De Blasio: Jerry Seinfeld Knows 'Of Course We're Coming Back'

NEW YORK CITY — New York Mayor Bill de Blasio on Tuesday lauded the recent essay comedian Jerry Seinfeld published in the New York Times. The comedian's essay claps back at James Altucher, a former hedge fund manager who claimed in a lengthy LinkedIn post that "New York City is dead forever."

"Now it’s completely dead. 'But NYC always always bounces back.' No. Not this time. 'But NYC is the center of the financial universe. Opportunities will flourish here again.' Not this time," Altucher wrote in his column republished by the New York Post.

Seinfeld's scathing response was published, reading, in part, "We’re going to keep going with New York City if that’s alright with you. And, it will sure as hell be back because of all the real, tough New Yorkers who, unlike you, loved it and understood it, stayed and rebuilt it.”

The city's mayor applauded Seinfeld's prose, calling the dueling essays "an example of A Tale of Two Cities."

"I want to take a moment to thank Jerry because this is what a true New Yorker does: stands and fights and works to make this place better no matter what is thrown at us," de Blasio said.

He went on to list the tragedies and difficulties the city has overcome in the last 60 years including recessions, crime waves, Sept. 11, 2001, and when Hurricane Sandy damaged the city.

"New Yorkers fight back, it’s what we do," he said.