> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://hyperallergic.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Cats, Pot, Movies, Music, and Favorite Books: NYC's 2013 Mayoral Election - URL: https://hyperallergic.com/cats-pot-movies-music-and-favorite-books-nycs-2013-mayoral-election/ - Published: 2013-11-04T16:05:04.000Z - Updated: 2025-11-24T16:44:54.000Z - Description: Since the battle lines were drawn in the wake of September's primary, Bill De Blasio's strategy of political keep-away has morphed the mayoral contest into a slow moving triumphal parade, but here are some facts that might help you get to know the candidates better. - Author: Jeremy Polacek - Tags: Art, Bill De Blasio, #wp, #wp-post, #image-position-hidden, #Import 2025-11-24 06:59 (2012, 2013, part 2) ![De Blasio and Lhato](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2013/10/blasio-and-lhato.jpg) Since the battle lines were drawn in the wake of September’s Democratic primary, Bill De Blasio’s strategy of political keep-away has morphed the mayoral contest into a slow moving triumphal parade. Currently [41](http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Bill-De-Blasio-NYC-Mayoral-Race-Marist-Poll-Joe-Lhota--230418191.html?ref=hyperallergic.com) points ahead of Republican Joe Lhota in the polls, De Blasio is running to not lose. ![votetuesdaybutton_250](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2013/11/votetuesdaybutton_250.jpg) The one thing that did manage to generate some newfangled responses on the arts was Banky’s monthlong residency. Lhota, straight-shooting, knowledgable man he is, acknowledged he was familiar with the street artist. That he also considered Bansky a fugitive criminal on the lam for property defacement perhaps shouldn’t surprise anyone. De Blasio, on the other hand, has no idea what we’re talking about. [Bansky what](http://politicker.com/2013/10/bill-de-blasio-claims-to-have-never-heard-of-banksy/?ref=hyperallergic.com)? It’s a smart, if artless decision. All he needs to do is a run a clean, eventless campaign. Coming out for or against Bansky would makes waves. However, we do know a few things about the two candidates — how they feel about some matters of life and the arts that tell us something of their character and idiosyncratic thoughts. Favorite movies, music, books: get to know your future mayor and future loser of 2013 through their hobbies and artistic interests. | | **De Blasio** | **Lhota** | | --------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | Favorite Movie | *[Boycott](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0255851/?ref%5F=ttfc%5Ffc%5Ftt&ref=hyperallergic.com) —* De Blasio [reveres](http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2013/08/21/nyregion/mayoral-videos.html?hp&%5Fr=2&&ref=hyperallergic.com) this little seen HBO movie about the Civil Rights movement. | *[The Godfather](http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2013/08/21/nyregion/mayoral-videos.html?hp&%5Fr=2&&ref=hyperallergic.com) —* Lhota [really likes](http://politicker.com/2012/12/the-wit-and-wisdom-of-joe-lhota/?ref=hyperallergic.com#slide2) *The Godfather I* and *II*. | | Favorite Book | A younger De Blasio would choose *The Autobiography of Malcolm X* but “More recently,” Be Blasio said in his [Reddit AMA](http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/1o04t6/i%5Fam%5Fbill%5Fde%5Fblasio%5Fdemocratic%5Fcandidate%5Ffor/?ref=hyperallergic.com), “I’ve taken great inspiration from *[Nothing to Fear](http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/1o04t6/i%5Fam%5Fbill%5Fde%5Fblasio%5Fdemocratic%5Fcandidate%5Ffor/ccnn8i2?ref=hyperallergic.com)* by Adam Cohen,” a book about FDR’s first 100 days as president. | Whatever’s he’s “[currently reading](http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/mta-chairman-joe-lhota-article-1.1303423?ref=hyperallergic.com#ixzz2j3b5vuSt).” | | Favorite Music | Tough to tell. A [WNYC article](http://www.wnyc.org/story/tale-two-80s/?ref=hyperallergic.com) reports that as a NYU undergrad, De Blasio and his roommate “rocked out to the Talking Heads, The Clash, B-52s, and Bob Marley.” During its campaign, the De Blasio team has strategically embraced some contemporary acts, appearing with Steve Buscemi and Vampire Weekend in an arch [promotional video ](http://pitchfork.com/news/50435-watch-vampire-weekend-steve-buscemi-nyc-mayoral-candidate-bill-de-blasio-in-funny-promo/?ref=hyperallergic.com)while peddling election day [mixtapes](http://www.billdeblasio.com/news/stories-from-the-field/no-one-should-gotv-without-a-mix-tape?ref=hyperallergic.com) in its hopes of courting mass voter romance. On that list: Fun., Ramones (Rockaway Beach), Cat Stevens, The Clash, Jackie Wilson. | [The Allman Brothers](http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/mta-chairman-joe-lhota-article-1.1303423?ref=hyperallergic.com#ixzz2j3b5vuSt) | | Cats or Dogs? | Neither — De Blasio [successful avoided](http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/31/nyregion/trains-vs-kitties-the-candidates-answer.html?ref=hyperallergic.com) offering a response to the all-existential question — “Would you save the train threatened kittens?” In fact, he has avoided cat related questions on at least one occasion, ducking the matter (perhaps due to time limits) in his October AMA. In that session, De Blasio did [not answer](http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/1o04t6/i%5Fam%5Fbill%5Fde%5Fblasio%5Fdemocratic%5Fcandidate%5Ffor/ccnnymj?ref=hyperallergic.com) a question about his favorite animal, leavings loads of internet points on the ground. (Easy answer: cats. The internet version of baby kissing.) | [Dogs](http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/09/18-fun-and-fascinating-facts-about-joe-lhota.html?ref=hyperallergic.com) — Whatever he likes it or not, Lhota’s locked in as the [anti-cat, evil candidate.](http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/08/kitten-train-candidates-weiner-lhota.html?ref=hyperallergic.com) | | Pizza | [Di Fara](http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/1o04t6/i%5Fam%5Fbill%5Fde%5Fblasio%5Fdemocratic%5Fcandidate%5Ffor/ccnn6s0?ref=hyperallergic.com) Pizza. | [Grimaldi’s](http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/mta-chairman-joe-lhota-article-1.1303423?ref=hyperallergic.com#ixzz2j3b5vuSt). His favorite style of pizza currently being [buffalo chicken pizza](http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/ny-mayoral-hopeful-bill-de-blasio-upper-pizza-crust-guy-article-1.1481192?ref=hyperallergic.com). (Though he also claims not have a [favorite pizza place](http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/ny-mayoral-hopeful-bill-de-blasio-upper-pizza-crust-guy-article-1.1481192?ref=hyperallergic.com)) | | Marijuana | Tried pot [in college](http://politicker.com/2013/08/which-mayoral-candidates-have-smoked-weed/?ref=hyperallergic.com), but alleges to have gone straight edge since. In favor of [decriminalizing](http://politicker.com/2013/10/bill-de-blasio-still-not-a-fan-of-legalizing-marijuana/?ref=hyperallergic.com) small amount for personal use. | Has [partaken](http://politicker.com/2013/08/which-mayoral-candidates-have-smoked-weed/?ref=hyperallergic.com). In favor of [legalizing it](http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/25/nyregion/joseph-lhotas-mayoral-chances-ruffle-ny-democrats.html?%5Fr=0&ref=hyperallergic.com). | | Alcohol | [Beer and wine](http://blogs.wsj.com/metropolis/2013/08/19/susan-sarandon-hosts-ping-pong-fundraiser-for-bill-de-blasio/?ref=hyperallergic.com) guy. Enjoys the occasional riesling. | [Beer](http://www.policymic.com/articles/65841/10-things-you-probably-don-t-know-about-joe-lhota-candidate-for-nyc-mayor?ref=hyperallergic.com) and [wine](http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/18/nyregion/joseph-lhota-mta-chief-tweets-to-his-delight.html?ref=hyperallergic.com) guy. As an undergraduate at Georgetown, Lhota got his start in politic office with a successful campaign for [cheaper beer and pizza ](http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/09/young-lhota-loved-goldwater-loathed-communism.html?ref=hyperallergic.com)at the university pub. | | How are they using the Internet? | The De Blasio campaign has been defined by a stout use of [social media](http://www.nydailynews.com/news/election/bill-de-blasio-built-digital-first-campaign-article-1.1460568?ref=hyperallergic.com). He has a [Tumblelog](http://taleoftwocitiesnyc.tumblr.com/?ref=hyperallergic.com) and even made an appearance on a Reddit for an [AMA](http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/1o04t6/i%5Fam%5Fbill%5Fde%5Fblasio%5Fdemocratic%5Fcandidate%5Ffor/?ref=hyperallergic.com), promising (“[you betcha](http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/1o04t6/i%5Fam%5Fbill%5Fde%5Fblasio%5Fdemocratic%5Fcandidate%5Ffor/ccnn1on?ref=hyperallergic.com)”) that AMAs would be a part of his mayoral tenure. | Achieved a small amount of fame (and a *New York Times* [article](http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/18/nyregion/joseph-lhota-mta-chief-tweets-to-his-delight.html?ref=hyperallergic.com)) for his personal, quirky twitter account. (Incidentally, his [personal account](https://twitter.com/JoeLhota?ref=hyperallergic.com) boasts nearly 3,000 more followers than his official [@JoeLhota4Mayor](https://twitter.com/JoeLhota4Mayor?ref=hyperallergic.com) handle) | | Hirsuteness | Clean shaven. | Bearded. (Fun fact: if elected, Joe Lhota would be [first New York City mayor with a beard in 100 years](http://www.amny.com/urbanite-1.812039/if-joe-lhota-wins-he-d-be-the-first-mayor-with-a-beard-in-100-years-1.6105089?ref=hyperallergic.com).) | | What does this all add up to? | A red invasion of Gracie Mansion. [Farewell “fascism,” welcome “communism.](http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/09/25/lhota-attacks-de-blasios-marxist-campaign-strategy/?src=twr&%5Fr=0&ref=hyperallergic.com)“ | An all but guaranteed defeat. | | And when they win, what will they get down to at their inaugurations? | [Bruce Springsteen](http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/31/nyregion/in-their-final-debate-lhota-and-de-blasio-mock-each-others-resumes.html?ref=hyperallergic.com) | No surprises: [Allman Brothers ](http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/31/nyregion/in-their-final-debate-lhota-and-de-blasio-mock-each-others-resumes.html?ref=hyperallergic.com) |