2/23/2015
By Ivan Pereira
Despite some public disagreements, Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio said Monday they get along just fine.
In fact, Cuomo predicted their relationship will be the best in “modern political history” between a governor and mayor.
Cuomo made those remarks during an unrelated news conference at the Audubon Ballroom in Washington Heights Monday when a reporter asked if he was concerned about miscommunication with de Blasio when it came to subjects like sharing intelligence over terror threats or shutting the subways during last month’s snowstorm.
“The premise of the question is wrong. The mayor and I have an excellent relationship, we talk all the time,” said Cuomo said, adding that he’s been friends with de Blasio for 30 years.
The governor went on to wager that their coordination will be remembered in the years to come.
“I think I have seen every city and state administration going back 40, 50 years and this will be the best relationship between a mayor and governor in modern political history when all is said and done,” he said.
De Blasio chuckled at the governor’s comments when asked about them during a news conference at City Hall later in the afternoon, but agreed about their positive rapport.
“It’s a good relationship and we’ve gotten a lot done,” he said.
Still, their solid partnership has had some rough patches in recent months.
Before the January “blizzard” that eventually flaked out in the city, De Blasio received less than 30 minutes’ notice about the governor’s decision to shut down the subways. The two also disagreed on how to pay for universal Pre-K and the city’s plan to develop Sunnyside Yards, which Cuomo is against.
Cuomo admitted that snowstorm flap was the result of having to make split-second decision with the MTA.
“Sometimes you don’t have a lot of time to have these conversations,” he said yesterday of alerting the mayor.
De Blasio will be traveling to Albany Wednesday to testify at the state legislature’s joint budget hearing. He said he will push Cuomo and state leaders to make sure that the city gets the support it needs in a variety of topics such as transportation and education.
“Hopefully it is well received,” de Blasio said.
