New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio will not attend former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton’s campaign kickoff – even though it’s happening in his city.

Clinton is expected to officially launch her campaign Saturday at the Franklin D. Roosevelt memorial. It’s on Roosevelt Island, which is in the East River between Manhattan and Queens.

De Blasio’s press secretary said Wednesday that he would not attend.

De Blasio has close ties to Clinton and managed her 2000 U.S. Senate campaign.

But he has so far declined to endorse Clinton, who’s the front-runner for the Democrats’ 2016 presidential nomination.

He says he wants her to take a more liberal stance on issues like income inequality.

That’s prompted critics to accuse de Blasio of putting himself ahead of his party.

(AP)