Bill De Blasio Says What He Really Thinks About Andrew Cuomo

Bill De Blasio Says What He Really Thinks About Andrew Cuomo
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NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 23: Mayor Bill de Blasio of New York City and Governor Andrew Cuomo of New York speak at a press conference October 23, 2014 in New York City. Mayor de Blasio and Governor Cuomo addressed Dr. Craig Spencer, who had returned to New York City from Guinea where he was working with Doctors Without Borders treating Ebola patients. Spencer had been quarantined after showing symptoms consistent with the virus and was taken to Bellevue hospital to undergo testing. According to reports, test results have confirmed that Spencer has contracted the Ebola virus. (Photo by Bryan Thomas/Getty Images)

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio's reported frustrations with New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo came to a head Tuesday when the mayor ripped into the governor's "lack of leadership," accusing Cuomo of prioritizing deal-making and vengeance over doing what's best for the city.

In a remarkably candid interview with NY1, de Blasio laid out his concerns with fellow Democrat Cuomo and his dealings with New York City. De Blasio accused the governor of wielding influence over the Republican-led state Senate, which dealt the mayor's progressive agenda a series of defeats earlier this month.

"What I found was he engaged in his own sense of strategies, his own political machinations, and what we've often seen is if someone disagrees with him openly, some kind of revenge or vendetta follows," the mayor said. "I don't believe the Assembly had a real working partner in the governor or the Senate in terms of getting things done for the people of this city and in many cases the people of this state."

De Blasio specifically pointed to the fight over a tax credit for developers, which the mayor has proposed changing to require more construction of affordable housing. Last month, Cuomo accused the mayor of favoring developers over labor unions and coming too late to the game with a proposal. De Blasio, meanwhile, called Cuomo's criticism "disingenuous."

"I find that to be a lack of leadership because here was an opportunity actually to get something done for people," he said to NY1 of Cuomo's opposition.

The mayor continued his criticism in a Tuesday afternoon session with reporters at City Hall, charging Cuomo with derailing his legislative agenda.

"It is fundamentally the wrong way to go about this work,” he said, according to the Wall Street Journal. “Sometimes it’s about deal making, sometimes it’s about revenge. But it's not about policy, it's not about substance.”

According to The New York Times, de Blasio also criticized the governor for increasing inspections of the city's homeless shelters and for battling the city on funding for public housing.

Cuomo's office brushed off the criticism while taking a dig at de Blasio's political experience.

"For those new to the process, it takes coalition building and compromise to get things done in government," Cuomo communications director Melissa DeRosa said in a statement provided to The Huffington Post. "We wish the Mayor well on his vacation."

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Before You Go

Mayors Of America's Largest Cities
Dan Clodfelter, Charlotte (D)(01 of19)
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Charlotte mayor Dan Clodfelter speaks during an event on Sept. 24, 2014 at the Siemens Charlotte Energy Hub in Charlotte, N.C. (Jason E. Miczek / AP Images for Siemens) (credit:AP Images for Siemens)
Kevin Faulconer, San Diego (R)(02 of19)
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San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer speaks before the California Republican Party 2014 Spring Convention Friday, March 14, 2014, in Burlingame, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben Margot) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Rahm Emanuel, Chicago (D)(03 of19)
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Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel speaks to members of the Safe Passage program during a training session at Chicago State University in Chicago, Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2013. (AP Photo/Scott Eisen) (credit:AP)
Ed Lee, San Francisco (D)(04 of19)
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San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee speaks to reporters during a news conference after Asiana Flight 214 crashed at San Francisco International Airport in San Francisco, Saturday, July 6, 2013. (AP Photo/Darryl Bush) (credit:AP)
Eric Garcetti, Los Angeles (D)(05 of19)
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Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti speaks in front of city hall after being sworn in on Sunday, June 30, 2013. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) (credit:AP)
Bill de Blasio, New York (D)(06 of19)
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New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio sits on stage during the swearing in ceremony for New York City's 42nd police commissioner William Bratton at One Police Plaza on January 2, 2014. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Annise Parker, Houston (D)(07 of19)
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President Barack Obama, right, meets with Houston Mayor Annise Parker during his arrival at Ellington Airport, Friday, March, 9, 2012, in Houston. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) (credit:AP)
Greg Ballard, Indianapolis (R)(08 of19)
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Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard talks the plans for the city to bid for the NFL football's 2018 Super Bowl as Allison Melangton, left, chair the 2018 Super Bowl Bid Committee, watches during an announcement in front of the downtown skyline in Indianapolis, Friday, Aug. 30, 2013. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) (credit:AP)
Mike Duggan, Detroit (D)(09 of19)
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Mike Duggan celebrates his election as the new mayor of Detroit at a victory party at the Renaissance Center November 5, 2013 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Bill Pugliano/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Michael Nutter, Philadelphia (D)(10 of19)
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Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter speaks about ways to reduce U.S. murder and gun violence rates and other issues affecting urban communities at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., September 26, 2013. (SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Oscar Leeser, El Paso(11 of19)
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Oscar Leeser poses during the reception for Hyundai Hope on Wheels and CHOC Children's Foundation's Change the World Campaign on May 10, 2011 in Orange, California. (Photo by Ryan Miller/Getty Images) (credit:Ryan Miller via Getty Images)
Greg Stanton, Phoenix (D)(12 of19)
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Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton speaks at a press conference to introduce Brittney Griner (not pictured) of the Phoenix Mercury at U.S. Airways Center on April 20, 2013 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Mike Rawlings, Dallas (D)(13 of19)
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U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, right, with Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings, left, discusses the implementation of the federal health care overhaul in Dallas, Texas, on Thursday, September 26, 2013. (AP Photo/Nomaan Merchant) (credit:AP)
Chuck Reed, San Jose (D)(14 of19)
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This April 22, 2011 file photo shows San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed speaking during the 8th Annual CEO Summit at IBM offices in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma, File) (credit:AP)
Lee Leffingwell, Austin (D)(15 of19)
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Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius, left, leads a meeting with Austin, Texas, Mayor Lee Leffingwell, second from left, and City Manager Marc Ott, right, and others at City Hall in Austin, Texas, on Thursday, Aug. 8, 2013. (AP Photo/Austin American-Statesman, Jay Janner) (credit:AP)
Alvin Brown, Jacksonville (D)(16 of19)
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Jacksonville mayor Alvin Brown speaks to the media during the Road to Daytona Fueled By Sunoco Tour stop at City Hall on February 12, 2013 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images for NASCAR) (credit:Getty Images)
Michael Coleman, Columbus (D)(17 of19)
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Mayor Michael Coleman of Columbus, Ohio speaks to members of the media outside the West Wing during a news briefing after a meeting with President Barack Obama at the White House December 12, 2012 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Betsy Price, Fort Worth (R)(18 of19)
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Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price looks on during a press conference before the start of the 2013 Mayor's Cup on July 26, 2013 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images for Texas Motor Speedway) (credit:Getty Images)
A.C. Wharton, Memphis (D)(19 of19)
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Memphis Mayor AC Wharton encourages Memphians to sign up for the Affordable Care Act during a rally at the Central Library in Memphis, Tenn. Monday, Sept. 30, 2013. (AP Photo/The Commercial Appeal, Jim Weber) (credit:AP)