Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio took his preference for Council Speaker public for the first time Monday — appearing at a “rah rah” luncheon with at least 60 backers of his close ally Melissa Mark-Viverito, sources said.
The mayor-elect arrived at City Hall restaurant in Lower Manhattan after naming Carmen Farina the new schools chancellor. He spoke about “making history” by selecting the first Latina speaker, according to a source.
The shindig featured dozens of council members, union representatives and religious leaders who support Mark-Viverito, a liberal pol who represents East Harlem and a part of the The Bronx.
Another source said de Blasio talked about the pending Jan. 8 vote as being “our moment.” He cautioned the council members not to cave in to pressure to change their allegiance to a rival candidate, Manhattan Councilman Dan Garodnick.
Spokesman Phil Walzak would not say whether de Blasio’s appearance at the event constituted an endorsement.
“Mayor-elect de Blasio stopped by today’s gathering to discuss a new progressive direction for New York City,” he said.
Earlier this month, Mark-Viverito unofficially declared victory in the race for the post after securing the backing of 30 of the 51 council members.
Yahoo Local News – New York Post
http://newyork.greatlocalnews.info/?p=19908
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