One era ended and a new one began one minute past midnight Wednesday as Michael Bloomberg turned over the reins of City Hall to New York City's 109th mayor, Bill de Blasio.
De Blasio, who during the mayoral campaign blasted Bloomberg's policies, made a surprise invitation to collaborate with the outgoing mayor during an impromptu encounter Tuesday.
"When the time comes, we can also talk about some good works we can do together," said de Blasio, who was checking out preparations for his inauguration at City Hall when Bloomberg happened to walk by.
"I thought we share many, many priorities — and would love to talk about it," de Blasio added.
Bloomberg was gracious, said he respected de Blasio and told him, in typical Bloomberg fashion, to "do a good job."
"I'm going to be a constituent of yours — a taxpayer, a voter, but mainly somebody who lives in the city . . . My grandson will be here, I assume," he said.
During Bloomberg's final day, de Blasio dealt with the first mini-controversy of his administration.
His transition team had announced there would be no media access at his swearing-in at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, with only live streaming and photos issued by his aides from his Park Slope home.
After a protest from The Associated Press, de Blasio's camp agreed to provide access to the wire service and to NY1, acting as pool reporters for the rest of the media.
De Blasio said the original plan was meant to spare his neighbors from a crush of press.
Officially, de Blasio couldn't become mayor until he paid a $9 registration fee to City Clerk Matt McSweeney and signed an official oath of office.
But de Blasio's noontime swearing-in before an audience of 5,000 well-wishers is the main evidence that a Democrat was taking control of City Hall for the first time in two decades.
According to preliminary plans, supporter Harry Belafonte — who will open the ceremony — was to get a seat right behind the new mayor, while Hillary and Bill Clinton were slated for seats across the aisle from de Blasio in the front row.
Also expected in the front row were Sen. Charles Schumer, Bloomberg, former Mayor David Dinkins, and two others who will be sworn in — incoming Public Advocate Letitia James and Comptroller Scott Stringer.
Among celebrity supporters of de Blasio. Cynthia Nixon is expected to be in the third row. She was scheduled to introduce "Pippin" star Patina Miller, performing John Lennon's "Imagine."
Bill Clinton was to use a Bible once owned by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, on loan from the upstate FDR presidential library, to swear in the new mayor.
Bloomberg's final public appearance as mayor came at a breakfast with the city's religious leaders at the New York Public Library. The wistful mayor shared credit with them and municipal employes for rebuilding the city after the 9/11 attacks.
He said he hoped New Yorkers remember him for being "an honest person," and said his job of the last 12 years has been the "greatest privilege of my life."
During his chance meeting with de Blasio, Bloomberg made small talk for two minutes, largely about Gracie Mansion, with his successor's family.
"Looking forward to moving into the new house?" he asked de Blasio's son, Dante — star of a hit campaign ad for his dad.
"Of course," answered Dante, a 16-year-old student at Brooklyn Tech HS.
"Good back yard to play in if you want throw a football around," Bloomberg said. "I never hit a golf ball but [former Mayor Rudy] Giuliani had a little mat to hit a ball — 'cause you can hit it 50-75 yards across the back yard."
Shortly after 5 p.m. Bloomberg left City Hall for the last time as the city's 108th mayor.
A few hundred people cheered outside as he walked down the stairs and out the gates. Gold-colored number balloons imprinted "108" were released and Bloomberg shook hands.
He took the subway home — just as he did to get to City Hall on his first day in 2002.
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