De Blasio chides Gillibrand, saying snub over 9/11 event was 'unbelievable'

Mayor Bill de Blasio slammed New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand Thursday for shutting him out of an event marking the passage of a permanent compensation fund for Sept. 11 first responders.

“I can’t imagine why anyone would do such a thing on a moment that should be a unifying moment,” de Blasio told reporters in Brooklyn Thursday at an unrelated press conference. “I find it unbelievable.”

De Blasio — who, like Gillibrand, is struggling to poll above 1 percent in the Democratic presidential primary — was in Washington, D.C. for campaign events on Tuesday. He asked to attend the press conference hailing the passage of legislation to fund the 9/11 Victims Compensation Fund, alongside comedian Jon Stewart and a host of city first responders.

But Gillibrand's staff told him he was not welcome, both politicians' offices confirmed.

“It makes no sense to me. My team made very clear that I wanted to go there to honor our first responders and to show appreciation for the members of the Congress for getting this done,” de Blasio said Thursday.

The mayor offered to not speak at the press conference but was nonetheless turned away.

“I don’t know how that request gets turned down,” de Blasio said. “I’ve been around a lot of politicians — when a politician says, 'I’m not going to speak,' that’s a special moment.”

The legislation funded compensation payments to first responders and other survivors of the terrorist attack who have gotten sick or died from toxins at Ground Zero.

Gillibrand’s office said Tuesday she wanted the focus to be on first responders who fought for the bill.

On Thursday a Gillibrand aide speaking on background said the mayor's comments were "surprising" and told POLITICO that de Blasio planned to show up at the event regardless of being discouraged, and was told by Gillibrand's staff he would be welcome. He ultimately did not attend.

Article originally published on POLITICO Magazine