Mayoral candidate Bo Dietl spoke with the press today following an appearance at District Council 1707/AFSCME. Labor Press and AM 970 The Answer hosted a “Labor Appreciation Day” which included a panel on the future of Rikers Island. Dietl, along with Michael Palladino of the Detectives Endowment Association, Elias Husamadeen of the Correction Officers Benevolent Association and Gregory Floyd of Teamsters Local 237 were panelists and former police and corrections commissioner Bernard Kerik moderated.
Although Dietl’s press advisory promised a joint press conference with Kerik, Kerik departed immediately after the panel and did not participate in the press Q&A.
Topics included Kerik and how Dietl reconciles his criticism of Mayor de Blasio’s “corruption”, Kerik’s comment that children should be specifically taught how to safely interact with police, the continuing possibility of Dietl running in the Republican primary and possible union support, the “raise the age” initiative and mayoral control of schools. Here’s the wide ranging post-panel Q&A with Dietl: