The Independent View: Flyers at NYC Mayor's YMCA Demand Members Not Run for President

A Stern Warning waited for New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio Monday Morning on the Door of the Park Slope YMCA, his Favorite place to Work Out.

"By entering these premises you agree not to run for President of the United States in 2020 or in any future presidential race," read several Flyers posted at the Ninth Street Gym.

"You agree to focus solely on your current job here in New York City, which you are not excelling at," the Message continues.

The Flyer demands that anyone who goes inside must issue a Statement within an Hour of leaving that says: "I will never run for President of the United States. ... To be honest, I'm not even sure what I was thinking even flirting with running because no one in my own city thinks I'd do a good job."

As de Blasio mulls a Run for the White House, Dave Stevens said he and some other Residents of the Mayor's old neighborhood hung them on Friday and Monday with the hope that they would give him "second thoughts" about jumping into the Race.

"There's a saying I tell my children - 'poop or get off the pot' and that's what we want the mayor to do," Stevens said. "Just announce you are running for president and quit as mayor or announce you aren't and focus on making the city better."

The Flyers are just the latest Sign that New Yorkers are far from eager to see the Democratic Mayor throw his hat into an already crowded Presidential Field.

While de Blasio has Not said whether he will Run, a Poll published in March showed he would make most New York Democrats Unhappy as their Party's 2020 Nominee.

Park Sloper Mike Deering said he spotted a few of the flyers outside the Gym, in the Men's locker Room and on a Bulletin Board. "I do agree with the message of it that, you know, there's a lot to be done in the city. He should focus on that," Deering said.

The 35-year-old stay-at-home dad cited the City's Affordable Housing Problem as a more pressing issue. "I think building a bunch of luxury high rises is not the answer," he said.

Stevens, a Tutor, said he's among a Group of Park Slope Residents who are "disappointed with the mayor." While de Blasio has argued he can Balance his Job with Travel to Early Primary States such as Iowa and New Hampshire, Stevens said it's "impossible" to Run the Nation's Biggest City and Run for President at the same time.

"The Amazon deal for example was embarrassing on a hundred different levels, the subways are falling apart, he'll blame Gov. Cuomo, who also is responsible, and tall ugly buildings are popping up everywhere!" Stevens said.

Aside from their concerns about de Blasio's handling of Local Issues, Stevens and Deering say the Mayor's Gym Etiquette is Lacking. The Mayor uses the Step Machine more for Standing than Stepping, according to Stevens. And he doesn't properly Spray Down the Equipment after he uses it, Deering said. "The affordable housing thing might be hard, but that's a pretty easy thing he could do," Deering said.

Asked to Respond to the Flyers, de Blasio's Press Secretary, Freddi Goldstein, Defended his Leadership in the City. "New York City streets are the safest they've ever been, our public school students are graduating at record-high numbers and we're building more affordable housing than any administration in history," Goldstein said in a Statement. "The mayor's focus on New York City is clear and it's paying off."