Category Archives: Bo Dietl

Dietl & Massey Dine



He’s gone from melba toast to movie star.  Mayoral candidate Bo Dietl was harshly dismissive of rival candidate Paul Massey during Massey’s campaign, deriding him as “melba toast”, bland and dry.  Last night, however, Dietl said that he had dinner Monday evening with former candidate Massey and that Massey now “looks like a movie star, nice and tan.”

“I don’t care” Dietl shrugged when I asked if Massey will endorse him.  Dietl separately said that he hasn’t asked for Massey’s endorsement and that Massey hasn’t offered it.  It’s notable, however, that Massey has not endorsed his former Republican rival, Nicole Malliotakis.

I spoke with Dietl as he departed from a campaign appearance at Juniper Valley Park in Middle Village – here’s what he had to say:

Dietl To The DR



Mayoral candidate Bo Dietl headed to the Dominican Republic last night, for a one day visit intended to help his campaign.  Dietl said that he’s scheduled to meet with the mayor of Puerto Plata, a north coast city, and visit an unspecified orphanage.  Dietl also said that he hopes to meet with “Leonel, the president”, presumably meaning former president Leonel Fernández Reyna.  (The current president is Danilo Medina.)

Here’s what Dietl had to say – we spoke last night during a campaign appearance at Juniper Valley Park.

When I Become Mayor …



It was smiles and jabs as mayoral candidates Bo Dietl and Nicole Malliotakis crossed paths tonight in Middle Village’s Juniper Valley Park.  The candidates were there to work the crowd at Italian Night, a concert drawing several hundred people. There’s been some significant long-distance friction between them recently as Republican leaders quashed Dietl’s final effort at getting a Wilson-Pakula and running in the Republican primary.

They smiled for the camera (singular, as I was the only reporter there), with some forced joviality smoothing the light jabs they each tossed toward the other.  Dietl sought to claim the turf immediately, declaring “this is Italian, this ain’t Greek, this is my neighborhood” as he walked up to Malliotakis.  They didn’t shake hands, much less hug, with Malliotakis’ hand on Dietl’s shoulder the only greeting gesture.  “Are you gonna be nice to me now Bo, I heard you’re calling me names on Curtis Sliwa” said Malliotakis.  Dietl offered that when he becomes mayor “I want you to help me … cause Staten Island needs a lot of help.”  Malliotakis quickly countered that when she becomes mayor “I will not make you my police commissioner.”  (Dietl retorted “I’ve been offered that already by your friend Malpass.”)

Their sparring over, Malliotakis introduced herself to a couple of parks workers in a truck as she and Dietl began walking.   As Malliotakis continued walking Dietl stopped to talk to those workers, soon calling out to the departing Malliotakis “they’re with me, they’re with me … they love the Bo man.”

Update – Photo Gallery:

Our photo gallery is available here.

Dietl On Ending His Wilson-Pakula Bid



Mayoral candidate Bo Dietl says that his most recent effort at getting on the Republican primary ballot was squashed by New York State Republican Chairman Ed Cox and Manhattan Republican Chairwoman Adele Malpass.

Dietl had recently renewed his effort at obtaining  a Wilson-Pakula, with a surprising successful step Monday night as he received the Queens County Republican Committee’s endorsement.  Obtaining a Wilson-Pakula requires a majority vote of the five New York City Republican county committees, so he still had a long way to go but Dietl’s Queens endorsement reenergized his effort.  Bronx County, which like Queens had initially endorsed Paul Massey and was now without a candidate, appeared likely to also support Dietl.  Dietl abruptly announced yesterday that he was ending his effort at obtaining a Wilson-Pakula, and would not seek to run in the Republican primary.

I spoke with Dietl today about his decision, with Dietl asserting that Cox and Malpass pressured Bronx Republican Chairman Mike Rendino to not support Dietl.  Without Bronx GOP support Dietl had virtually no chance.  According to Dietl, he was confident enough of his chances that he planned to host a meeting this coming Monday with the five Republican county executive committees, seeking a vote on his Wilson-Pakula.

We spoke today on Arthur Avenue, just ahead of Dietl’s walking tour with actor Chazz Palminteri.

Queens With Dietl



Mayoral candidate Bo Dietl with Queens Republican Chairman Bob Turner, on May 20, 2017.

The Queens County Republican Party tonight endorsed Bo Dietl in the race for mayor.  The Queens Republican Party had endorsed Paul Massey, but Massey announced his withdrawal from the race on June 28th.  Dietl is not a registered Republican, having muffed an attempt at switching his registration from Republican to Democratic, and sought a Wilson-Pakula early in the race to run in the Republican primary.  Republican leaders declined to offer Dietl such a waiver then, and the issue appeared completely ended after Dietl lost his lawsuit seeking reinstatement to the Republican Party.

I’m told that the vote, by the Queens County Republican executive committee, was Dietl-16, Malliotakis-3, abstain-2.  Continue reading Queens With Dietl

Going, Going … Bo?



Could Bo Dietl still end up in a Republican mayoral primary?  That prospect has appeared dead since Dietl lost his lawsuit seeking reinstatement as a Republican and the five county Republican leaders declined any interest in granting Dietl a Wilson-Pakula, but he has yet another chance tonight.  Dietl is set to appear at a meeting of the Queens County Republican executive committee to pitch his candidacy, seeking an endorsement and a Wilson-Pakula.  Nicole Malliotakis is also expected to appear, seeking the Queens County GOP endorsement in the wake of Paul Massey’s withdrawal from the race.  The Queens Republican Party initially supported Paul Massey, but Massey abruptly announced his withdrawal from the race on June 28th.  As we reported on July 6th, the Queens GOP then set tonight as the date for considering its post-Massey options.  Continue reading Going, Going … Bo?

Dietl Defends



Mayoral candidate Bo Dietl held a press conference today, his first since giving up his court battle seeking reinstatement to the Republican Party.  Speaking in front of his office on West 34th Street Dietl gave an impassioned defense against unflattering press accounts of some of his business activities as a private investigator.  He said that accounts of his working for Steve Bannon and Roger Ailes were false and that his work for Fox has been misrepresented.  He also asserted that his role in the James Rackover murder case has been overstated, saying that he briefly assisted Jeffery Rackover but would not  and did not in any way assist accused killer James Rackover.

Dietl plugged a Facebook poll he conducted that produced a majority supporting him in a three-way race with Bill de Blasio and Paul Massey.  Such unscientific polls are widely regarded as unreliable, but Dietl nonetheless seized on the positive result as a significant marker.  Dietl’s press conference was held shortly before Paul Massey’s surprise withdrawal from the race.  In a later conversation Dietl laughed and suggested that perhaps his Facebook poll results pushed Massey to exit the race.  Dietl also released a copy of his new voter registration form, changing his registration to Democratic.  (That registration will not allow him to run in a Democratic primary until 2018, however.)

Massey’s sudden exit seemingly ended any serious competition in the Republican primary, although it may cause some renewed interest in Dietl among Republicans unsatisfied with the leading candidate.  In a separate conversation late today Dietl suggested that there is some meaningful renewed Republican interest in granting him a Wilson-Pakula, but didn’t say who has expressed such interest.  He did say that he “would definitely explore the possibility of accepting a Republican Wilson-Pakula.”  He also expressed interest in seeking to replace Massey as the Independence Party candidate, but said that he hasn’t yet taken any steps toward doing so.

Video:

Here is Dietl’s full press conference:

Photo Gallery: NYC Pride March



The sun was shining, the crowds were cheering and the politicians waving as New York City’s annual Pride March was held Sunday.  Once a small protest on the political fringe, the Pride March is now decidedly in the mainstream of New York politics.  This year’s edition featured many elected officials and candidates, including Governor Andrew Cuomo, Mayor Bill de Blasio, Senator Chuck Schumer and mayoral candidates Paul Massey and Bo Dietl.

“Mama” Jean DeVente, organizer of the first gay pride parade in NYC and a leading activist since Stonewall, rides with the Stonewall Veterans.

It was a regular Cuomo/de Blasio affair, with the two leading Democrats arriving separately and taking pains to avoid each other.  Governor Cuomo delayed his arrival until the March began, rolling up 34th Street in his SUV to the parade route just as his marching contingent came down Fifth Avenue to 34th.  Cuomo then held a brief press Q&A as his contingent stood still, blocking the parade route for Mayor de Blasio and the rest of the March.

Continue reading Photo Gallery: NYC Pride March

Dietl On Parade (Updated)



Mayoral candidate Bo Dietl energetically zigged and zagged down Fifth Avenue this afternoon, dancing and exhorting New Yorkers to vote for him at the New York City Pride March.  Other politicians periodically head to the parade sidelines for a few handshakes, high fives and hugs.  Dietl saw it as a prime sales opportunity, however, frequently stopping to bellow out a pitch for his candidacy.

Here’s a clip of Dietl twirling along as a more agile dancer does handsprings down Fifth Avenue:

Pitch:

Here’s a clip of Dietl stopping to make his campaign pitch to parade spectators:

Dietl Lawsuit & Wilson-Pakula Update (Updated)



Mayoral candidate Bo Dietl’s effort at running in the Republican mayoral primary appears to be continuing, notwithstanding an adverse ruling last week by the New York Supreme Court’s Appellate Division.  Dietl said that his lawsuit continues, now in the Court of Appeals, and suggested that he may yet receive a Wilson-Pakula from the Republican Party.  We spoke during a press conference Thursday outside Gracie Mansion in which Dietl criticized the City’s switch to treating public urination as primarily a civil, rather than a criminal, offense. Continue reading Dietl Lawsuit & Wilson-Pakula Update (Updated)

Ulrich Retreats On Dietl Endorsement



Council Member Eric Ulrich, the sole Republican elected official to have endorsed Bo Dietl for mayor, last night made clear that his endorsement does not extend to an independent run by Dietl.  Instead, Ulrich will support the Republican nominee in the general election whoever that nominee is.  Ulrich did express hope that Dietl could still become that nominee, urging Dietl to again approach the Republican county leaders for a Wilson-Pakula which would allow Dietl to run in the Republican primary.

Ulrich endorsed Dietl in April, giving Dietl a boost early in his campaign.  Last week Dietl lost his appeal in his lawsuit seeking reinstatement to the Republican Party and the associated right to run in the Republican primary.  As a person who is not registered in any party, and who has not received any of the “minor” party nominations, Dietl’s only prospect for running is on a self-created independent ballot line.  Ulrich made clear that he will not support Dietl in such a run.  I spoke with Ulrich following a meeting in Belle Harbor of the Rockaway Republican Club.