January 19, 2015 --

New York Post columnist Michael Goodwin, January 4, wrote, of the New York City mayor, "[T]o admit he's wrong and make a new start--not a chance in hell. He is who he is, and that's the problem." January 11, the Post quoted the mayor: "'I'm very comfortable with the fact that I've always tried to tell the truth and stay consistent to my values.'"

This writer's experience with Mr. deBLasio is that he dissembles while appearing to tell the truth. In 1999, I wrote to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to try to learn if HUD and New York City were working to resolve the issue of the property taxes on the Dayton Seaside buildings in Rockaway Park, Queens. I got a response from Mr. de Blasio, as Secretary's Representative, New York/New Jersey. In part, he wrote, "we are presently not involved in any discussion with any New York City officials." The date of the letter was March 8, 1999. The statement was undoubtedly true, if HUD and New York City did not discuss Dayton Seaside on March 8, 1999. To suggest that there were no ongoing discussions between HUD and New York City officials is, simply, not not be believed, as HUD agreed to turn over to the city property tax escrows to pay property tax at full levels.

The problem -- the buildings were constructed pursuant to a property tax abatement and the city had not settled on the taxes due during the transition from tax abatement to full taxes.

Thus, HUD made it possible, by taking escrows accumulating at abatement levels to pay full taxes, for the city to claim vast tax arrearages for taxes due during the transition period to full taxes.

The HUD-New York City property tax manipulation sent the buildings into bankruptcy and distress sale. When it comes to Bill de Blasio, true words are the screen of deception.

Further insight concerning the mayor, in the context of his difficulties with the New York City Police Department, is indicated by an observation of Benjamin Franklin concerning British officials in colonial America. Franklin, quoted in Trevelyan's "The American Revolution," commented that their office made then insolent, "'their insolence makes them odious; and being conscious that they are hated, they become malicious.'"

In the case of de Blasio, perhaps it is his ideology that makes him insolent. This, plus his confidence that he will always have the backing of The New York Times.