Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Cuomo And De Blasio Continue To Fight Over Pre-K Funding Forever
By
Rebecca Fishbein
Published Feb 15, 2014
Modified Feb 15, 2014
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 .
Governor's Flickr
By
Rebecca Fishbein
Published Feb 15, 2014
Modified Feb 15, 2014
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
De Blasio and Cuomo's cranky marriage led to some more [kind of] fighting words this week, with Cuomo jabbing the snow-weary mayor for his "tale of two cities" campaign. And he's still not backing down on that whole no taxing rich people for universal pre-Kindergarten thing. The big fight will surely be available on pay-per-view soon. Hopefully neither one will threaten to pee on the other.
In an interview on WNYC yesterday, Cuomo noted that he knew "the tale of two cities’ very well," having heard de Blasio's famed campaign phrase in a speech of his father's at the 1984 Democratic National Convention. And apparently, he's pretty sure de Blasio's not doing it right. "The answer to the tale of two cities is not to create two states,” he said, calling the mayor out on his plan to tax the rich to pay for universal pre-K classes. “The answer to inequity and inequality is not to create more inequity and inequality."
The de Blasio vs. Cuomo pre-K plan divide's been a tough one recently, with the mayor maintaining he will hike income taxes for the wealthy to pay for the program while Cuomo's been promising to cut the city a big check for them. De Blasio's not backing down, but neither is the governor. "I’m not going to leave behind the children in any part of this state,” Cuomo said yesterday.
The interview wasn't all "tale of two cities" talk: Cuomo offered some kind words for the mayor while simultaneously giving him a good old fashioned ribbing about the criticism levied at him about how he's handled all this snow. "On any of these situations, second-guessing is very easy," Cuomo said, adding, "Welcome to the job. That’s why we get the big bucks." Get a room already, you two.
Tagged
bill de blasio
Cuomo
de Blasio
pre-k
pre-kindergarten
tale of two cities
Rebecca Fishbein
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
US judge tosses Trump lawsuit targeting pro-Palestinian protesters in NJ
The Justice Department sued demonstrators who protested at a synagogue, under a law aimed at shielding abortion clinics.
By
Willow Higgins
Published Oct 3, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. ET
A big, bright Saturn will be the highlight of NYC's fall stargazing season
Stargazers will have a great view of Saturn and two meteor showers in October.
By
Rosemary Misdary
News
A big, bright Saturn will be the highlight of NYC's fall stargazing season
Stargazers will have a great view of Saturn and two meteor showers in October.
By
Rosemary Misdary
NYC tow companies busted for ripping off drivers must give $67K in refunds, city says
By
Liam Quigley
Off-duty NYPD officer stabbed in the Bronx, police say
By
Ryan Kost
DOC negligence factored in death at Rikers' Bellevue hospital outpost, jail officials say
By
Brittany Kriegstein
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 .