Pataki: 'Things Are Getting Worse' In NYC Under De Blasio
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Former Gov. George Pataki has bemoaned conditions in New York City, saying progress has been interrupted under the administration of Mayor Bill de Blasio.
Speaking on MSNBC's "Morning Joe," the Republican, whose presidential campaign has struggled to gain traction, said he hopes the Democratic mayor "gets his act together."
Pataki said "things are getting worse" in the city and that there are homeless people "lying all over the place."
Mayoral spokeswoman Karen Hinton responded by saying that "with all due respect" to Pataki, his comments are "complete and utter nonsense." She added that de Blasio is rectifying "decades of neglect by previous administrations."
Pataki also said the police "have been told to back off." He said there should be a focus on quality-of-life improvements.
Hinton said the city's quality of life "has never been better."
The former governor also took his attack on the mayor to Twitter.
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