Bloomberg’s New York

Thanks for the referral. The book looks really interesting. I have begun to think that Bloomberg is turning NY into Venice (not in a good way) -- a sinking museum where tourists go. Difference is that NY is sinking under the weight of property taxes and overpriced real estate. For those of us who live here, cost of everything goes up, up, up -- just like in Venice.

bloomberg's vision for ny is as a commerce center--the last thing that concerns him is quality of life and community for those who are not very wealthy

Wtushy, what is your vision for New York? More used condoms on the street and you hanging around watching Barney videos?

Hey, they put in a Costco, what more do you want, egg in your beer?

I HATE Bloomberg. Thank goodness NYC has term limits and mayors are limited to only 2 terms. Oh wait a minute...

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2009/05/28/2009-05-28_mayor_bloomberg_calls_reporter_a_disgrace_for_questioning_rationale_for_third_te.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojqf5PyuHcU

Call him Generalisito or face the death squad!

I'm so glad that Egypt now has a democracy. If democracy works in Egypt, maybe we can try it here.

I remember when Koch was mayor...he said Manhattan should only be for those who can afford it.

That was Koch3, the bad one.

I took the Koch last week on my way to the airport.

this is Bloomberg's fiefdom. just be glad he condescends to letting you live here. All hail the king!

People forget there was a Koch3 vs. a Koch 1+2. Koch3 was why he lost to Dinkins in the primary.

"Stanley Friedman is my friend"...Koch3

Ahhh, yes, Egyptian style democracy: Post-Mubarak Egypt has Islamists calling for Modesty Police
http://www.themedialine.org/news/news_detail.asp?NewsID=31809
Now, instead of just worrying about smoking and saturated fats, we can look forward to good old Saudi Arabian quality of life "adjusters".

So who voted for Bloomberg? And for a third term??

Julian Brash (the author of the book) is guest blogging on Jeremiah's "Vanishing New York" blog:

"As I detail in the book, Bloomberg's 2001 election drew a remarkable number and range of postindustrial elites--financiers, business consultants, academics, corporate managers, marketing executives, and so on--into City Hall. Most of them had never considered "public service" before, and many of the folks of this ilk that I spoke to said that it was the presence of Bloomberg, the CEO Mayor, that had drawn them into government. Moreover, they made it clear that they felt, as one of them put it to me, that "the city needed us." They interpreted the city's post-9/11 problems as problems of management and marketing, as technical problems looking for the "solutions" that their skills, experience, and expertise could solve. Thus, their leadership was key to the city's recovery and its long-term prosperity.

Michael Bloomberg was the most prominent of these postindustrial elites, and the one who provided the impetus for this movement into City Hall. But ultimately, this was a class mobilization, the first time the city’s postindustrial elite directly seized the reins of city government and sought to shape governance--and the city itself--in its own image."

http://vanishingnewyork.blogspot.com/2011/03/bloomberg-way-i_29.html

Never underestimate the electorates' sub-conscious wisdom. They looked around at their choice between someone with real executive experience and a city pol and they went with their gut for the one who was most likely to be able to lead. (Consumer Advocate? Really? What kind of executive experience does that give you?)

In this climate, having business experience is a lIABILITY. Just ask Meg Whitman and Carly Fiorina. If Bloomberg ran for his first term today, he would lose. No way would he win.

I voted for Bloomberg; it seemed to me at the time he was the best choice, and although disappointed on some aspects (like lack of results at the DOE and some remarkably idiotic deals with developers and sports teams), I still think he was the better candidate, and has been a good mayor.
You can't blame Bloomberg for the vast concentration of wealth and profits in the hands of a few. He has benefitted from circumstances larger than himself. This phenomenon is not limited to NY or even the US. We are experiencing a worldwide technological revolution, which like the industrial revolution a century ago, has created a few super-haves and left have-not-much in the dust.
311 was brilliant, and in his first term especially, Bloomberg applied much needed rigor in city administration and budgets, after that absolute disgrace, Giulani. Now if you want a real tirade about an incompetent, incoherent hack, we can talk about Mr. Gee and his posse.

Today Bloomberg wants to lay off 4700 teachers. Yet, just a few years ago he subsidized 2 new baseball stadiums and desperately tried to get a 3rd subsidized stadium built in Manhattan.

I never said he was a great mayor. We only get to choose between two candidates. But he was undoubtedly better than having a Mark Green who would have likely spent all of the windfall the city had from the concentrated wealth, and not saved an enormous rainy day fund.

If the teacher's union had supported the opponent the election may have swung the other way. It stood on the sideline and used its phone banks to try to get Corzine re-elected.

Bloomberg for President! Better him than Trump!

Trump at least raised two productive kids, vs. Bloomberg's horse riding princess.

Fiorina lost because she is a wacko rightie ala bachman...and she was a total failure as a ceo

"Today Bloomberg wants to lay off 4700 teachers. Yet, just a few years ago he subsidized 2 new baseball stadiums and desperately tried to get a 3rd subsidized stadium built in Manhattan"

Takes a socialist (or an ignoramus) to miss the difference between stadiums and the lousy teachers he wants to lay off... the stadiums contribute to the city. Not only is it awesome to go to Yankee Stadium (and concerts on the west side would have been fantastic), but revenue is produced, and the city gets some taxes.

Teachers in rubber rooms... just take up space while they take our $$$.

Broadway shows also contribute to the city and bring in revenue. Except they do NOT get any subsidies.

It's sad that somewherelese supports giving taxpayer money to the Steinbrenner family. Like they REALLY need it. Better to give tax breaks to the Steinbrenners and Cablevision (owners of MSG) than to keep 20 fire houses open.

swe, im surprised you buy into this one--government intervention in the free market that it is and all

Govt. intervention to help owners of stadiums and teams: GOOD

Govt. intervention to help poor/ middle class: BAD

"...the lousy teachers he wants to lay off..."

Unfortunately, looks like Bloomberg will not be able to layoff the *lousy* teachers; he can only layoff the *new* teachers.

i'd love to hear a tirade about that slurring slimeball, Mr. Gee

his current wife suits him

(hey, at least she's not his cousin)

I like going to water parks in the summer. Maybe we can build a massive govt. subsidized water park in Brooklyn. If swe can have his govt. subsidized Yankee games, why can't I have my govt. subsidized water park?

how about ending subsidies and using the money to not lay off ANY teachers?

Cuomo has rrepeatedly said that despite budget cuts, NYC should not have to lay off any teachers:

“I don’t believe any school district that is well-managed is going to need to lay off teachers to deal with a 1% cut,” Cuomo said.

I know there is a theory that says the city has reserve funds as many school districts have reserve funds,” Cuomo said. “I’m advocating that the districts use their reserve funds now.”

Cuomo added “Newsflash: It’s raining. Double Newsflash: It's pouring.”

http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2011/04/gov-cuomo-takes-a-poke-at-mayor-bloomberg-propaganda-about-education-funding-c

"Broadway shows also contribute to the city and bring in revenue. Except they do NOT get any subsidies."

Except they DO. What do you think TDF is?

Not to mention, another industry with those fantastic union contracts. That is one of the most corrupt unions there is, and the most rediculous contracts...

I think every private, for-profit entertainment business should be subsidized in the hope that it will attract money from outside our economy that surely would not be spent without the subsidy. Adult entertainment first and foremost.

"Not to mention, another industry with those fantastic union contracts. That is one of the most corrupt unions there is, and the most rediculous contracts.."

You read my mind. I was about to say the EXACT same thing about baseball players!

How many Broadway actors would it take to equal 1 year of A-Rod's pay?

If Arod had to work as little as the $300k stagehands do... then you might have a case.

everyone I know pays big money to go to the theater to see the stagehands!

A-Rod only works 6 months a year... maybe 7 months if you count Spring training.

Most Broadway actors are stuggling and work 2nd jobs. Only a small number make it big and earn big money. When was the last tieme you saw a struggling baseball player waiting tables?

What would happen if there were no subsidies for baseball teams? Would the Yankees go bankrupt? Would baseball cease to exist?