Brooklyn, NY – Mayor Bloomberg took the high road Thursday in a public spat with vanquished rival William Thompson and said he is sure the city controller isn’t playing politics.
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The toned-down words came after Thompson, who lost narrowly to Bloomberg two weeks ago, gave Bloomberg a public punch in the nose Wednesday by refusing to approve a contract for a controversial Brooklyn jail expansion – even after the administration ordered him to do so under city law.
“My experience with Bill Thompson for the last eight years is he’s not political,” said Bloomberg, when asked about the high-profile dust-up after a speech in Brooklyn.
“Bill Thompson, I’ve said all along, is a quality, honest guy who’s really tried to make this city better, and I wish him well in whatever career he plans for.”
Bloomberg’s praise was a far cry from the acrimony that erupted Wednesday when Thompson called Bloomberg’s plan to spend some $450 million to double capacity at the unpopular Brooklyn House of Detention a “boondoggle” that “has been a disaster since day one.”
Thompson, who had nixed the $34 million design contract twice before, also called the bid process “fatally flawed” and said the money would be better spent on schools.
A Bloomberg advisor shot back that Thompson had no grounds to block the contract – and would be hauled into court if he does, (as was reported here on VIN News).
The kinder, gentler Bloomberg said that “if [Thompson] has some real issues, we’ll look into them.
“You’re not going to agree on everything, and when you disagree you try to negotiate, and when you can’t, that’s what the courts are for. Every once in a while it winds up in court, but it’s never acrimonious.”
The Brooklyn House of Detention was all but shuttered in 2003 to save money. For the last year, up to 50 inmates have been housed there temporarily.
The Bloomberg administration hopes to reopen the jail – which sits in the middle of gentrifying Downtown Brooklyn – and double its capacity to 1,500. Some community groups want it closed for good.Bloomberg went so far in his praise of Thompson that he said he was even a touch envious of his rival.
“I saw yesterday in an interview he said that one of the things he was going to do is try to play a little more golf, and I was envious,” said Bloomberg. “Although not enough to change the election results, but envious nevertheless.”
yay, working together for the greater good
a third term always results in a lose of popularity