Bloomberg, Cuomo Start Compromise Conversations On LIFO

After a few days of harsh criticism of each other, especially from Bloomberg's side, the Daily News reports that conversations between Cuomo and Bloomberg on changing LIFO are growing more civil:

Gov. Cuomo and Mayor Bloomberg walked back from Armageddon on Thursday in their battle over the law governing teacher layoffs.

After two days of sniping, the two were practically fawning over each other - from a distance - with Cuomo even joking about Hizzoner's barbs.

"I didn't think he was critical of me," Cuomo said of Bloomberg with a grin.

"I think the mayor was frustrated in dealing with the legislative process in Albany," he added following a Staten Island event.

At a separate event, Bloomberg tamped down the tensions, saying he and Cuomo have worked "very well" the past two months.

"We both have exactly the same interest, of getting the best teachers that we can in front of the classroom," Hizzoner said.

Bloomberg and his aides had ratcheted up the attacks Tuesday after the governor released his own bill designed to deal with teacher layoffs shortly after the Senate passed a Bloomberg-backed plan.

Cuomo still says he won't put the LIFO repeal in the budget, Bloomberg wants the LIFO deal there.

The stand-off continues.