Mayor Bloomberg has gotten a reputation for getting testy with the press over questions he doesn’t like, and that was certainly in evidence today when veteran 1010 WINS reporter Stan Brooks asked Hizzoner about exclusive Daily News reporting that examines where Deputy Mayor Robert Steel really lives.
Bloomberg, notes our Erin Einhorn, accused Brooks of trying to “assassinate” Steel by asking about the NYDN reports,
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“You usually require Deputy Mayors to live in the city but it seems like Deputy Mayor Steel has most of his life outside the city,” Brooks began.
“Why does it seem that way? I don’t know that to be the case. He’s been moved into the city right away and lives in the city five days a week. What is your problem again? I’m not sure I follow you,” Bloomberg said in his first public response to the stories.
Brooks gave a few examples: “His cars, his dogs, his…”
“His family lives out in Connecticut. His family is not required to live in the city. He is,” the mayor said of his deputy. “And what was your question again? I’m sorry, but you asked about him.”
“Whether he’s spending more of his time in the suburbs than in the city,” Brooks specified.
“He lives in the city. What is your evidence? What are the allegations? Why do you try to assassinate somebody?” Bloomberg demanded.
“He lives in the city. He pays his taxes in the city. He’s complied with every single thing to live in the city and his family has a right to live where they choose to live and he certainly has a right to go away on weekends. He’s not the Deputy Mayor for operations where he has to be in touch all the time but in any case, he lives very close by on weekends but he lives in the city, which is what the law requires him to do and something, incidentally, I could waive any time I want. I just chose not to. He volunteered to live in the city and to pay taxes in the city and he does and so I’m not sure where you get your facts from.”