It’s Not You, It’s Us, Gracie Mansion

New York City’s previous mayor, Hizzoner Richie Rich, chose to reside at his own home during his 3 terms in office, rather than move into the Mayor’s Mansion, Gracie Hall. Not incomprehensible, as his crib was probably much better pimped-out than the $150 million estate on the Upper East Side.

But now the People’s Mayor, Bill de Blizzardio, is also, at least temporarily, eschewing residence in Gracie Mansion.  Some cite his son Dante finishing out the school year in Park Slope rather than commute from 88^th Street to Fort Greene as the explanation.

Brian Lehrer, maybe like many of our city’s citizens, had assumed the de Blasio/McCrae family had already made the move (“Now we’re up on the East Side, takin’ our turn at bat”), and this morning asked de Blasio how they were liking Gracie Mansion. Bill’s response was – I won’t say, evasive -- but maybe a little vague, along the lines of “..actually, we haven’t moved in yet… yeah, we’ll get there… living there will be a great experience… [chuckle]…”

That the Mayor still walks and eats and lifts free weights among us isn’t news to Slopers, many of whom see him working out at the local Y and dining on 7^th avenue. Ah, the irresistible pull of Park Slope, where everyone knows your name, and very few people are mad at you about snow removal, and most people voted for you. Maybe he wants to linger at the dance with those who brung him.

Could be he’s concerned about his populist cred, once he’s making toast in a kitchen recently renovated for 1.1 million dollars. If you’re positioning yourself as a man of the people, photo ops in front of your row house with its aluminum siding is much more folksy than a pic of the family waving from Gracie Mansion’s massive portico.

This reporter has never spotted her famous neighbor to the south, out and about being a Park Sloper. And until she can claim that celebrity sighting, she would prefer he hang out a little longer. What’s the hurry? Hope to see you around 12^th Street, Sir!