NYC Radio: DeBlasio Blames Headlines For Dropping Approval Ratings

Mayor de Blasio

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio on Friday blamed his tumbling approval ratings on “relentless negative headlines” — and not the seven corruption and fund-raising scandals swirling around his administration.

“I think it is telling that those numbers were very, very strong for two full years, and then there’s relentless negative headlines,” de Blasio said in an interview with WNYC radio, referring to slumping approval ratings in a recent Quinnipiac University poll.

The NY Post reports the poll also found that only 43 percent of voters believe the mayor is honest and trustworthy — down from 60 percent in January.

“Of course people are going to be influenced by them [negative headlines] in the short term,” de Blasio said.

“I’ve told you, when everything comes to light, we have done everything appropriately, legally,” he continued.

“And then I think the public will look at that and in fact say — OK, there were a lot of allegations thrown at this guy, but in the end there was nothing there.”

Last week, de Blasio earned scorn by announcing that his emails and other communications with five non-government advisers would be shielded from public scrutiny, even though the advisers represent clients with business before the city.

In past months, de Blasio and his administration have been revealed to be the subject of multiple state and federal investigations.