Attorney General Letitia James in a live interview with the liberal podcast Pod Save America did not mince words when asked about Mayor Bill de Blasio’s run for the presidency.
“Listen, we need a mayor who is going to be on the job 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” she said to cheers in front of a live audience.
James, the former public advocate in New York City who had been an ally of de Blasio’s listed a series of policy issues where she believes the mayor has fallen short.
“So I ask the question: Has the crisis in affordable housing been addressed? No,” she said. “Has income inequality been addressed? No. Equal pay for equal work? No. How about cyclists who are unfortunately dying on our streets as the result of crashes? No. So what is the legacy? What are you running on? Has school segregation been addressed? Listen, he can run, he’s the 23rd candidate, I understand that. But the question is why? Por que? Like what’s up?
With a pause and a head tilt, James added, “But he’s a friend.”
The comments made in the interview were similar to what she told NY1 on Thursday as de Blasio launched his campaign.
“Serving as mayor of the City of New York is the second toughest job in our nation and New Yorkers require a mayor who is laser focused on the issues affecting our city,” she said. “I think it’s an issue that he should think about while he’s in Ohio.”
James last year was the victor in a crowded Democratic primary field for attorney general, backed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who has been at odds with the mayor over the years. De Blasio’s wife, Chirlane McCray, endorsed James’s primary rival Zephyr Teachout.
NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio announced his presidential campaign & @NewYorkStateAG Letitia James is not particularly enthused. Subscribe to Pod Save America to hear our latest episode, live from Brooklyn: https://t.co/0ahnflA4JT cc @TVietor08 pic.twitter.com/2v6spqQmow
— Pod Save America (@PodSaveAmerica) May 17, 2019