Mayor-Elect de Blasio Says Family Will Move Into Gracie Mansion
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - The de Blasio family will move into Gracie Mansion.
In a statement by Bill, Chirlane, Chiara and Dante de Blasio on their website, the family called it "a tough decision."
"Brooklyn is our home and Park Slope is our neighborhood. And we love these places. In many ways, they've come to define who we are," they wrote.
Nonetheless, they're moving.
Mayor-Elect de Blasio Says Family Will Move Into Gracie Mansion
The family cited "logistical and security concerns" among the "variety of reasons" for making the move.
Mayor-Elect de Blasio Says Family Will Move Into Gracie Mansion
"While this is a temporary move for us, it is one we are very proud to make," they wrote.
Outgoing Mayor Michael Bloomberg never took up residence in the 214-year-old Gracie Mansion. He poured millions into a sweeping renovation of the Federal-style building, which overlooks the East River. Just last year, Bloomberg redid the kitchen for $1.25 million.
WEB EXTRA: Take A Video Tour Of Gracie Mansion
Bloomberg said he believes mayors should not live there.
"Now Ed Koch, who I respect and love, he said 'It's a great house,'" Bloomberg said in 2012. "It is a great house. I just disagree with him. It's a great house for everybody, not for one family."
The four-bedroom home has 12 full-time employees, including kitchen and gardening staff. The bulk of the mansion's $1.7 million operating budget is paid for by the city, with additional costs covered by a conservancy.
"It should be used as we use it now," Bloomberg said in 2012. "There are events every day at Gracie Mansion throughout the whole house. If a mayor's family is living there, then most of that house — a good half of it — is just not available. If a mayor lives there, then what they're doing is costing this city a lot more money and depriving the rest of the city of one of the great facilities any city has."
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