Park Slope Voters Skeptical of de Blasio's Possible Presidential Bid
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio went to Nevada over the weekend to meet prospective voters there as he contemplates a possible run for president. Back here at home, a Quinnipiac poll released last week found that 76 percent of New York City voters surveyed did not think he should run. That sentiment was borne out time and again in visits to some of the mayor’s favorite haunts in Park Slope, Brooklyn on Sunday.
The first stop was the Park Slope YMCA, a place de Blasio frequents for his daily workout despite the drive from Gracie Mansion. Onilaja Waters rode her bike there Sunday from Kensington and was still wearing her helmet when she stopped at the gym door to say unequivocally: she did not think de Blasio should run for president.
She pointed to problems with the city’s transit system. She also complained about the city’s highly segregated schools. "Black children and people of color are still not getting a proper education," Waters said. "I would tell the people of the United States that this is someone who talks a progressive agenda, but what we see in New York City is very mixed."
Some of the mayor's Park Slope neighbors expressed appreciation for his policies, particularly early childhood education for 3 and 4-year-olds, but they didn’t see him as the person who could make those programs part of a national debate.
"Good on him for pushing those ideas in New York," said Jeff McLeod who was leaving the Y with his wife Sarah and their two young children. "I’d still like to see someone else run with those ideas," he added.
His wife Sarah voiced frustration about the amount of time the mayor spends at the gym, often around 11 a.m. with a full security detail there to protect him. "I mean what other people who work real jobs can do that?" she said.
Up the block at Colson Patisserie, a bakery frequented by the mayor, Jacqui Kluger paused from chasing after her 19-month-old to wonder why the mayor was considering a run for higher office. "It just seems like nobody is going to vote for him," she said, "so is there another reason?"
Outside Bar Toto, where the mayor's wife Chirlane McCray was eating at that very moment, Michael Stearns joked about her husband's possible White House bid.
"I'm sure his supporter will be really excited about it," he said, emphasizing the singular phrase. He added, "The thing is, I actually think he is a great mayor. But there is no need for him to run for president."
The mayor has at least a couple of unwavering supporters a few doors down from his brick-and-clapboard home. But even they began their comments with a complaint — about parking in the neighborhood. Leah Rivera dubbed it, "Nonparkable Park Slope."
Rivera's neighbor, Carolyn Weirich, chimed in, "Aside from that, would you vote for him though?"
"I like Bill," Rivera said making it sound like a concession.
"I like Bill, too. He's a great neighbor. Nice guy when he comes by here and I think that I would vote for him," Weirich said.
Rivera agreed. "Anyone," she said, "is better than Trump."
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