In an interview tonight on "Inside City Hall," Governor Andrew Cuomo dismisses the tough political portrait that Mayor Bill de Blasio has painted of him, saying: "My way is the exact opposite and the proof is in the pudding."
Speaking to NY1 Political Anchor Errol Louis last week, the mayor ripped the governor for his handling of the end of the legislative session and questioned Cuomo's leadership, saying: "If someone disagrees with him openly, some kind of revenge or vendetta follows."
Cuomo directly responded tonight, saying bluntly of de Blasio's assessment: "I don't know what that means."
Cuomo said he compromises, working across the aisle to get things done in Albany.
"If you want to want to get frustrated, you get frustrated," Cuomo said. "Everything is a compromise."
"This is not the City Council. And everything is a compromise. Because when you're dealing with a legislature that is bipartisan, it's either compromise or gridlock. Those are the two choices."
Cuomo attributed any ill will the mayor may have to general frustration with Albany politics.
"The mayor is the king of their domain, the queen of their domain. Yes. But they exist in this thing called the state, and it's run by a the state legislature, which can limit the autonomy of cities - by definition, written into the constitution, it does - and I'm sure that is frustrating," Cuomo said.
"I understand the mayor didn't get everything he wanted. I understand he was frustrated. But I didn't get everything that I wanted."
The governor pointed to an executive order he signed earlier that day. He appointed the state attorney general as a special prosecutor in cases where police officers allegedly kill innocent civilians. He originally wanted legislation, but that did not get through the Republican-led Senate.
As for whether Friday's ticker-tape parade could serve as a venue for reconciliation, Cuomo is checking his schedule. He is not sure if he will make it.
"I hope so," he said. "I want to get some details and see what my schedule says."