Mayor Bill de Blasio blamed the president for creating a “political controversy” over Hizzoner’s decision to paint a Black Lives Matter mural in front of Trump Tower — while begging the federal government to rescue the city from its coronavirus-induced budget crisis.
“I made a decision to honor the black people of this city and all of America — African Americans who built this city — by simply saying, ‘Black Lives Matter,’ and putting it someplace where it would get the attention it deserves. That is not anything but respect, a show of respect for people who deserve that respect,” de Blasio said on CNN Friday.
“The president decided to turn it into a political controversy for his own ends,” the mayor said.
President Trump ripped de Blasio on Twitter Thursday after The Post reported that Hizzoner plans to paint “Black Lives Matter” on the street in front of the high-rise.
“Told that @NYCMayor Bill de Blasio wants to paint the fabled & beautiful Fifth Avenue, right in front of Trump Tower/Tiffany, with a big yellow Black Lives Matter sign. ‘Pigs in a Blanket, Fry ‘Em Like Bacon’, referring to killing Police, is their chant. NYC Police are furious!,” the president tweeted.
CNN host Alisyn Camerota asked de Blasio if the “public spat” with Trump was going to help his quest for a federal bailout to save the jobs of thousands of municipal workers whom the mayor has threatened to lay off without a stimulus.
“If the president wants America to restart and recover, he has to help New York City,” de Blasio said.
“If we don’t get a federal stimulus by October 1, we have to lay off 22,000 teachers, educators, firefighters, EMTs, health care workers, people who are the heroes in the fight against the coronavirus,” he said.
“A lot of them now won’t have a job because there’s just no money. There’s no revenue,” de Blasio added.
But City Council Speaker Corey Johnson said Thursday there were other ways to slash spending than giving pink slips to 22,000 public employees.