De Blasio, Mark-Viverito Make Nice After Uber Spat
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- After contentious remarks from City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito about who resolved the Uber war and how it was resolved, the speaker and Mayor Bill de Blasio were all smiles and giggles Monday, both insisting they're still best friends.
Last week, when the City Council agreed not to limit Uber's growth, the mayor insisted a cap was still on the table following a four-month study on the impact of the expansion of for-hire cars in the city. That led Mark-Viverito to bristle: "It's really not for him to decide," she said.
But de Blasio and Mark-Viverito appeared to have made nice since, appearing together at a news conference announcing that about 400,000 people have obtained New York City's municipal ID card since the program was rolled out six months ago.
"I've known the speaker well since she first ran for office, and we've been friends and allies ever since," de Blasio told reporters, including 1010 WINS' Juliet Papa and WCBS 880's Peter Haskell, at the Museum of Natural History.
"An effective government and effective governance is being able to collaborate and being able to be clear," Mark-Viverito said.
The mayor and the speaker sought to make it clear they were on the same page when it comes to Uber down the road.
"We will continue to have conversations internally as a council and explore all options," Mark-Viverito said. That means a cap on Uber remains a possibility.
Meanwhile, the mayor said the success of the IDNYC program sends a message that "this is a city for everyone."
"The unmatched success of this program in just the first six months is a testament to New York City's values of inclusivity and equality, and our continued commitment to ensuring all residents feel respected, recognized and welcome to build a life here," de Blasio said.
The card is useful for the elderly, homeless and immigrants who lack legal documentation. It also offers free access to cultural institutions.
WEB EXTRA: Full List Of NYC ID Benefits
In June, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon applied for a card of his own, saying it would make him "a real New Yorker.''
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