Mayor Mike's Rep Forever Soiled By Crane Tragedies?
So here’s something a lot of people are asking about Mayor Mike nowadays: Is it OK for him to take credit for the positive aspects of the building boom he’s presided over but wash his hands of the recent construction-site tragedies? The Times quotes a resident of the 91st Street building hit by the crane…
So here’s something a lot of people are asking about Mayor Mike nowadays: Is it OK for him to take credit for the positive aspects of the building boom he’s presided over but wash his hands of the recent construction-site tragedies? The Times quotes a resident of the 91st Street building hit by the crane that killed two on Friday thus: I’m not going anywhere until I see the mayor. This is his fault. Fifteen people have died in construction accidents this year. DOB permits for new buildings have soared during Bloomberg’s administration. At a press conference following Friday’s deadly collapse, however, the mayor had this to say: I don’t think there’s anything wrong with the DOB — D.O.B. didn’t crash; it was the crane that collapsed. Keep in mind that construction is a dangerous business and you will always have fatalities. According to political analysts quoted in the Times, the accidents have tarnished Bloomberg’s rep as a great manager. The Daily News had a story about how Bloomberg stayed on the air during his weekly radio show for 40 minutes after hearing about the accident. “He shouldn’t have stayed,” said mayoral candidate/City Councilmember Tony Avella. “It reflects his cavalier attitude about things happening in this city.” Will these accidents be remembered as the great cost of Bloomberg’s pro-development agenda?
Crane Collapses Prompt Questions on the Mayor’s Oversight [NY Times]
Bloomberg Takes Hit for Staying on Air [NY Daily News]
Photo by Piano Lady.
Interestingly, Bloomberg has a big stake in this particular project.
http://www.nypost.com/seven/06022008/news/regionalnews/citys_dirty_little_secret_is_why_its_on__113533.htm
No one will remember the crane accidents except perhaps as a minor footnote. The buildings though will be a tangible and enduring legacy. Bloomberg is an old-fashioned tyrant. We have not seen his kind in NY since Robert Moses. Those are the kinds of SOB’s that get things built. His legacy will be huge.
Bloomberg = elitist; condescending; intolerant of other points of view; dismissive of alternative opinions; insensitive. These accidents ARE a part of his legacy. That can’t be changed.
The press loves Bloomberg – nowhere does he get any blame. Of course it’s his fault – the buck stops there. He has given the city over to the greedy developers. I agree with 12:19, he was very glib, especially when he mentioned the 2 workers killed, and then one passerby. It was as if it was ok – that 2 of the three were workers.
Where’s the outrage over all these deaths?
His legacy will be that he succeeded in driving the working and middle classes out of the city. It’s pretty pathetic – A multibillionaire businessman for mayor and a dunce for president.
I cannot wait for Bloomberg to go
we are becoming an over-developed city – especially right here in Brooklyn -all thanks to Bloomie. He is incredibly frugal – I mean hello snow removal!!! – this winter wasn’t bad – but do you remember the past 3-4 years where news reporters would be out in the “boroughs” reporting 3 days after a snow storm from streets that still hadn’t been plowed? I also agree that his comments were totally glib and lacked true compassion – David Patterson showed more care for the family of the construction worker who was killed!
All he did was scapegoat a commissioner who was an architect and an engineer and bring one in who is neither. Things will get worse.
Good job.
I disagree completely with the people posting in the first 3 posts.
My first thought when reading Bloomberg’s response after this 2nd crane tragedy was what a HUGE mistake he made. He absolutely sounded glib and cavalier, it was totally inappropriate, and it’s just flat out not the way to respond to a tragedy when running for National office. Lie through your teeth if you have to but to say basically “sh*t happens” like Bloomie did, that was retarded.
He just showed us all he isn’t Presidential in the slightest.
Bloomberg is a junker. toss him out with the garbage. his “legacy” if you want to call it that is definitely soiled. no question.
What about past mayors like Mayor Dinkins who just stood there while NYC was hitting a high on murders and muggings and rapes…
I think Bloomie is doing a great job and the cities crime is the lowest it has been…ANd development is everywhere…
Bullcrap article just trying to be negative