New York Post

It's all gov, war & politics for Hizzoner

- Yoav Gonen and Bruce Golding

Hizzoner’s contempt for Gov. Cuomo boils over in newly released e-mails that include chats with staffers about “counteratt­acks” and “foxholes” — and his accusation that his nemesis is “defiling” state government.

Mayor de Blasio went ballistic over a report that the governor’s MTA chairman was considerin­g cuts that would target New York City if the mayor didn’t meet his demands for additional funding.

“As with mayoral control of education, Andrew Cuomo is defil- ing any sense of decent, normal, high-road government left in New York State,” de Blasio fumed in a Sept. 21, 2015, e-mail.

“We can’t take this lying down. This should be a validators’ holiday since it violates every notion of regionalis­m and serious planning. We must fight back and have other voices fight back. I need a proposal from you guys on how to punch back here.”

Emma Wolfe, now de Blasio’s chief of staff, quickly wrote back with a five-item list of responses.

“Yes — We are strategizi­ng per your directive yesterday — want to bring you a solid plan and not more seat of the pants ad hoc tactical plans,” Wolfe wrote.

De Blasio also heaped praise on staffers for helping him prepare for a June 2015 interview in which he accused Cuomo of playing political games.

The e-mails basks in the media reaction to de Blasio’s remarks, including one account that said he “eviscerate­d” the governor.

“A great team effort, everyone,” de Blasio wrote on June 30, 2015. “Good thinking and good coaching to get me ready. Well done.”

When then-Chief of Staff Thomas Snyder wrote back saying the coverage positioned him “as voice of the dems,” de Blasio called it a “Grand slam.”

“Timing is everything, my friends. We half-planned, halfs tumbled upon the perfect timing,” the mayor wrote. “Now brace for the counter-attack.”

“Digging foxholes now,” Snyder replied.

Cuomo was again on de Blasio’s mind when he e-mailed aides about funding for the MTA.

“Cuomo has laid a trap and we’re walking into it,” he warned.

“We are letting him dictate the terms. We have to correct this before we create a new defeat for ourselves,” the mayor wrote on Sept. 18, 2015.

“NO ONE on this team should say anything more on this issue publicly until we sort out our longer term strategy.”

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