Transcript: Mayor Bill de Blasio Holds Second Media Availability

March 17, 2016

Mayor Bill de Blasio: …in every way with this investigation. We’ll cooperate fully. Now, I want to emphasize, New York City has very stringent laws related to lead paint, and we actually have one of the lowest incidence of lead paint problems of any older city in America because we have such stringent laws. So, we have a very aggressive inspection and abatement program, and that is certainly being carried out in the Housing Authority, and has been for years. But again, we’ll share any and all information we have. I want to emphasize that the investigation, as we understand it, is directed at the Housing Authority, not the Department of Homeless Services, as I think may have been reported earlier. But we’re going to be diligent about the work we do. We’re going to be very willing to work with any and all other layers of government to make sure that families are safe, and to make sure children in particular are safe. And I want to assure all the residents of the Housing Authority that we have, again, a very stringent inspection effort, and any time we find a problem, we abate it. But, thank God, because we have such strong laws in the City, and have had for years, we have found very few instances of lead paint that creates any danger. But we’re going to be vigilant. We’re going to make sure we keep our people safe.

Any questions? 

Question: [inaudible] directed NYCHA in the past 24 hours at all to perform additional inspections? 

Mayor: Again, since we have a very aggressive inspection process already, I know it’s reaching the people of the Housing Authority on a regular basis. But we’re going to learn everything we can from this discussion with the federal government, and if there’s more we need to do, we’ll do it. Obviously our priority is keeping people safe.

Question: Mayor, has anyone been disciplined, or will anyone be disciplined in connection with this?

Mayor: Again, this is the first we’re hearing about this from the U.S. Attorney. We have to go through a whole process to understand the situation. We don’t know any specifics yet, and we don’t even know if there is a specific problem yet. Again, this is a city that has such stringent rules on lead paint, and has for a long time. So, I want to learn a lot more before we pass judgement. 

Question: [inaudible] what specifically sparked the investigation?

Mayor: We’re just literally – we’ve heard as you have, less than 24 hours ago, and we’re waiting for the full information. But what I can certainly say is we’ll absolutely cooperate. Anything that there is to be found, we want to find. But what I’m hopeful about is that this is a city that’s been very committed to eradicating lead-paint dangers for a long time. 

Question: So, are you – you said that DHS is not under investigation? 

Mayor: Correct.

Question: Are the feds still seeking information from DHS?

Mayor: I have no indication of that, but, again, I’m hearing of it as you have, just in the last 24 hours. So, we’re waiting for a lot of clarity. My understanding is the only focus is the Housing Authority. 

Question: Can you explain why police are being assigned to cover crossing guard shifts? I mean, you just assigned new cops to the beat. 

Mayor: We are going to fill all the crossing guard shifts. The problem we’ve had in the last few years is getting people to take the jobs. Now, we’ve obviously increased the wage level with the $15 dollar minimum wage, and we’re going to be doing other things to attract more crossing guards. But any time there is a crossing left open, the local precinct and-or traffic enforcement agents cover it. 

Question: Has that been the policy in the past? Or is that –

Mayor: It’s the only policy I’ve known for the last two years. I assume it was the policy in the past, but the bigger thing we have to do is get to the root challenge, which is it’s been hard to recruit crossing guards in some neighborhoods. Look, I was a pubic school parent until June. My kids used to be crossed by crossing guards – I know how important they are and we want to figure out how to fill every one of those under our current system.

Question: Do you have any concerns about the Governor’s announcement yesterday that he’s looking to appoint a management expert to restructure CUNY? Does that –

Mayor: Well, we just heard very broad strokes. We certainly look forward to learning more. I’ve said from the beginning, we would be happy to work with the State on any efficiencies and reforms that would make CUNY more effective and more cost efficient. So, that’s something we welcome, but we don’t know any of the details yet.

Question: Mr. Mayor, quick St. Patty’s Day – twice is nice for you today. Tell us about that. 

Mayor: Well, it’s been wonderful to march with the NYPD and to see the appreciation people feel for the NYPD. I’ll be coming back later and marching as well with the Lavender and Green Coalition, and I look forward to welcoming them to the first parade that they’ve been in.

Question: That’s going to be a special moment for you because – I mean, two parades you’ve boycotted – this must be a very different day for you.

Mayor: It’s a powerful moment. It’s a very emotional moment. You know, I saw the beginning of this crisis 25 years ago, and, you know, I felt at the time it didn’t have to be – you know, we didn’t have to have this division in our city. And to see good people work hard to bring us together and to actually see it happen is very, very moving. It’s one of those days – I was never sure it would come. I’m so proud to be here today. 

Thanks every –

Question: Mayor de Blasio, did you get [inaudible] Mayor Dinkins got pelted with the beer 25 years ago. 

Mayor: Yeah, I’m trying to remember exactly. I was certainly working for him. I’m not sure if I was physically there. I feel like I was, but I don’t know for sure. 

Question: What was going through your mind when you heard about that in 1991 [inaudible]?

Mayor: The whole thing was tragic – that it didn’t have to be. You know, a lot of good people back then tried to avoid the rift, tried to find a way to bring people together, and it was so painful to watch the divisions deepening. And I – you know, the treatment Mayor Dinkins got was absolutely inappropriate. His only interest was trying to bring people together. But, you know what? Time can heal a lot of wounds. So, 25 years later, we got it done. 

Thanks.