De Blasio Skipping Puerto Rican Day Parade For Iowa Trip

NEW YORK — Mayor Bill de Blasio is skipping New York City's massive Puerto Rican Day Parade for a presidential campaign trip to Iowa.

The Democratic mayor will be in Waterloo, Iowa with first lady Chirlane McCray when the 62nd annual parade steps off in Midtown late Sunday morning. He's slated to attend two church services before appearing that afternoon at the Iowa Democrats Hall of Fame Celebration, along with 18 other White House hopefuls.

This will be the first time de Blasio has missed the celebration of Puerto Rican culture in his time as an elected official. He said it's important to make an appearance at one of the biggest political events in Iowa, which plays a key role in the presidential race as the first caucus state.

"When you’re running for president of the United States this is always a challenge to try and balance the schedules," de Blasio said Friday morning in his weekly interview on WNYC.

The Puerto Rican Day Parade is known as one of the city's best-attended annual marches. This year's event, led by the singer and actor Ricky Martin as grand marshal, will proceed up Fifth Avenue from 43rd Street to 79th Street starting at 11 a.m. Sunday.

De Blasio's decision to snub one of the city's signature celebrations reportedly angered politicians and locals alike. The city is home to more than 700,000 Puerto Ricans, and more than 5 million people desended from the island territory live in the United States.

"If he chooses to be in Iowa, I don’t think he would be greatly missed by Puerto Ricans or the majority of New Yorkers, because what do we need him here for?" Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. told the New York Post.

But de Blasio said his administration is "working on behalf of the Puerto Rican people every single day." He has hosted a celebration for the community at Gracie Mansion, his official residence, and plans to attend the parade gala and banquet Friday evening at Chelsea Piers.

"We’re going to be doing a lot to celebrate the Puerto Rican community," de Blasio said.