NYC mayor a pirate among mermaids at zany parade
Mayor Bill de Blasio, center, takes part in the Mermaid Parade with his children Dante de Blasio, left, and Chiara de Blasio, right, in the Coney Island section of the Brooklyn borough of New York, Saturday, June 21, 2014. Dante and Chiara were chosen King Neptune and Queen Mermaid of the annual parade. AP
NEW YORK—New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio portrayed himself as a man of the people in last year’s election. On Saturday, he became a pirate among mermaids.
De Blasio showed up for Saturday’s zany Coney Island Mermaid Parade wearing a puffy pirate shirt and brandishing a fake sword. Organizers say he’s the first mayor to come in costume.
De Blasio’s wife, Chirlane McCray, and their daughter, Chiara (kee-AHR’-uh) de Blasio, chose blue and gold mermaid dresses.
De Blasio’s son, Dante, was bare-chested and painted blue.
Dante and Chiara were chosen King Neptune and Queen Mermaid of the parade.
The teens were wheeled in a 1923 wicker rolling chair along the parade route.
The event draws hundreds of thousands of revelers to the beach each year. Many wear revealing, mermaid-themed costumes.
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