Blackouts And Bad Timing

Yesterday, on the 42nd anniversary of the city's infamous 1977 blackout, large portions of Manhattan went dark, caused by a mechanical failure at a power substation. Mayor Bill De Blasio, who's been running a traction- less campaign for the Dem nomination, was in Waterloo, IA during the blackout, and the comparisons to Napoleon's downfall ensued.

Bill de Blasio facing tough questions about why he isn’t in New York during a major blackout while running a long no- shot presidential campaign from a city called Waterloo is a bit too on the nose

— Josh Billinson (@jbillinson) July 14, 2019

Waterloo is a bit on the nose pic.twitter.com/3RI1BXROrL

— Lizzie O'Leary (@lizzieohreally) July 14, 2019

Others commented on De Blasio's AWOL from the city at a critical time:

New Yorkers will no doubt be typically forgiving of Mayor de Blasio for being in Iowa as a summer blackout plunges Times Square, Midtown, and the Upper West Side into darkness.

— Warren Bass (@warren_bass) July 14, 2019

The Mayor of New York is too busy in Iowa right now running for President to be the Mayor of New York during the blackout.

We're taking applications now.

Some experience desired but clearly not required given the current office holder.

— Don Winslow (@donwinslow) July 14, 2019

Hi @BilldeBlasio

There's a black out in NYC.

You know nothing about it, since you're running a campaign you have zero chance of winning.

— Mike (@FuctupMike) July 14, 2019

De Blasio's not the most popular of mayors to begin with, and this confluence of events won't help with New York City voters. Time to bid the Presidential hustings bye-bye?