The Daily News reports that Oliver's resignation follows public complaints by possible mayoral candidate, city councilman Jim Kenney, that Oliver's prime-time appearances for PGW's Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) give him an unfair advantage in the campaign. The commercials give Oliver more recognition and PGW-funded "face time," Oliver told the Daily News.
Oliver told the newspaper that he was going to resign at the end of the day Friday. According to the Daily News, Oliver decided to resign on his own accord.
"This is the decision I made, based upon the optics of how this thing was shaping up," Oliver said.