TresSugar

New York Taxis Won't Go Green Under City's Watch

CitizenSugar — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 10:00:13 -0700

New York City's plan to turn its whole fleet of yellow cabs green by 2012 got the red light this week from a federal judge, who ruled that regulation of fuel emissions standards falls under federal authority.

The plan called for every new taxi to have a standard of least 30 miles per gallon - a benchmark met by hybrid and clean diesel cars.

US District Judge Paul Crotty said enforcing the new regulations now would be costly to the taxi industry, which prompted Mayor Michael Bloomberg to release a statement saying the city is considering an appeal.

Green taxis are a focal point of Bloomberg's environmental plan. There are currently about 1,400 hybrid taxis in the city.

King Bloomberg? City Council Decides Mayor Can Run Again

LibertySugar — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 14:15:00 -0700

The New York City Council has voted 29-22 to change term-limit laws to allow Michael Bloomberg to run for a third term, but the royal battle is far from over.

In addition to securing federal Justice Department clearance, the city council's decision must survive various court battles. A lawsuit has been brought by public school teachers, and another by two council members. The city lawmakers explain that the officials who voted for the change get to run again, too, thus violating the city's conflict-of-interest law. The teachers think the change should be put to a referendum. In the 1990s, Ronald Lauder (heir to Estée Lauder) funded the two referendums instituting the term limits. Lauder now backs Bloomberg's bid for a third term.

Regardless of whether they support Bloomberg for another term, 89 percent of New York voters think term limits should be modified through a voter referendum, according to a new poll. Do you agree, or is an additional campaign the last thing NYC needs?

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Michael Bloomberg Wants Four More Years . . . Again

LibertySugar — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 09:00:11 -0700

Michael Bloomberg announced yesterday that he would seek a third term as mayor, thanks to unprecedented challenges and the economic crisis facing New York City. Only problem: New York City's term limit law says his time is up.

Bloomberg plans to ask City Council to change the law so he can have another shot. He explained:

The question for me has become much less about the theoretical and much more about the practical. And so to put it in very practical terms, handling this financial crisis while strengthening the essential services such as education and public safety is a challenge I want to take on for the people of New York.

A few months ago the majority of you said term limits should be imposed on leaders. Even if in theory term limits end gridlock and purge the system of self-serving incumbents, should an exception be made for Michael Bloomberg?

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New York City Plans to Gain $55 Million on Waterfall Art

LibertySugar — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 03:00:25 -0700

I'm sure I don't "get" most esteemed works of art, but I'm still undecided about whether my reaction to New York City's waterfall art project is "wow" or "huh?" Four waterfalls designed by Danish artist Olafur Eliasson will show around NYC until October. Three cascade into the East River and New York Harbor from scaffolding towers, while the fourth falls from the Brooklyn Bridge.

Money-wiz Mayor Michael Bloomberg says the art will create $55 million in economic activity for his city (it cost $15.5 million). In a truly American fashion, companies will offer $10 boat tours of the falls, as well as a $50,000 Waterfall Package dripping with luxuries like a private boat tour, champaign, diamonds, dinner for two, and a luxury hotel stay.

Do you find public art to be an eyesore, or a beautiful economic ~~waterfall~~ windfall for cities?

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Bloomberg Defends Obama to Florida Jewish Group

LibertySugar — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 13:00:16 -0700

New York Mayor, and Independent billionaire, Michael Bloomberg asked a group of fellow-Jewish voters to denounce false rumors that Barack Obama is a Muslim, rumors targeted at Jewish Americans.

On Friday, Bloomberg said the attacks, coming from supporters of his former Republican party, hide behind a pro-Israel facade, while actually threatening significant advances made between Muslims and Jews. He urged the audience to reject partisan tactics, preying on their fears.

Bloomberg probably makes both candidates' VP short lists; but, the popular mayor has yet to even endorse Barack Obama or John McCain. His statements to the Jewish community, in a crucial swing state like Florida, could only help Obama. Interestingly, Bloomberg made the remarks while Obama toured Florida, acting as a (perhaps unintentional) tag-team member.

Considering Barack Obama has called for a dialogue with Iran, do you think Jewish voters have concerns beyond deceptive email chains? Either way, Bloomberg is right for rejecting fearmongering, and urging the community to focus on the issues.

Obama/Bloomberg '08?

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Should States Impose Automatic Term Limits?

LibertySugar — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 12:15:52 -0700

An editorial in today's New York Times bashes automatic term limits on political office. The predicament of New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg demonstrates the discord - voters approve of the job he's doing, but would vote for term limits again if given the choice.

So why do voters favor limits that make them give up effective government leaders? The editorial explains that promises of ending gridlock and purging the system of self-serving incumbents attract voters' support.

But there is a down side to this automatic house cleaning. Term limits quickly turn leaders into lame ducks, removing their electoral accountability. Also, voters lose their choice to elect provenly capable politicians. In some ways, it distrusts citizens to make a decision in their best interest, assuming that they would not be able to identify a selfish and special-interest-entrenched politician. The question becomes whether this distrust is justified.

What do you think? Do term limits help democracy?

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Headline: Explosion at Times Square Recruiting Station

CitizenSugar — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 06:25:43 -0800

An explosion that the New York City police are saying came from an "improvised explosive device" rocked an Armed Forces Career Center in Times Square early this morning. The bomb detonated in the early hours, and authorities are now investigating ties to similar bombings at the British and Mexican Consulates in 2005 and 2007.

No one was injured in the blast, and Mayor Michael Bloomberg said, "the fact that this was deliberately set is an insult to all of the brave men and women of our armed forces," adding that the perpetrator will be punished to the fullest extent of the law.

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Bloomberg Ends Speculation - He "Will Not Be" a Candidate

CitizenSugar — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 10:00:19 -0800

In an op-ed published in the New York Times this morning, Mayor Michael Bloomberg slammed the door on his flirtation with a surprise entree into the quest for the White House. The former Democrat who is now serving as a Republican - and who happens to be a billionaire - was a wildly coveted contender capable of mounting a serious, self-financed, independent candidacy. Rumors ran rampant.

With this morning's piece however, that chance is no more. Bloomberg said,

I listened carefully to those who encouraged me to run, but I am not - and will not be - a candidate for president.

With these unmistakable words, Bloomberg went on to give his vision for a crackerjack campaign and surefire leadership for the future.

We need innovative ideas, bold action and courageous leadership. That’s not just empty rhetoric, and the idea that we have the ability to solve our toughest problems isn’t some pie-in-the-sky dream.

Stopping short of naming a candidate who he feels embraces that courage, he concluded,

If a candidate takes an independent, nonpartisan approach - and embraces practical solutions that challenge party orthodoxy - I’ll join others in helping that candidate win the White House.

Are you disappointed there won't be a Bloomberg candidacy? Does this declaration land him on everyone's short list for Vice President?

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Paying to Play: Who Spent Their Own Bucks on a Campaign?

CitizenSugar — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 09:00:51 -0800

Now that Ralph Nader's renaissance has sprung the siren-call of a Bloomberg campaign to everyone's lips, it's worth a trip down memory lane - who raided their own piggy banks for a self-financed play for office?

Radar made a list and checked the bank statements twice. Who can forget the 1992 splurge of the granddaddy of self-financing, Ross Perot? But did you know he shelled out $71.2 million for a price of $2.56 per vote?

That's not the most expensive run though - that honor rests on Blair Hull, who ran for US Senate in Illinois in 2004 - against Barack Obama. Oh noes! Mr. Hull sank $28,658,890 million in at a cost of $213.15 per vote. Oh, for context, it wasn't necessarily Obama's brilliance that sunk his campaign. Most think Hull's ship sank after some nasty, terrible details of spousal abuse came out when his divorce papers were unsealed. Turns out you can't buy off public record. . .

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Front Page: Maine Voters Reject Gay Marriage

TresSugar — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 08:00:12 -0800

Voters in Maine voted to repeal legislature-approved gay marriage yesterday by 53 to 47 percent. - Politico
Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin will host the Oscars together this year. - BuzzSugar
Michael Bloomberg has won a third term as New York City's mayor, after spending a record $90 million on the campaign. - New York Times
Convicted rapist Anthony Sowell has been charged with five counts of aggravated murder, as investigators in Cleveland, OH, continue to search for bodies in his home. - CNN
Roman Polanski's defense team will argue for the dismissal of the director's sexual assault case during a hearing to be held in US court on Dec. 10. - LA Times
Judge who disapproved of interracial marriages resigns. - CNN

Source: Flickr User Hodgey