Catherwood LibraryILR School

Mayor Bill de Blasio is under attack by multiple labor organizations after his trip to Iowa on Tuesday, just weeks after his reelection. The mayor’s office released a statement saying that the reason for the trip was to meet with other mayors and activists regarding the recent tax bill and that New Yorkers deserve a seat at the table in the national conversation on this issue. However, public outcry against the mayor’s trip is significant, and many citizens and labor leaders say he is neglecting local issues to focus on a national agenda. The Patrolman’s Benevolent Association is sending representatives to protest de Blasio’s attendance at a fundraiser for an Iowa-based advocacy group, claiming the mayor is no “friend to labor”. Meanwhile, the Transport Workers Union of America is launching a billboard campaign against de Blasio in Des Moines, Iowa.