Dear Commons Community,

Mayor Bill de Blasio, in candid and searing words, accused Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo on yesterday of stymieing New York City’s legislative goals out of personal pettiness, “game-playing” and a desire for “revenge.” As reported in the New York Times:

“In an extraordinary interview, Mr. de Blasio, appearing to unburden himself of months’ worth of frustrations, said that Mr. Cuomo — who, like the mayor, is a Democrat — “did not act in the interests” of New Yorkers by blocking measures like reforming rent laws and the mayor’s long-term ability to control the city’s public schools.

“I started a year and a half ago with a hope of a very strong partnership,” Mr. de Blasio said of the governor, whom he has known for two decades. “I have been disappointed at every turn.”

Mr. Cuomo, the mayor said, had acted vindictively toward the city, citing cuts in state financing for public housing and what he called an abrupt ramp-up of state inspections of city homeless shelters “with a vigor we had never seen before…

Of particular ire to Mr. de Blasio was the question of mayoral control of schools, which the State Legislature must approve. The mayor noted that the Legislature — including the Republican-led Senate — gave his predecessor, Michael R. Bloomberg, a six-year renewal; Mr. de Blasio received just a single year.

“Nothing fundamentally had changed here in the city,” the mayor said on Tuesday. “I think the governor’s influence played substantially in their decision to limit it to one year.”

The article offers insights into New York politics where Democrats cannot seem to work together for the betterment of all.

Tony