Mayor Mulls Participating In Albany Press Dinner, a First
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While Mayor Bloomberg’s experience with Albany as mayor has been marked by tension and frustration, it doesn’t mean he can’t joke about it.
To the surprise of the Albany press corps, Mr. Bloomberg has expressed interest in participating in the reporters’ annual satire show taking place later this month.
The mayor is strongly considering contributing to the show a videotaped rebuttal speech, which would be screened following the musical skits performed by the capitol reporters. Bloomberg LP also is planning to buy two $300 tickets to the dinner.
It would be the first time the mayor has accepted an invitation to the show since he took office in 2002.
Two other politicians, Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, representing the Democrats, and Assembly Minority Leader James Tedisco, representing the Republicans, have already agreed to deliver rebuttal speeches.
Given the unusual events of the past few months, it’s a good bet that the show will be bawdier than past years. The 108th performance is titled “XXXCelsior.”
Historically, politicians have used the Legislative Correspondents Association’s dinner as a platform to spoof their foibles, rib the reporters, and flaunt their lighter side. Their appearances have frequently coincided with a run for office.
In 2000, Senator Clinton, who had just moved to Westchester to run for Senate, famously carried onstage a carpetbag. She returned to make another appearance six years later when she was running for re-election.
Mr. Bloomberg, who watched his congestion pricing plans go down in flames in March, would seem to have a lot to get off his chest. Whether his participation is a sign of his political ambitions is another matter.
Mr. Bloomberg has repeatedly said he does not want to run for governor — and challenge the current state leader, David Paterson — after leaving office in 2009.
Still, Senate Republicans are pining for a Bloomberg gubernatorial run, despite their friendly relations with Governor Paterson.
“We would love to see him run for governor,” a spokesman for the Republicans, John McArdle, said.
