that this country can heal, that people be respected," de Blasio said.
De Blasio met with Donald Trump for 62 minutes. The mayor arrived with a laundry list of concerns, everything from Trump's plan to cut taxes, his desire to expand stop-and-frisk and his promise to deport immigrants living here illegally.
"That proposal flew in the face of all that is great about New York City, a city of immigrants," de Blasio said.
It's unclear how de Blasio's message was received. He would not say how Trump reacted or what he had to say to the mayor. De Blasio said he is open to having more conversations going forward. A spokesman for Trump's transition team did not respond to a request for comment.
"The ball is in his court," de Blasio said. "People in this city and all over the country are looking to see what he is going to do. I thought it important he hear the people's perspective."
There are reports of hate crimes against immigrants and minorities and racist graffiti in the wake of Trump's win. Trump said people need to "stop it" in an interview with 60 Minutes, but only after he was pressed. He has said nothing to his 15 million followers on Twitter.
"The wrong messages can encourage hateful acts. So I made clear sending a message of unity is crucial," de Blasio said.
De Blasio may be at odds with Trump overall, but his election is shaping up to good politically for the mayor, with Trump a perfect foil for de Blasio/the left-wing progressive politician. A new Quinnipiac University poll taken after Election Day showed de Blasio with his highest approval rating since January: 47 percent.