Schattenjäger
Gabriel Knight
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/13/n...es-of-flight-587-memorial-in-queens.html?_r=0
De Blasio, Arriving Late, Angers Attendees of Flight 587 Memorial
By MATT FLEGENHEIMER and NATE SCHWEBERNOV. 12, 2014
Photo
Since taking office, Mayor Bill de Blasio has made a habit of keeping people waiting. Business leaders have languished in meeting rooms. Reporters have assembled before empty lecterns.
Correction officers at a graduation ceremony, a child at a bill signing all have grown familiar with the unit of measurement known euphemistically to some as de Blasio time.
But on Wednesday, for perhaps the first time this year, the mayors well-chronicled tardiness ventured from irritating quirk to striking slip-up.
Citing a very rough night and a star-crossed boat ride from Gracie Mansion, Mr. de Blasio arrived late to a memorial service on the anniversary of a 2001 plane crash in Queens, angering victims relatives who observed a planned moment of silence without him.
The mayor had been scheduled to speak at 9:05 a.m. in Rockaway Park, near where American Airlines Flight 587 crashed on Nov. 12, 2001, killing 265 people, including five on the ground.
But according to his office, the police boat he was riding in became delayed due to heavy fog. Mr. de Blasio missed the tolling of a bell at 9:16 a.m., the minute of the crash in 2001. He arrived just after 9:20 a.m., his office said.
The mayor had traveled to the ceremony by boat, and his office attributed the delay to heavy fog. Credit Seth Wenig/Associated Press
The delay produced an uncomfortable scene at the memorial, attendees said, setting off grumbles from the crowd and leaving organizers to proceed without the mayor.
Robustiano Reyes, 56, whose brother was killed in the crash, called the mayors tardiness an act of disrespect.
He showed up late he didnt even say, Im sorry, said Mr. Reyes, who added that he had voted for Mr. de Blasio. It was just a shame.
Belkis Lora, 47, an organizer of the event, whose brother died in the crash, said she became worried there had been some sort of accident or emergency.
A member of Mr. de Blasios team told her the mayor was stuck in traffic, she said.
But the mayors office said later that a boat ride was believed to be a faster option than braving city streets during the morning rush. (The administration said Mr. de Blasio has taken boats to other events, like the start of the New York City Marathon on Staten Island on Nov. 2.)
The trip on Wednesday was scheduled to last 35 minutes, but took closer to 50, the administration said. By that account, proffered early in the afternoon, the mayor would have arrived at 9:05 a.m. on a clear morning.
Yet at an unrelated news conference later on Wednesday, Mr. de Blasio took full responsibility for his lateness. I was not feeling well this morning; I had a very rough night, I woke up sluggish, and I should have gotten myself moving quicker, he said, adding that he woke up in the middle of the night, couldnt get back to sleep.
He called the fog an unexpected hindrance and apologized, though he had not during his brief public remarks at the memorial.
Mr. de Blasio did apologize personally to at least one attendee in Queens Ms. Lora. The administration later distributed a quotation from Ms. Lora, president of the Committee in Memory of Flight 587, saying in part that the mayors office has supported us for months to organize our annual remembrance event.
Continue reading the main storyContinue reading the main storyContinue reading the main story
In a late afternoon interview, Ms. Lora said the mayors office had asked if it could include her comment in a statement about his tardiness.
I dont want to excuse the mayor for not being there at the time he was supposed to be there, she said in the interview, but the most important thing is that we gathered together to remember our loved ones.
Others took a harder line.
There are certain days when @BilldeBlasio has to be on time, The Wave, the weekly newspaper of the Rockaways, wrote on Twitter. Today was one of those times.
The mayors mode of transportation struck a particular nerve: In October, his administration discontinued a ferry service between Manhattan and the Rockaways that had operated since Hurricane Sandy.
Lisa OShea, 55, who works at a copy center near where the memorial was held, suggested divine intervention.
He had the luxury of taking a boat over, like wed like to do, she said. God punished him. That fog was intentional.
De Blasio, Arriving Late, Angers Attendees of Flight 587 Memorial
By MATT FLEGENHEIMER and NATE SCHWEBERNOV. 12, 2014
Photo
Since taking office, Mayor Bill de Blasio has made a habit of keeping people waiting. Business leaders have languished in meeting rooms. Reporters have assembled before empty lecterns.
Correction officers at a graduation ceremony, a child at a bill signing all have grown familiar with the unit of measurement known euphemistically to some as de Blasio time.
But on Wednesday, for perhaps the first time this year, the mayors well-chronicled tardiness ventured from irritating quirk to striking slip-up.
Citing a very rough night and a star-crossed boat ride from Gracie Mansion, Mr. de Blasio arrived late to a memorial service on the anniversary of a 2001 plane crash in Queens, angering victims relatives who observed a planned moment of silence without him.
The mayor had been scheduled to speak at 9:05 a.m. in Rockaway Park, near where American Airlines Flight 587 crashed on Nov. 12, 2001, killing 265 people, including five on the ground.
But according to his office, the police boat he was riding in became delayed due to heavy fog. Mr. de Blasio missed the tolling of a bell at 9:16 a.m., the minute of the crash in 2001. He arrived just after 9:20 a.m., his office said.
The mayor had traveled to the ceremony by boat, and his office attributed the delay to heavy fog. Credit Seth Wenig/Associated Press
The delay produced an uncomfortable scene at the memorial, attendees said, setting off grumbles from the crowd and leaving organizers to proceed without the mayor.
Robustiano Reyes, 56, whose brother was killed in the crash, called the mayors tardiness an act of disrespect.
He showed up late he didnt even say, Im sorry, said Mr. Reyes, who added that he had voted for Mr. de Blasio. It was just a shame.
Belkis Lora, 47, an organizer of the event, whose brother died in the crash, said she became worried there had been some sort of accident or emergency.
A member of Mr. de Blasios team told her the mayor was stuck in traffic, she said.
But the mayors office said later that a boat ride was believed to be a faster option than braving city streets during the morning rush. (The administration said Mr. de Blasio has taken boats to other events, like the start of the New York City Marathon on Staten Island on Nov. 2.)
The trip on Wednesday was scheduled to last 35 minutes, but took closer to 50, the administration said. By that account, proffered early in the afternoon, the mayor would have arrived at 9:05 a.m. on a clear morning.
Yet at an unrelated news conference later on Wednesday, Mr. de Blasio took full responsibility for his lateness. I was not feeling well this morning; I had a very rough night, I woke up sluggish, and I should have gotten myself moving quicker, he said, adding that he woke up in the middle of the night, couldnt get back to sleep.
He called the fog an unexpected hindrance and apologized, though he had not during his brief public remarks at the memorial.
Mr. de Blasio did apologize personally to at least one attendee in Queens Ms. Lora. The administration later distributed a quotation from Ms. Lora, president of the Committee in Memory of Flight 587, saying in part that the mayors office has supported us for months to organize our annual remembrance event.
Continue reading the main storyContinue reading the main storyContinue reading the main story
In a late afternoon interview, Ms. Lora said the mayors office had asked if it could include her comment in a statement about his tardiness.
I dont want to excuse the mayor for not being there at the time he was supposed to be there, she said in the interview, but the most important thing is that we gathered together to remember our loved ones.
Others took a harder line.
There are certain days when @BilldeBlasio has to be on time, The Wave, the weekly newspaper of the Rockaways, wrote on Twitter. Today was one of those times.
The mayors mode of transportation struck a particular nerve: In October, his administration discontinued a ferry service between Manhattan and the Rockaways that had operated since Hurricane Sandy.
Lisa OShea, 55, who works at a copy center near where the memorial was held, suggested divine intervention.
He had the luxury of taking a boat over, like wed like to do, she said. God punished him. That fog was intentional.