Bloomberg's Future

I think the on-again, off-again Bloomberg for President talk has been silly, but Michael Bloomberg's been an excellent Mayor for New York so I wouldn't at all mind seeing him take a crack at running for governor. But in other respects, what I'd most like to see as Bloomberg's legacy is more of his excellent work on urban policy and transportation issues rather than ginning up doomed plans for the economic revitalization of upstate New York.

That means first and foremost doing what he can to sustain his legacy within the city. It'd be a shame to see his successor repudiate his strong pro-transit record, and I hope he'll focus on doing the best he can to ensure that whoever follows him in office will follow his lead on these policies. I'd also be thrilled to see his Transportation Commissioner, Janette Sadik-Kahn go federal as Barack Obama's Secretary of Transportation (let the buzz begin!). Beyond that, as I've said before when you consider the extent to which Bloomberg's financial assets have been an important political asset for him, I'm not sure that deploying them on self-financied election campaigns is the best way to move forward with change. He could probably accomplish more as an accomplished ex-mayor, donor, and advocate for spreading the kinds of policies he pioneered in NYC to elsewhere in the country.

Comments

Bloomberg himself would seem to be on the list for a Cabinet appointment in an Obama administration. He could be secretary of Transportation or Energy. Even HUD.

Still a VP possibility. If asked to serve, he'd serve.

Posted by The Foulness | June 4, 2008 3:41 PM

Don't completely write off upstate. Between the increase in grain prices and the canal, that area has some opportunities for growth. Throw in enough global warming to decrease the hellish nature of the lake effect snow and the sky is the limit.

Just ignore the fact that enough warming to limit the snow would probably flood the heck out of NYC, LI, NJ, etc.

Posted by daveNYC | June 4, 2008 3:41 PM

This post is wrong on a couple of counts.

1. Bloomberg's fortune is not best understood as money that can be given away by a public-minded ex-mayor. Rather, his wealth is an x-factor in terms of making him a powerful public official. After all, his hundreds of millions pale in comparison to what the State of New York can deploy. Better use his hundreds of millions to buy him into a position where he can deploy the state's (or whatever government's) budget in productive ways.

2. Bloomberg hasn't been such an excellent mayor or much of a successful politician. His achievements are in the realm of competent management of a hierarchy where he is at the apex. Every time he combats a political power equal to himself, he loses. That is why he could never be President. However, if he can buy his way to Albany, then he will (finally!) control the MTA and thus promises associated with the use of congestion pricing proceeds will be credible and the plan might actually pass.

Posted by Marshall | June 4, 2008 3:49 PM

Out of curiousity, Matt, what makes you think he's an excellent mayor? I lived in New York during his time, and "excellent" isn't the word I'd use.

Posted by John | June 4, 2008 4:02 PM

As a long time NYC resident who sent two kids to NYC public schools (starting with PS41 in the Village), I disagree that Bloomberg has been a great mayor. He's been lousy for education. Joel Klein has created a bureaucracy even more demoralized and dysfunctional than the one he found.

Posted by lgm | June 4, 2008 4:03 PM

I don't get it - is upstate doomed or is Bloomberg's economic approach the problem?

Posted by berger | June 4, 2008 4:03 PM

Seems like NY has a perfectly good governor now and Gov Paterson is a Dem, unlike Bloomberg.

Posted by CParis | June 4, 2008 4:04 PM

As a long time NYC resident who sent two kids to NYC public schools (starting with PS41 in the Village), I disagree that Bloomberg has been a great mayor. He's been lousy for education. Joel Klein has created a bureaucracy even more demoralized and dysfunctional than the one he found.

Posted by lgm | June 4, 2008 4:05 PM

Make him VP and make urban transportation issues a priority. That would give him something to do and benefit the rest of us as well.

Posted by fostert | June 4, 2008 4:08 PM

"rather than ginning up doomed plans for the economic revitalization of upstate New York."

I thankfully escaped Upstate NY after spending far too much of my life there, so I am completely prepared to agree that it is a desolate, run-down shithole of a region. However, I'd like to hear why economic revitalization plans are "doomed".

If it's because downstate doesn't give a shit about Upstate and will block structural changes in NY government, then yeah, that seems likely. But otherwise in my opinion, there's nothing inherently unsalvage-able about the region.

But at the moment, it really is quite a dreary, hopeless place. North of Westchester County it's basically Appalachia. I'm glad I left.

Posted by Waingro | June 4, 2008 4:12 PM

ginning up doomed plans for the economic revitalization of upstate New York.

Tangentially, I think this is the biggest problem with federalism. 200-odd years ago, there were genuinely close relationships within states and genuine gulfs between them (metaphorically). Today, far less. We have New York and upstate New York, we have Pennsyltucky, we have coastal Washington and Oregon and the inland parts of those states, etc. A resident of Putnam, N.Y. is far more likely to share culture and lifestyle and opinions on government with a resident of Woodville, Ga. than with a resident of Manhattan.

Posted by Cyrus | June 4, 2008 4:19 PM

Can someone please explain to me what exactly Bloomberg's great achievements have been (Please don't say his advocacy for the second avenue subway. Of all of the things the transit system needs it is not a redundant subway for pampered ass east-siders)? Each time he has attempted to push an initiative he has failed, including (thankfully) his absurd congestion pricing plan that would have drove even more working class citizens from the City.

The man's ego is larger than his assets, which causes any type of cooperation with him impossible unless your one of his developer cronies. Ultimately he has benefited from and recieves the credit for two things that he has little control over, the economy and public safety. On the latter, he has been dangerously lax in his purposeful degeneration of what was once the world's best police force, but the public won't realize this until crime starts to tick up again. His reputation also is bolstered by his unprecendented influence over local news publications, who will publish and support his frequently absurd statements on almost any topic.

Another aspect that people fail to appreciate is that Bloomberg is entirely unelectable for any post greater than that of mayor (in my estimation) because of his well-documented, but also heretofore ignored womanizing and sexual harassment issues.

People really need to stop fawning over this man.

Posted by laborlibert | June 4, 2008 4:31 PM

Throw in enough global warming to decrease the hellish nature of the lake effect snow and the sky is the limit.

Actually... if anything, global warming is going to increase the amount of lake effect snow.

The snow around here (Utica) tends to taper off when the lake freezes over, reducing the available moisture needed for lake effect. This hasn't happened the past couple winters -- it's been warmer than normal into December or January, and the lake has remained unfrozen all winter long. Leading to some crazy snow well into March.

Posted by spherulitic | June 4, 2008 4:39 PM

Bloomberg is a ziocon billionaire. Ipso facto, he's an enemy of America. And, his taste in women tells all. What an effete and louche pig.

Posted by Trevor | June 4, 2008 4:39 PM

between this and the 'Bush is a good debater' post, i really have to wonder....WTF are you thinking???

Posted by sean | June 4, 2008 4:42 PM

But at the moment, it really is quite a dreary, hopeless place. North of Westchester County it's basically Appalachia.

Maybe that's why I like it so much. In fact that is why I like living here (near Rochester).

Posted by An Outhouse | June 4, 2008 4:57 PM

Matt, love ya, but you really seem out of the loop on this one. When was the last time you lived in NYC? Have you ever had any experience with public education?

Posted by eunice | June 4, 2008 4:58 PM

You leave out his greatest sin (and most telling illustration of "do as I please" approach to government): his ass-kissing, protest-quashing performance during the Republican Convention. It stains his few accomplishments.

Posted by JSG | June 4, 2008 5:00 PM

Thanks to all who added some reality to Matt's man crush on Bloomberg.

He and his lackey in the Department of Education refuse to address the most serious problem with the public schools: class size. Charter schools, which the administration loves, are limited to 25 kids in a class. My daughter's middle school had 37 kids in a class. Her high school classes are made up of 30 students. In a DOE sponsored survey, parents voted class size the most important issue. Undaunted, the administration played with the numbers to minimize this reality.

He is not great on public transportation. The 2nd Avenue subway is a boon doggle and transportation advocates have more viable alternatives. Furthermore, he is insistent on building an extension to the cross town 7 train that will make development of the far west side more lucrative for his cronies.

He is not a supporter of affordable housing. He let my complex, Stuyvesant Town be sold to his friends from Tishman Spyers. He refused to work with the tenants who put together a reasonable package to purchase the property and maintain its affordable rents. Instead, long time tenants are being forced out and affordable housing in Manhattan is dwindling to nothing. Marie Antoinette once said "Let the eat cake". Bloomberg says: "Let them live in Queens!"

What was wonderful about New York City was that it was economically mixed. Now residents are either rich or poor. Those of us in the middle are getting squeezed out.

Bloomberg, in a word, sucks.

Posted by LeeNYC | June 4, 2008 5:01 PM

You leave out his greatest sin (and most telling illustration of "do as I please" approach to government): his ass-kissing, protest-quashing performance during the Republican Convention. It stains his few accomplishments.

Posted by JSG | June 4, 2008 5:11 PM

I, too, would like some clarification of what Bloomberg did for NYC. I lived there for half of his reign, and don't recall ever hearing anyone marvel about his administration.

On the negative side, he's pretty much a fascist - or as much of one that you can be on the municipal level. He did everything in his power to prevent New Yorkers from exercising their First Amendment rights - peaceful anti-war protesters were charged at by police on horseback, Washington Square Park was surrounded by riot cops because people were hanging out there after an anti-war march (strolling around a park in the afternoon is, apparently, a riot), and HE SUSPENDED HABEUS CORPUS DURING THE REPUBLICAN CONVENTION. As mayor.
Abraham Lincoln was chastised by the Supreme Court for suspending habeus corpus during the civil war but a) he was president b) there was a civil war going on and c) he ended slavery, so maybe we can cut him some slack.

What the fuck has Bloomberg done?

What has he accomplished that in any way measures up to him trying to overturn the past 800 years or so of American and English Law?

Posted by justaguy | June 4, 2008 5:34 PM

WHAT "strong transit record"????

The subways and busses are still the main way NYers move, and are still under the control of state-run MTA board. Congestion pricing failed.

A decent transit commissioner does not a strong transit record make. "It could be worse" isn't good enough.

Posted by nogoatee | June 4, 2008 5:42 PM

No, Bloomberg's greatest sin is his dismantling of the Department of Building's safeguards. He just presided over another major building crane collapse (this one killed only the crane operators, because fortunately no-one was on all those balconies that the crane took off the neighboring building on its way down). Construction workers and the occasional bystander are dying in this city the way they did when the Pharaohs were building their pyramids or the Chinese emperors were building their walls, and for pretty much the same reason -- the rich get what they want in Bloomberg's NYC, and they don't like paying extra or putting up with any delays when all that's at issue is worker safety.

Posted by Diana | June 4, 2008 6:01 PM

Matt:

You blew this one, dude. Here's hoping the naysayers here have set you straight, but I'll add that my extensive experience with The Board of Ed. has been the Greatest Nightmare Evah. Joel Klein is a moron of epic proportions. Janette ain't all that, either; her speeding ticket en route to Albany to browbeat the Senate and Assembly on congestion pricing became an instant classic in state lore.

The best thing one can say about Bloomberg is that he doesn't have Giuliani's odious personality. But he's every inch the dictator, no question about it. And deeply Manhattan-centric. Last time I checked, there were four other boroughs in NYC.

Posted by BryklynLibrul | June 4, 2008 6:35 PM

Bloomberg has been a great mayor if you make more than $100,000 a year.

If you make less than that, well, life in New York has just gotten shittier and shittier, and Bloomberg and his minions in the development office are working overtime to guarantee that Manhattan and the inner neighborhoods of Brooklyn are uninhabitable except for the very rich and/or the trust-funded.

Posted by dadanarchist | June 4, 2008 7:14 PM

Also, to second some readers' comments, Bloomberg would make a useless Transportation Secretary. What few good ideas about transportation Bloomberg has come out with were the ideas of others in his government, or aggressive lobbying by annoyed constituents. The expansion of bike lanes and resources has been pushed by outside groups, not the city itself. The Second Ave subway is pointless, a sop for lazy East Siders who can't walk the few blocks from the 4-5-6 (already the best run branch in the city in comparison to the F or G trains that largely serve Brooklyn and Queens), and the Congestion Pricing, while a good idea, was written in a poor manner.

A much better choice would be Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Oregon) from my hometown, Portland, who has been pushing alternative transportation since the late 1970's. Except he would probably never agree to live year-round in DC.

Posted by dadanarchist | June 4, 2008 7:23 PM

And Bloomberg is also a fascist on smoking. The guy just plain sucks.

Posted by vanya | June 4, 2008 7:54 PM

Beame, Koch, Dinkins, Giuliani. Bloomberg is the first mayor I've seen who has effectively governed the city. I didn't vote for him the first time, but did the second. Don't like everything about him, and he's made some mistakes. But after suffering under Giuliani, the city has greatly benefited.

Posted by brosenyc | June 4, 2008 8:43 PM

but he's been really awful on housing policy and way too cozy with the worst sort of developers. he may be teachable (his turn around on recycling) and one wishes he would have learned from the west side stadium fiasco... but so far no.

Posted by drstevebq | June 4, 2008 10:04 PM

NYC has become a dull metropole lagging far behind its European counterparts under Bloomberg's watch. Give me London or Amsterdam over this cesspool with its aging, decrepit infrastructure anyday. Good for urban transport? Have you taken a ride on the subway lately? In London or Barcelona you might wait three minutes between trains. In NYC you'll be lucky if it comes offpeak within 30 mins.

NYC has long since peaked.

Posted by metacritic | June 5, 2008 12:13 AM

NYC has become a dull metropole lagging far behind its European counterparts under Bloomberg's watch. Give me London or Amsterdam over this cesspool with its aging, decrepit infrastructure anyday. Good for urban transport? Have you taken a ride on the subway lately? In London or Barcelona you might wait three minutes between trains. In NYC you'll be lucky if it comes offpeak within 30 mins.

NYC has long since peaked.

Posted by metacritic | June 5, 2008 12:15 AM

Wouldn't he be a better secretary of the treasury?

Posted by JoshA | June 5, 2008 2:27 AM

http://vanishingnewyork.blogspot.com/

Posted by dadanarchist | June 5, 2008 4:21 AM

You people are nuts. On almost any indicator, NYC has become better off under Bloomberg's watch. Complain about education, but there are no statistics that bear that out. Complain about the subways? They are miles ahead of where they were 10-20 years ago. And to those who complain that downstate doesn't care about upstate, you should educate yourself on the fact that the downstate region essentially carries the rest of the state with its economy & tax revenues - upstate NYC is on welfare. Bloomberg has made NYC government more rational in its decisions (e.g. PlaNYC) and more efficient and responsive (e.g. 311). Unfortunately, yes, it has also become a more suburbanized, culturally mediocre, economically divided city as well. But while spewing your vitriol, at least take the time to deal with some facts.

Posted by Mike | June 5, 2008 9:34 AM

Excellent call on Sadik-Khan!!

Posted by tim | June 5, 2008 9:50 AM

Agreed with Mike. I'm as sick as anyone of Bloomberg's development uber alles policies, and am ready for a new mayor (though I doubt we'll see any change in that area), but PlaNYC almost makes up for it. The bicycle improvements are certainly a result of advocacy efforts, but advocates can't install bike lanes. Janette Sadik-Kahn deserves all the credit in the world.

Posted by justin | June 5, 2008 9:55 AM

yeah, i can't be as enthusiastic on bloomberg, but sadik-kahn is brilliant. let's start emailing obama about it now.

Posted by maxwell | June 5, 2008 10:37 AM

No way, you can't have her!

Jeanette Sadik-Khan for Mayor!

Posted by AZ | June 5, 2008 10:52 AM

Bloomberg has displayed some questionable judgment as mayor. For example, he strongly supported building a football stadium on the west side of Manhattan, which thankfully fell through because it would have been a preposterous boondoggle. He also wanted to bring the Olympics to New York even though few people were excited about it, nobody was looking forward to the disruption to city life it would cause, and, really, New York just doesn't need the Olympics. He's also supported the Atlantic Yards project, which will result in the construction of an unwanted basketball area and 10,000 new apartments in what is already the most congested area of Brooklyn. Generally, his mistakes in judgment tend to favor the interests of large-scale real estate developers.

Posted by Michael S. | June 5, 2008 1:14 PM

While Atlantic Yards may be in a congested area of Brooklyn, it's also in one of the best possible locations for transportation. It's right on top of an LIRR station, at a major intersection of subway lines, and even has decent road access. If you can't do a dense development there, you can't do one anywhere. I'm ticked off that Freddy's Bar is in the kill zone, but the project makes sense.

It's funny how people are always for affordable housing, but nobody ever seems to be for big construction projects, which are the only way that the housing supply will ever come in line with demand.

Posted by AlanC9 | June 5, 2008 1:46 PM

The Atlantic Yards project makes sense, on paper.

People, however, are justifiably skeptical about what it will do because it was a plan cooked up by Bloomberg, who is tight with the property development clique, not to mention grossly Manhattan-centric, and Bruce Ratner and Forest City, who built the Metro Tech clusterfuck/eyesore.

I am skeptical about how many units, in the end, will actually be low-income housing, and of those that stay low-income, how long that will last.

Posted by dadanarchist | June 5, 2008 4:11 PM

Anybody would have looked good after the Giuliani disaster. Bloomberg is brilliant, and comes across as way more sympathetic than Rudy ever was. However, he tries to push through huge projects that the public doesn't want (but the developers do want). And the mass arrests during the Republican convention were a complete disgrace, and will eventually cost the city many millions in settlements. At times like those, Bloomberg's Republican leanings came to the surface - and citizens' civil rights were completely trampled. That alone is unforgivable.

Posted by Ken F | June 5, 2008 4:17 PM