Cuomo, de Blasio keep their distance at World Cup winners' parade
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and U.S. women's soccer team member Abby Wambach reacts to the fan during a ticker tape parade in lower Manhattan on Friday, July 10, 2015. Credit: Yeong-Ung Yang
Three parade floats separated feuding Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio Friday as New York City feted the World Cup-winning U.S. women's soccer team.
Cuomo rode Float No. 2 with star forward Abby Wambach and other teammates. Ten minutes later came de Blasio on Float No. 6, joined by team members including the World Cup's most valuable player, Carli Lloyd. De Blasio's float, a staff member boasted, also had the cup itself.
The mayor's cold war with the governor over the city's Albany agenda turned hot when de Blasio accused Cuomo of pursuing a "vendetta" to thwart the city's interests.
In the past, the men have marched together -- at parades for Columbus Day, West Indian Day, Labor Day and Greek Independence, for example. This time, there was no interaction in public. A Cuomo spokeswoman didn't return a message seeking comment.
Before the parade began, Cuomo told reporters that he had not spoken to de Blasio since the mayor returned from a vacation, adding that, "as soon as there's a need to talk to him, I'm sure I will."
When his float finished the parade route, the governor hopped into a waiting SUV at Park Row and skipped the City Hall ceremony.
De Blasio spokeswoman Karen Hinton said of the parade: "We are glad Governor Cuomo was able to participate."
Matthew Chayes, a Newsday reporter since 2007, covers New York City.
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