ELIZABETH — Gov. Chris Christie insists he and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg are friends, but that doesn't mean he didn't let him know when a former New Jersey governor was omitted from a Sept. 11 memorial ceremony. The New York Post reported today that former Gov. Donald DiFrancesco had been left off a ceremony being planned by...
(Left to right) New York Governor David Paterson, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden and his wife, Jill Biden, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie lay roses in the reflecting pool as they join family members who lost loved ones during ceremonies to mark the 9th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center.ELIZABETH — Gov. Chris Christie insists he and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg are friends, but that doesn't mean he didn't let him know when a former New Jersey governor was omitted from a Sept. 11 memorial ceremony.
The New York Post reported today that former Gov. Donald DiFrancesco had been left off a ceremony being planned by Bloomberg's office and that Christie became angry and insisted he be added.
DiFrancesco, who was governor during the 9/11 terrorist attack, was added to the participants Wednesday.
But that doesn't mean Christie's entirely pleased with the ceremony lineup. Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Chairman David Samson, who represents the Garden State in the running of the authority, still isn't being included in the program.
"Stay tuned, we'll see. I don't know if I need to send his business card, but David Samson is the chairman of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. He is the leader of the ground we will be standing on," Christie said. "I'm not going to get into some huge public back and forth on this, I've made my position clear."
When asked why Christie, who controls half the Port Authority, couldn't just force them to include Samson, he responded, "We're not going to have an Alexander Hamilton-Aaron Burr moment," referring to the historical duel.
The Post quoted unnamed sources saying Christie privately called Bloomberg "Napoleon," "a dictator" and "a putz," which Christie denied entirely.
"Usually, I just say those things publicly," he joked. He added, "I consider Mike Bloomberg a friend, and I think he feels the same way."
Related coverage:
• Gov. Christie to commemorate 9/11 in Jersey City on Sept. 10
