At Wit’s End: Bloomberg and his street initiatives

Although there is great fun in skewering the Bloomberg Administration like a shish kebab at a Halal stand, there are a few things in which I agree with our billionaire mayor.
Among these items is Hizzoner’s fanatical approach to putting pedestrian-friendly streetscapes and bike lanes around the city.
It almost makes the city civilized.
I mention this because last week I met a friend who lives in the Bronx along 42nd Street for a few drinks. After Happy Hour ended at a watering hole, we went walking around and wound up along Broadway in that no-man’s-land between Herald and Times Square. Then we figured we’d have a nightcap before going in opposite directions on the subway.
Now, back in the day, this would mean getting some liquid refreshment at a bodega and then heading to a shadowy doorway on a side street toward Ninth Avenue.
But on this night, all we did was paper-bag it and sit outside at a table on one of those makeshift pedestrian lanes the Bloomberg Administration put on Broadway. It was very pleasant and there wasn’t a cop to be seen to bother us.
As it were the conversation drifted to cigarettes, and while I don’t smoke, my friend, who does, told me how some bodegas and people on the street are making a good living selling loose cigarettes. So the Bloomberg crackdown on and taxing cigarettes has actually created a new black market for vice.
Another nifty Bloomberg street initiative is how his administration is slowly turning city streets into bicycle highways.
True, I’d rather face a dozen thugs in a dark alley than a bicycle activist group from Park Slope, but I’m not so sure the New York time-honored game of jaywalking and dodging auto traffic is the way to go either.
It’s a question of safety. I’d rather be hit by a crazy bicyclist running a red light and going the wrong way on a one-way street than a two-ton auto while I’m darting across the street mid-block.
In theory, bike lanes also promote good health in that it promotes residents to get out on a bicycle and exercise. So I’m all for it.
I do draw the line on the two-lane bike highway on Prospect Park West, though. It slows auto traffic on the strip, and considering there are bike lanes in Prospect Park about 50 yards away, it seems a little over the top.
But for Park Slope bike advocates, it’s never enough and now they want to close all auto traffic in Prospect Park. Never mind that motorists living south of Prospect Park only use the lanes halfway during the rush hours. Or that closing these lanes during rush hours would only further clog streets like Flatbush and Ocean Avenues.
Which brings me to the last Bloomberg street initiative he’s trying to push – tolling the East River bridges to get into Manhattan.
The idea here is that tolling the bridges will create a revenue stream that can be pumped into making mass transit better. Somehow, I doubt the money will help residents who live in East Flatbush and Canarsie who take several buses and a train to get to work.
Bloomberg, though, is real creative at finding ways to raise revenue on the backs of working folks while saving money on cutting services for those same folks.
Meanwhile, you don’t hear a peep from the mayor on allowing a small increase on the taxes of the wealthy.
Then again, that’s the way a billionaire’s bread is buttered.

Concerns remain on day care cuts

Mayor Bloomberg restored his plan to slash over 16,000 day care slots last week, but at least one City Council member is saying his figures don’t add up.
Bloomberg cut the slots – that are a lifeline to working parents – in his preliminary Fiscal Year 2012 budget saying it would save the city $95 million. However, in his updated proposal he restored $40 million for some of the slots and shifted the bulk of the slots (10,500), to the Out-of-School-Time (OST) program.
The OST program would be for kids between the ages of 5-12. The 4,400 kids between 0-4 years of age would continue at the neighborhood-based day care centers.
“This proposal has raised more questions than it has answered, and it seems unlikely that a $95 million problem could be solved with only $40 million,” said City Councilman Al Vann.
Sources said Bloomberg’s new proposal didn’t address the number of local child care classroom-based centers that might be shuttered or how many jobs would be affected.
Additionally, Bloomberg’s proposal doesn’t address if local OST programs logistically accommodate a big influx of students. If they can’t it would affect parents’ ability to pick day care centers that are close to work, home or another child’s school.
“While the mayor restored some funding for child care services and has proposed to shift a significant number of children receiving services over to the Department of Youth and Community Development’s less expensive Out-of-School-Time programs, the feasibility and full impact of his proposal remains unclear,” said Vann.
The City Council and Bloomberg must agree on the FY 2012 city budget by July 1.

The Parent’s Notebook

At Wit’s End:Local City Council Members React to Layoffs and Budget Cuts

Parents and Teachers Express Outrage at Mayor’s Choice of Chancellor

“Cathie Black Must Go!” Lawsuit and Protests Begin

by Amadi Ajamu
The fight against Mayor Bloomberg and Chancellor-designee Cathie Black  will be waged in the streets and in the courts. Freedom Party leaders laid out their “plan of action” at Sistas’ Place Coffee House in Brooklyn on Monday evening. The standing-room only crowd of concerned parents, grandparents, educators, clergy, activists, lawyers and others listened intently to Viola Plummer as she opened the meeting. “At approximately 5:00 PM today, Bloomberg arrogantly steamrolled the laws guiding the selection of Education Chancellor and installed the inept, unqualified, former publishing corporate exec Cathie Black to educate over one million of our children. It is clear that the Bloomberg media conglomerate has identified a lucrative market. It is called the Department of Education,” she said.
“The fight to remove Cathie Black will move forward! We are in this for the duration. We need people who will keep fighting for our children after the TV cameras leave, and it is no longer on the front page. We have got to stay the course no matter what. And we need each of you to inspire people like yourselves to join us, and fight until we remove Black,” said Plummer.
“Black must go! Black must go!” the crowd roared.
Veteran educator Jitu Weusi then gave an extensive history of the long battles for a quality education for our children in the public schools. “We are going to have Black removed. It is our responsibility to fight for our children,” he stated. Radio personality Bob Law, Attorney Roger Wareham and Councilman Charles Barron were also in attendance.
Councilman Barron laid out the particulars of the “plan of action”. “There are several things we must do immediately. First, we will request a TRO (temporary restraining order) and file an Article 78 in court this week against Mayor Bloomberg and Commissioner Steiner. Cathie Black must be removed, our children deserve better. This is what happens when you have mayoral control of the schools. Bloomberg has no respect for educators, parents or students. Second, we will hold regular mass protests in front of the Tweed Building at 52 Chambers Street, Downtown NYC. The first demonstration will be on Thursday (Dec. 2) at 4 PM,” he began.
“Third, mass protests in front of the homes of Mayor Bloomberg, Commissioner Steiner and Cathie Black will be held. Fourth, we must demand an end to mayoral control of schools and stop Bloomberg’s atrocious abuse of power. We are also exploring the possibility of a boycott of the schools. Black must go!” Barron concluded.

Panel Denies Waiver for Bloomberg Chancellor Appointee

The eight-member panel appointed by State Education Commissioner David Steiner voted against recommending a waiver for Cathie Black, Mayor Bloomberg’s preferred replacement for Chancellor Joel Klein. Four voted against the waiver, two voted in favor, and two voted “not at this time.” It is unknown how each panelist voted at press time.
Commissioner Steiner gave the panel various options, and noted his personal preference: wait to grant the waiver until the city also appointed a top educator with some independent powers.
In response, State Senator Eric Adams and Assembly members Hakeem Jeffries and Marcos Crespo called on State Education Commissioner David Steiner to adhere to the requirements of NYS law and to the recommendation of his own panel of experts to deny Cathie Black a waiver for the post of NYC Public Schools Chancellor.
“New York State law requires that school superintendents have a minimum of three years teaching experience and do graduate work in ‘school administration.’ The mayor’s nominee, Cathleen Black, satisfies neither prerequisite,” said Adams. “State law enables the Commissioner of Education to grant a waiver in the case of ‘exceptionally qualified persons’ whose ‘exceptional training and experience are the substantial equivalent ‘ of certification in teaching. Commissioner Steiner personally selected the members of an advisory panel; these were his choices. They have voted to recommend that he deny the waiver.”
Adams called call on the Commissioner “to heed the advice of his own panel and deny a waiver to Cathie Black. She has neither the requisite education credential nor the support of the waiver panel.”
Assembly member Hakeem Jeffries said, “The decision to reject the waiver application submitted by Mayor Bloomberg is a victory for the more than one million children in the New York City public school system. While some progress has been made, the public schools remain broken and someone who lacks educational experience is not the relief pitcher our school children need at this time.”
The individual selected as NYC Public Schools Chancellor must be the most appropriate person for this uniquely demanding position.  The Commissioner of Education must not issue a waiver for Chancellor to Cathie Black, an individual who neither meets the educational requirements required by State law nor has the support of the ‘panel of experts’ hand-picked by the Commissioner of Education to advise him,” said Assemblyman Marcos Crespo.
Commissioner Steiner had named an eight member panel of educators to assist making the decision. The panel was chaired by Dr. Susan Fuhrman, president of Columbia University’s teachers College. Other panelists include Dr. Andres
Alonzo, CEO of Baltimore’s schools; Jean-Claude Brizard, Superintendent of the Rochester School District;  Michele Cahill, Vice-president for national programs of urban education at Carnegie Corporation of New York; Dr. Ronald F. Ferguson, Senior Lecturer in Education and Public Policy at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and the Harvard Kennedy School; Dr. Louise Mirrer, President and CEO of the New York Historical Society and former executive vice chancellor for Academic Affairs at CUNY; Bernard Pierorazio, superintendent of the Yonkers public schools; and Kenneth Slentz, Associate Commissioner for the Office of District Services for the New York State Education Department.
Three of the panelists have worked for Chancellor Klein. Andres Alonzo served as Klein’s chief of staff for teaching and learning. Michelle Cahill was Klein’s senior counselor for education policy. Jean-Claude Brizard also served during Klein’s tenure. Commissioner Steiner admitted he did not vet panel members for their relationships to Bloomberg.
Cathie Black is Mayor Bloomberg’s second choice for chancellor requiring a waiver. Outgoing Chancellor Joel Klein had six months classroom teaching experience. Klein was a prominent lawyer who led an anti-trust case against Microsoft. By contrast, Cathie Black has a bachelor degree and had served as a board member of a Harlem charter school.
Senator Eric Adams and Assembly member Marcos Crespo are submitting legislation that would amend state law to require a “concurrent resolution” by the Senate and Assembly for any Commissioner’s waiver of requirements for persons who do not meet educational or professional prerequisites. “My legislation S8512) will amend the Education law to restrict the ability of the Commissioner of Education to issue a certificate for Superintendent or Chancellor to persons who do not meet educational or professional requirements for the position,” Sen. Adams stated.
Marcos Crespo will introduce concurrent legislation in the Assembly. “It is imperative that any decision on the issuance of a waiver for someone seeking
‘exceptionally qualified person status’ undergo a careful and comprehensive review process to ensure that the selectee is the most qualified individual available.” said Crespo. “A compelling alternative argument is required in support of anyone who has no background in or commitment to public education; the elected representatives of the people of New York State must review any such
selection. Requiring concurrent resolution of the Senate and Assembly for waivers will bring a thorough and essential review process and a necessary transparency. The individual selected as Chancellor must be the most appropriate person for this uniquely demanding position.”
Adams’ legislative move is the latest in a growing crescendo of voices against Mayor Bloomberg’s nomination of media personality Cathie Black as NYC’s next schools chancellor. Elected officials, parents, and concerned community activists have spoken out against Black. An online petition has generated more than 10,000 signatures. Educators see the appointment of Black as a
particular affront, as they are all required to have a master’s degree and certification. One educator asked, “How will Black be able to access the performance of principals if she doesn’t know what the job entails?”
Congressional representatives Yvette Clarke and Ed Towns weighed in, calling for “more qualified officials to run NYC’s school system.”
“Many of my constituents have expressed considerable misgivings about the appointment of Mrs. Cathie Black as Chancellor of the NYC school system. Just like many of my constituents, I am concerned that Mrs. Black’s lack of education experience makes her unqualified for  the position. For this reason, I would not support the NYS Education  Commissioner in granting a waiver that would allow Mrs. Clarke to become the NYC Chancellor,” said Congresswoman Yvette Clarke. “As a member of the House Committee on Education and Labor, I will continue to fight for our city’s schools, students, teachers, and administrators. We must ensure that our children, who are our future, do not continue to be victims of the ever increasing achievement gap and are able to receive a proper education that will prepare them to lead this nation. That means having our most qualified individuals run  our educational system. Mrs. Black’s lack of experience with the complexities of our school system and her lack of background in public school education, will compound what she has identified as a significant learning curve. What our children really need and deserve is someone who will come in and hit the ground running.”
“I am deeply concerned over what appears to be a lack of a publicly announced search for a candidate to fill the position of NYC Public Schools Chancellor. While Mayor Bloomberg has a right to choose anyone he wants, the parents and
children of our city have a right to a process that is not only transparent, but one that invites all qualified applicants to respond,” said Congressman Ed Towns. “Cathie Black may be a great manager who knows how to balance a budget, however our children also need a Chancellor that has a serious working knowledge of the complexities of education and what it takes to teach our children. If
all it takes is a business background – and no experience whatsoever in education to be considered for NYC Schools Chancellor, what kind of message are we sending to students who endeavor to major in this field of study in our nation’s colleges and universities? For the above mentioned reasons, I do not support a waiver from the NYS Education Commissioner to allow Cathie Black to become the next NYC Public Schools Chancellor.”
In the face of mounting opposition to Black’s appointment, the Bloomberg administration had been scrambling to find support. Talk show host Oprah Winfrey expressed support for Black. Oprah publishes O Magazine, one of a number of national publications under the media umbrella Cathie Black managed. Mayor
Bloomberg submitted a six-page letter in support of Black’s nomination to State Education Commissioner David Steiner.
The process of waiving Cathie Black’s required credentials continues. There is no specific timeframe in which the Commissioner and must make a decision. However, Joel Klein is scheduled to step down at the end of the year. Presumably, a decision will be made before then.
At press time, there was no response from Mayor Bloomberg on the panel’s decision to deny a waiver to his nominee for Chancellor, Cathie Black.

Community Unites in Support of Caribbean Nation

“You are Not Alone”

“This is one of the great tragedies to befall any country,” said Mayor Bloomberg of the earthquake registering a magnitude 7.0 on the Richter Scale at 4:39pm local time southwest of Port Au Prince.
“And the fact that it happened to a country so close to the United States, and particularly close to this city, it’s incumbent upon us to pull together.” Bloomberg joined by Gov. David Paterson, Borough President Marty Markowitz and many other city leaders at the Holy Cross Roman Catholic Church in Brooklyn’s Flatbush section yesterday, also spoke of how the search and rescue teams and other city resources were ready to be deployed and that efforts were being coordinated on the federal level, as well.
“What is needed on the ground right now is communications,” said the mayor, a statement echoed by everyone who spoke. “The already fragile infrastructure of Haiti has been decimated, and there is no meaningful communication capability left.”
The scale of destruction is such that basic infrastructure has to be first put in place, before many aid personell can be put on the ground. “The magnitude is such that it will be the United States government and the United Nations with the capability to bring assistance,” said the mayor. Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly, trying to convey the kind of devastation Haiti has been struck with, a nation that is known for its poverty, shanties, mud slides, hurricanes and coups. “The palace is a very, very substantial building, and the fact that this building collapsed, to think that it crumbled, goes to show you the magnitude of this earthquake.”
Kelly was speaking at a large press conference held at Holy Cross Church in Brooklyn, the spiritual home for “The largest population of Haitians outside of Haiti” according to a conversation that Borough President Marty Markowitz said he had with several members of the Haiti government.
“Brooklynites will be there big time with their checkbooks open,” said Markowitz. “And all the nations of the world, China, Russia, Korea, Japan, should all come together over this tragedy and invest the money necessary to help Haiti overcome this problem.”
“A community that is a part of the great fabric of New York, and today a community that is a part of the great collective prayer of New Yorkers,” is in dire straits said Governor David Paterson. The state is poised to help but “there is an unavailability of communications.” Paterson announced that “Deputy Secretary for Public Safety Denise O’Donnell is creating a registry of New Yorkers known to be in Haiti, so that we can as quickly as possible notify their families of their whereabouts and hopefully, safety.”
All spoke of the need for financial donations, rather than food or clothing. “The ports are closed” there is no communication and the best thing is to give the agencies the money for the flexibility to act where the need can be met. Stressed also was to be watchful for scams and to always give to known relief agencies. Those mentioned were UNICEF, American Red Cross, and Wyclef Jean’s Yele Haiti. go to http://yele.org to make a donation.
“This will be a consistent and lasting effort during this very difficult time for the people who live in that area,” said the governor. “I want to pledge all the resources of the state” for the relief effort that is being mounted for Haiti. “New Yorkers should know that New York has coalesced in a fight to help those, as they helped us, just a little over 8 years ago, when we had our city confronted by tragedy.”
Councilman Matthew Eugene, the first memberof the Haitian community to serve on the City Council said he sent “My prayers to my brothers and sisters” and “thank you to all my colleagues in government for the support for the Haitian community.” Eugene spoke about people calling his office at 2am, not knowing what had happened to their family members. “I want to say to the people of Haiti, You are not alone. You have friends working together as one team, the United States team, to send relief and assistance to you.”

(Follow up-to-date reports at http://www.haitiantimes.com/

One Valiant Effort: Thompson Concedes Run for Mayor

              During his yearlong quest for Mayor, Bill Thompson faced the biggest multi-million dollar campaign juggernaut in municipal history. He did so with style, grace and a gentlemanly comportment. The Thompson campaign spent election night at the New York Hilton, where hundreds of supporters packed the ballroom.

            A Who’s Who of Democratic leadership made remarks. Moderated by Harlem Assemblyman Keith Wright, those who addressed the crowd during the hours as the vote count between Bloomberg and Thompson remained tight (48% to 49%)  included  Norman Seabrook of the Corrections Officers Association, DC 37′s Exec. Dir. Lillian Roberts, President of RWDSU Stewart Applebaum, President of the Uniformed Firefighters Association Steve Cassidy, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, Bronx Borough President Reuben Diaz, Jr., Councilwoman Letitia James, Assemblyman Darryl Towns, Assemblyman Espaillat, NYS Comptroller Tom Dinapoli, Assemblywoman Debra Glick, Assemblyman Jeff Genowitz, Congressman Anthony Weiner, and Rev. Al Sharpton. 

            Bill DeBlasio said “our candidate Bill Thompson is one of the most decent people in public life. He has done everything right. He has served with distinction. Bill Thompson has served us well.  John Liu told the crowd that Bill Thompson “has confounded” every pollster, referring to re-election polls that inflated Bloomberg’s lead. Liu said, “we have seen results that speak well of democracy in NYC.” NYS Senate President Pro Tempore Malcolm Smith said, “It is Thompson’s time.”

            As the night wore on, the crowds jubilant mood began to change as word spread that the vote total moved to 51% for Bloomberg, 46% for Thompson.

            Governor Paterson said he could not leave the stage without telling the truth, “The fact is, there are too many Democrats who stayed home today, because they listened to the polls. They stayed home because they listened to people who represented everybody else’s interests except there own. Democrats need to believe in a Democratic party and those that represent the Democratic party – fighting against poor housing; fighting against drugs; crime; unemployment and underemployment. Fighting for decent educational facilities. Fighting to save the environment. And fighting for the education of our children.” Paterson added, “I want to congratulate Bill for not giving up.”

            Bill Thompson was called to the stage with the crowd chanting, “Billy! Billy!” and was greeted by warm, enthusiastic applause.

             Thompson’s words announcing he had just called to congratulate Michael Bloomberg was met with disapproving boos at the election results. Thompson said, “Although we have had our differences, we have always found common ground in our deep desire to serve this city. And to build a better future for this city.” He added, “And I pledge to do whatever I can to put the differences of the campaign behind us. And help him move this city forward as we work to address some very serious challenges.”

            With his head held high, Thompson said, “Tonight when the final votes are counted, the results will not be in our favor yet we still have much to be proud of.  This campaign was about standing up for your core values. This campaign was about standing strong, standing tall, and never backing down in the face of a formidable challenge. We are New Yorkers, That’s what we do.”

            “The work we started during this campaign doesn’t end tonight, in fact, it’s just beginning,” said Thompson. “I’ll continue to work with you to  make this city better. For others. It is our duty to make sure the issues we highlighted do not fade back into the shadows of our public dialog.”

            Thompson said he learned about public service from parents, a school teacher and an appellate court judge. He said, by their example, “I dedicated my life to giving back to this city that has given so much to me.”

            Citywide voter turnout was 1.1 million votes. Preliminary results are Bloomberg 51%  (557, 059  votes);   Thompson 46% (506,717 votes). Thompson won Brooklyn by 18,331 votes, and took the Bronx with 32,755 more votes than Bloomberg.

            Mayor Bloomberg spent upward of $90 million dollars, outspending Thompson by 14-to-1. With an average of $157.27 per Bloomberg vote compared to $13.12 per vote for Thompson, some attendees noted that Thompson may indeed be the better money manager.

            Thompson ended his remarks by saying, “Your support, your enthusiasm and desire for change is what carried me to this point.  We may not have won this election, and yet I know, this campaign had to be waged. I’ll never forget how much you gave to our cause”

            In central Brooklyn, election night affirmed the results of the primary. Councilwoman Letitia James won with 92% of the vote; Al Vann 63%; Mathieu Eugene 94%; Darlene Mealy 95%; and Charles Barron 93%. Jumaane Williams, who unseated Kendall Stewart, won with 76% of the vote.

            Public Advocate elect Bill DeBlasio won with 77% and John Liu, Comptroller elect, won with 76%.

View From Here: Why William Thompson for Mayor

Bill Thompson grew up on Putnam Avenue between Stuyvesant and Malcolm X Blvd.   The journey from those streets to being elected City Comptroller in 2001, managing a staff of more than 700 with a budget of $68 million and being overwhelmingly reelected in 2005,  is a long one with middle-class struggles, and successes achieved by hard work.  It is a journey that has attuned Comptroller Thompson to the problems that the middle class and middle class aspirants feel every day.  It has also given him the confidence to use the strategy necessary for this mayoral battle.  “The only way to compete with the richest man in New York City is to build from the ground up.  If you’re going to get into a dollar battle, you’re going to lose very quickly.” 

Thompson was speaking at a fund-raiser in the UN Plaza home of Edward Bergman and his family, high above the East River and about as far from Putnam Avenue as you can get. Here, Bill Thompson was speaking about education  and the need to go in a different direction.  “Our young people are being taught to take standardized tests,” he said.  “Our children are not taught critical thinking.  They’re not taught comprehension.  Not taught the skills they will need in the future.  We’re being given a false sense of accomplishment and all it is leading to is that our children are not being taught to compete.” 

Bill Thompson has an empathy with ordinary people that Mayor Bloomberg feels can be achieved by riding the subway four or five times a week.  But the Brooklyn Papers reported that in their interview with the Mayor, they asked about community benefit agreements, such as that signed by Bruce Ratner for the Atlantic Yards Project.  “I’m violently opposed to community benefits agreements,” the mayor replied.   “A small group of people, to feather their own nests, extort money from the developer? That’s just not good government.”    This statement alone disqualifies him as a choice for Mayor of New York City.  Here he is the richest man in New York, oblivious to the irony of his being “violently opposed” to small groups of unemployed Black men, many living pressed in by the explosion of construction in downtown Brooklyn, feathering their public housing nests, by demanding the opportunity to do hard work. 

He accuses them of extortion for insisting that developers of the gilded city rising only blocks away, put aside a portion of contracts and work for local people and companies.  He has $16 billion dollars, but helping someone bring home a paycheck for rent, food and clothing is “not good government.”  His concept of good government would have met with a vigorous nod of approval from Marie Antoinette, the Queen of France who, the apocryphal story goes, when told the starving masses had no bread, thought she’d be cute and said, “Let them eat cake.”  True or not, it was 1793 during the French Revolution and the people objected to the haughty attitude and the lady lost her head.  

The mayor’s team seems to have lost their collective heads as well or they must have read something in the polls saying it won’t be a double-digit win, to risk bringing in Rudy Giuliani, the biggest loser in the Republican presidential primaries, and someone anathema to the African-American community, to campaign with the mayor. Giuliani knows as much now as when he snickered at the Republican Convention at the thought of a “community organizer” becoming president.

Rudy’s connecting an election of William Thompson with a probable rise in crime and Bloomberg, frankly dishearteningly, going further, saying that New York can go the way of Detroit if Thompson were elected, was certainly the most offensive local politicking we’ve seen in some time.  Why does a billionaire have to resort to running a morally bankrupt campaign? Maybe it is as former mayor David Dinkins said at the Manhattan fundraiser, they have forgotten the great Negro Baseball League player Satchel Paige’s admonition, “Don’t look back, they may be gaining on you.” 

I don’t know what the calculus is here, perhaps the old tactic of tricking poor whites that they and the plantation owners share a bond, but it is certainly dismissive of the Black vote and those who would rather have the men of the neighborhood going to and from work rather than standing around chronically unemployed.   The mayor’s office has to become centered on the problems of regular working people and those who want to be working, and the city budget has to be used to not only deliver services but to circulate in the communities that need them most, lifting the quality of life for all New Yorkers.  It’s time for the Bloomberg era to come to a close.   Polls open 6am, November 3rd.  Every vote counts.

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