By Nina Mandell
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MANHATTAN — You can count Mayor Bloomberg out of the governor's race.
He appeared on the Letterman Wednesday night to chat about issues facing New Yorkers today — pedestrian plazas, bedbugs, rats and, of course, the controversial Park51 project.
Bloomberg said he thought being governor was a "terrible job" and said he prefers being mayor because he can interact with constitutents more, the Associated Press reported. He did not speak of any other future political plans.
On the subject of the mosque, Bloomberg repeated what he said on the Daily Show With Jon Stewart earlier this month, pointing out that there are a variety of buildings and businesses near the Ground Zero site — including adult bars.
“The issue is simply should the government be involved,” he said, as has become his constant mantra throughout the controversy. “I simply believe if you want to build a place of worship … the government shouldn’t be involved. Whether anyone has the money to do that, we’ll see.”
Letterman joked about Bloomberg’s Times Square pedestrian plaza, bringing out a fake tree during the Mayor’s introduction, and asked him about what he was planning on doing about New York’s biggest problem: rats and bed bugs.
“We’re going to try to export them,” Bloomberg said.
Letterman also asked about his wealth — according to the latest Forbes list he is the 10th richest person in America, with a net worth of around $18 billion.
“I saw a thing today, this is probably embarrassing … that you’re like the 10th wealthiest person in the world or something?” the host asked.
“That’s not embarrassing,” Bloomberg joked.
