Mayor de Blasio’s public schedule yesterday was an empty piece of paper but he had his hands full, spending a chunk of his day at his lawyer’s office behind closed doors.
As NY1’s Bobby Cuza reported last night, de Blasio was holed up at the law firm of Kramer, Levin, Naftalis and Frankel, presumably prepping for some tough questions by federal prosecutors who are looking at whether the mayor’s team traded political favors to donors to his now-shuttered non-profit organization.
Leaving via a freight entrance, the mayor wasn’t exactly forthcoming about why he wasn’t punching the clock at City Hall. But between his legal headaches, his need to fundraise for his re-election campaign, and his love for some exercise equipment at a Brooklyn gym, the mayor may not have enough time in his day to govern.
A quick glance at the mayor’s public schedule for today shows that the cupboard is bare until this evening when he hosts a Black History Month event and attends a gala hosted by One Hundred Black Men of New York. Any questions? Reporters can just refer to a fact sheet that the mayor’s press office helpfully provided earlier this month about the probe being spearheaded U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara.
With crime at record low numbers, the city’s population at an all-time high, and no intimidating political rivals in sight, it’s a good time to be behind the wheel at City Hall – even if de Blasio seems to be in cruise control.
Maybe saying he wants to fight Donald Trump and make New York more affordable will be enough to get de Blasio re-elected – barring any indictments. But an empty calendar is hardly an inspiring message to the rest of the city.
Programming note: And speaking of empty calendars, I'll be taking a break from the ItCH until next Tuesday. But then again, I'm not running the city. Excelsior!
Bob Hardt