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'Tell Ted Cruz We're New Yorkers,' Sen. Schumer Says Of City's Response To Blizzard

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- "Tell Ted Cruz we're New Yorkers," U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) said as he pointed out how he saw people making best of a monstrous blizzard in Brooklyn on Saturday.

Schumer spoke to CBS2's Elise Finch in Park Slope during the blizzard. The National Weather Service said the midnight Saturday morning reading came in at 26.8 inches in Central Park. If it stands, it will be the second highest total since records have been kept in 1869.

The current record is just 0.1 inches higher.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo ordered a travel ban during the blizzard, forbidding non-emergency vehicles from taking to the roads until 7 a.m. Sunday.

Schumer said when he visited Prospect Park during the blizzard, he saw that many people were enjoying and making the best of the blizzard and enjoying it, rather than barricading themselves inside.

"Tell Ted Cruz we're New Yorkers," Schumer said. "The snow didn't stop anyone. People were snow-skiing, bringing their dogs, sledding with their kids. It brings back fond memories from when I took my kids there," Schumer said.

Cruz (R-Texas), a fellow U.S. senator and a Republican presidential candidate, was hit with against bi-partisan backlash after his comments about "New York values" before and during the last Republican presidential debate last week.

"Everyone understands that the values in New York City are socially liberal, are pro-abortion, are pro-gay marriage, focus around money and the media," Cruz said, in what was intended to be a jab at Republican frontrunner and New Yorker Donald Trump.

The remarks drew ire across party lines, from Trump himself, U.S. Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y) and former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani on the Republican side, to Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio on the Democratic side.

Cuomo demanded an apology from Cruz, but Cruz instead went on the attack against Cuomo and de Blasio.

"I'm happy to apologize. I apologize to the millions of New Yorkers that have been let down by liberal politicians in that state," the senator said in South Carolina last week. "I apologize to all the pro-life and pro-marriage and pro-second amendment New Yorkers who were told by Governor Cuomo that they have no place in New York because that's not who new Yorkers are."

Cuomo and de Blasio wrote an op-ed piece in the New York Daily News, blasting Cruz and calling his comments about New York a low blow.

"If he had any class or possessed true presidential timber, Ted Cruz would offer New Yorkers a real apology instead of sarcasm -- not because we need it, but to prove he's not a hypocrite," the pair wrote.

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