Mayor’s ‘Mueller’
Pols blast DeB plot to ax prober
Mayor de Blasio came under fire from some of his closest allies Friday for plotting to sack the city’s top watchdog — who has issued blistering reports about the administration.
The plot was spelled out in a dossier assembled by the city’s Law Department in April, which laid out a rationale for dumping Department of Investigation Commissioner Mark Peters (inset).
“The reports are very troubling, raise serious questions, and warrant an investigation,” said former City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, one of de Blasio’s closest allies in his first term.
“DOI needs to be an indepen- dent watchdog for New Yorkers, and that independence needs to be respected by everyone — including the mayor.”
Lawmakers promised to prevent a City Hall takeover of DOI.
“I will be vigilant to protect the independencence of DOI,” vowed Councilmann Ritchie Torres (D-Bronx), who chairs the investigation sons committee.
He said firing Peters would be as “unethical” as Presidentdent Trump dumping specialpecial counsel Robert Mueller.eller.
Another mayoral ally, Public Advocatevocate Leti-Letitia James, echoedchoed Torres. “The DOI’s inde-ependence is a crucial part of its ability to perform oversight and battle corruption,” said James, a candidate for state attorney general. The dossier on Peters lays bare just how frustrated de Blasio is with his onetime campaign treasurer.surer. Peters “sshould be removedmoved from his public officefice . . . he hash taken actionstions that exceed his lawful authauthority and has engaged in threatening, coercive and abusive behavior,” claims the document prepared by Corporation Counsel ZachZachary Carter. It details tthree episodes in 2017 where Peters allegedly berated officials at the city’s budget and real-estate agencies over new offices.
Comptroller Scott Stringer has questioned the 20-year lease for DOI’s new downtown space, saying the $353 million price tag is “unusually expensive.”
De Blasio has fumed about Peters’ aggressive probes into the Housing Authority, Correction Department and child services agency — and attempted takeover of the school system’s investigative office, sources said.
De Blasio was “gobsmacked” by the ferocity of Peters’ reports and felt he went rogue, said a source.
When asked to comment, de Blasio spokesman Eric Phillips responded, “No thanks.”