NEW YORK—Mayor Michael Bloomberg weathered a storm of criticism after he chose not to reveal the reason behind Deputy Mayor Stephen Goldsmith’s resignation a few weeks ago. Goldsmith was arrested on July 30 for allegations of domestic violence.
When the New York Post reported on Thursday that Goldsmith had been arrested, Public Advocate Bill de Blasio was among the most outspoken of the mayor’s critics. De Blasio blasted Bloomberg’s secrecy. In a statement released Friday he said, “Your claim that Deputy Mayor Goldsmith was ‘leaving to pursue private-sector opportunities in infrastructure finance’ was a misrepresentation of the facts.”
Bloomberg had laid low and refused to speak about the issue, even canceling his customary Friday radio address on WOR 710 AM. He broke the silence on Sunday morning and spoke about Goldsmith’s arrest outside a Brooklyn church. He was unapologetic about not revealing the arrest.
“I always assumed it would come out, but it’s not my responsibility,” said the mayor, according The New York Times.
De Blasio has maintained his criticism of Bloomberg.
“Transparency should be Mike Bloomberg’s ‘responsibility.’ He can’t pick and choose when New Yorkers get to to hear the truth,” retorted De Blasio on Twitter.
Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer agreed.
“Unfortunately the mayor has this backwards: His first obligation is to protect the public, not to protect a staff member. The City Council should hold hearings, so we can get a full accounting of the facts in this matter,” declared Stringer in a statement.
Mrs. Margaret Goldsmith told The Indianapolis Star that her husband had not abused her and that the report had been taken out of context, but that the deputy mayor decided to resign anyway “in order not to be a distraction to the mayor and his important agenda for the city.”
According to the New York Daily News, Goldsmith said, “Embarrassing my children for an event that was never charged and was no longer relevant to my public work seemed to me grossly unfair to them, as well as to my wife and our mothers.”
When the New York Post reported on Thursday that Goldsmith had been arrested, Public Advocate Bill de Blasio was among the most outspoken of the mayor’s critics. De Blasio blasted Bloomberg’s secrecy. In a statement released Friday he said, “Your claim that Deputy Mayor Goldsmith was ‘leaving to pursue private-sector opportunities in infrastructure finance’ was a misrepresentation of the facts.”
Bloomberg had laid low and refused to speak about the issue, even canceling his customary Friday radio address on WOR 710 AM. He broke the silence on Sunday morning and spoke about Goldsmith’s arrest outside a Brooklyn church. He was unapologetic about not revealing the arrest.
“I always assumed it would come out, but it’s not my responsibility,” said the mayor, according The New York Times.
De Blasio has maintained his criticism of Bloomberg.
“Transparency should be Mike Bloomberg’s ‘responsibility.’ He can’t pick and choose when New Yorkers get to to hear the truth,” retorted De Blasio on Twitter.
Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer agreed.
“Unfortunately the mayor has this backwards: His first obligation is to protect the public, not to protect a staff member. The City Council should hold hearings, so we can get a full accounting of the facts in this matter,” declared Stringer in a statement.
Mrs. Margaret Goldsmith told The Indianapolis Star that her husband had not abused her and that the report had been taken out of context, but that the deputy mayor decided to resign anyway “in order not to be a distraction to the mayor and his important agenda for the city.”
According to the New York Daily News, Goldsmith said, “Embarrassing my children for an event that was never charged and was no longer relevant to my public work seemed to me grossly unfair to them, as well as to my wife and our mothers.”
