Groundhog Day 2014: Bill de Blasio drops Staten Island Chuck

Punxsutawney Phil and Staten Island Chuck were in agreement in their prognostications on this year’s Groundhog Day.

While Punxsutawney Phil tends to get the most attention, Staten Island Chuck stole the show as he squirmed out of New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio’s arms.

Staten Island’s furry prognosticator, Charles G. Hogg, called for six more weeks of cold winter weather on February 2 during a ceremony at the Staten Island Zoo.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, officiating his first Groundhog Day ceremony on Staten Island, said: “This is one of the great events on Staten Island.”

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio at his first Groundhog Day ceremony on Staten Island

“Chuck and my predecessor didn’t always get along,” said de Bill de Blasio,

“But I’m hoping we can start a new day,” he added.

Wearing protective gloves, Bill de Blasio lost his grip on Chuck for a moment, as the famous groundhog fell to the floor, drawing gasps from the crowd.

With temperatures nearing the 40s, hundreds of folks crowded around Chuck’s log cabin to see the prediction.

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