Former labor big Hanley dies

JAMES HANLEY, one of the city’s longest serving labor commissioners known for his tough-but-fair negotiating style, has died. He was 69.

Hanley earned the respect of union bosses and the three mayors he served, deftly navigating the pressures of one of the most stressful jobs in city government.

George Arzt, former press secretary for Mayor Ed Koch, called Hanley “an extraordinary public servant whose judgment and expertise was trusted by everyone on all sides of the negotiating table.”

Hanley first worked as an electrician at the World Trade Center and in construction before entering city government over 40 years ago as an administrative assistant in the Office of Labor Relations. He went on to be its commissioner, on and off, for 24 years — from Mayor Abe Beame to Mayor Michael Bloomberg. He retired shortly after the inauguration of Mayor de Blasio.

Protesters rally for net neutrality and against federal plans to repeal the fairness rule outside a Verizon store near Bryant Park on Thursday. It was part of a nationwide series of demonstrations.