Senator Chuck Schumer endorsed Mayor de Blasio for a second term on Monday, saying he’s done an “outstanding job” despite allegations he was running a pay-to-play administration.
“I judge how well a mayor does by two criteria above all: is crime going down and are jobs going up? And in both cases you can say a resounding yes for the four years Bill de Blasio has been mayor,” Schumer said at the Michael Jordan Steakhouse balcony at Grand Central Terminal.
Asked whether the of mayoral donor Jona Rechnitz that his six-figure contributions to de Blasio opened doors at City Hall, Schumer claimed the mayor had addressed that issue.
“The mayor’s done an outstanding job. He’s answered question on those issues,” said Schumer. “To me, crime, jobs are the top two criteria. I’m proud to endorse him.”
Asked several more times about the corruption allegations, Schumer said, “I answered the question.”
The mayor was asked several times about his recent repetition of the word “felon” to denigrate Rechnitz, the Manhattan US Attorney’s star witness in the bribery case against former correction union leader Norman Seabrook.
De Blasio’s administration has made criminal justice reform – including passing a law in 2015 banning private-sector employers from asking about an applicants criminal history until late in the hiring process – a central policy issue.
“It’s a pejorative when someone tells lies – he’s telling lies about me. That’s all there is to say,” the mayor said.
Reminded again of his criminal justice reform initiatives, the mayor said, “This hypothetical makes no sense to me. I’m talking about this specific instance.”
He added, “I’ve said repeatedly he’s telling lies about what happened. He’s a felon, he’s not trustworthy, period.”
Rechnitz has testified to having a close relationship with the mayor and his top fundraiser, and of getting better responsiveness from the administration the more he donated.
He gave nearly $200,000 to a number of de Blasio’s pet political initiatives in 2013 and 2014.