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De Blasio Micro-Manages Broadway Stars in Promotional Video

By Nicole Levy | December 27, 2016 1:34pm
 A new promotional video released by the mayor's office upholds his reputation as a micromanager.
A new promotional video released by the mayor's office upholds his reputation as a micromanager.
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DNAinfo/Rosa Goldensohn

Mayor Bill de Blasio is known for taking a more hands-on approach to managing city agencies and staff than his predecessors. Some critics go as far as to say he has a "reputation for micro-managing everything."

Even, apparently, musical renditions of his administration's work in 2016.

In a promotional video posted to Twitter Tuesday morning, Broadway stars Jenna Ushkowitz and James Monroe Iglehart get the mayor's veto for their enthusiastic performance of a song touting increased tenant protection, more affordable housing, the new mental health hotline NYC Well, and record-low crime rates in New York City. 

Ushkowitz, a former "Glee" star now leading the Broadway musical "Waitress," and Iglehart, who plays Genie in the Broadway production of "Aladdin," launch into their melodic tribute at Gracie Mansion in the video at the mayor's request. 

"I really think [a song is] a great way to wrap up all the great things we've done this year," de Blasio says on the phone to a skeptical First Lady overseeing rehearsals. (The mayor is filmed sitting in an SUV.)

His opinion on the matter changes when Ushkowitz breaks out into dance and Iglehart pulls out a tambourine to really drive home the message — echoing the hashtag introduced during an anti-Trump speech at Cooper Union in late November — that "As always New York, we're goin' all the way."

"This is kind of over the top," de Blasio remarks to a staffer traveling with him. 

The mayor gingerly praises the singers' commitment, but decides to "keep it simple" and telegraph his message with a couple of tweets and a Facebook post. Everyone is relieved.

But will clever social media posts carry de Blasio through re-election in 2017?

"Cutting through the noise is tough in NYC," De Blasio's press secretary Eric Phillips said of the strategy behind the comic video in a tweet. "Gotta be creative in how we share govt's work."