NEW YORK—The final mayoral debate, originally scheduled for Tuesday Oct. 29, will be moved to Wednesday Oct. 30 so as not to conflict with Superstorm Sandy remembrances the Campaign Finance Board (CFB) announced Sunday night.
“New Yorkers will be feeling the impact of Hurricane Sandy and its aftermath for years to come,” said Amy Loprest, Executive Director of the CFB in a statement. “The next mayor will be responsible for helping the affected families recover, and for helping a wounded city become more resilient. The first anniversary of Sandy’s landfall can serve to focus this discussion about the future of our city. Out of respect to those who are still rebuilding, we join all New Yorkers in commemorating the storm on Tuesday.”
Superstorm Sandy took the lives of 44 New Yorkers and caused billions in damage to property around the city when it made landfall on Oct. 29, 2012.
In June the CFB released the full schedule of debates which included the final mayoral debate on the Sandy anniversary. No formal request to postpone the debate was made prior to Sunday.
On Sunday Democratic mayoral nominee Bill de Blasio and Republican nominee Joe Lhota released a joint statement calling for the debate to be moved:
“Tuesday marks the first anniversary of Superstorm Sandy, a tragic event that took dozens of lives, and caused enormous damage to the homes, businesses and communities of tens of thousands of people in New York City, and across the region. This day should be marked with solemn reflection and remembrance. Today, we are joining together to call on the Campaign Finance Board to reschedule Tuesday’s debate to Wednesday. This is the most respectful and appropriate way to honor the memories of those who were lost, and to stand with those who are still struggling to recover.”
The debate will now air on October 30 on NBC from 7-8 p.m. with a bonus 30 minutes shown online from 8-8:30 p.m.
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