Twitter Melts Down as Bill de Blasio’s Pick to Run NYC Schools Declines Offer in Insane Live Presser

Well, this is awkward.

NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio‘s pick for the next chancellor of NYC public schools backed out of the job publicly Thursday afternoon after it was widely announced that he would be stepping into the job.

“This is probably the second most difficult thing I have ever done in my life. The very first was to leave my country,” Alberto Carvalho, superintendent of Miami-Dade County Schools, said in a press conference after a long recess.

“Mayor de Blasio is one of the most honorable individuals, one of the most keen intellects in our nation today,” he continued. “He is transforming America’s premier city. He is empowering the weak. He’s giving voice to the voiceless. To say there isn’t political alignment between mayor DeBlasio and myself would be a lie.”

In declining the position, he said: “I am breaking an agreement between adults to honor an agreement I had with the children of Miami-Dade County… My commitment to Miami is now as it’s ever been as strong as the word that defines my last name, Carvalho, which in Portuguese means ‘oak tree.'”

This dramatic speech catalyzed a barrage of tweets – including from the mayor’s press secretary, Eric Phillips, who was understandably salty:

It's always a good personnel choice when a good bulk of the questions from reporters are some version of, "Is the mayor worried this guy might be *too* good?"

— Eric Phillips (@EricFPhillips) March 1, 2018

Give us a minute, folks. We’re also sorting through the weirdness.

— Eric Phillips (@EricFPhillips) March 1, 2018

Carvalho backed out. He won't be coming to NYC. There is…never a dull moment in our great city.

— Eric Phillips (@EricFPhillips) March 1, 2018

He was a Yes for a week+, until he was a No 15 minutes ago. Bullet dodged.

— Eric Phillips (@EricFPhillips) March 1, 2018

Who would ever hire this guy again? Who would ever vote for him?

— Eric Phillips (@EricFPhillips) March 1, 2018

Then the hot takes started pouring in:

Miami schools chancellor Alberto Carvalho says he’s changed his mind and is staying in Miami. A stunning embarrassment for NYC and Mayor de Blasio.

— Mara Gay (@MaraGay) March 1, 2018

To recap, Carvalho:
-accepts NYC job
-gets showered w FL praise
-gives soaring speech about education
-asks for 5-min recess from school board mtg to "do what is right"
-takes 30 minutes
-asks for vote of confidence from board
-says he's made decision
-asks for another recess

— Ben Max (@TweetBenMax) March 1, 2018

This is genuinely shocking. Who will ever give Alberto Carvalho a job again? This is the most dramatic day of Bill de Blasio's tenure.

— Eliza Shapiro (@elizashapiro) March 1, 2018

Guys who picked Miami over New York: LeBron James, Pat Riley, Dwyane Wade, Alberto Carvalho.

— Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) March 1, 2018

Carvalho doing this to New York right now. pic.twitter.com/F8oIbtJCT1

— Will Manso (@WillManso) March 1, 2018

From left: Miami, Carvalho, NYC pic.twitter.com/pCrDIQHN4H

— Casey Seiler (@CaseySeiler) March 1, 2018

Watch above via NY1.

[image via screengrab]