Very disappointed in your poor choice. I wish you wouldn't endorsed anyone. DeBlasio always takes the easiest route, has increased bureaucracy, increased taxes to a point of no return. He doesn't deserve reelection, and I say this as a Democrat
5
I voted enthusiastically for this Mayor four years ago, and was happy to see a corrective to years of policies that, in my view, were over-friendly to real estate developers, Wall Street, and the Borough of Manhattan generally. That having been said, the current Mayor is one of the least inspiring politicians I've encountered. Our Governor is a jerk -- he'd probably even say so himself -- but the Mayor's decision to pick a very public fight with him was the height of stupidity, especially given that the Mayor hadn't marshaled the political forces to win that fight. Although I had my problems with Bloomberg, the truth is that the current Mayor is living off the previous Mayor's fumes.
3
No, Bill De Blasio should not be running for mayor at all.
The city is the dirtiest it has been since I arrived 15 years ago.
Homeless people are everywhere. The subways are filthy, overcrowded and not safe. Subway riders are terrorized by panhandlers and sometimes are endangered by the ever present subway dancers. Traffic is horrrendous,
and the rat population is out of control.
SAY NO to Bill de Blasio
The city is the dirtiest it has been since I arrived 15 years ago.
Homeless people are everywhere. The subways are filthy, overcrowded and not safe. Subway riders are terrorized by panhandlers and sometimes are endangered by the ever present subway dancers. Traffic is horrrendous,
and the rat population is out of control.
SAY NO to Bill de Blasio
6
To call Bill de Blasio a progressive suggests the op-ed writers don't even know the meaning of the word. But, they certainly got it right with the phrase "moral haughtiness." Yeah, that's it exactly, holier than thou, self-righteous; oh yes, that's the real Bill de Blasio. Yes, crime is down and that he rolled back the stop and frisk tactics. Those are good things. But, otherwise, what can we say? Luxury housing development is totally out of control, rezoning plans have been met with community opposition, homelessness is at record highs, infrastructure (subways, in particular) is decrepit, the city seems dirtier than it has in a couple of decades, etc. No, these are not all his fault, but rather than cumulative faults of the previous windbags who occupied his seat, but that moral haughtiness, that self-serving fake progressive stance, that's all tough to look beyond. And, at the end of the day, he just isn't very good. I mean, that's pretty much what the NY Times has been telling us via its reporting over these past four years, and then you go and endorse him?!?!
5
A very sad commentary on the Democratic Party in NCY that the best candidate it has is a man who endorses and practices pay to play and is unashamed of it. He hides behind fake privileges to avoid detection and he thinks developers are just peachy and their lobbyists even more so. He thinks New Yorkers are ungrateful if they don't appreciate him or worse ask questions about what he is doing. Giving him another term is condemning NYC to another term of secret deals and unchecked development. It will be a disaster for the average person...but hey who cares about them as long as the billionaires are well housed!
5
Another four years with this guy is really going to be painful. Quality of life issues are forgotten but our Mayor would never notice as he travels in a Bubble to staged and edited events.
The Homeless on the streets, Failing schools, Marajuna use, Public urination traffic congestion and the list goes on.
And don't forget the investigations for which the taxpayers are going to foot the two million dollar bill.
What a Sham and a Shame!
The Homeless on the streets, Failing schools, Marajuna use, Public urination traffic congestion and the list goes on.
And don't forget the investigations for which the taxpayers are going to foot the two million dollar bill.
What a Sham and a Shame!
5
This guys face screams smugness on every picture I see of him.
3
This editorial is laughable. De Blasio is corrupt, incompetent and has accomplished nothing of consequence. Quality of life in the city is down in just about every department of life it seems. Just walk around each day (the subways are so unreliable you don't know they'll even be running). Deterioration is self evident everywhere.
Far too many of his appointments are air head incompetent idealists with no real world knowledge or skills too. So called improvements in schools and test scores and other measures are the result of lowered standards and defining what in the past was failure as success today. The only reason the city has worked at all is because of the programs and structures the previous two mayors put in place.
No I don't see anyone great running against him, and sadly maybe those who are running are even worse. But this puff piece is absurd. Wish yet that someone competent would throw their hat in.
Far too many of his appointments are air head incompetent idealists with no real world knowledge or skills too. So called improvements in schools and test scores and other measures are the result of lowered standards and defining what in the past was failure as success today. The only reason the city has worked at all is because of the programs and structures the previous two mayors put in place.
No I don't see anyone great running against him, and sadly maybe those who are running are even worse. But this puff piece is absurd. Wish yet that someone competent would throw their hat in.
4
The Times will endorse Trump if he ran as a Democrat.
4
Would the Editorial Board care to elaborate on what, exactly, they believe the Mayor is in a position to do about greedy commercial landlords -- the underlying cause of all of the shop closings?
3
I don't know what to make of this editorial.
It seems to support the current mayor but gives us very little reasons to support him.
I think the Times felt they had to support someone but did not want to endorse a specific candidates who is running against the mayor.
They therefore wrote a editorial that most likely will not convince anyone to vote for the mayor.
In fact I think it does the opposite.
An intelligent persons reading this editorial will get from this is that there very few reasons to vote for Mayor de Blasio and one big reason not to.
It seems to support the current mayor but gives us very little reasons to support him.
I think the Times felt they had to support someone but did not want to endorse a specific candidates who is running against the mayor.
They therefore wrote a editorial that most likely will not convince anyone to vote for the mayor.
In fact I think it does the opposite.
An intelligent persons reading this editorial will get from this is that there very few reasons to vote for Mayor de Blasio and one big reason not to.
5
This was one of the more grudging endorsements for a highly successful Democratic officeholder that I have read from the New York Times, which has from before his election opposed him in nearly every article and op-ed, despite his very reliably Democratic ideas and policies. His successful push for pre-K, which has led a national drive for this important, redistributive imperative, his housing plans, imperfect though they may be, his support for a $15 minimum wage, quickly co-opted by the governor, and his campaign for a more equitable state contribution to the MTA all mark him as an outstanding mayor, even as all the economic and most of the crime numbers have been outstanding under his watch. Now, if only Governor Cuomo would understand that it is in their common best interest, and particularly in the best interest of the residents of New York state and New York City, to work together on enacting wise and far-seeing policies.
3
De Blasio (and the crushing tax rate) are the main reasons I've decided to stay away from NYC. From the outside looking in, after reading a lot of the coverage of Albany/NYC from The Times, one has to ask, why bother?
3
Even his signature push to create "affordable housing" is really a give-back to developers.
East Harlem is being rezoned for big towers.
Poor people will lose their rentals because the buildings are being torn down.
So much for affordable housing.
The three tiers of development plans under consideration for this area have income tests that are $50K, then $70K, then one higher.
That SOUNDS like it will provide affordable housing in these new high rises that will destroy the neighborhoods. But that's a lie. Here's why.
the median income overall for NY is about $54K. So $50K as the lowest tier SOUNDS good. But it's a false front. It's a beard for booting out the neighborhood, because the median income for the neighborhood currently is $26K. In other words, extremely few people from the neighborhood can afford even the lowest tier in the so-called "affordable housing" plan.
I really really really really dislike this mayor for these sorts of tactics.
East Harlem is being rezoned for big towers.
Poor people will lose their rentals because the buildings are being torn down.
So much for affordable housing.
The three tiers of development plans under consideration for this area have income tests that are $50K, then $70K, then one higher.
That SOUNDS like it will provide affordable housing in these new high rises that will destroy the neighborhoods. But that's a lie. Here's why.
the median income overall for NY is about $54K. So $50K as the lowest tier SOUNDS good. But it's a false front. It's a beard for booting out the neighborhood, because the median income for the neighborhood currently is $26K. In other words, extremely few people from the neighborhood can afford even the lowest tier in the so-called "affordable housing" plan.
I really really really really dislike this mayor for these sorts of tactics.
9
A bit surprised you've endorsed anyone. I've followed the Times' often-critical coverage of the mayor with interest, but I don't see much of it reflected here. No reference to ethics appears until the sixth paragraph and no obvious ones to the mayor's fraught relationship with the governor (who has problems of his own) or the city's relentless march toward money and power. As much politician as progressive?
8
Correction: The governor is indeed mentioned.
The outpouring of anti-de Blasio trolls posting here should tell New Yorkers how DANGEROUS the far right wing believes Mayor de Blasio is.
After all, while other cities are failing, NYC has lowered crime. The Mayor stopped the nasty and racist stop-and-frisk and crime didn't go up. The right wing HATES that. Get him out, now. They can't have a Democrat proving that all their nasty racist lies are lies.
If you want to please the racist alt right trolls, don't vote for de Blasio. If you want to stop letting them influence democracy, understand that you are reading propaganda designed to make you hate a progressive who proved that you don't have to be racist and privatize public schools in the manner that Betsy DeVos wants in order to have a safe city.
Don't be fooled.
After all, while other cities are failing, NYC has lowered crime. The Mayor stopped the nasty and racist stop-and-frisk and crime didn't go up. The right wing HATES that. Get him out, now. They can't have a Democrat proving that all their nasty racist lies are lies.
If you want to please the racist alt right trolls, don't vote for de Blasio. If you want to stop letting them influence democracy, understand that you are reading propaganda designed to make you hate a progressive who proved that you don't have to be racist and privatize public schools in the manner that Betsy DeVos wants in order to have a safe city.
Don't be fooled.
5
Really? Are the Democrats who oppose DeBlasio all racists and trolls? Are the 83% of the voters who didn't even bother to vote last time racists for not wanting this guy to stay in office? Why THIS Democrat - out of 8 plus million people there isn't at least one other decent Democrat who can run and replace him?
Don't be fooled, indeed!
Don't be fooled, indeed!
4
The majority of comments critical of de Blasio seem to raise reasonable issues and aren't presented in a partisan vein. Indeed, it's hard to see any "alt-right" thinking in any of them. Rather than smearing detractors with blanket and nonsensical "alt-right" accusations, perhaps you could address some of them, including ones the NYT has raised over the time de Blasio has been in office?
I know you would like for people to believe that these commenters are hard far-right trolls, but my guess is that they are mostly Democrats who simply don't think de Blasio has done a very good job.
I know you would like for people to believe that these commenters are hard far-right trolls, but my guess is that they are mostly Democrats who simply don't think de Blasio has done a very good job.
4
The "real" candidate for Mayor is Bill Murawski; born, raised and residing in Hell's Kitchen. How can New York City elect a Red Sox Fan? Wake up, opportunist only want what's best for them. Time to break the mirror and elect a New Yorker with heart. Murawski for Mayor!
3
Bill de Blasio, the Best Democratic Choice for Mayor - And I Have A Bridge In Brooklyn To Sell YOU!
13
Yeah, I'm a born and bred liberal. Been living in Manhattan for over 22 years and I've seen the traffic and transportation system in the last couple of years dramatically get worse. This is only the tip of the iceberg. I realize that with the monster in the White House we need democratic local governing but De Blasio is a nothing.
9
de Blasio is the ultimate Democrat self-promoter. "Do as I say, not as I do", should be his campaign motto, as he motors to his health club in Brooklyn daily at mid-morning, and then finally returns to City Hall around noon. Wake up New Yorkers. Is the city any cleaner than when he took office? Are there less or more homeless on the streets? Is the subway system running on time? Are your taxes stabilized, or are they rising? Is your quality of life improving, or has it declined? Look to de Blasio for answers, and he will lie straight faced in return. Why re-elect a failure?
12
Au contraire, NYT. I'm a democrat who voted for Mike Bloomberg. One could argue that his zealousness with development got us to where we are today with the overcrowding, empty million-dollar apartments and bloated MTA ridership. At the same time, he brought a dignity and class to his role. I never doubted that he was on the city's side. And, oh yeah, this multi-billionaire took the subway to work. I miss him. I wish there were other candidates for Mayor; I do not feel Mr. De Blasio deserves reelection.
26
'dignity and class' -- I remember the right wing complaining that the Clinton's didn't have that "dignity and class" that Reagan and Bush had as they did everything to cut programs for poor people and reward their rich donors.
4
I don't understand you recognize how bad Bloomberg was for the city particularly for the poor and working class and you miss his "class and dignity" Do you not remember his "you're a disgrace" comment to a reporter who dared to ask a non scripted question? Did you forget his dreadful appointment of his pal Cathy Black who was about as qualified to be schools chancellor as Betsy Devos is to be secretary of ED? Did you forget his shady emergency referendum so that he could steal a third term? He is disgusting and ruined this city I am definitely voting for deBlasio to avoid more republican destruction of NYC.
2
So basically you're saying de Blasio deserves a 2nd term because he did nothing in his first term to alienate the electorate.
In fact he did nothing.
Exactly as expected.
In fact he did nothing.
Exactly as expected.
22
Bill de Blasio is an egotistical, narcissistic, do what I say - not what I do, ethically deficient, pay to play, press slandering politician. Very similar to the current occupant in the White House he likes to deride. Anyone how supports one and derides the other is a hypocrite - plain and simple.
15
What, not a word about the corruption charges that are swirling around deBalsio and his "team".
I guess it's not worth being biased if you can't leave out significant details on the resume of the incumbent !
I guess it's not worth being biased if you can't leave out significant details on the resume of the incumbent !
13
[[I guess it's not worth being biased if you can't leave out significant details on the resume of the incumbent !]]
*sigh*
[[He was subjected to both federal and state investigations into whether he presides over a pay-to-play system that favors well-heeled donors seeking favors from City Hall. Ultimately, no charges were brought against him or his aides. Though the mayor declared he had been vindicated, the Manhattan district attorney concluded that some of his fund-raising appeared to have violated “the intent and spirit” of the law.]]
*sigh*
[[He was subjected to both federal and state investigations into whether he presides over a pay-to-play system that favors well-heeled donors seeking favors from City Hall. Ultimately, no charges were brought against him or his aides. Though the mayor declared he had been vindicated, the Manhattan district attorney concluded that some of his fund-raising appeared to have violated “the intent and spirit” of the law.]]
3
Do our standards have to be so unbelievably low? No, things haven't really gotten worse, and many of the things people attribute to DeBlasio - the homeless crisis, for example, actually have their genesis in the Bloomberg era.
On the other hand, DeBlasio has made no meaningful progress toward fixing any of the city's major problems (such as affordable housing), has shown a delusional propensity to try and inject himself into the national political conversation instead of worrying about his job at home, and has become ensnared in numerous petty corruption scandals.
I'd vote for say, Bill Thompson over him in a second if there was a primary. And honestly, if we've decided corruption doesn't really matter, I'd rather just have Eric Liu.
On the other hand, DeBlasio has made no meaningful progress toward fixing any of the city's major problems (such as affordable housing), has shown a delusional propensity to try and inject himself into the national political conversation instead of worrying about his job at home, and has become ensnared in numerous petty corruption scandals.
I'd vote for say, Bill Thompson over him in a second if there was a primary. And honestly, if we've decided corruption doesn't really matter, I'd rather just have Eric Liu.
13
Maybe if the NY Times editors talked to some of the less rich New York City residents who have benefitted from Mayor de Blasio's policies you would not have so many nasty innuendos in this so-called "endorsement".
Perhaps you can start with Juan Gonzalez, the NY Daily News columnist who spends far more time with the working class and poor NYC residents than any NY Times editor would deign to do.
http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/de-blasio-21-billion-revolution-artic...
Mayor de Blasio, in 4 years, has accomplished more than most Mayors, including Bloomberg in his first 4 years. He doesn't deserve the character attacks the NY Times specializes in for any Democrat who isn't the favorite of the rich billionaires who demand to be obeyed.
Perhaps you can start with Juan Gonzalez, the NY Daily News columnist who spends far more time with the working class and poor NYC residents than any NY Times editor would deign to do.
http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/de-blasio-21-billion-revolution-artic...
Mayor de Blasio, in 4 years, has accomplished more than most Mayors, including Bloomberg in his first 4 years. He doesn't deserve the character attacks the NY Times specializes in for any Democrat who isn't the favorite of the rich billionaires who demand to be obeyed.
6
As a Non-New Yorker I should perhaps keep my mouth shut, but I find de Blasio's endorsement by NYT wholly consistent with the political views of its Editorial Board, where reigns cryptosocialism, adulation of the Golden Calf, and naive opposition to the 2nd Amendment, to say nothing of the highly desired 34th.
7
What a sad state of governance NYC finds itself in. How this political hack got elected in the first place is a farce. But twice? A disgrace.
13
that's how i felt when Bloomberg got elected the first time, by the third illegal time I was beside myself.
1
Governor Christie. Senator Menendez. Glass house. Stones. If you're leaning left it's only because you lost a shoe.
1
NY Times endorses DeBlasio
NY Times endorses Hillary Clinton
Yes, better than the alternative
but the NY Times would not dare say that, it might "trigger" liberal sensitivities
four more years of this windbag, ugh
NY Times endorses Hillary Clinton
Yes, better than the alternative
but the NY Times would not dare say that, it might "trigger" liberal sensitivities
four more years of this windbag, ugh
11
I respect politicians from both the left and the right, as there are different viewpoints and more than one way to get things accomplished. What I really can not stand is hypocrisy.
Our esteemed Mayor takes two Escalades to work out in Park Slope, and never takes the subway. He is more likely to use the helicopter between boroughs. On the recently staged photo-op train ride, all the homeless are rounded up and removed from the stations. When he does finally get to City Hall by 10 AM, he does some fundraising and than takes a nap virtually every day. He was out of NYC 100 days last year only. We all have to wonder whether he would be in NYC at all if he did not have to run for re-election.
The public schools continue to be a dismal failure with 94 Renewal schools costing taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars. Many of these schools are now finally closed, but not without throwing more money into them. The minimal "improvement" in test scores is wholly accounted for by making the tests easier.
Not since Tammany Hall has NYC government been so corrupt. The pay to play system is pervasive. Six months ago, Mayor DeBlasio promised to release a list of donors who received nothing in return for their donations. He has yet to release this list. Government for him is very transactional. Hire a friend, contribute to a slush fun, pay a lobbyist and favors get done. BdB is corrupt, incompetent, lazy, and unfocused. NYC deserves a leader not a "political operative".
Our esteemed Mayor takes two Escalades to work out in Park Slope, and never takes the subway. He is more likely to use the helicopter between boroughs. On the recently staged photo-op train ride, all the homeless are rounded up and removed from the stations. When he does finally get to City Hall by 10 AM, he does some fundraising and than takes a nap virtually every day. He was out of NYC 100 days last year only. We all have to wonder whether he would be in NYC at all if he did not have to run for re-election.
The public schools continue to be a dismal failure with 94 Renewal schools costing taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars. Many of these schools are now finally closed, but not without throwing more money into them. The minimal "improvement" in test scores is wholly accounted for by making the tests easier.
Not since Tammany Hall has NYC government been so corrupt. The pay to play system is pervasive. Six months ago, Mayor DeBlasio promised to release a list of donors who received nothing in return for their donations. He has yet to release this list. Government for him is very transactional. Hire a friend, contribute to a slush fun, pay a lobbyist and favors get done. BdB is corrupt, incompetent, lazy, and unfocused. NYC deserves a leader not a "political operative".
39
De Blasio is the best choice? Yes, he is far better at his job than Trump is at his, but that's like asking which terminal disease would you prefer having? De Blasio needs to move on to the next phase of his life.
18
Perhaps you could suggest an alternative candidate or a hint of an agenda before you throw the current mayor out instead of repeating the sort of thoughtless, reckless behavior that brought us this so-called president.
"Disquiet about his character is felt by many New Yorkers, including some on the left who enthusiastically support his policies."
Boy THIS is exactly how you endorsed Hillary Clinton and covered her all during the election. This is NO "disquiet about his character" except in a few of the rich upper east side neighborhoods where the NY Times editors and their pals live. There was far MORE disquiet about Mayor Bloomberg's character but I guess the people who felt that disquiet didn't matter to the rich editors at the NY Times. We were "disquieted" when Bloomberg appointed Cathy Black because his billionaire pals wanted more charters. But the NY Times never made these character attacks on Bloomberg like they did to Mayor de Blasio and Hillary Clinton.
STOP IT! Did the 2016 election not teach you that you are being played? Your newspaper NEVER posted those attacks on Mayor Bloomberg's character despite MANY New Yorkers -- the majority of them parents in public schools -- having real doubts about his appointment of his billionaire friends' choice of school chancellor Cathy Black. So why are you so nasty when it comes to the many real accomplishments of Mayor de Blasio that you are trying to distract from.
Boy THIS is exactly how you endorsed Hillary Clinton and covered her all during the election. This is NO "disquiet about his character" except in a few of the rich upper east side neighborhoods where the NY Times editors and their pals live. There was far MORE disquiet about Mayor Bloomberg's character but I guess the people who felt that disquiet didn't matter to the rich editors at the NY Times. We were "disquieted" when Bloomberg appointed Cathy Black because his billionaire pals wanted more charters. But the NY Times never made these character attacks on Bloomberg like they did to Mayor de Blasio and Hillary Clinton.
STOP IT! Did the 2016 election not teach you that you are being played? Your newspaper NEVER posted those attacks on Mayor Bloomberg's character despite MANY New Yorkers -- the majority of them parents in public schools -- having real doubts about his appointment of his billionaire friends' choice of school chancellor Cathy Black. So why are you so nasty when it comes to the many real accomplishments of Mayor de Blasio that you are trying to distract from.
9
What was wrong with Cathy Black.
She wasn't politically correct.
That did not make her unqualified to be school chancellor and even if it did Mayor Bloomberg's character was not relevant to the issue.
She wasn't politically correct.
That did not make her unqualified to be school chancellor and even if it did Mayor Bloomberg's character was not relevant to the issue.
3
Stone: Ms Black had zero qualifications to be schools chancellor. She went to private school, her kids went to private schools, she had no contact of any sort with public schools before being made chancellor.
2
Spoken like a true Bloomberg fan. Cathy Black was terrific! A great choice! Why, Eva Moskowitz endorsed her just like she endorsed Betsy DeVos. And Mayor Bloomberg's choice of an unqualified rich lady was not about his "character" - it was simply him doing what he knew was best for little poor children.
4
I read "Garbage is collected as efficiently as ever." I do not read what happens to this "garbage" after it is collected. I note that because long, long ago Times star reporter Elisabeth Rosenthal wrote the best that has been written on the subject under this headline:
Europe Finds Clean Energy in Trash, but U.S. Lags
By ELISABETH ROSENTHAL
April 12, 2010
Solid waste and food waste are clean, renewable energy sources that could lead New York to a fossil-free future. But no, maybe never (yes a small biowaste project has been announced).
In contrast I read in GP my 2d city newspaper that Göteborg energi plans to be fossil free by 2030, heating the entire city, providing biogas for 1000s of vehicles, and electricity without coal, oil, or natural gas. My 1st city, Linköping, is already far along that path.
Time to re-publish Rosenthal since nothing like it has appeared in the following 7 years!
Only-NeverInSweden.blogspot.com
Dual citizen US SE
Europe Finds Clean Energy in Trash, but U.S. Lags
By ELISABETH ROSENTHAL
April 12, 2010
Solid waste and food waste are clean, renewable energy sources that could lead New York to a fossil-free future. But no, maybe never (yes a small biowaste project has been announced).
In contrast I read in GP my 2d city newspaper that Göteborg energi plans to be fossil free by 2030, heating the entire city, providing biogas for 1000s of vehicles, and electricity without coal, oil, or natural gas. My 1st city, Linköping, is already far along that path.
Time to re-publish Rosenthal since nothing like it has appeared in the following 7 years!
Only-NeverInSweden.blogspot.com
Dual citizen US SE
1
In Sweden, you compost rotten tomatoes. In NYC, we throw them at elected officials!
It certainly doesn't sound like a rousing endorsement of DeBlasio but more of a "let's settle"-New Yorkers should never settle! What about the middle class in NYC, what has he done besides try to tax us even more than before - we have been truly forgotten by this Mayor!
5
There are 2 lies here.
The Mayor has NOT tried to tax the "middle class". He has tried to tax the rich.
Universal pre-k is something that helps ALL middle class New Yorkers. So does the low crime.
The Mayor has NOT tried to tax the "middle class". He has tried to tax the rich.
Universal pre-k is something that helps ALL middle class New Yorkers. So does the low crime.
6
A complete zero. A lifelong careerist with no accomplishments, a rotten personality, absolutely no management skills and a head full of nonsensical, puerile leftist cant with no examples of actual worth and of dubious philosophical basis. In short, the typical limousine liberal this journal of the oppressively officious UES-know-it-alls hail as "genius". These fools deserve evry inch of this graceless boob.
25
I guess the editors don't live around here.
10
I don't understand how the Times can call its self objective and endorse a candidate. Your job is to provide us facts and truth on the individuals running.
Your job is not to write about your love affair with one. These endorsement serve no public good. They are narratives marinated in your own bias. This is as useless as your Clinton Trump election ticker. Shame on you.
Your job is not to write about your love affair with one. These endorsement serve no public good. They are narratives marinated in your own bias. This is as useless as your Clinton Trump election ticker. Shame on you.
11
Gasp what a shock. Another endorsement that many of us predicted a long time ago, for an incompetent, utterly arrogant and corrupt incumbent. DeBlasio has to have been one of the most divisive mayors ever in the city. Pitiful how far the Times has fallen.
19
It is too bad you had the opportunity to provide an objective article and yet you opted for political loyalty and idealism.
As a New Yorker living here for over 20 years; the downgrade under de Blasio has been beyond tangible.
We continue to pay one of the highest tax rates in the country, and yet, my quality of life has gone down considerably.
Basic sanitation – which to me translates into vital and key health/hygiene and well-being, is in shambles. The city is a dump, much worse off than most emerging market big citiy. Basic transportation is completely broken, ineffective – disrupting the lives and livehoods of too many. Murders are down? Violence again women is up, and since I and most of the people I talk to feel a significantly less safe in the city, I take there are corrupt methods of both measuring and evaluating what is violence – for us, out on the streets, every day we get more encroached with homelessness , overt drug use and growing reports on gang crimes.
It is about time you start choosing real leadership and effective management over whatever political ideology you favor.
Ideology does not translate into actual competence. This man cannot even handle the basics.
This mayor is bleeding the city.
As a New Yorker living here for over 20 years; the downgrade under de Blasio has been beyond tangible.
We continue to pay one of the highest tax rates in the country, and yet, my quality of life has gone down considerably.
Basic sanitation – which to me translates into vital and key health/hygiene and well-being, is in shambles. The city is a dump, much worse off than most emerging market big citiy. Basic transportation is completely broken, ineffective – disrupting the lives and livehoods of too many. Murders are down? Violence again women is up, and since I and most of the people I talk to feel a significantly less safe in the city, I take there are corrupt methods of both measuring and evaluating what is violence – for us, out on the streets, every day we get more encroached with homelessness , overt drug use and growing reports on gang crimes.
It is about time you start choosing real leadership and effective management over whatever political ideology you favor.
Ideology does not translate into actual competence. This man cannot even handle the basics.
This mayor is bleeding the city.
33
The editorial staff seems to have missed the fact that De Blasio has regularly engaged in what any reasonable person would recognize as bribery. That our judiciary has chosen to legalize this behavior notwithstanding, the trading of policy for donations is bribery and, in the end, will destroy representative democracy.
14
Not exactly a "firm" endorsement. In fact, more space is spent outlining his missteps and misdeeds, while skipping others altogether. Sure Pre-K is a good idea (if he only knew where to put them and he didn't wipe out successful charter schools at the time). So even his greatest (only?) accomplishment has been tarnished.
Dirty deeds inches fundraising, and then he has the chutzpah to make the city pay for his defense? Not correct.
And speaking of correctness, why does he insist on political correctness over substance? Portraits reflecting more diversity in City Hall? A commission to identify statues that should come down? Will it become De Blasio Circle? I hope not and doubt it.
Dirty deeds inches fundraising, and then he has the chutzpah to make the city pay for his defense? Not correct.
And speaking of correctness, why does he insist on political correctness over substance? Portraits reflecting more diversity in City Hall? A commission to identify statues that should come down? Will it become De Blasio Circle? I hope not and doubt it.
15
Exactly! Why, it sounds just like the NY Times endorsement of the evil Hillary Clinton who got the same treatment from the NY Times. Good thing that corrupt Hillary Clinton was defeated just like DCBinNYC and the right wing wanted.
After all, we need someone like Mayor Trump to turn our city over to the oligarchs who recognize that bad (de Blasio) from the good (Betsy DeVos and her loudest cheerleader Eva Moskowtz.) DCBinNYC doesn't want Mayor de Blasio preventing that happy day from arriving.
After all, we need someone like Mayor Trump to turn our city over to the oligarchs who recognize that bad (de Blasio) from the good (Betsy DeVos and her loudest cheerleader Eva Moskowtz.) DCBinNYC doesn't want Mayor de Blasio preventing that happy day from arriving.
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RJ,
Nope. You got me all wrong. (But you seem so adamant to defend him in several posts, what's your connection?)
You brought up HRC. She fired him from her campaign for senate, and when she ran for President, he and Ms. McCrae showed up in Iowa, unannounced, unwanted, unrecognized, and she never met with them. Not even a photo op...
Nope. You got me all wrong. (But you seem so adamant to defend him in several posts, what's your connection?)
You brought up HRC. She fired him from her campaign for senate, and when she ran for President, he and Ms. McCrae showed up in Iowa, unannounced, unwanted, unrecognized, and she never met with them. Not even a photo op...
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DCBinNYC,
Sorry, you revealed yourself as a pro-charter school ideologue when you wrote this:
"Sure Pre-K is a good idea (if he only knew where to put them and he didn't wipe out successful charter schools at the time)"
What "successful" charter schools were "wiped out" when pre-k came in? Are you possibly talking about the one whose board chairman in charge of the entire network is the Trump supporting billionaire who accused an African-American politician of being worse than the ku klux klan for not doing whatever he demanded as a rich white guy?
Are you possibly talking about the one where the leader ENDORSED Betsy Devos and demanded that everyone support the DeVos nomination because DeVos was such a fantastic choice?
You support the people who adore DeVos and hate the people who support public pre-k and public schools. No doubt you wish Cathy Black was back in charge. No thanks. Real New Yorkers disagree.
Sorry, you revealed yourself as a pro-charter school ideologue when you wrote this:
"Sure Pre-K is a good idea (if he only knew where to put them and he didn't wipe out successful charter schools at the time)"
What "successful" charter schools were "wiped out" when pre-k came in? Are you possibly talking about the one whose board chairman in charge of the entire network is the Trump supporting billionaire who accused an African-American politician of being worse than the ku klux klan for not doing whatever he demanded as a rich white guy?
Are you possibly talking about the one where the leader ENDORSED Betsy Devos and demanded that everyone support the DeVos nomination because DeVos was such a fantastic choice?
You support the people who adore DeVos and hate the people who support public pre-k and public schools. No doubt you wish Cathy Black was back in charge. No thanks. Real New Yorkers disagree.
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As I see it voters are presented with a limited choice. De Blasio need not be a great mayor he just has to meet two standards: (1) be able to do the job well enough, and (2) be better than his competition who are untested. Well he can do the job and the editorial board so found and the other candidates who are untested and mostly unknown do not make out a convincing case to be the next mayor. That being the case that is all the board needs to have said. I am not happy with De Blasio but I will vote for him for the reasons stated above. Oh yes I guess by now we know the dangers of protest votes.
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De Blasio campaign slogan: "Not as bad as it could be"
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If anyone had any doubt that the Times had gone over to the dark side of all things Far Left, the De Blasio endorsement should put those doubts to rest.
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"The economy is humming and crime is down. DeBlasio deserves to be...."
Interesting, you could say the same thing about Trump and the current national scenario, but I guess since he's a republican the Times would never endorse Trump. Bias, again.
Interesting, you could say the same thing about Trump and the current national scenario, but I guess since he's a republican the Times would never endorse Trump. Bias, again.
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[[Disquiet about his character is felt by many New Yorkers, including some on the left who enthusiastically support his policies.]]
Why are you using the passive voice and fancy words? Why don't you write the way normal people speak?
"Many New Yorkers have doubts about his character." Or "Many New Yorkers don't believe he is honest."
Something like that.
I see the use of white space on the page, the different font and the centered alignment that indicate this is a BIG ANNOUNCEMENT, but you actual words don't need to be so stuffy and pompous.
Have a nice day.
Why are you using the passive voice and fancy words? Why don't you write the way normal people speak?
"Many New Yorkers have doubts about his character." Or "Many New Yorkers don't believe he is honest."
Something like that.
I see the use of white space on the page, the different font and the centered alignment that indicate this is a BIG ANNOUNCEMENT, but you actual words don't need to be so stuffy and pompous.
Have a nice day.
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Alternate headline: "Bill De Blasio, The Best of The Worst." NYC...look around. Things are getting worse. Certainly we can do better than this man? Can't we?
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Rigged system.
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Yes, he stopped stop and frisk, but he's largely caved to the police on the other issues of accountability when it comes to the bad apples among them and civilian complaints. He's caved to the PBA, to the two commissioners he's worked with (Bratton especially), and the cops turning their backs to him seems to have made him putty in their hands. It's pathetic. For someone who truly can't ever admit he's wrong, he's slithered away from any kind of confrontation with police brutality. On this one issue, I'd consider an alternative if there was one.
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"the mayor acknowledges that [homelessness] is a problem he won’t soon conquer."
Given that, I wonder if the NYC economy is "chugging along as robustly as it has" at all, when so many don't even remotely benefit from it.
Homelessness is not something a NYC mayor CAN conquer, let alone a so-called "leftist" who coddles big developers like a warm blanket of dollar bills.
More homeless shelters? LOL no, NIMBY, says everyone who isn't homeless.
More big NYCHA developments? Not when NYCHA can barely manage the current ones, and even less when covfefe is cutting all the federal aid because Those Durn Mexican Rapists aren't yet blocked by the Wall that we—I mean Mexico will pay dearly for.
Give tax breaks and concessions to private greedlords? He has given both, and far more and larger than they ever deserved. (Giving away half of Stuyvesant Town and calling it a good deal? Yeahno. Closing LICH for condos? That's just criminal.)
Shovel them out like snow, all Giulianissimo Rudy-like? Besides being evil and sick (but enough about Rudy), it won't keep them from coming back.
Still, as the edi says, there is no serious contender from his party, and the other big party has contenders who are the exact opposite of serious (like their leader). de Blasio should win, but I believe he'll be primaried. covfefe has proven decisively you don't need to be in any way serious, or sensible, to get enough voters to snatch America's defeat from the jaws of political suicide.
Given that, I wonder if the NYC economy is "chugging along as robustly as it has" at all, when so many don't even remotely benefit from it.
Homelessness is not something a NYC mayor CAN conquer, let alone a so-called "leftist" who coddles big developers like a warm blanket of dollar bills.
More homeless shelters? LOL no, NIMBY, says everyone who isn't homeless.
More big NYCHA developments? Not when NYCHA can barely manage the current ones, and even less when covfefe is cutting all the federal aid because Those Durn Mexican Rapists aren't yet blocked by the Wall that we—I mean Mexico will pay dearly for.
Give tax breaks and concessions to private greedlords? He has given both, and far more and larger than they ever deserved. (Giving away half of Stuyvesant Town and calling it a good deal? Yeahno. Closing LICH for condos? That's just criminal.)
Shovel them out like snow, all Giulianissimo Rudy-like? Besides being evil and sick (but enough about Rudy), it won't keep them from coming back.
Still, as the edi says, there is no serious contender from his party, and the other big party has contenders who are the exact opposite of serious (like their leader). de Blasio should win, but I believe he'll be primaried. covfefe has proven decisively you don't need to be in any way serious, or sensible, to get enough voters to snatch America's defeat from the jaws of political suicide.
What is it about Bill de Blasio that New Yorkers don't like. At a visit to a family reunion last week, by New York relatives, all very liberal, hate de Blasio. I tried for two days to get reasons for their disdain, but every time I brought up the subject, the most kind comment made about him was, "he's a disaster." Reading this article it appears from a substantive standpoint he is doing a good job, but, that substance, somehow, is not translating into an overall approval of his job performance.
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It's what liberals said about Hillary Clinton. She is corrupt. She is evil. "Even the liberal NY Times" keeps reporting on how corrupt she is is.
The NY Times has made non-stop CHARACTER attacks on Bill de Blasio the way they did to Hillary Clinton. Bloomberg can fly off to the Caribbean every weekend and it's not a character flaw. If de Blasio works out at his former gym it is.
People dislike de Blasio the way they disliked Hillary Clinton. They are being played for fools by rich people who don't like that he hasn't done their bidding.
The NY Times has made non-stop CHARACTER attacks on Bill de Blasio the way they did to Hillary Clinton. Bloomberg can fly off to the Caribbean every weekend and it's not a character flaw. If de Blasio works out at his former gym it is.
People dislike de Blasio the way they disliked Hillary Clinton. They are being played for fools by rich people who don't like that he hasn't done their bidding.
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Ya'll thought the same thing about Christine Quinn 4 years ago. Here's hoping he has the same fate.
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Never met a luxury developer he did not like.
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I have heard from people, including family members, over the years that DeBlasio is aloof, unreachable, whatever. I always point out that he is on WNYC's The Brian Lehrer Show weekly on Thursdays or Fridays at 10:00am, where he is informative and clear about his positions. He's certainly not perfect, as the editorial pointed out, but he has fulfilled most of his campaign promises. The fact that he pulled off universal Pre-K, while the governor tried to sabotage him, was masterly and got right to the heart of what actual working class New Yorkers needed. That was practically like getting a large check in the mail, particularly for low income New Yorkers and our city will reap the benefit of their children getting the early education that is proven to increase ability later on. (Let's see those test scores ten years from now.) Finally, the concern about white New Yorkers who don't support him is fairly easy to explain and I think we all get the reason. Case in point, Breezy Point, NY, a well-off, all white, educated enclave in Queens. (More family there.) They detest the mayor and voted overwhelmingly for Trump like other all white pockets here and there in the city. No need to wonder why.
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Every store on one side of my block is closed. And my millennial child, who grew up here, is suddenly not feeling safe, especially because of the homeless.
I'm voting for Sal Albanese.
I'm voting for Sal Albanese.
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De Blasio may be the better than the choices available, but not necessarily the best.
As for his initiative to lower speed limits on city streets, it has as much to do--if not more--about raising revenue as to reduce traffic deaths. Most of these cameras are reported to be near schools. NYC has speed bumps near several schools, which definitely discourages driving at high speeds. Instead of installing more speed bumps, the City has opted for cameras, a move, I suspect, is all about the money and less about safety.
As for his initiative to lower speed limits on city streets, it has as much to do--if not more--about raising revenue as to reduce traffic deaths. Most of these cameras are reported to be near schools. NYC has speed bumps near several schools, which definitely discourages driving at high speeds. Instead of installing more speed bumps, the City has opted for cameras, a move, I suspect, is all about the money and less about safety.
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As a non-New York City resident I don't have a daily contact with the things that NYC residents face but from 30,000 feet I find the Mayor to be aloof, somewhat arrogant and a political grandstander. The economy and crime stats are hard to judge but the momentum on these fronts coming from the Bloomberg administration would suggest that giving credit to de Blasio is not correct and the issue is whether he tempered a trend that was occurring in any event. Taking a motorcade to the gym in the morning ( which is what he did until newspapers points out that he shouldn't be commenting on the subways given the fact that he had no direct experience!) and then getting in public fights with our very, very thin skinned Governor may not be the best way to improve public transportation.
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An exceptionally well written analysis of a candidate that is perhaps the best man running, but not necessarily the best man.
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Good endorsement. Well-balanced between recognizing accomplishments, shortcomings, and areas that need improvement.
One matter that I always think needs greater focus but isn't cited here: quality of life issues. How can a mayor do more about controlling the level of noise, littering, and reckless driving that takes place all over the city? The Times has previously covered issues like overcrowding on sidewalks and rising decibel levels (including the epidemic of honking among drivers). Can't a mayor develop some policy ideas to manage some of these problems? For instance, street cleaners make the rounds 3 times a week in my neighborhood but they don't quite do the job. Perhaps steeper fines are needed on business owners who don't clean their sidewalks regularly.
I'd love to see the press push the mayor and others in city government to put these issues on the front burner. Together they add up to make the city a more livable environment for us all.
One matter that I always think needs greater focus but isn't cited here: quality of life issues. How can a mayor do more about controlling the level of noise, littering, and reckless driving that takes place all over the city? The Times has previously covered issues like overcrowding on sidewalks and rising decibel levels (including the epidemic of honking among drivers). Can't a mayor develop some policy ideas to manage some of these problems? For instance, street cleaners make the rounds 3 times a week in my neighborhood but they don't quite do the job. Perhaps steeper fines are needed on business owners who don't clean their sidewalks regularly.
I'd love to see the press push the mayor and others in city government to put these issues on the front burner. Together they add up to make the city a more livable environment for us all.
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An endorsement or not.
The first one third of this editorial endorses Bill de Blasio. The remaining two thirds seems to indicate that he's not a good choice.
The first one third of this editorial endorses Bill de Blasio. The remaining two thirds seems to indicate that he's not a good choice.
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Wow. I respectfully disagree with just about everything in this Op Ed. Time to move on and be thankful that the de Blasio reign is over.
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I supported DiBlasio in 2012 and do now. He has done one thing no mayor has since Mayor Dinkens, and that is to keep rent stabilized apartments still affordable. Guilliani allowed landlords to take apartments off rent stabilization once a long time tenant moves out, making less and less affordable apartments available, and he allowed much larger increases for those that remain in their apartments. Mayor DiBlasio, recognizing that landlord overhead has not increased so much that warrant these increases allowed for no increases for one-year, and very low percentage raises for two-year renewals, except for this year when they got like a 1% raise for the one-year renewal. Republican mayors always side with landlords in chipping away more and more at rent stabilization laws that keep people with low incomes in their apartments. I also strongly support the elimination of random targeting of black and Latino men being stopped and frisked with no indication of wrong doing whatsoever, and the mayor's declaration of making NYC a sanctuary city for immigrants. I will vote for him, and give him a third term too, just like Mayor Bloomberg decided for himself that no one else can do a better job, while rents in every single part of NYC soared, with no attempt at affordable housing whatsoever making this place I call home a millionaire's city only.
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This editorial basically says that this mayor did not run the city into the ground, and so he should be re-elected. I see more homeless on the streets in my neighborhood. I have seen the public school day shortened, and he is supposed to be a champion of education. He has alienated the NYPD. Time to be glad the city has not slipped any more than it has and find a better mayor.
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