In the past 48 hours, we’ve seen scaremongering tactics in NYC reminiscent of the 1970s, this time aimed at City Hall and supporters of Mayor Bill de Blasio. Cops and NYPD union heads are reportedly spreading rumors and propaganda about de Blasio, who has ruffled their feathers by supporting peaceful protests for Eric Garner, suggesting that his biracial son may have to deal with racial profiling, and for not apologizing to the NYPD for any of it. Tensions further increased after two officers were slain on December 20. As a result, NYPD activity has all but stalled, and cops have literally turned their backs on de Blasio.
The New York Times has already derided the NYPD for its pettiness, but things have seemingly reached a new low. On Tuesday, Patrolman’s Benevolent Association head Patrick Lynch didn’t hold back when he said, “When [de Blasio] attacks the New York City police department, he’s attacking his own department and his own policies.” The PBA then released this ad:
On Wednesday, the New York Daily News reported that some cops were offended by the outfit de Blasio’s wife, Chirlane McCray, wore to the funeral of Detective Wenjian Liu last week. While many were angered that cops turned the funeral into a protest site by turning their backs on the mayor, some cops were irked that McCray allegedly wore denim jeans. It fueled this meme. Her designer has confirmed that she did not wear denim.
And then there’s a rumor that de Blasio lights up in Gracie Mansion. Asked about it on Wednesday, the mayor said, “I haven’t smoked marijuana since I was at NYU.” Where did that rumor come from? Gawker did some digging and traced the rumor back to senior cops in the mayor’s security detail and the president of the Sergeant’s Benevolent Association, Ed Mullins. Ultimately, “N.Y.P.D. officials want to undermine and embarrass the de Blasio administration in any way they can,” Gawker concluded.
Lynch said on Tuesday that an apology from de Blasio would go “a long way.” But after all the drama, on Thursday, the mayor responded with this:
#TBT to my NYU days. pic.twitter.com/wVPdPGGix9
— Bill de Blasio (@BilldeBlasio) January 8, 2015
What a king.
(Photo: nycmayorsoffice)
