Critics of Mayor Bill de Blasio are circulating an old, fanciful petition calling for his impeachment amid outrage over riots and lootings in the city during protests over the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police.
The online Change.org petition — “Impeach de Blasio” — garnered more than 60,000 signatures and growing Tuesday night. Organizers are seeking 75,000 backers.
The petition was started last year, but thousands signed onto it Tuesday as controversy raged over protests engulfing the city that have triggered clashes between participants and police officers and reports of vandalism and damage to retail stores.
But critics are just venting their frustration. De Blasio will not be impeached.
He is term-limited and will complete his term at the end of 2021.
“Mayor Bill de Blasio is destroying New York City. We cannot have him continue as mayor for the next two years. The people of NY want change, and now is the time to act before it becomes any worse. This is not about being conservative, left, etc. This is about radical politics that are harming the city and being neglectful of New Yorkers,” the petition said.
“Crime is low? HA! It might appear that way because police cannot do their job. He ended Stop and Frisk,” the petition says.
One indication that the petition is being revived is that it mentions that de Blasio is running for president. He ended his presidential campaign last September.
De Blasio spokeswoman Freddi Goldstein responded, “The mayor is focused on keeping New Yorkers safe and reopening the city — not this nonsense that doesn’t represent the values of this city.”