I can't stand the new mayor.
Given those caveats, I don't blame him at all for himself and his family not wanting to live in a scary fishbowl in the middle of a restless, unstable city.
I would live elsewhere for privacy and safety...and utilize the historic but prison-like mansion for official events, receptions and the like. I and mine wouldn't want to live there for one day!
Leni
Gracie Mansion is quite lovely and located in a very beautiful part of Manhattan. I lived in that area for 27 years - it is directly on Carl Schurz Park. While you couldn’t go into the house, it was highly visible and easy to walk around. If NYC is unstable (and I don’t buy that) a lot of it has to do with this new mayor and his best friend, Al Sharpton.