Sharpton’s Harsh Words For Mayor Make Some Experts Wonder Who’s In Charge

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al-sharptonNYC Mayor Bill de Blasio was on the defensive Friday evening, after allowing the Rev. Al Sharpton to come to City Hall and lay down the law about how policing should be handled in the wake of the police custody death of Eric Garner.

As CBS 2 Marcia Kramer reported, the meeting has spurred a debate about who is in charge in the city.

Some felt the Rev. Sharpton’s comments about Mayor de Blasio’s son crossed the line.

“I think the larger issue here is that we know we have some work to do,” Mayor de Blasio said.

In the annals of New York City politics, the meeting on Thursday was something not seen before. Sharpton, as the invited guest at City Hall, took both Mayor de Blasio and Police Commissioner Bill Bratton to the woodshed over NYPD tactics following Garner’s death after police put him in a chokehold.

Sharpton told Bratton that he wanted to see the officers involved in Garner’s death arrested.

“I also think, commissioner, that the best way to make police stop using illegal chokeholds is to perp walk the one of them that did,” Sharpton said at the meeting.

Bratton has promised retraining from top to bottom in the department, but Sharpton told Bratton and de Blasio in no uncertain terms that their idea of retraining officers does not hold much water with him.

“Training is important, but you don’t need training if a man is saying 11 times ‘I can’t breathe’ and you’re still holding him in a grip lock,” Sharpton said. “You don’t need training. You need to have people who understand that the law is what they protect and uphold – they’re not above the law.”

The spectacle was so unsettling to some analysts that they questioned de Blasio’s leadership.

“It’s not the best set of circumstances for someone who’s got to lead the greatest city in the world,” said political consultant Hank Sheinkopf. “Look – under Koch, Bloomberg or Giuliani, this would never occur. It makes the mayor look weak, it makes Al Sharpton look strong, and it makes Bill Bratton look out of place.”

At his press availability on Friday, de Blasio defended Sharpton.

“I think Reverend Sharpton has been active and productive on those issues for decades,” de Blasio said. “He’s someone who is a personal friend, and someone I respect the advice of.”

But at the Thursday meeting, Sharpton also threatened to go after de Blasio if he does not like the changes that are made to police policy.

“If we’re going to play spin games, I’ll be your worst enemy, because I am tired of seeing people bury their kin,” he said.

“I think what he’s saying, simply, is he expects to see some positive change. If he doesn’t, he’s going to use the democratic process to affect that change,” the mayor said. “That’s fine. That doesn’t worry me. I don’t worry whether someone comes from one perspective or another perspective – the left or the right – democratic process. I’m not afraid of anyone challenging me to do my job.”

Read more at 1010 WINS NY.

{Matzav.com Newscenter}


4 COMMENTS

  1. I totally agree with the sentiment written here. DeBlasio has stepped into it big time & don’t see how its possible to back out of it now. Does this now mean that before any move the NYPD makes, Deblasio will have to confer with Sharpton first? DeBlasio wants to show the Liberals who voted him in, that he is so hip & cool and he is going to end “Racism” in the City once and for all. Don’t forget he IS married to a woman of color. There is no doubt in my mind that it definitely was a factor in him inviting Sharpton in. Bill has made a major mistake in that, Liberals only “talk” about race relations, ie. Punish the white taxpayers, but never actualy get involved with the Sharpton types.
    As far as Bratton is concerned, my, how the mighty have fallen. He is truly a real “useful idiot” of the progressive Deblasio. He is so busy being honored by every Organization for, basicaly, doing nothing, that he will turn into the next Lee Brown. Its a shame to know that our City is sliding back into the David Dinkins days.

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