Jun 17, 2008 7:14 am US/Eastern
Paterson, Bloomberg Deny Relationship Strained
Published Report States Governor Views Mayor As Untrustworthy, Likens Him To Spitzer In Other Respects
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg said on June 16 reports of a strained relationship between him and Gov. David Paterson are untrue.
Gabriel Bouys/AFP/Getty Images
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According to a published report, sources say Gov. David Paterson doesn't think Mayor Bloomberg is trustworthy.
CBS
Disagreements on issues ranging from teacher tenure to the takeover of OTB have apparently strained relations between Gov. David Paterson and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
But did the governor really compare Bloomberg's temper to his former boss, Eliot Spitzer?
They often work side by side, but sources tell CBS 2 HD there are indications the relationship between Paterson and Bloomberg have been ripped apart.
"(Bloomberg) is a friend," Paterson said Monday.
"I don't think David Paterson and I have ever exchanged a cross word," Bloomberg added.
Despite efforts by both men Monday to publicly make nice, Albany sources tell CBS 2 HD that Team Paterson is furious at the mayor's attitude on a number of issues, including education aid, teacher tenure, congestion pricing and the OTB takeover.
"The governor has said he does not think Mayor Bloomberg can be trusted," said state editor Fred Dicker of the New York Post.
Dicker wrote a bombshell front-page story Monday that claimed that – in private – Paterson has made harsh comments about Bloomberg, saying that during the negotiations to save OTB Bloomberg threw tantrums reminiscent of disgraced for Gov. Spitzer.
"Perhaps one of the most serious charges you can make these days was made by the governor," Dicker said. "He said that Eliot Spitzer and Mike Bloomberg have something in common – a penchant for brow-beating people."
At a hastily called press conference Paterson denied making the anti-Bloomberg comments, but oddly said he wouldn't demand a retraction from the Post.
"Why would I demand a retraction?" Paterson asked the media on Monday.
Bloomberg also shot down the Post's story.
"In terms of he and I it's been so far away from acrimonious it's laughable. I don't know where it came from," the mayor said.
Dicker said the Post stands by its story.
"We have an excellent source for this story," he said. "We wouldn't run a story like this unless we were certain it was true. I think it's fair to say a lot of people thought the governor's denial today was half-hearted at best."
Bloomberg also said that he's not interested in running for governor, but since he just did a poll about his gubernatorial chances, Paterson shouldn't take that one to the bank.
If the mayor does run early polls make him the frontrunner. Quinnipiac University found last week that Bloomberg would grab 30 percent of likely voters, while Paterson would only get 23 percent.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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