Mayor Bill Defends Keeping Correspondence With Friends/Advisers Secret

Of course he does.

Hasn't he worked with Hillary Clinton for many years? That's what they do. Ah yes, then there is Carmen Farina, another close friend.......

Betsy Combier
betsy.combier@gmail.com

Editor, NYC Rubber Room Reporter
Editor, Parentadvocates.org
Editor, New York Court Corruption
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Editor, The NYC Public Voice

Bill de Blasio defends confidentiality of correspondence

This May 4, 2016, file photo shows New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio testifying during a state Senate Education Committee hearing on extending mayoral control of city schools in Albany, N.Y. New York's mayor has moved to classify his inner circle of private-sector consultants as agents of the city, a designation shielding their communications from public disclosure. Photo Credit: AP/Mike Groll

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Updated May 27, 2016 6:53 PM
By Matthew Chayes  matthew.chayes@newsday.com 

HIGHLIGHTS

• Says confidentiality with ‘agents of the city’ a matter of ‘principle’
• Also says sinking poll numbers a result of ‘relentless negative headlines’

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio on Friday defended his right to maintain the confidentiality of his correspondence with five close friends who serve as outside advisers, calling it a matter of “principle.”

The firms that employ all but one the friends got hundreds of thousands of dollars in payouts from a mayoral nonprofit that accepted contributions from donors with business before the city.

De Blasio and his lawyers have deemed the five friends “agents of the city” — a designation the administration says exempts their correspondence from open-records laws.“It’s a general principle ... I just think if you you’ve got a standard that’s set, again, with legal guidance — we stick to that standard,” de Blasio told WNYC’s Brian Lehrer on their weekly “#AskTheMayor” radio show.

He said he discloses correspondence when the exchanges concern the agents’ private clients.