As if there aren’t any party planners in New York City.
In an epic snub to the city’s event businesses, Bill de Blasio’s campaign hired a production company from Youngstown, Ohio, to plan his election-night party at the Park Slope Armory in Brooklyn.
Forty Two event productions handled massive political functions in the Midwest for President Obama’s 2008 and 2012 campaigns, at venues that hold more than 20,000 people.
In perhaps a signal that de Blasio wants to play like the big boys, the mayoral candidate plucked event CEO Anthony Ferrello from the podunk town in the Buckeye State nearly 500 miles away to organize the Brooklyn bash.
Ferrello bragged on Twitter about his role in de Blasio’s big night, but he also didn’t show much love for the city that the Democratic candidate claims to put first.
“Not a big NYC fan today #youngstown #nyc #electionseason,” Ferrello cryptically tweeted on Saturday.
“Just arrived to finish off #electionseason 2013 with the victory party for @BilldeBlasio #NYC mayor race,” he tweeted Monday.
Ferrello has worked with de Blasio’s campaign consultants at Berlin Rosen in the past.
Forty Two events also has hosted Midwest shindigs for Hillary Rodham Clinton, John Edwards and the Democratic National Committee.
“You would think the campaign could handle that themselves?” a veteran political strategist remarked. “They hired an Ohio party planner? It doesn’t seem genius.”
And just because Ferrello is a hot shot, don’t expect a better party. “It’ll be very traditional — it’s a political event,” he said.
There won’t be grand staging or a light show. The lighting will be similar to one in a TV studio, and there will be only one TV screen on the armory walls where supporters will watch the returns come in.
“The campaign is using multiple production companies for tomorrow’s party, including several from New York,” said de Blasio’s campaign spokesperson, Dan Levitan.“We’re looking forward to a great time,”
Tickets are free and it’s a cash bar.
De Blasio’s primary-night bash was described as “the most Brooklyn Victory Party ever” by Gothamist blog.
The event at The Bell House featured music by Macklemore and FUN, and was catered by food trucks.
Meanwhile, Republican candidate Joe Lhota reportedly spent $30,000 for an open-bar election night party at the Gansevoort Park Hotel on Park Avenue.