In the interview, with New York magazine, Mr. Bloomberg said that he considered it racist of Mr. de Blasio to promote his mixed-race family. Mr. de Blasio’s wife, Chirlane McCray, is African-American and their teenage son, Dante, has appeared in his father’s campaign ads.
Asked what was racist about the campaign, Mr. Bloomberg said: “I mean he’s making an appeal using his family to gain support. I think it’s pretty obvious to anyone watching what he’s been doing.”
A spokesman for Mr. de Blasio had no immediate response to the mayor’s statements but said that Mr. de Blasio would address them at a public appearance in Brooklyn on Saturday afternoon.
Mr. Bloomberg added that he did not think that Mr. de Blasio was a racist. But he said, “It’s comparable to me pointing out that I’m Jewish in attracting the Jewish vote.”
As harsh as that assessment may sound, Mr. Bloomberg seemed more peeved about Mr. de Blasio’s central theme that poor and working-class New Yorkers have suffered during Mr. Bloomberg’s three terms while the wealthy have thrived.
“His whole campaign is that there are two different cities here,” Mr. Bloomberg said, and added, “Tearing people apart with this ‘two cities’ thing doesn’t make any sense to me.” He called Mr. de Blasio a “very populist, very left-wing guy” and countered with his oft-stated view that the wealthy and prosperous make it possible to provide services to the rest of the city’s residents.
“Wouldn’t it be great if we could get all the Russian billionaires to move here?” Mr. Bloomberg said.
Expressing his general disappointment with Mr. de Blasio, he said, “It’s a shame because I’ve always thought he was a very smart guy.”
Asked what was racist about the campaign, Mr. Bloomberg said: “I mean he’s making an appeal using his family to gain support. I think it’s pretty obvious to anyone watching what he’s been doing.”
A spokesman for Mr. de Blasio had no immediate response to the mayor’s statements but said that Mr. de Blasio would address them at a public appearance in Brooklyn on Saturday afternoon.
Mr. Bloomberg added that he did not think that Mr. de Blasio was a racist. But he said, “It’s comparable to me pointing out that I’m Jewish in attracting the Jewish vote.”
As harsh as that assessment may sound, Mr. Bloomberg seemed more peeved about Mr. de Blasio’s central theme that poor and working-class New Yorkers have suffered during Mr. Bloomberg’s three terms while the wealthy have thrived.
“His whole campaign is that there are two different cities here,” Mr. Bloomberg said, and added, “Tearing people apart with this ‘two cities’ thing doesn’t make any sense to me.” He called Mr. de Blasio a “very populist, very left-wing guy” and countered with his oft-stated view that the wealthy and prosperous make it possible to provide services to the rest of the city’s residents.
“Wouldn’t it be great if we could get all the Russian billionaires to move here?” Mr. Bloomberg said.
Expressing his general disappointment with Mr. de Blasio, he said, “It’s a shame because I’ve always thought he was a very smart guy.”