Comments for CityPragmatist

Comment on Even Larry Has No Answer by Jacob

Jacob — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 21:35:31 +0000

But to have any effect on the City’s future, its citizens will need effective local representation, no?

Comment on Even Larry Has No Answer by bill

bill — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 22:10:17 +0000

Billionaire Mike is the third post-1989 charter Mayor. How would you describe his two predecessors and their efforts under the same charter? Its not the Mayor’s personal wealth that makes him imperious; America’s mayor was every bit as imperious, probably not as smart, and not as willing to listen to other points of view. This Mayor gives his Commissioners a lot of leeway; his predecessor gave them none. And what can I say about Mayor Dinkins? Not much, although he does not get credit for some of his efforts that America’s Mayor took credit for– like the start of the reduction in crime and the plan for Lower Manhattan.

How would a charter change to reempower (is that even a word) the borough presidents change things in the short run; in the long run? How does term limits interact with the charter’s centralization of power in the mayoralty? Regardless of those changes, who will be tomorrow’s municipal leaders? In a democratic city, we have had “republican” mayors for five of the last six terms. Will that change in 2013? Today I would expect the democratic field to include Liu, DeBlasio, Quinn and Wiener. Republicans? Goldsmith, Castimitedes. Inspired? Confident of a better tomorrow?

I think that’s why Larry, and all of us, are watching the Super Bowl. The City’s future will depend on its citizens, not its elected officials.

Comment on Where Was the Salt? Not on Westminster Road. by Mike Curatore

Mike Curatore — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 18:03:09 +0000

Excellent points, Joe. Since when do we blindly support unions who abandon us? Why should we be held hostage? Who’s really in charge?

The TWU walked out on us a few years ago – they should have been replaced. The San men gave up on us more recently – they should be replaced. There’s nothing wrong with having an honest conversation about whether it’s in our interests to privatize government services or not. To not have such a conversation would be a disservice to all citizens (and taxpayers!) everywhere.

Don’t protect the status quo. It hasn’t done us any good. Competition and ingenuity is what made this country great. Not the complacency and mediocrity some of our City workers have to offer. If they can’t do a better job it’s time to replace them.

Comment on Like a Cheap Guitar by loucardinali

loucardinali — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 16:09:00 +0000

In the first snow storm..Mahattan Beach roads were not plowed until a week later, after the snow storm… we pay high taxes and the services we get back from the city are minimal…it’s an injustice !!!
After one week ,the plows went down the side streets once… the snow piles in the middle of the streets were unsurmountable..they lasted four days until the sun melted them slowly……with my four wheel drive suv … I got stuck three times…
This Mayor must do less bs and more action for this community and New York in General..

Comment on Like a Cheap Guitar by Freddy

Freddy — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 11:49:12 +0000

Now you read that the Mayor is proud that they handled the recent storm correctly. No they didn’t. Our little street was plowed about 4 times, sometimes while it was just wet! Overreaction is another sympton (like underreaction to the big storm) of the same thing: poor management. The mayor says “we learned from past mistakes.” That makes it sound like the City never handled a snow storm before. The snowstorms were handled well before Mr. Goldsmith arrived. So what was the problem? Guess…

Comment on Like a Cheap Guitar by WS

WS — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 07:58:46 +0000

The people knew that it’s a job action by the supervisors on the first day, but unfortunately there was nobody running the city and the supervisors lied and gave bs stories to their bosses about why they are having difficulty removing the snow. It’s sad to see the wrong people getting punished, these are the best supers and chiefs in bk boro south

Comment on Where Was the Salt? Not on Westminster Road. by Joe Dweck

Joe Dweck — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 14:57:06 +0000

Baloney to the supervisor excuse !
The storm that occurred today was handled properly, without those 200 supervisors. Why? The knowledge of how to handle snow has to have been gained by everyone in the department. Do you mean to tell me that no one knew that they had to plow streets when the snow was falling last week? Did no one in the department know that streets had to be salted when it snows?
This was an organized , illegal work slowdown to hold the citizens of NY hostage to the Sanitation Department. HOW DARE THEY !
They are responsible for people’s deaths. They should be prosecuted.
President Reagan fired all of the Air Traffic controllers for similar actions. Bloomberg owes it to all of us to do the same. We cannot be extorted and terrorized by our own workers.

Comment on Making Lemonade by bill

bill — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 19:53:40 +0000

The Mayor’s labor agenda is neatly laid out in the recommendations of the report released on January 7, 2011. From the Mayor’s press release: “Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today released the report of the Workforce Reform Task Force, chaired by Martha Hirst, former Commissioner of the Department of Citywide Administrative Services. The report outlines 23 specific steps to improve the civil service system so that City workers can perform their job functions without being overburdened and constrained by rules and narrow classifications.”

The task force was manned by 10 administration officials, no one from the unions, and goes a long way to fundamentally reforming (read gutting) the civil service merit system. The unions, needless to say, were vocal in their opposition.

Comment on Where Was the Salt? Not on Westminster Road. by Mary Kay Seery

Mary Kay Seery — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 00:31:10 +0000

I’ve lived in NYC for close to 30 years and have always been so proud of the city’s response to epic storms, 9/11, the Hudson River plane landing. Last week my sweet little 86 year old mother called from southern Virginia to ask me, “What’s wrong with NY?” None of us could believe the city stranded so many for so long. Should we expect more of the same when the next storm hits?

Comment on Where Was the Salt? Not on Westminster Road. by Freddy

Freddy — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 12:09:49 +0000

I think this article has it right, but I’d take it a step further – the Mayor is ultimately responsible. Because Goldsmith was out of town, the Mayor had business to either bring him back, or make some decisions for him. John Doherty has done an outstanding job as DOS Commissioner – Let’s see if the Mayor tries to hang him out to dry.

Attention Tea Partiers: You want smaller government, here’s what you get!