That sound you hear is the NYC press corps gasping “what the f***” at the exact same moment as former NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg just apologized for stop-and-frisk:
Stunning news: @MikeBloomberg, who is preparing to run for president, is apologizing for his NYPD's use of stop-and-frisk at Christian Cultural Center. He has adamantly defended it for years, even as crime has gone down as stops have been reduced.
— Sally Goldenberg (@SallyGold) November 17, 2019
“I got something important really wrong”:
.@MikeBloomberg on stop-and-frisk, a policing tactic he used when he was mayor that was ruled unconstitutional in how it impacted racial minorities: "I got something important really wrong."
— Sally Goldenberg (@SallyGold) November 17, 2019
Keep in mind, he’s been defending the policy “for years”:
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Stunning news: @MikeBloomberg, who is preparing to run for president, is apologizing for his NYPD's use of stop-and-frisk at Christian Cultural Center. He has adamantly defended it for years, even as crime has gone down as stops have been reduced.
— Sally Goldenberg (@SallyGold) November 17, 2019
This just isn’t believable:
Just about every reporter who covered Mayor Bloomberg is having same reaction to his speech in Brooklyn. Genuine surprise since he's:
1. Not known for self doubt/admission of error
2. This is a massive policy reversal
3. He's admitting a pillar of his mayoralty was a mistake— Michael Barbaro (@mikiebarb) November 17, 2019
He made the comment at a black megachurch in Brooklyn:
Happening now: Former NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who has made moves toward a run for president, is speaking at a predominantly black megachurch in Brooklyn. He is opening by touting his record on reducing crime.
— Sean Sullivan (@WaPoSean) November 17, 2019
And Yashar Ali is calling it “one of the fakest things I’ve ever seen in politics”:
This walk back by Bloomberg, who was defending stop-and-frisk as late as last fall, is one of the fakest things I’ve ever seen in politics. https://t.co/TOASYGkdie
— Yashar Ali ? (@yashar) November 17, 2019
And right after this mother of all flip-flops, Bloomie called Al Sharpton to make sure he heard the apology:
This so far is the mayor's race in 2001 all over again. "Moments after services ended, Mr. Bloomberg called the Rev. Al Sharpton…to ask if he had watched his speech." https://t.co/X3Nepswxiv
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) November 17, 2019
Watch here:
.@MikeBloomberg on imposing “stop-and-frisk” in NYC: "I was totally focused on saving lives. But as we know, good intentions are not good enough. … I was wrong. And I’m sorry." pic.twitter.com/7SulOtHt6b
— Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) November 17, 2019
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