Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
John Liu Makes Everyone Call Him "Mr. Comptroller"
By
Ben Muessig
Published Jan 11, 2010
Modified Jan 11, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Ben Muessig
Published Jan 11, 2010
Modified Jan 11, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
New city comptroller John Liu takes his job seriously — so seriously in fact that he requires his staffers to rise from their chairs when he enters the room and refer to him as "Mr. Comptroller." Liu introduced the mandatory formalities in meetings last week, and they already have "veteran denizens of the Municipal Building snickering behind his back," according to the Post.
"I am making the adjustment myself. I'm used to calling him J.L.," said his press secretary, Sharon Lee. "This is universal, for people who have known him for years or people who are meeting him for the first time." Lee said the rules aren't an official policy and that she tells staffers to sit down and refer to their boss as John after the initial formal greeting. Liu was known as "John" when he was a councilman, "John is the same John, and he hasn't changed," she added. "At the same time, we want to address the office with the seriousness it demands."
Apparently, the formalities are a big reversal from former Comptroller Bill Thompson, who urged staffers to call him "Billy," and former city and state Comptroller Alan Hevesi. "Alan would do just the opposite. If someone called him Mr. Comptroller, [he would say,] 'What is this Mr. Comptroller s- - -? Call me Alan.' That went for maintenance people as well as deputies," an aide said.
Tagged
comptroller
formalities
john liu
manners
Municipal Building
Politics
staffer
Ben Muessig
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Queens man found dead, police say, and injured woman is his mother, neighbors say
Police are investigating a related incident in which a 62-year-old woman was found injured beneath the Van Wyck Expressway.
By
Charles Lane
Published Oct 14, 2026 at 7:39 p.m. ET
Man shot by ICE in NYC's Marble Hill said federal officers never identified themselves
The wounded man said he didn't learn ICE agents were involved until he woke up in the hospital.
By
Arya Sundaram
and
Samantha Max
News
Man shot by ICE in NYC's Marble Hill said federal officers never identified themselves
The wounded man said he didn't learn ICE agents were involved until he woke up in the hospital.
By
Arya Sundaram
and
Samantha Max
Brooklyn school dean says MTA officers assaulted him over a $3 bus fare he says he paid
By
Carol Chen
National Grid customers in NYC will see higher gas bills this winter
By
Rosemary Misdary
Bruce Blakeman joins Gov. Hochul in support for expanding NY rape law
By
Jon Campbell
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .