During the Groundhog Day festivities in 2014, Charlotte, the groundhog, fell from the then-mayor's clumsy grasp, resulting in fatal internal injuries. In an interview with New York Magazine, an annoyed de Blasio expressed honest regret over the incident, criticizing the expectation that he should have held the groundhog.
He said, "I'm like, 'Don't make me hold a f---ing groundhog.' I mean, what the hell?" A decade after the notorious incident, de Blasio vividly remembers the absurdity of the moment. He lamented the lack of support he received, particularly considering the early hour of the event.
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"I go there and it's seven in the morning, which means my motor skills are not at their best. I put on these gloves, and they're like, 'Here's a groundhog,' I'm like, 'What the f---?' I'm like, 'Don't you have a little more coaching to go with this or whatever?' It was idiocy," he bitterly reminisced.
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His irritation remained evident as he derided the entire situation as "insane," criticizing the notion of expecting an elected official to handle a groundhog, especially without pertinent knowledge or experience. He called it an "original sin" and made light of it, saying, "Don't hand someone a groundhog, right?"
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Moving from the humorous to the grave, the former mayor also addressed regrets from his tenure and touched on his political future. New York Magazine held him accountable for his alleged siding with the police over Black Lives Matter protesters following the death of George Floyd, a criticism often voiced by far-left critics.
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Defending his stance, de Blasio pointed to the "real danger on all sides" and the "organized" violence the police had to contend with during the protests. He emphasized that the situation was "extraordinarily different" and presented unique challenges.
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"A lot of people in the media, a lot of people in the city saw the moment of the murder of George Floyd as a seminal moment for social change and legal change in America, and I agree. But the problem when you're running a city is there's more than one thing happening at once," he argued.
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He continued to stress the importance of an "honest discussion" about the violence from some protesters, something he believes was overlooked. He referred to a specific incident in May 2020, when he defended a video of New York City police driving into a crowd of protesters, leading to criticism from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
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"If you look at that video, that very bad moment, I think we have to be honest and open that everyone could have done better," he said, attempting to balance his stance. He emphasized that most police and protesters were nonviolent and did "the right thing."
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The former mayor also discussed the significant migration of "talent" from cities like San Francisco and New York City to Miami and Austin, Texas. Downplaying the trend, de Blasio pointed out that New York had promptly filled the void left by departed millionaires, citing Office of Management and Budget statistics.
In 2022, Florida saw a substantial influx of new residents moving from predominantly blue states with high taxes, with around 319,000 Americans making the move, as reported by Fox Business. Furthermore, nearly 65,000 New Yorkers shifted their driver's licenses to Florida last year.
However, de Blasio predicts a reversal of this trend due to Gov. Ron DeSantis' policies. He told the magazine, "I also have predicted very publicly that the Florida thing is about to boomerang, because DeSantis has created such a hostile environment that a lot of people going there are not going to want to stay there."
De Blasio's comments reflect the polarized nature of current American politics, where policy differences between states like New York and Florida often influence migration trends. The former mayor's predictions suggest that he believes the current popularity of Florida as a destination for migrants from high-tax states could diminish due to DeSantis' policies, often characterized as hardline conservative.
De Blasio's stint as mayor of New York City was marked by numerous challenges and controversies, ranging from the unfortunate groundhog incident to complex social and political justice issues. His response to the Black Lives Matter protests following the murder of George Floyd is particularly notable, with criticism stemming from perceived favoritism towards the police.
In defending his actions, De Blasio insisted on the complexity of managing a city during such unrest, highlighting that there were "real dangers on all sides." He emphasized that while most protesters and police officers acted nonviolently, there were exceptions on both sides.
The discussion between de Blasio and the magazine not only revisits his past actions as a mayor but also paints a picture of his perspectives on contemporary political dynamics, including interstate migration and the potential implications of political policies on this trend.
As the country grapples with shifting demographics and political landscapes, de Blasio's reflections remind us of the complexity inherent in governing and the challenging task of balancing various interests. Only time will tell if his predictions for Florida's future are accurate or if the migration trend away from traditionally blue states like New York will continue.
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