Those hazy, lazy days of summer have special meaning for Mayor de Blasio — he’s skipping town for his second weeklong family vacation in just two months.
And it’s not as if the rest of the sweaty days since Memorial Day have been heavy lifts.
On six workdays, the mayor had no events at all listed on his public schedule.
Including this week’s trip to four Northeast states, de Blasio has been out of town on 17 weekdays since the summer’s first extended weekend — including four days at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia and one week on a family vacation in Italy in July.
He also spent two weekdays in California for his daughter Ciara’s college graduation during a four-day trip that also included a conference for mayors in Indianapolis.
While consultants who were asked about the mayor’s schedule didn’t begrudge him down time, some noted that he is missing opportunities to boost his visibility in a positive way.
“His poll numbers have taken a bunch of hits, he’s lost ground, and this is a time when you can start to make it up,” said Bill Cunningham, who worked as communications director for former Mayor Mike Bloomberg.
“The summer is when he controls media in the sense that he controls his public appearances, where he goes, what he says,” added Cunningham. “He has a stage that he can paint the picture the way he wants. So every day he takes away from the canvas is a lost day.”
Even when he has been in the five boroughs, the mayor has kept a relatively light schedule — not hosting a single public event on six weekdays and taking general questions from the media just once a week.
‘Only a small part of any mayor’s job is public events — especially in the summer.’
- Eric Phillips, City Hall spokesman
Over 13 weeks, he has marched in eight parades, delivered remarks at 32 graduations, funerals and cultural events, appeared 24 times on radio or TV, held four bill-signing ceremonies, and twice pleaded for federal dollars at press conferences.
Some days, he has had a single ceremonial event on his schedule, such as hosting a dinner or delivering a routine speech.
City Hall spokesman Eric Phillips said the mayor’s week off will include meeting with former presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, taking son Dante back to Yale, and visiting with family members.
“Only a small part of any mayor’s job is public events — especially in the summer.” said Phillips.
“On the rare occasion the mayor takes a day or two to spend time with his family or take his son back to college, he remains in constant contact with the office and can always return on a moment’s notice. I don’t see any difference between the mayor and governor on this approach.”
But Gov. Cuomo saw things differently at an event on Long Island.
“Everyone determines how much vacation they need. I don’t comment on anyone’s vacation,” Cuomo said.
“For me, I am not comfortable leaving the state. If I leave the state and something happens, I like to be hands-on.”