Bill de Blasio and Melissa Mark-Viverito's silent support for Mark Levine

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio chilled on the calls for City Councilman Mark Levine as his fave to be the next speaker as soon as it was clear that his efforts were hurting the well-liked wannabe. “His open support of Mark was hurting him and he stopped,” a bochinchero said. However, according to several bochincheros, the talking on behalf of Mark has now been taken up by none other than City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito.

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B&B was surprised since the current speaker had told me that she wasn’t going to pick among her colleagues. “The mayor can’t do it, so she’s taking up the talking points,” one of the bochincheros said, but it’s not a formal endorsement. “She’s been cautious in her wording,” said another bochinchero familiar with the effort by the lame duck pol. I spoke to some folks who MMV has spoken to and they tell me that among what she’s pitching is her concern for her “legacy.”

Really? The one that leaves an all-male slate of candidates for speaker? Or is it the “legacy” that leaves fewer mujeres in the City Council than when she was selected as speaker? Legacy schmegacy.

Bochinche & Buzz is Gerson Borrero's weekly column of exclusive scoops and insider gossip. Remember gente, it's all bochinche until it's confirmed.