New York Post

Mayor only likes the news Hizz way

- Yoav Gonen

Mayor de Blasio came up with a new standard for the press on Friday — cover the stories that I tell you are important, not the ones I don’t like.

During a panel discussion in Brooklyn about the media, the mayor questioned why reporters “obsessed” over the Puerto Rican Day Parade’s deci- sion to honor former FALN leader Oscar López Rivera — a man that Hizzoner’s own police commission­er labeled a “terrorist.”

And de Blasio said it was odd that he keeps getting asked why he travels 12 miles a day in a two-vehicle caravan just to exercise on a stationary bike in Park Slope, Brooklyn, instead of the Upper East Side near Gracie Mansion. “I think it’s kind of strange to obsess over a gym routine or who’s marching in a parade compared to all the things that actually affect everyday life. I just don’t get it,” the mayor said during the interview with BuzzFeed editor-in-chief Ben Smith.

“I think people really are interested in the stuff that affects their lives. I would urge journalist­s to try it.”

His comments came as he’s being hammered for what he characteri­zed as minor issues that regular folks don’t care about.

He was criticized by environmen­tal advocates for urging New Yorkers to change their everyday hab- its to combat climate change at the same time he refused to alter his gasguzzlin­g gym routine.

De Blasio said for weeks he would march in the parade. But, in the face of political heat, he claimed he had been maneuverin­g all along behind the scenes to resolve the situation.

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