No significant tax hikes, no spike in city spending: that’s a formula for economic growth. And that’s what New York has grown accustomed to during the Mike Bloomberg era in City Hall.
The mayor unveiled his last budget the other day, and if he took a little extra time to sing the praises of his Read More
Last Thursday evening at New York’s perch of power dining, the Four Seasons Restaurant, billionaires could be found clinking glasses with politicians, actors could be seen rubbing shoulders with news correspondents, and throngs of notable wordsmiths quaffed copious amounts of liquor at The New York Observer’s 25th anniversary soiree.
“I think this is the best Read More
- The intimidatingly assiduous Peggy Siegal greets people at the door; thanks us for coming to celebrate party with The New York Observer. “We are The New York Observer!” We cry. She doesn’t even pause. “Well, it’s great to see you anyway.”
-Terry McDonell: I’ve always loved the Observer, I have great respect for Peter Kaplan. The coverage of everything I was interested in New York in the past 25 years was reflected in The Observer at the highest level.
- Ray Kelly recalls the last time he was at the Four Seasons. “[We] feel like you never leave,” we tell the Police Commissioner. His reply: “A lot of people feel that way.” Read More
Mayor Bloomberg has gotten his fair share of criticism for deciding to go ahead with the annual New York City Marathon, given the devastation throughout the city following Hurricane Sandy, including not far from the starting line in Staten Island. But the mayor is sticking to his previous promise to have the race run, to send a message of New York’s recovery and to help buoy an economy that has been battered by the storm.
“As Rudy Giuliani said to me this morning, he said, ‘You know, right after 9/11 people said the same thing,’” Mayor Bloomberg said. Being Mike Bloomberg, he then launched into an economic defense for his decision. “New York has to show that we’re here, we are going to recover, and that while we help people we can still help companies that need the business, still generate the tax base so that we have the resources to help people. We can give people something to cheer about in what’s been a very dismal week for some people.” Read More
Mayor Mike Bloomberg made his annual Blue Room budget presentation for the New York City press corps this afternoon and took aim at officials in Albany and Washington who he said are taking money from the city’s coffers.
“We are in better shape than most cities for two prime reasons: we’ve made smart investments in Read More
Mayor Michael Bloomberg opened a public art exhibit this morning in Central Park by the jailed Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei and delivered a forceful defense of free speech.
“Today, we stand in solidarity with the millions of people around the world who are hoping that Ai Weiwei is quickly and safely released,” Mayor Bloomberg Read More
Tavis Smiley is bringing his late-night PBS show to New York this week, and his first guest was Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
The talk show host asked Bloomberg about the apparent decision to bring in Cathie Black as city school chief without consulting with aides and experts.
The mayor disputed the premise of the question.
“I Read More
Mayor Michael Bloomberg is headed down to Washington, D.C. tomorrow and included in his visit is a stop-over at the White House to talk immigration reform with President Barack Obama.
Last year, the mayor testified before Congress along side News Corp. head Rupert Murdoch about reforming the nation’s immigration laws, and testily told a judiciary Read More
The Bloomberg administration has released its request to the State Education Commissioner David Steiner to grant a waiver so that First Deputy Mayor Dennis Walcott can be officially named chancellor of the New York City School system.
The letter marks a study in contrasts to the one sent to Steiner a few months ago, when Read More
Mayor Mike Bloomberg said that Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer was wrong to hold a “rat invasion” presser today where the BP called for the city to beef up its ranks of pest control inspectors.
“The city is doing a great job as a matter of fact,” the mayor shot back to a reporter Read More
