The mayor and his predecessor reunited on Wednesday to celebrate new funding for early childhood education — a legacy program from the de Blasio administration.
“We cannot talk about the legacy of Mayor de Blasio without talking about what he did around early childhood education,” Mayor Eric Adams said.
What You Need To Know
- Bill de Blasio and Mayor Adams appeared together multiple times on Wednesday
- They were pushing for new funding for 3-K
- The two share a political rival in former governor and mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo
- While de Blasio may have backed up Adams in a national TV interview, an official endorsement shouldn’t be expected anytime soon
Convenient, of course, for the two who share a political opponent in mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo. De Blasio reflected on his trouble with the former governor.
“I went to Albany, and I found a door that was closed quite often and a lack of support and we had to fight and fight and fight to finally get what our children deserve,” he said. “I juxtapose that in my tale of two cities with what we’re seeing here today.”
At the time, Cuomo and de Blasio clashed on how to fund universal pre-kindergarten, permanently souring their relationship. Now, a decade later, de Blasio could back up his politically imperiled successor, slamming Cuomo’s run for his former seat.
“I don’t think he should be mayor,” he said. “There you go.”
Later, Adams and de Blasio appeared side-by-side in a national television interview.
De Blasio, ever the Trump foe, sat as Adams was repeatedly asked about Trump’s aggressive deportation policies.
“We must have federal immigration policies,” Adams repeatedly said, avoiding criticizing any Trump administration actions.
De Blasio was questioned about Adams reversing course on a law from his time as mayor — removing ICE from Rikers Island.
“What I care about is that the city law, which was passed in my time, is abided by, and I think, honestly, if there is an ICE office on Rikers and they abide by our city law that’s something I can live with,” de Blasio said. “The crucial thing is we have to keep a very close eye on ICE because it seems like they are working from a different agenda.”
While de Blasio may have backed up Adams there, an official endorsement shouldn’t be expected anytime soon.
“I have not endorsed anyone,” he said. “I don’t have any intention at this moment to endorse anyone. We’re going to see what happens along the way.”
NY1 received a statement from the Cuomo campaign which says, in part, “Many New Yorkers wish Bill de Blasio never was mayor.” The statement then goes on to list Cuomo’s accomplishments as governor.