For the second time in as many weeks, Police Commissioner Bratton sat down with NYPD union leaders to try to clear the air and repair the prodigious rift between City Hall and police. And just like last time, no significant progress was made—the meeting ended with more inflammatory rhetoric about Mayor de Blasio. But there is one person who can bring the two sides together: William Jefferson Clinton may very well turn out to be the potato chip peacemaker NYC needs right now. Unless...maybe we can get that guy? Is he available?
The idea was reportedly floated by Michael Palladino, head of the Detectives' Endowment Association: "Palladino said the mayor needs someone like Bill Clinton to act as an intermediary," a source told the Post. They added that Clinton is ideal because "he’s a statesman; he’s well-respected; he’s a good mediator and he was a pro-law enforcement president." In case they're looking for more of his qualifications, this renaissance man also plays sax, is close friends with Barbara Streisand, and once ate at Robertas.
Clinton is ALSO somewhat tight with de Blasio, the way one is close friends with someone who helped swear you in as mayor. They still get dinner together occasionally!
Unfortunately for everyone, Clinton wasn't at the meeting yesterday, which sounded like an utter waste of time. "The problem was not created here in headquarters, it started in City Hall," Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association President Patrick Lynch, the Donald Trump of the police unions, after the meeting. "We don’t believe there’s a willingness on the part of City Hall to solve these problems."
Lynch, who has gone out of his way to stoke the fires of unrest amongst the NYPD in recent weeks, also denied there was any work slowdown, despite ample evidence to the contrary: "Our members are doing their job,” he said in a statement endorsed by the other four police union leaders. "The other solutions will come from the leaders here. We wish there was a leader in City Hall."
