NYPD Guards Mayor Bill De Blasio's Vacant Park Slope Home
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Some Park Slope residents are wondering why Mayor Bill de Blasio's vacant home is still being guarded by police.
De Blasio and his family have been living at Gracie Mansion since July. But as WCBS 880's Alex Silverman reported, a uniformed cop and guard booth can still be seen outside the mayor's 11th Street row house in Brooklyn.
"There's no need to keep it here, and they should remove it," neighbor Susan said.
NYPD Guards Mayor Bill De Blasio's Empty Park Slope Home
"It shouldn't stay if the mayor's not living there anymore," one man said.
De Blasio ally and city Public Advocate Letitia James seems to agree, telling the New York Post, "Assuming that they no longer live there, it appears to me that it's a waste of money and the post should be removed."
But asked about it at an unrelated news conference Monday, James dialed her tone back.
"Obviously, security matters really are best left up to NYPD," she said. "And so I'm going to defer to NYPD on all security matters."
James told the Post the security at de Blasio's house is worthy of an inquiry, but the public advocate's spokeswoman said James is not planning an investigation.
A source told CBS 2's Scott Rapoport that the mayor and his family do come back to the home and spend time there. The source did not elaborate on how frequently the family returns.
Some Park Slope residents said that the family is there every week or so, usually on weekends. They were not bothered by the extra security.
"It's nice to see him in the neighborhood. And it's a nice way to stay connected to the community," Miriam Alkon said.
The mayor's office deferred questions to police. The NYPD did not respond to WCBS 880's request for comment.
The Post estimated the cost to taxpayers is at least $5,533 a week for the security.
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