NYC mayor, always a business defender, cautions against rush to blame BP in oil disaster

NYC mayor urges critics to go easier on BP

NEW YORK — New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg says the world should not rush to judge BP over its huge oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

The billionaire mayor is a former CEO and is known for defending private businesses dealing with public relations problems.

Bloomberg said Friday on his weekly radio show that the head of BP PLC “didn’t exactly go down there and blow up the well.”

He added that everyone might want to wait to assign blame because BP’s expertise is needed to fix the problem.

Scientists say the spill could now be in the realm of 42 million to more than 100 million gallons of oil.

It began after a BP rig exploded in the Gulf in April and killed 11 workers.