Bill de Blasio gets lukewarm welcome at NYPD lunch following Columbus Day Parade
At a holiday lunch honoring Italian-American cops, the mayor was booed by one heckler and received only a smattering of applause. De Blasio has rankled cops with his support of City Hall top aide Rachel Noerdlinger and the Rev. Al Sharpton. He spoke about his Italian heritage at the event.
Mayor de Blasio joined the Columbus Day Parade up Fifth Avenue on Monday.
Mayor de Blasio got a lackluster Columbus Day welcome Monday at a holiday lunch honoring Italian-American police officers.
The mayor — whose fragile relationship with the NYPD has been further frayed by his support for embattled aide Rachel Noerdlinger — was greeted by boos from a deep-voiced heckler and received only a smattering of applause as he entered the event after the Columbus Day Parade on Fifth Ave.
Some of the Finest at the gathering of the NYPD Columbia Association, a fraternal organization for cops of Italian heritage, did greet the mayor warmly, shaking his hand and clamoring for pictures.
But overall, the reception was tepid.
De Blasio campaigned as a fierce critic of the NYPD’s stop-and-frisk policy and is in the middle of contentious contract negotiations with all the police unions.
Police critics have linked his steadfast backing of Noerdlinger — whose relationship with an ex-con recently came to light — to the mayor’s close ties to the Rev. Al Sharpton, a frequent department critic and Noerdlinger’s former boss.
“Embracing Sharpton is like slapping the NYPD in the face,” said Michael Palladino, the head of the Detectives’ Endowment Association, who attended the event.
Palladino said that de Blasio’s decision to keep Noerdlinger, the $170,000-a-year chief of staff to First Lady Chirlane McCray, is causing tension with cops.
“She’s not worthy of the job,” he said.
Noerdlinger’s live-in boyfriend, Hassaun McFarlan, has a long rap sheet that began when he killed someone over a down jacket when he was 15. He has also posted anti-police comments on social media.
In a brief speech at the police lunch, an unfazed de Blasio played up his Italian heritage, which he shared with many in the crowd.
“I am so appreciative for what you do to represent the Italian-American community. … This is what our great-grandparents, our grandparents dreamed of,” he said.
But his attempt at building bridges wasn’t all that successful.
When he asked who agreed with him that the NYPD was the “finest police force anywhere,” he was met with only halfhearted hurrahs — no one stood up, whooped or hollered in agreement.
The biggest applause came when de Blasio singled out Office of Emergency Management Commissioner Joseph Esposito, a former NYPD chief of department.
In contrast, the crowd clapped only minimally for Police Commissioner Bill Bratton when de Blasio called out his name.
The enthusiasm for Esposito wasn’t lost on de Blasio.
Noerdlinger’s live-in boyfriend, Hassaun McFarlan, has a long rap sheet that began when he killed someone over a down jacket when he was 15. He has also posted anti-police comments on social media.
In a brief speech at the police lunch, an unfazed de Blasio played up his Italian heritage, which he shared with many in the crowd.
“I am so appreciative for what you do to represent the Italian-American community. … This is what our great-grandparents, our grandparents dreamed of,” he said.
But his attempt at building bridges wasn’t all that successful.
When he asked who agreed with him that the NYPD was the “finest police force anywhere,” he was met with only halfhearted hurrahs — no one stood up, whooped or hollered in agreement.
The biggest applause came when de Blasio singled out Office of Emergency Management Commissioner Joseph Esposito, a former NYPD chief of department.
In contrast, the crowd clapped only minimally for Police Commissioner Bill Bratton when de Blasio called out his name.
The enthusiasm for Esposito wasn’t lost on de Blasio.
“It’s good to see people didn’t forget Joe Esposito,” he said dryly.
De Blasio, who has faced intense questioning over Noerdlinger, tried to duck the press earlier at the parade.
He initially refused to take questions, even dodging 90-year-old broadcast legend Gabe Pressman.
Eventually, he took a few questions and once again defended Noerdlinger.
“I have absolute faith in Rachel. She is a fine public servant,” he said. “She is helping to move the agenda we were sent here to work on.”
He made it clear that in his view, the case is closed.
“I think we’ve talked enough about this. … It’s time to move forward,” he said.
It’s the second time he’s tried to shut down the Noerdlinger flap, but his efforts have been stymied by new revelations.
It was revealed last week that New Jersey cops gave Noerdlinger a violation for riding in a car that reeked of marijuana while her boyfriend drove the wrong way down the street with a minor, possibly her teenage son, in the vehicle.
http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/blaz-lukewarm-columbus-day-nypd-lunch-article-1.1973212
