Restoring subway service soon after Hurricane Sandy struck was one of Joe Lhota’s biggest accomplishments — but the former MTA chief refuses to spotlight that achievement in his race for mayor.
“It’s a solemn day. I’m not going to use this as a day to politic,” Lhota said Tuesday during a tour of storm-battered Breezy Point, Queens, where he helped plant sea grass in dunes.
Lhota and Democratic rival Bill de Blasio asked the Campaign Finance Board to move their final debate, which had been scheduled to happen at the exact time Sandy made landfall a year ago, to Wednesday so both men could attend Sandy-related events Tuesday.
Political consultants say Lhota is missing a chance to demonstrate how his leadership skills were tested under pressure.
“It’s one thing if it’s a personal tragedy. Yes, they are tragedies. But they are also part of his résumé and he should highlight it,” said longtime political consultant Jerry Skurnick. “Should Bob Dole mention he was a hero in World War II? Of course.”
Democratic public advocate nominee Letitia James turned up in Breezy Point at the same time as Lhota and endorsed some of his criticisms of the Atlantic Yards project that de Blasio supports.
James said that “a lot of the [affordable-housing] promises made were not honored.” “I said, ‘As the next public advocate, hopefully, I’m going to stay on you about that,’” she recalled.