The ongoing feud between Mayor Bill de Blasio and Governor Andrew Cuomo appears to have drawn in another combatant. Yesterday, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie joined the fray by engaging in some sniping at Governor Cuomo, and today he appears to have issued another major warning shot. Our Bobby Cuza explains.
It started with a disagreement over the regulation of day care centers, specifically a bill sought by Governor Cuomo that would have beefed up state oversight and enforcement. Opposed by Mayor de Blasio, it died in the Democratic-led state Assembly; Cuomo called it a political decision and went ahead anyway issuing new emergency regulations
"I’m not going to allow political agendas to endanger the health and safety of children," Cuomo said.
That prompted an unusually pointed response from Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie Tuesday, whose spokesman issued a statement reading in part:
"To be frank, the Speaker is tired of getting caught in between the Governor and the Mayor and attempts to harm the city," according to the statement. "The Governor should be the last one accusing anyone of playing politics because that is exactly what he has been doing with New York City's residents in this pointless feud with the Mayor. Enough."
"There is no feud, quote-unquote," Cuomo said in response.
Wednesday, Cuomo denied there is any feud with the mayor, and doubled down on his criticism.
"Anyone who says they think those daycare centers should go unregulated, I wholly disagree with," Cuomo said. "If they call that representing the people of the city, that's not my city, that's not the city that I grew up in. Nobody in my city will allow children to be abused."
Not long after those remarks, Heastie made a surprise announcement. After previously saying they weren’t necessary, he announced a series of public oversight hearings in September that will examine water contamination in communities like Hoosick Falls, where the Cuomo administration’s response to the crisis has been widely criticized.
Given how much power Cuomo wields and the fact they have to work together so closely, it seems remarkable the Democratic Assembly speaker would go after him so publicly. Then again, Heastie won’t have to deal with Cuomo face-to-face for another six months, until the legislature reconvenes in January.