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Mayor Bill de Blasio promised to finally start addressing quality-of-life concerns — including the rampant illegal drinking and pot smoking in Washington Square Park — as the city continues to rebound from the coronavirus shutdown.
“There’s more to do in making sure we set the right parameters, but right now our focus has been on bringing the city back, addressing the most serious concerns, and then more and more, we’re starting to be able to focus again on quality-of-life concerns as well,” de Blasio said Tuesday during his daily press briefing.
The Post had asked Hizzoner about the lack of enforcement of city rules against consuming alcohol and smoking marijuana in many public green spaces including Washington Square Park, where crowds of people drinking, dancing, taking drugs and even hosting unlicensed boxing bouts have angered local residents.
“What we’re seeing in recent weeks, more and more, the ability to bring down some of the biggest challenges like gun violence and start to turn more attention to quality of life as our recovery depends,” de Blasio said.
“The more we recover, the more we’ll be able to address things, some of these issues you raised. Some of the issues you raised, we’re going to keep addressing, that’s the bottom line,” de Blasio said.
On Monday, the mayor rejected the recommendations of his own Nightlife Advisory Board, which wants to allow drinking in outdoor public spaces.
He reiterated his opposition to the proposal at Tuesday’s briefing.
“That board is simply an advisory board — outside experts offering opinions,” de Blasio said.
“That does not make it the policy of New York City. I want to be real clear. I value people’s input advice but it’s a whole different ballgame on whether we do what they advise and we’re not making that change,” he said.
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