After the end of the legislative session in Albany that was particularly tough on Mayor Bill de Blasio and the city, the war of words erupted once again this week between the mayor and Governor Andrew Cuomo. Zack Fink filed the following report.
The 2016 legislative session was a tough one for Mayor Billde Blasio and City Hall. It concluded last week with just a one-year extension of mayoral control of City schools, though de Blasio had hoped for a permanent extension. It also came with transparency measures, which many viewed as punitive strings attached.
This week, Governor Andrew Cuomo said the mayor was "lucky" to get any extension at all, even though his predecessor, Mayor Michael Bloomberg got seven- and six-year extensions.
On Thursday, the Mayor fired back.
"Look, I think the governor should think very carefully about the fact that this city represents 43 percent of the population of the state and is worthy of respect. He should respect this city," said de Blasio.
Cuomo had no public events Friday, but people close to the governor say this year's budget delivered $30 billion to support the city, a nearly $900 million increase over last year.
"It takes a special breed of arrogance for the mayor to believe there's a question of respect for the city or its people, when everyone knows it is only a question of respect for the mayor and his level of competence," a Cuomo spokesperson said in a statement.
Cuomo and de Blasio's feud broke into public view last year when de Blasio delivered a broadside against the governor in a NY1 interview, accusing him of seeking vendettas.
"What I said a year ago wasn't off the cuff," de Blasio said. "It was after a year and half of experience, where I saw so many initiatives undermined for unfair reasons that really hurt the people of New York City."
At an unrelated event in Harlem, NY1 asked retiring Rep. Charles Rangel, who's been in politics for more than 50 years, what he makes of the fighting between the top two Democrats.
"I don't know whether there is a feud. But they both are not saying very pleasant things,” Rangel said. “And it would seem to me that both of them, if they are going to have a fight, then fight. But keep it out of the newspapers."
Cuomo has been visible this week promoting legislation that passed in the final days of the legislative session. He did not have any public events last week in Albany, where that legislation was actually being negotiated.
We know of two events on the calendar next week. On Monday, he is promoting breast cancer legislation with a motorcycle ride, and on Thursday, he is promoting tourism in the Catskills.