Perhaps it was in the spirit of Sept. 11 -- or maybe they were just stuck together in the politicos’ pen -- but on Friday morning, Mayor Bill de Blasio and Gov. Andrew Cuomo spoke face to face for the first time in months after a widely publicized rift.
A photo obtained by NBC 4 New York shows the ice-breaking moment in which Cuomo and de Blasio have a face-to-face conversation, along with Police Commissioner Bill Bratton, at the 9/11 ceremony at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum. A source familiar with the discussion said one of the subjects covered was City Hall’s recent crackdown on quality of life offenses.
The two men were seen shaking hands upon arrival, and while the photo does not appear to reflect much eye contact or warmth, another government source on the plaza said the mayor and the governor engaged in a 10- to 12-minute conversation and that it appeared friendly.
Subsequent video images of the ceremony show Cuomo and de Blasio standing in separate areas of the politician area, attended by New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and former mayors Michael Bloomberg and Rudy Giuliani.
Cuomo and de Blasio have avoided meeting in person since May 27, which is when City Hall sources say is the last time they spoke in person. While they have had some recent phone conversations, the two officials have been feuding over everything from mayoral control of schools to rent regulations to the recent Legionnaires' outbreak.
Earlier this week, de Blasio skipped an event with Vice President Joe Biden at the Javits Center after receiving a last-minute invitation from team Cuomo.
A source close to de Blasio said the mayor also chatted with his predecessor Bloomberg about Pope Francis’ upcoming visit to the 9/11 Memorial.
Local
The video pool feed did not appear to show de Blasio conversing with Giuliani, who has been criticizing his handling of the homeless in recent weeks, nor did there appear to be any reconciliation between Bratton and Christie after a recent spat over which state has higher crime.
Most of the politicians left the ceremony early, after the fourth set of bells and about 90 minutes before the reading of the names concluded. De Blasio appeared to be the only politician who stayed until the ceremony ended.
