Why doesn't he switch to an electric car? And work out earlier so that he arrives at the office at 9 a.m.? These are not difficult problems to solve, Mayor.
3
My trainer at my Y moved to another Y 12 miles away. I tried to move on and find a new trainer. It did not work
I need all the motivation I can muster to exercise. So I altered my thinking and stuck with my trainer. I am happy and feel good about myself. Priceless. Leave the Mayor alone. The gerbils need to stop nibbling on his ankles. Focus on the real issues like protecting the vulnerable from the new regime in Washington.
I need all the motivation I can muster to exercise. So I altered my thinking and stuck with my trainer. I am happy and feel good about myself. Priceless. Leave the Mayor alone. The gerbils need to stop nibbling on his ankles. Focus on the real issues like protecting the vulnerable from the new regime in Washington.
1
"a politician who manages to embody all of the arrogance of a corporate chief executive with little of the efficiency" . Ah, Ginia here unwittingly reveals her true politics, if she believes corporate CEOs are efficient. If events since 2008 have been insufficient to burst that balloon then I don't know what it would take. Her allusion to "plutocratic" Mike Bloomberg also sounds almost nostalgic. Sorry, Ginia, as annoying as De Blasio is personally, I do not want to return to those bad old days of gross corruption. This could be solved by requiring mayors to be OTJ at 9am sharp, like most NYers.
2
The arrogance is beyond description.
This poor excuse for a mayor, preaching to the public on how we should behave on climate and commuting, while the transit system is a shambles and strewn with garbage and homelessness, as he wastes time, money and natural resources unnecessarily.
He's gotta go.
Anybody for him, ask yourself this...what's he accomplished for you?
And, so you find moving around NYC pleasant, efficient, reasonably priced?
WAKE UP.
This poor excuse for a mayor, preaching to the public on how we should behave on climate and commuting, while the transit system is a shambles and strewn with garbage and homelessness, as he wastes time, money and natural resources unnecessarily.
He's gotta go.
Anybody for him, ask yourself this...what's he accomplished for you?
And, so you find moving around NYC pleasant, efficient, reasonably priced?
WAKE UP.
6
Thanks for the input, but presumably you don't live or vote here. As to what he has accomplished: pre-school for New York City's working families, generally good management of city services and budgets, less harassment of citizens. Transit is the governor's bailiwick.
3
he created universal pre-K and has frozen rent increases for the past two years.
Next?
Next?
1
The troubling issues is how ineffective he has been. Segregated schools, little progress in the schools, Homeless, Quality of Life issues, traffic congestion and answering only questions from Media he wants to answer.
If the City was improving who cares what time he goes to ride
the exercise bike.
The Mayor is just another politician promising much delivering very little.
If the City was improving who cares what time he goes to ride
the exercise bike.
The Mayor is just another politician promising much delivering very little.
3
Let's agree that every comment is correct to some degree.
I'll bet the mayor is not sleeping in the SUV, but working through documents, issues or phone calls.
Let's Agree the Mayor Actually Sets a Good Example by Exercising!
We're a nation of overweight complainers. How about people take responsibility for their actions and health.
Do Something Positive For Yourself and Your City. Join the Same Gym and Meet The Mayor. Or Simply Copy His Example; Exercise the Best Way For Yourself.
As Mayor, He Is On Call 24/7/365. Give the Guy a Break.
Do Your Part, Use the 311 App to: report the homeless, report sidewalk and street trash, report potholes. Thank a policeman. Don't Jaywalk, Stay on the Sidewalk; If Driving, Respect Pedestrians, Even If They Stand in The Street!
Help the City Be Better.
I'll bet the mayor is not sleeping in the SUV, but working through documents, issues or phone calls.
Let's Agree the Mayor Actually Sets a Good Example by Exercising!
We're a nation of overweight complainers. How about people take responsibility for their actions and health.
Do Something Positive For Yourself and Your City. Join the Same Gym and Meet The Mayor. Or Simply Copy His Example; Exercise the Best Way For Yourself.
As Mayor, He Is On Call 24/7/365. Give the Guy a Break.
Do Your Part, Use the 311 App to: report the homeless, report sidewalk and street trash, report potholes. Thank a policeman. Don't Jaywalk, Stay on the Sidewalk; If Driving, Respect Pedestrians, Even If They Stand in The Street!
Help the City Be Better.
4
My problem with his proposed plastic bag ban is this: we are required by law to place all of our recyclables in plastic bags, which have to be purchased separately. Dog waste is to be disposed of in plastic bags. The army of delivery people required to feed all the home-chilling Millennials all use plastic bags. All the salad bars and delis unnecessarily use disposable plasticware, even hardshell containers. Most takeout containers are plastic or foam. All the forks and straws that are not requested or required that get thrown away more often than used. I recently told a grocery checker THREE times "I brought my own bag." but she still put everything in plastic - because it is impossible to hear customers when one is chatting on the phone with earbuds in. If De Blasio is serious about this then the ban on plastic needs to be across the board. But no alternatives to most of the above have ever been proposed. Like so many other token "progressive" proposals. You get to figure out how to deal with all the knotty details.
3
I'm really disappointed to see Bellafante write such a trivial article. For a moment, she looked as if she could be our answer to Roland Barthes' le Monde, but instead she's measuring life with coffee spoons, pulled into the vortex by the seduction of dull-witted identity politics.
2
Dull witted politics?
Were you just dying to sue that label?
What's political about calling the clown out for this?
Ginia, well done!
More, more.
Unbiased apolitical truth sharing...gee, I think I read that somewhere is what we look for with the responsibility of freedom of the press.
Good job Ginia and well written too.
Were you just dying to sue that label?
What's political about calling the clown out for this?
Ginia, well done!
More, more.
Unbiased apolitical truth sharing...gee, I think I read that somewhere is what we look for with the responsibility of freedom of the press.
Good job Ginia and well written too.
3
All true. Multiple people know this mayor does this. How can he hold his head high in City Hall? Everybody working for him has to show up. Why is he exempt? Shame.
3
Have you heard that nowadays people can work without physically being in the office or one particular place?
Ah, another article on how arrogant and wretched a mayor he is...all true, mind you. Yet, with his party affiliation his is assured of the endorsement of the NYT while it decries the greedy "other" party. So tiresome and predictable.
9
So de Blasio is as phony as a three dollar bill. Who’d have thunk it?
But to hear it from Ginia Bellafante who, to use one of Ed Koch’s favorite expressions, “is to the left of Chairman Mao.”
I am going to put this column in a picture frame where it will be well preserved. One day the picture framed column will have real value. Like a stamp with a defect that has great value because it is so rare. I’ll take the picture framed column on Antiques Roadshow. I can just hear the appraiser, “You mean this was actually written by Ginia Bellafante? I don’t believe it. Not Ginia Bellafante. Can you authenticate it?” Click, click on nytimes.com. “My God. You’re right. What a rarity. We thought a column such as this didn’t exist. This is worth real money.”
Of course the more columns of this nature that Ms. Bellafante writes to make her appear as, again to quote Ed Koch, “a liberal with sanity,” the less my now one of a kind picture frame will be worth. I’m not worried. Ms. Bellafante will never qualify for the “with sanity” part of the Koch description.
But to hear it from Ginia Bellafante who, to use one of Ed Koch’s favorite expressions, “is to the left of Chairman Mao.”
I am going to put this column in a picture frame where it will be well preserved. One day the picture framed column will have real value. Like a stamp with a defect that has great value because it is so rare. I’ll take the picture framed column on Antiques Roadshow. I can just hear the appraiser, “You mean this was actually written by Ginia Bellafante? I don’t believe it. Not Ginia Bellafante. Can you authenticate it?” Click, click on nytimes.com. “My God. You’re right. What a rarity. We thought a column such as this didn’t exist. This is worth real money.”
Of course the more columns of this nature that Ms. Bellafante writes to make her appear as, again to quote Ed Koch, “a liberal with sanity,” the less my now one of a kind picture frame will be worth. I’m not worried. Ms. Bellafante will never qualify for the “with sanity” part of the Koch description.
It wouldn't matter except for the hypocrisy of coming out as a supporter of doing all to prevent climate change after the president pulled out of the Paris agreement. A politician who is also a hypocrite is a pretty common person.
1
Isn't that John Gotti Jr. behind him? ☺
Mayor Bloomberg flew to Bermuda on weekends about twice per month. That's more than 11 miles per day and a lot of jet fuel. Bloomberg chose to live in his private townhouse rather than Gracie Mansion. There was a fawning article in the Times in 2010 about his Bermuda estate weekends. Bloomberg had these choices to make due to his wealth. Mayor de Blasio could not continue to live in his Park Slope 2-family. That would have been a security and logistics nightmare for his Brooklyn neighbors -- not feasible. So, even if you don't like Bill, give him a break and let him go to his neighborhood gym where he gets work done while he works out. And focus journalism on more important issues please.
5
It's difficult to understand the Times' preoccupation with this. It's not news! I believe our Mayor should work out at the gym of his choice -- in peace -- just like the rest of us.
3
You have got to be kidding me. I am so proud of Bill de Blasio for sticking with the YMCA. The Y has taught generations of New Yorkers how to swim and welcomes migrants through its New Americans program. It runs camps and after-school programs that keep kids safe. Planet Fitness and Blink Fitness may offer discounted treadmills, but they are not community institutions like the YMCA. Let the mayor honor his old neighborhood and contribute to its well-being by supporting the Y. That gets my vote.
5
Lead by example, anybody?
1
I doubt the Mayor's route to the gym exposes him to what he's done to the city since elected: trash is strewn over every street in every borough, homeless are sleeping on the streets day and night, aggressive pan-handlers are only a step away from the squeegy people at every intersection in the eighties. Then there's his complete inability to build a coalition to improve transit and create more housing. His brand of "progressive government" is almost identical to Trump's "steal from the poor to feed the rich" but without Ivanka, Eric, Donald Jr. and his own line of merchandise. I'll take Michael Bloomberg back any day. de Blasio is simply another crooked politician saying and doing two different things.
7
A tale of two cities, indeed.
4
I wish we could get off the repetitive (speaking of exercise) subject of where the mayor does his morning workout. Apparently, he's really attached to that routine and place. It helps him get the day off on the right foot. We all have morning routines. Now that he's the mayor, it requires an SUV. Seriously, I'm not going to say who cares because some people seem to. But I DON'T. I believe the mayor has some history of depression on his father's side of the family and people say exercise is good for the psyche. So let him stay mentally and physically healthy. He's still a WHOLE lot cheaper than our president. Meanwhile, I'm really happy that the city is bringing compost collecting to a location near me in Washington Heights. I will happily - SIMULTANEOUSLY - contribute to the compost collection while enthusiastically supporting the pleasure the mayor clearly takes in his morning exercise routine in his home borough of Brooklyn. (Besides, if the mayor gets on the subway, the governor might find a way to create a delay just to sabotage him. I spent an hour going TWO STOPS on the uptown A Train last night due to a signal problem at 59th Street! One woman in the car missed her birthday cruise. I missed a movie date with my husband.)
3
Let him get to the Y any way he wants, but let him see the reality of what is going on there with the people living there! Times have changed! It used to be a safe haven, to help people get back on their feet. However, while leading local ministries it has been brought to my attention that the living conditions at the Y have changed. He is our Mayor, he works for us, let him open his eyes to reality.
The Times should focus on substantive issues like DeBlasio's alliance with the real estate industry. He has supported high density luxury developments that are ruining the quality of life in places like downtown Brooklyn.
Who cares which gym he goes to for exercise using NYPD vehicles? Bloomberg (and Trump) travel constantly on their private jets but that is acceptable because they are the uber-rich.
Who cares which gym he goes to for exercise using NYPD vehicles? Bloomberg (and Trump) travel constantly on their private jets but that is acceptable because they are the uber-rich.
3
Bloomberg and Trump traveled on *their* private jets. Do you see a difference between burning jet fuel they paid for versus gasoline that you pay for?
2
If the issue is environmental, it doesn't matter who pays for the fuel that is used. If the problem is begrudging the mayor a few bucks worth of gas, it's not an issue. And who is paying for the transportation of our president to all his country club properties? That's a LOT more expensive but I suspect that doesn't trouble you.
1
Look, this is the guy who got elected; the same guy who, controlling the money meted out to various institutions, got Maimonides Hospital to create a six-figure job for his wife, just like that; the same guy who lied about supporting hospitals and libraries; the same guy who took his family to Italy on our money.
With Mike Bloomberg, what he said was what he meant. And he did take the subways. And paid for his own vacations as well as a lot of the renovations to our parks and museums.
With Mike Bloomberg, what he said was what he meant. And he did take the subways. And paid for his own vacations as well as a lot of the renovations to our parks and museums.
26
He's not our ruler - he's our servant. Take the train like the folks who pay your salary.
15
You people are absurd.
Maybe De Blasio should ditch his security detail and take kickboxing at Planet Fitness.
Maybe the next time someone tries to set off a bomb in New York, De Blasio should ride public transit to get to the scene.
Obama was roundly criticized for taking vacations in Hawaii, but Hawaii is part of America and he liked it there. And he didn't fly economy on United to get there.
Brooklyn is part of New York and De Blasio likes it there.
[[Just for a second my inclination is to throw away my cloth carryalls, go to Key Food and ask that everything I buy be individually wrapped, preferably in double layers of polymer.]]
So, who would you really be spiting in that case?
Maybe De Blasio should ditch his security detail and take kickboxing at Planet Fitness.
Maybe the next time someone tries to set off a bomb in New York, De Blasio should ride public transit to get to the scene.
Obama was roundly criticized for taking vacations in Hawaii, but Hawaii is part of America and he liked it there. And he didn't fly economy on United to get there.
Brooklyn is part of New York and De Blasio likes it there.
[[Just for a second my inclination is to throw away my cloth carryalls, go to Key Food and ask that everything I buy be individually wrapped, preferably in double layers of polymer.]]
So, who would you really be spiting in that case?
8
So, de Blasio starts his work day at 11am. That's ok? This is not an occasional vacation, like Obama's, this is nearly every day. He could go down the block instead. And he almost NEVER takes the subway, so he has no idea what it is like. Which is why he could care less about it.
18
Ugh! Such a nation of crybabies.
The mayor of New York City has no control over the subway system. It is controlled by the governor. Get your facts up and then we'll talk.
Beyond that, the system is already over-crowded, so what's the benefit to you if 6'5" De Blasio, his assistants and a team of burly cops jam themselves into a train car?
Why shouldn't the mayor of a city travel to every corner? Maybe he doesn't experience the subway, but maybe he experiences the roads and the potholes, the garbage, the abandoned homes.
Whatever...stop whining!
The mayor of New York City has no control over the subway system. It is controlled by the governor. Get your facts up and then we'll talk.
Beyond that, the system is already over-crowded, so what's the benefit to you if 6'5" De Blasio, his assistants and a team of burly cops jam themselves into a train car?
Why shouldn't the mayor of a city travel to every corner? Maybe he doesn't experience the subway, but maybe he experiences the roads and the potholes, the garbage, the abandoned homes.
Whatever...stop whining!
1
Nyc299, who said he starts his work day at 11am? What makes you so sure he doesn't start work at 7am or earlier, before he leaves Gracie Mansion, then during his trips to and from the gym, and even at the gym?
The job of Mayor is 24/7/365 - it's not a 9 to 5 job that the Major clocks in and out of. Many people with high-level jobs are not in the office 9 to 5 - but ARE "on the job" from dawn until late at night.
As for taking the subway: I'm sure he knows very well what it's like. But he certainly couldn't do any work while on the subway. And FYI, the MTA is under the authority of the Governor, not the Mayor.
The job of Mayor is 24/7/365 - it's not a 9 to 5 job that the Major clocks in and out of. Many people with high-level jobs are not in the office 9 to 5 - but ARE "on the job" from dawn until late at night.
As for taking the subway: I'm sure he knows very well what it's like. But he certainly couldn't do any work while on the subway. And FYI, the MTA is under the authority of the Governor, not the Mayor.
2
This petty and vindictive article-focused on trivia-should have been labeled opinion.
16
Ms. Bellafante's columns are universally understood to represent her opinions.
4
The carbon footprint of one of Bloomberg's flights to Bermuda is probably equal to many months of trips to Park Slope. De Blasio's routine is a bit much in my view, but no one raised a peep about previous mayor's trips. There are other things to focus on...
9
"[N]o one raised a peep about previous mayor's trips."
Oh, please.
Oh, please.
3
"...no one raised a peep..."
Really?
You are either very young or very forgetful.
Really?
You are either very young or very forgetful.
1
Ooh la la!!
(and let them eat cake!)
(and let them eat cake!)
1
This reminds me of the stories of how Bloomburg used to shake salt on saltines, while trying to get salt shakers banned from restaurant tables.
2
To get an even better workout, I'd suggest that Mayor de Blasio ride a bicycle to the gym and back. He would add two hours of aerobics to his gym work. And as a bonus, have the opportunity of seeing the city from a different perspective.
6
The left will not let NY'ers down, for they will re-elect this phony man of the people to another turn them complain ad nauseum about him. True hypocrisy has shown its colors in this odious human being.
13
Let him work out wherever he wants. He is a mayor of NYC after all. He deserves this kind of prevelige.
4
How dare Mayor de Blasio take an SUV to Brooklyn to work out? Don't you know that is an offense to the same forces that attacked Hillary Clinton?
If only our current Mayor had acted like Mayor Bloomberg and simply ordered his SUV to drive him from his residence to an express subway stop and then followed along on the road to meet him at City Hall. If only Mayor de Blasio had used his private jet to travel to weekend retreats while claiming he supported fighting climate change.
That's the kind of hypocrisy the NY Times never notices because when it comes to criticizing a progressive politician (de Blasio or Hillary Clinton) for minor transgressions and implying they are as bad or often worse than the much larger transgressions or hypocrisies of billionaires (Trump or Bloomberg), somehow it is the progressives who get labeled as hypocrites and crooks.
If only our current Mayor had acted like Mayor Bloomberg and simply ordered his SUV to drive him from his residence to an express subway stop and then followed along on the road to meet him at City Hall. If only Mayor de Blasio had used his private jet to travel to weekend retreats while claiming he supported fighting climate change.
That's the kind of hypocrisy the NY Times never notices because when it comes to criticizing a progressive politician (de Blasio or Hillary Clinton) for minor transgressions and implying they are as bad or often worse than the much larger transgressions or hypocrisies of billionaires (Trump or Bloomberg), somehow it is the progressives who get labeled as hypocrites and crooks.
14
You and de Blasio are the hypocrites. Bloomberg took money - 100s of millions - out of his own pocket to fight climate change and assault weapons, and to support the arts, medicine, the environment and education. Sure, he is wealthy, but not every wealthy person gives money (look at our wealthy, thieving president who steals money from kids with cancer). You criticize Bloomberg for his vacations, but he pays for that himself while De Blasio gets chauffeured to Brooklyn because he doesn't want to pay a couple of extra dollars on a Manhattan health club - the cost to the city be damned. I bet you and de Blasio have never donated a significant amount of your earnings, but you like to criticize those who do. And I'd rather a mayor who takes a short trip on the subway every day than one who never sees what it's like.
11
You'd rather attack a progressive Mayor for a car ride from one NYC borough to another while excusing a billionaire Republican Mayor's near weekly private jet flights out of the country.
You'd rather have a NYC without universal pre-k because you see no value in having poor children get yet another "freebie" (as anti-progressives as you like to call it.)
I never criticized Bloomberg for taking vacations. I criticize the double standard that the NY Times and people like you have when you pretend minor issues are signs of corruption when Hillary Clinton or Bill de Blasio do them and ignore the much larger corruption and hypocrisies if it is Republican like Trump or Bloomberg.
You'd rather have a NYC without universal pre-k because you see no value in having poor children get yet another "freebie" (as anti-progressives as you like to call it.)
I never criticized Bloomberg for taking vacations. I criticize the double standard that the NY Times and people like you have when you pretend minor issues are signs of corruption when Hillary Clinton or Bill de Blasio do them and ignore the much larger corruption and hypocrisies if it is Republican like Trump or Bloomberg.
NYC299, Bloomberg was hardly a man of the people. During his time as mayor, he increased the very gentrification wave that was originally started by Giuliani in extending it to the outer boroughs as if living close by was already hard. Also, Bloomberg was pretty elitist in that he never saw a good developer he didn't like. Another thing is that he had a history of snubbing the public in favor of either his rich buddies or pet projects. How exactly did he claim that city had so much money for charter schools, bike lanes, pedestrian plazas, and new stadiums and arenas for professional sports teams while claiming there was hardly any money for the city when it came to public schools, libraries, firehouses, police precincts, senior centers, and anything else that was actually serving the public, which shows where his real priorities were. As for getting around, Bloomberg was known for using an SUV quite constantly, but I don't hear you complaining about that. Whenever he did use the subway or any commuter trains, they were mostly for PR purposes and even had an entire train car emptied just him and his bodyguards. Let's not forget that he was even known for pushing for both congestion pricing even though most were opposed to that in being both a regressive tax and a punishment for having little to no alternatives to driving while wanting bike lanes almost everywhere even though bike commuters are less than 1% with most of the said lanes going unused most of the time.
1
Placed in historical perspective, he, and other leaders, with few exceptions, are what Milivan Djilas called " the new class." It's an old story, folks, so resign yourselves to it. And prepare for more to come.
4
Especially among the Dems...seem to be particularly adept at this.
1
Central Casting called. They need their limousine liberal back.
12
Haven't heard that phrase in years!
why so surprised? do as i say, not as i do is his motto
6
Will somebody please run against this guy? We are running out of time.
11
Yikes! From everything I've read about your mayor, he's pathetic and ineffective. But this column? This column is much worse!
6
Won't make a bit of difference to the dems who will re-elect him. Kinda like the repubs that elected Trump.
3
But the Y is cheaper than those other gyms, why should de Blasio make any sacrifices? His whole modus operandi is to patronize and dole out money to people who will support him (Yes, sometimes it's good that he does so, but it's not why he does it). He ignores infrastructure because it won't get him any immediate benefits and he eases rules on that horrible, deadly circumcision practice, metzitzah b'pei, because the Satmar Rabbi promised him some votes. He's for a rent freeze but ups his own tenants' rent by 50%. Just like we Democrats want Republicans to look critically at their destructive and incompetent leaders, we need to look critically at our own. His apologists are laughable and sound like the flip side of Fox defending Trump - attack the messenger. And de Blasio spends even more time traveling back and forth to the gym than the Prez does golfing.
6
Every Mayor has his persona and arrogance; however, DeBlassio is the epitome of cheap symbolism. Running as a progressive and the champion of the blue collar working class, Mayor Deblassio has repeatedly battled the unions and its members and aligned closely with the real estate interests. He stated his life was different from others. Mayor Bloomberg, our most atypical NYC mayor, was finely tuned in the art of "cheap symbolism." His press conferences in Spanish; his riding uncomfortably the subways and catering to unions in exchange for a third term was hieghtened hypocrisy yet there was a certain goofy charm to him. Mayor DeBlassio, on the other hand, is arrogant, obnoxious and blames his problems on Governor Cuomo. Deblassio must take credit for the rise of homelessness in the city; decline in the quality of life and a steady increase in crime; despite what the police statisitics show. Though Bloomberg was obnoxious mainly because of his patrician ways, Deblassio surpasses him because of his embrace of the working class but allowing New York slip further away from the working-class!
9
He should jump into one of those "animal cruelty" conveyances he vowed to eliminate. Walking by Central Park is sad. It stinks of the poor horses tethered to those nasty contraptions What a phony! Our mayor only keeps promises that appeal to him personally.
4
He supported the horse ban. The city council killed it.
Suggestion - analyze the carbon footprint of the wasted time, paper and ink to print a self indulgent holier than thou opinion masquerading as a news article.
NYT readers deserve better than this.
NYT readers deserve better than this.
14
But you, like I, are reading this on-line, I presume?
Really? Even putting aside the carbon footprint argument, and the very solid notion that he'd have a much better understanding of what New Yorkers deal with in riding the subway daily, think about the resources--staff and tax dollars--that are expended for nothing more than his convenience and personal preference.
Not to mention what another poster noted, that between his commute, his work out time, and his after workout coffee, he doesn't actually start working for the tax payers until noon or so, on average (although the taxpayers are working for him the moment those SUVs, with drivers and security detail, arrive).
Glad I don't live in NYC anymore. I didn't love Bloomberg, but this guy seems like a real phony, and, to be frank, a bit of a jerk.
Not to mention what another poster noted, that between his commute, his work out time, and his after workout coffee, he doesn't actually start working for the tax payers until noon or so, on average (although the taxpayers are working for him the moment those SUVs, with drivers and security detail, arrive).
Glad I don't live in NYC anymore. I didn't love Bloomberg, but this guy seems like a real phony, and, to be frank, a bit of a jerk.
5
Former Mayor Bloomberg says he'll give $15 million to support the Paris Climate Agreement while he flies his private jet to weekends in Bermuda and elsewhere.
In fact, it's possible just one flight of Bloomberg's private jet causes more damage than a year of de Blasio's car rides to Brooklyn.
Where is the the NY Times headline about Michael Bloomberg's "Symbolism, Plastic-Wrapped in Arrogance"?? Or does he get a pass because he is a billionaire?
In fact, it's possible just one flight of Bloomberg's private jet causes more damage than a year of de Blasio's car rides to Brooklyn.
Where is the the NY Times headline about Michael Bloomberg's "Symbolism, Plastic-Wrapped in Arrogance"?? Or does he get a pass because he is a billionaire?
9
I don't begrudge him his NYPD driven SUVs. As mayor he' entitled to that level of security. But there is no excuse for him not choosing a gym closer to Gracie Mansion or spending his own money to install some exercise equipment in Gracie Mansion.
Speaking of passenger vehicles, the number of passenger vehicles registered in NYC has gone up quite a bit. So despite all of deBlasio's anti-car rhetoric it sure looks like more New Yorkers now prefer cars to waiting for a bus in the rain. 105,625 more passenger vehicles since 2013. Brooklyn saw the largest increase with +8% more cars, or +483 more cars per square mile.
NYSDMV stats: https://files.acrobat.com/a/preview/69204d4a-ce5f-41bc-8228-c45daa514529
Speaking of passenger vehicles, the number of passenger vehicles registered in NYC has gone up quite a bit. So despite all of deBlasio's anti-car rhetoric it sure looks like more New Yorkers now prefer cars to waiting for a bus in the rain. 105,625 more passenger vehicles since 2013. Brooklyn saw the largest increase with +8% more cars, or +483 more cars per square mile.
NYSDMV stats: https://files.acrobat.com/a/preview/69204d4a-ce5f-41bc-8228-c45daa514529
7
Possibly just cars formerly registered out of state now conforming to the law.
2
And now de Blasio is giving out parking placards like water. So there will be even more cars.
4
No way to tell, but if the increase was due to car owners sudden loyalty to the NYSDMV the growth in all boroughs would be in the same percentage range. The Brooklyn increase is notable because relatively few Brooklynites have driveways/garages, so most of those additional vehicles will be fighting for on-street spaces battling the aggravating alternate side parking rules.
He's a buffoon so why expect anything else then his self serving style of governing. Let's not forget his intercession with city agencies to assist his donor cronies. His own party did not want him anywhere near Clinton during the election. Wait till the next administration has to undue the damage he's done.
5
Seriously? NY Liberals will give him another pass and re-elect this buffoon and forgive him his sins. Like the Republicans and Trump.
3
It is absurd that the Mayor uses two SVU's (hybrid or not) to travel to Brooklyn to get his exercise. Not only is it environmentally wastefully but is a misuse of the public's tax dollars. If he insists on going to his old gym, let him use public transpiration like everyone else. What could be more elitist than being driven by a City employee in a SUV to get to a morning workout. His response that he should be judged for the bigger picture things he is doing for New York is not relevant; as mayor we expect him to do those things. In his personal life he needs to make the same sacrifices we all need to make to contribute to making a positive impact on the environment. The Mayor's behavior demonstrates his real character; "a politician who manages to embody all of the arrogance of a corporate chief executive."
6
Thank you, Ginia! What a surprise to read a story in the NYT about the Mayor that wasn't a puff piece or an apology.
"a politician who manages to embody all of the arrogance of a corporate chief executive with little of the efficiency,"
This is a great line. It means as NYers we are left with nothing in our highest office, but someone who sells hospices for millions of dollars under value to cronies.
I have long given up on believing that NYers are savvy, but anyone believing this phony is actually a progressive deserves him as their mayor. I mean with all the hospital closings and high rises going up, it's like the other guy is still in charge. (Why do all our mayors come from Boston?) Oh, and while the buildings keep going up and the subways get so bad that they inspire dread, what does our Mayor do? He says. "Blame the governor." Four more years of this guy? Puh-leez!
"a politician who manages to embody all of the arrogance of a corporate chief executive with little of the efficiency,"
This is a great line. It means as NYers we are left with nothing in our highest office, but someone who sells hospices for millions of dollars under value to cronies.
I have long given up on believing that NYers are savvy, but anyone believing this phony is actually a progressive deserves him as their mayor. I mean with all the hospital closings and high rises going up, it's like the other guy is still in charge. (Why do all our mayors come from Boston?) Oh, and while the buildings keep going up and the subways get so bad that they inspire dread, what does our Mayor do? He says. "Blame the governor." Four more years of this guy? Puh-leez!
1
For 12 years, on more weekends than not, Mayor Bloomberg flew by private jet to houses in Bermuda, London, and elsewhere. The cancellation of just one of those billionaireish jaunts would have offset the carbon produced by a year of de Blasio's Brooklyn commutes. What a nonsense line of attack in a city with its share of serious issues, and the writing here seems disproportionately acid and personal. Downright weird.
11
With the wretched state of the NYC Transit system, who can blame him for taking his entourage. I just added funds to my Via account with summer coming and thought of standing on a oven like platform. This writer should tackle important issues, like the terrible MTA, not whether a mayor chooses to work out in his old neighborhood. Who cares where he works out and how he gets there.
5
that is the point of the article !
Money for his entourage, money for every entitlement program (did you know the city is now paying $1213 per month for apts for everyone who applies?), $30+ MM for illegals to fight deportation, the list goes on and on... meanwhile the subways are crumbling and becoming almost nonfunctional in front of our eyes - I think its a state of emergency almost.
Focus on the things that benefit all New Yorkers - poor, middle and yes rich (shocking, but they pay MOST of the taxes).
and do not just blame the State, the City of New York must also contribute to the MTA and not just to bloated pensions. but to actually make them run, well and efficiently. I encourage anyone to see what we are missing to visit other cities, particularly in Asia.
Money for his entourage, money for every entitlement program (did you know the city is now paying $1213 per month for apts for everyone who applies?), $30+ MM for illegals to fight deportation, the list goes on and on... meanwhile the subways are crumbling and becoming almost nonfunctional in front of our eyes - I think its a state of emergency almost.
Focus on the things that benefit all New Yorkers - poor, middle and yes rich (shocking, but they pay MOST of the taxes).
and do not just blame the State, the City of New York must also contribute to the MTA and not just to bloated pensions. but to actually make them run, well and efficiently. I encourage anyone to see what we are missing to visit other cities, particularly in Asia.
7
The STATE runs the MTA, and it's a disaster, so yes, I will blame THE STATE. When the city runs the MTA then we can blame them. What program are you talking about that pays 1213$?
I'm on an entitlement program that freezes my rent, and thank god it does.
If Deblasio used the subway, he'd be late for every meeting, instead of some of them. Every mayor gets an entourage, Bill is no different. Otherwise every crackpot would be in his face 24/7. I will not be taking the subway this summer if the service is horrid, for an extra 2$ per ride I can sit in an air conditioned car with only a few other people and almost go door to door.
I'm on an entitlement program that freezes my rent, and thank god it does.
If Deblasio used the subway, he'd be late for every meeting, instead of some of them. Every mayor gets an entourage, Bill is no different. Otherwise every crackpot would be in his face 24/7. I will not be taking the subway this summer if the service is horrid, for an extra 2$ per ride I can sit in an air conditioned car with only a few other people and almost go door to door.
"The city is now paying $1213 per month for apts for everyone who applies.." Based on what did you come up with that (fill in adjective) assertion?
For all those commenters who claim this is a "non story" and a "waste of time" - why not just turn the page? Why stop and write about it. I read plenty of things I disagree with, yet you took the time to defend the indefensible.
Me thinks the lady doth protest too much
Me thinks the lady doth protest too much
3
Right, that's what people did when the NY Times attacked Hillary Clinton in the same way - characterizing her as a crooked hypocrite with no morals just like Mayor de Blasio. We didn't protest and lots of people agreed with the NY Times characterization of Hillary Clinton as a corrupt hypocrite. Because "even the liberal NY Times" was saying it was true.
If your goal is to have a new Trump-like Mayor who will lie through his or her teeth to further the goals of the right wing billionaires, then I understand why you hope that all the progressive New Yorkers just "turn the page" and allow smears like this to continue. We've played your game before.
"Indefensible"! That's what you said when you claimed that Hillary Clinton's use of a private server was somehow "indefensible" and it didn't matter that every single Republican before her had done the same thing because now it was time to focus on the progressive candidate to smear her reputation and get a right wing guy whose actions are REALLY "indefensible" into office.
If your goal is to have a new Trump-like Mayor who will lie through his or her teeth to further the goals of the right wing billionaires, then I understand why you hope that all the progressive New Yorkers just "turn the page" and allow smears like this to continue. We've played your game before.
"Indefensible"! That's what you said when you claimed that Hillary Clinton's use of a private server was somehow "indefensible" and it didn't matter that every single Republican before her had done the same thing because now it was time to focus on the progressive candidate to smear her reputation and get a right wing guy whose actions are REALLY "indefensible" into office.
4
These exaggerated criticisms of Mayor de Blasio by the NY Times are very similar to the criticisms the NY Times leveled on Hillary Clinton all last summer and fall.
With Hillary Clinton, the NY Times wrote so many articles covering "emails" and "servers" and "investigations" with regard to Hillary Clinton that you managed to convince a good part of the American people that Hillary Clinton was the corrupt money-hungry politician that Trump said she was. After all "even the liberal NY Times" agreed she was corrupt.
And with Mayor de Blasio, we see a repeat of those kinds of anti-Hillary stories. An attempt to take actions that every politician does and turn them into something scandalous or corrupt or hypocritical. Paid speeches! S.U.V rides! Didn't you learn your lesson from the 2016 campaign when you were played by the right wing billionaires and wrote so many nasty stories about Hillary that helped convince America she was a corrupt hypocrite?
It was this kind of one-sided reporting of faux scandals that helped elect Trump. Is there a public school hating billionaire plutocrat that is celebrating that the NY Times is doing their dirty work for them so they can have a Mayor who will help enact the Trump agenda instead of fighting it like Mayor de Blasio?
Stop these constant attacks on decent people with human flaws for not being perfect and stop helping the right wing smear a progressive politician so they can replace him someone who will do their bidding.
With Hillary Clinton, the NY Times wrote so many articles covering "emails" and "servers" and "investigations" with regard to Hillary Clinton that you managed to convince a good part of the American people that Hillary Clinton was the corrupt money-hungry politician that Trump said she was. After all "even the liberal NY Times" agreed she was corrupt.
And with Mayor de Blasio, we see a repeat of those kinds of anti-Hillary stories. An attempt to take actions that every politician does and turn them into something scandalous or corrupt or hypocritical. Paid speeches! S.U.V rides! Didn't you learn your lesson from the 2016 campaign when you were played by the right wing billionaires and wrote so many nasty stories about Hillary that helped convince America she was a corrupt hypocrite?
It was this kind of one-sided reporting of faux scandals that helped elect Trump. Is there a public school hating billionaire plutocrat that is celebrating that the NY Times is doing their dirty work for them so they can have a Mayor who will help enact the Trump agenda instead of fighting it like Mayor de Blasio?
Stop these constant attacks on decent people with human flaws for not being perfect and stop helping the right wing smear a progressive politician so they can replace him someone who will do their bidding.
8
Bill de Blasio, a towering mass of Jell-O! As phony as the name he current goes under. Is this the best politician New York City can offer? BdB is certainly a different career politician then the one that was a City Council member, then the so-called Public Advocate. Now he's a sanctimonious, smarmy whiner who uses his free broadcast time on WNYC and crosses union picket lines at Spectrum Cable to whine and complain. What a disappointment.
5
What's not mentioned in the article is CRITICAL to the story: the mayor is at the YMCA in Park Slope for extended periods of time almost every morning between 8am and 11am. I often work out around 8:30-9:30, and the mayor is nearly always there when I arrive and still there when I leave. Which means he's not starting his working day until after at least 10:00. What time do you get to work? He is otften seen at the bakery across the street after this gym session, having cofeee with his wife. This often lasts until nearly 11:00, rendering his work start-time to almost 12:00pm by the time he can get to downtown Manhattan. How is this acceptable? Nearly half the working day has been eaten up by his "healthy" morning routine. This should be added to the article to show the gross negligence the mayor has committed toward our city.
40
I don't dispute what you say you've seen. But why in the world would you think any politician works only 9-5? Like virtually any politician at that level (and NYC has more people than 39 states ... out of 50), de Blasio's almost certainly working 12-plus hour days.
Oh, and what do you think he's doing on his ride to the gym? He's working. The "luxury" of taking the SUVs to Brooklyn is that he can talk with staff, in person or on the phone, or have uninterrupted reading time. None of that can be done on the subway.
I'm not thrilled by this mayor, but this hack article reads like something Trump or some drunk at the bar would be spouting. It's superficial, without nuance or context, and cheap. NYT, what gives?
Oh, and what do you think he's doing on his ride to the gym? He's working. The "luxury" of taking the SUVs to Brooklyn is that he can talk with staff, in person or on the phone, or have uninterrupted reading time. None of that can be done on the subway.
I'm not thrilled by this mayor, but this hack article reads like something Trump or some drunk at the bar would be spouting. It's superficial, without nuance or context, and cheap. NYT, what gives?
6
What gives is that the right wing billionaires who want to take over public schools -- with help from Gov. Cuomo -- want de Blasio out because he won't turn over the keys to the DOE to the charter operators who embrace the Betsy DeVos agenda.
4
And NY'ers get to pay for it. Do as I say, not as I do attitude.
The fact that there is no serious challenger to de Blasio shows how far NYC has fallen from its past as a major political center.
I know no, one except the real estate industry, religious institutions supported with government funds and supporters of illegal immigration, who support him.
Unfortunately there is a total lack of any independent political organizations.
I know no, one except the real estate industry, religious institutions supported with government funds and supporters of illegal immigration, who support him.
Unfortunately there is a total lack of any independent political organizations.
2
He ran as a progressive. He spoke about affordable housing and reigning in development give-aways. He is such a disappointment.
Despite Mike Bloomberg's faults, he was a good mayr for this city. He showed up on time, cared about the quality of life in this city, knew how to delegate, and let us know what his administration was accomplishing.
Despite Mike Bloomberg's faults, he was a good mayr for this city. He showed up on time, cared about the quality of life in this city, knew how to delegate, and let us know what his administration was accomplishing.
11
This is ridiculous. The NYT has been on deBlasio's case from day one for every petty issue they can dredge up. Enough. He's obviously too much of a progressive for them and a threat to their real estate interests and Wall St. friends. He may not be perfect but overall his vision for the average working New Yorker is a good one and deserves a chance to succeed.
15
Could it be that the NYT is on his case because he is a hopeless case? He has many of Donald Trump's personality traits—unbridled vanity, not very bright, belligerent attitude toward the press, and a failed mayoralty. He came on board as a progressive liberal and now he is just an opportunist. He's what the French call "bon homme de petit esprit"—slow-witted and not on the ball.
8
Compare NYC to any city and I'd say NYers are doing quite well.
I love how the same right wingers who think Trump is doing a great job keep repeating their given talking points of "failed mayorality".
In less than 4 years we have 40,000 4 year olds in universal pre-k. We have reduced speed limits so that streets are safer. Crime is lower than ever. By ANY standard his first term is a success.
Of course, the definition of "success" is the same one that the right wing Republicans led by Paul Ryan and Donald Trump means that the rich should get richer while the rest of us suffer. And by that definition, Mayor de Blasio hasn't done what Ryan, Trump, and their complicit supporters want.
I love how the same right wingers who think Trump is doing a great job keep repeating their given talking points of "failed mayorality".
In less than 4 years we have 40,000 4 year olds in universal pre-k. We have reduced speed limits so that streets are safer. Crime is lower than ever. By ANY standard his first term is a success.
Of course, the definition of "success" is the same one that the right wing Republicans led by Paul Ryan and Donald Trump means that the rich should get richer while the rest of us suffer. And by that definition, Mayor de Blasio hasn't done what Ryan, Trump, and their complicit supporters want.
1
The ink expended to convince us readers that the mayor's health routine is problematic is insulting. I have lived in this Big City for 23 years, and my life has improved dramatically under this Mayor. One needs to feel strong and healthy to deal with this kind of low-grade harassment. Ginia is often a talented and inspiring writer, but this is not a legitimate news story, and it demonstrates its own condescending brand of arrogance.
16
Plain and simple. He should work out at Gracie Mansion. Saves money and reduces his carbon footprint.
8
Why isn't this in the Opinion Section? It's presented like a news story, but it reads like a crazy letter to the editor.
29
The one term mayor will have plenty of time to work out in his Brooklyn gym soon enough, without the motorcade.
5
I dislike him, and it is somewhat strange that he insists on keeping this routine, but is this really news? Is this the best you've got for local new news in this city of 8 plus million people? Your local New York City coverage has basically disappeared. I don't get it. Why call yourself the New York Times if you aren't going to report New York news? I love this paper but I've been very disappointed by your local coverage of late.
21
Didn't you know Maureen? They are the "International" New York Times now, if you please. Letting the poor get poorer and the rich get richer. It's part of their tradition as lip service liberals on policy, but hobnobbing with white elite all the while.
They don't go to Orchard Beach like I do, I can assure you.
They don't go to Orchard Beach like I do, I can assure you.
3
Yes, it does matter. The rest of us take the subway. We want to see leaders who demonstrate care and knowledge. Trump golfing at rich men's enclaves every weekend matters. We expect better from the mayor of New York. And how does he have so much free time? And why is he blathering on about bad roads and focused on repaving the East River Drive (his route)? Get your head out of your behind, Big Bill.
12
His workout routine with it's cavalcade of SUVs sums up his weaknesses. In the greater scheme of things, it doesn't matter much but in terms of him being an effective mayor, it's everything. Optics do matter, perceptions do matter and examples do matter. At least get in a Prius for goodness sake. Rather, he comes across as an arrogant elitist, happy to fob off problems on others.
I actually applaud some of the things he's done - I used a ferry for a work trip yesterday and it was great. But given the odds of NYC electing any Republican in the time of Trump (I'm sorry but I'd write in the name of a dead Chicago voter before I'd vote for any Republican for anything as long as they are the spectacularly immoral party they are), I'm afraid that the mayor can just do as he pleases and ultimately achieve much less because nobody has any enthusiasm for him or his policies.
I actually applaud some of the things he's done - I used a ferry for a work trip yesterday and it was great. But given the odds of NYC electing any Republican in the time of Trump (I'm sorry but I'd write in the name of a dead Chicago voter before I'd vote for any Republican for anything as long as they are the spectacularly immoral party they are), I'm afraid that the mayor can just do as he pleases and ultimately achieve much less because nobody has any enthusiasm for him or his policies.
8
This is not news, instead this is just another boring puff piece. Seriously?
16
Come on!
Give the guy a break, like he had explained this morning on wnyc ,regardless of him taken the subway those cars would running along the course as a security concern since he is the mayor of NYC and by the way it's a great quality to be attach to where you come from.
Give the guy a break, like he had explained this morning on wnyc ,regardless of him taken the subway those cars would running along the course as a security concern since he is the mayor of NYC and by the way it's a great quality to be attach to where you come from.
13
Stop complaining. Vote against him and for someone who doesn't just preach about the sacrifices everybody else should make, while everything he does is roses. Why do people continue to fall for campaign rhetoric?
4
hmmm 10 years ago: "But Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg’s commute is not your average straphanger’s ride....That means Mr. Bloomberg — whose much-discussed subway rides have become an indelible component of his public image — spends a quarter of his ostensibly subterranean commute in an S.U.V."
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/01/nyregion/01bloomberg.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/01/nyregion/01bloomberg.html
9
Stop. Please just stop. This is a non story. If mr deblasio chooses to work out in a place that is more familiar to him, and uses a car that is his to use based on his position as mayor, that's his right. I'm a former city girl and I know that in the city 11 miles away feels like a whole other universe, but this article wasn't worth the time you took to write it. If you have other issues with him, fight him on those issues, don't pick petty fights, it just makes you look petty.
50
Exhorbitant vacations and four day weeks. This thin-skinned leech is what we know in business circles as a "take-home" guy, the type of client that not only lives well on contractors' expense accounts, he'd also appreciate a little extra, maybe doggie bags for the whole family. Our Mayor is a crude reminder of the meaning of "good enough for government work." He is no public servant.
24
I heard BDB's exchange with Charles on WNYC (the Brian Lehrer Show) and was disgusted with the mayor. It's not even his indulgence of having his entourage drive him to Park Slope (although that is definitely an indulgent display) that struck me but rather his rudeness and condescension to the caller. I loathed Bloomberg and was hopeful about BDB, but he exhibits some very troubling arrogance and defensiveness whenever he's questioned in a remotely challenging way. Instead of being rude and insulting to the caller, who's his constituent, he could have just answered the question honestly--"I know it's a bit of an indulgence, but it means a lot to me to keep my connection to my old neighborhood, and I do get a lot of work done in the car". We need a mayor with some humility who shows a modicum of respect for the people of this city.
48
This is not a story. My only regret is that I read it and I can never get those minutes back.
33
Mayor de Blasio sees himself as a "Nice Guy" -- and just assumed that everyone else would see how much of a "Nice Guy" he really is -- and that would somehow translate into everyone saying that he's "A great guy and he's doing a good job" ---
Well -- there's a book written by Leo Durocher, the great manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers with the classic title -- "Nice Guys Finish Last" --
Perhaps that will be the slogan for the Mayor's re-election campaign -- or possibly his autobiography...?
Well -- there's a book written by Leo Durocher, the great manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers with the classic title -- "Nice Guys Finish Last" --
Perhaps that will be the slogan for the Mayor's re-election campaign -- or possibly his autobiography...?
6
Just think of how much less of a carbon footprint NYC would have if the mayor exercised at Gracie Mansion!!!! It is so huge that I think it was mentioned in the Paris accords on climate change.
In the meantime, the Gov seems to be getting a free pass on our decaying subway system, and that, affects me more than where the mayor exercised and how much he contributed to global warming.
If the subway does not run, there are more cars traveling in the city, and that is by far a much larger chunk of global warming.
This mayor and this governor both seem to have an air of self importance and entitlement. Their pettiness and narcissism seem to get in the way of their doing anything constructive for this city.
In the meantime, the Gov seems to be getting a free pass on our decaying subway system, and that, affects me more than where the mayor exercised and how much he contributed to global warming.
If the subway does not run, there are more cars traveling in the city, and that is by far a much larger chunk of global warming.
This mayor and this governor both seem to have an air of self importance and entitlement. Their pettiness and narcissism seem to get in the way of their doing anything constructive for this city.
12
The mayor works out at my gym in Park Slope. I happily voted for him and at first I thought it was charming that he continued to work out next to me after he was elected, especially given the fact that our previous mayor wouldn't have been caught dead in a YMCA. Now several years later, I recognize de Blasio's peculiar habit to be a hollow and expensive bit of PR. No one can talk to him when he's working out as he always has three to five secret service people strategically placed throughout the gym to prevent any interaction with "the masses". Now when I get to the gym and see the black SUV limos outside and the secret service standing around yet again I wonder, "How much of our tax money is funding this hollow bit of PR?"
I would say it's an example of "cheap symbolism" but while the gesture clearly appears to be symbolic, I imagine it is certainly not cheap. In a city where so many are in need, it seems an insult to use our tax dollars to fund the mayor's empty PR campaign. What exactly is he trying to prove?
I would say it's an example of "cheap symbolism" but while the gesture clearly appears to be symbolic, I imagine it is certainly not cheap. In a city where so many are in need, it seems an insult to use our tax dollars to fund the mayor's empty PR campaign. What exactly is he trying to prove?
32
We in Cobble Hill voted for him because he promised to save our desperately needed Long Island College Hospital but he flipped once elected. I and my neighbors will never vote for him again. A do nothing. An empty suit.
25
There is still an Emergency Room at LICH -- the original intent was to simply close down LICH completely.
And every public school parent at PS 29 in Cobble Hill knows that Universal Pre-k is not a "do nothing". It's astonishing that your only measure of "doing something" is if a few residents of an affluent neighborhood get to have a hospital to serve them. The fact that you still have your own private ER is just not enough, and universal pre-K that helps 40,000 or more children has no value to you at all.
And every public school parent at PS 29 in Cobble Hill knows that Universal Pre-k is not a "do nothing". It's astonishing that your only measure of "doing something" is if a few residents of an affluent neighborhood get to have a hospital to serve them. The fact that you still have your own private ER is just not enough, and universal pre-K that helps 40,000 or more children has no value to you at all.
3
I can personally vouch that the writer's assertions are untrue. I regularly work out at the Prospect Y. The mayor is not surrounded by staff when he works out & does interact with other Y members. Yesterday I overhead the Mayor having a discussion with a young dad about raising kids.
4
Why not? The left has always been about "do as I say, not do as I do" hypocrisy.
11
Cheap symbolism or very costly press coverage for an official up for reelection? Time to exercise some political judgment, Mr Mayor, and find a gym near your mayoral residence.
13
Pure and simple - an opportunist.
9
11 miles - why that's almost 12 miles
6
Google maps has it at 12.
LOL! -Rudy
My description of "Dollar Bill" in three words:
One.term.Mayor.
One.term.Mayor.
16
Mr. Mayor, you need to take the log out of your eye to see the mote in someone else's eye. Climate Change begins at home.
11
For security reasons everything DeBlasio does is expensive ... but at the same time it is really imperative that the mayor lives a "normal" live as much as possible and certainly going to the gym in his neighborhood fits that. I don't see anything self-contradictory here. Sanctimony ... well, yes, but show me a politician that doesn't have that!
5
Doesn't Gracie Mansion have a gym? How fantastic is the YMCA in Park Slope? Very Marie Antoinette of Mr. de Blasio!!!
18
Maybe he fells at home at his old gym. Maybe it connects him with his old neighborhood and his life before he was mayor. Just doesn't really seem like such a big deal. If taking a break like this refreshes him and helps him do a better job as mayor, then how about we cut him some slack and let him have this indulgence.
15
What a pathetic hit piece this is. I only clicked on it because the title was so bogus that I couldn't believe I was reading the Times. I'm very happy with my mayor, just wish I felt that way about the governor.
Try holding everyone to thoxd standards of "greenness", how about we start with the board of the NY Times? Can we get their travel in cars and planes please? Then how about City Counsel, Congress. Please don't just do a one-off and have it be this, show some guts.
Oh and if you really want to start somewhere good, how about all those love pieces the NYT gives mega-apartments and their decors and those restaurants you review that serve copious amounts of cattle? Or all those exotic hotels that the Travel section tells me I must travel to (by air of course).
Try holding everyone to thoxd standards of "greenness", how about we start with the board of the NY Times? Can we get their travel in cars and planes please? Then how about City Counsel, Congress. Please don't just do a one-off and have it be this, show some guts.
Oh and if you really want to start somewhere good, how about all those love pieces the NYT gives mega-apartments and their decors and those restaurants you review that serve copious amounts of cattle? Or all those exotic hotels that the Travel section tells me I must travel to (by air of course).
38
Bravo!
4
Best reply I've read in the Times in months!
1
He should be taking the F train, see how that works out.
17
Subway. I know it hasn't been all that reliable lately but the rest of us have to deal with it. The rest of us need to use it or the bus or walk. Why should you get a motorcade? That's climate change in a nutshell or is your car a Telsa as well as the other vehicles accompanying you?
8
I'm really hoping this article is meant as satire. The alternative would be that Ginia Bellafante actually thinks it's important to talk about where the mayor works out.
Donald Trump jets to Mar-a-Lago almost every weekend, blasting more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere on one round trip than a years' worth of Bill de Blasio's SUV trips to the gym.
We have serious problems right now - a president who thinks NATO is our enemy and Russia is our friend, who thinks Qatar gives more support to terrorists than Saudi Arabia, who thinks that climate change is a hoax, and who thinks that the Chinese are going to talk North Korea out of developing a nuclear-capable ICBM.
Up against all of that, I really don't care where Bill de Blasio goes to exercise.
politicsbyeccehomo.wordpress.com
Donald Trump jets to Mar-a-Lago almost every weekend, blasting more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere on one round trip than a years' worth of Bill de Blasio's SUV trips to the gym.
We have serious problems right now - a president who thinks NATO is our enemy and Russia is our friend, who thinks Qatar gives more support to terrorists than Saudi Arabia, who thinks that climate change is a hoax, and who thinks that the Chinese are going to talk North Korea out of developing a nuclear-capable ICBM.
Up against all of that, I really don't care where Bill de Blasio goes to exercise.
politicsbyeccehomo.wordpress.com
22
As I have written before, I am hoping that a viable and palatable alternative to Bill de Blasio emerges prior to election day. I voted for him four years ago. He has been a disappointment from the day he assumed office.
20
Well, I think the gym is a perfect place for him to run the city from for that matter. After all, once his firs (and only) t term is up his job options will be fitness trainer or used car salesman. Keep that plaid jacket handy, Bill!
12
Am I reading right?.. a Big City column that is not lock step with the extreme left wing that can do no wrong.
Ginia is absolutely right on this one (even if she couldn't help giving one reverse snob zinger: "not just rows of graphic designers on elliptical trainers").
The Mayor knows no bounds in his arrogance and she didn't even mention that these workouts are during WORK hours. What time does he actually get to City Hall? Just had another hellish subway ride with numerous delays and streets are overrun with out of town drug addicts. And yes he probably will win again - the spotlight should be on why no other Democrats will NOT run against him? Is the political machine still that much alive ? So we do not have a democracy in New York City.
Ginia is absolutely right on this one (even if she couldn't help giving one reverse snob zinger: "not just rows of graphic designers on elliptical trainers").
The Mayor knows no bounds in his arrogance and she didn't even mention that these workouts are during WORK hours. What time does he actually get to City Hall? Just had another hellish subway ride with numerous delays and streets are overrun with out of town drug addicts. And yes he probably will win again - the spotlight should be on why no other Democrats will NOT run against him? Is the political machine still that much alive ? So we do not have a democracy in New York City.
20
"The trip, made on many weekdays, typically requires two S.U.V.s,..."
Nothing on Earth "requires" S.U.V.s. - one OR two. A single Lincoln Continental can ferry the mayor around just fine, thank you very much.
Nothing on Earth "requires" S.U.V.s. - one OR two. A single Lincoln Continental can ferry the mayor around just fine, thank you very much.
14
The little Fiat is good enough for the Pope. Maybe Big Bill yould reassign 1 of NYPD's new Smart cars to himself.
11
This is just a small sampling of de Blasio's hypocrisy and inefficiency; I'd run out of room if I listed all my grievances here. Let's vote him OUT and make him a one-term mayor. Our amazing city deserves better.
29
There are issues I care less about than this one. I'm sure there are. There must be. The more I read about it, the less I care.
14
Gina- the arrogance reminds me more of career politicians that corporate chief executives.
8
How about using one of the wonderful Recreation Centers provided by the NYC Parks Department? I go to the facility in Chelsea on 25th Street bet 9th and 10th. I'm not being facetious, it's a really wonderful gym.
5
Gracie Mansion is within easy walking distance of Asphalt Green. I can't afford membership there (on city land) but I'm sure the mayor could!
6
He'd get far more exercise if he went to Rikers Island and did a tour of the jails there...
7
Huzzah! Good for de Blasio - this gets my family off the hook for all the pedestrian recycling and other 'global' 'warming' silliness required of New Yorkers.
4
On a positive environment note, the City Council and Mayor deBlasio passed a strengthened law requiring store doors to be shut when the air conditioning is blasting.
Reduces energy waste and stress on power grid. Important law which has not gotten publicity
Reduces energy waste and stress on power grid. Important law which has not gotten publicity
10
The proprietors of the store should determine if an open door brings in more business than the cost of some additional air conditioning. More micromanagement of small business of which the mayor has not direct knowledge of ever running.
6
The best point of this column was the one about getting arrested in front of the hospital and then authorizing its closure and sale. And there are many other hypocrisies to point out in the mayor's actions versus his words. But I do agree with him on "cheap symbolism". Bloomberg took the subway after being driven in the same SUV to the express stop. Everyone knows his symbolism was just as cheap.
9
The irony of nanny laws is that they're really the progressive equivalent of all the attempts to legislate morality by conservatives.
It is very clear that the more somebody is afraid of expressing a personal tendency that she or he feels uncomfortable with, the harder that person pushes for government regulation of that tendency. For conservatives, that means staunch opposition to same-sex marriage, to equal rights protections for all sexual orientations, and to abortion (e.g. Ted Haggard and Larry Craig).
For progressives, the constant push for nanny laws and micro-management of people's lives stems from a recognition that they have very poor self-control. Since they find it very difficult to not behave impulsively and hedonistically, they need intrusive laws, fees, taxes, and government intervention to help keep them from doing things they believe they shouldn't.
The infuriating thing is that progressives' entitled and smug attitudes on things such as driving and food result in outrageous restrictions and surveillance on people who CAN behave as responsible adults.
It is very clear that the more somebody is afraid of expressing a personal tendency that she or he feels uncomfortable with, the harder that person pushes for government regulation of that tendency. For conservatives, that means staunch opposition to same-sex marriage, to equal rights protections for all sexual orientations, and to abortion (e.g. Ted Haggard and Larry Craig).
For progressives, the constant push for nanny laws and micro-management of people's lives stems from a recognition that they have very poor self-control. Since they find it very difficult to not behave impulsively and hedonistically, they need intrusive laws, fees, taxes, and government intervention to help keep them from doing things they believe they shouldn't.
The infuriating thing is that progressives' entitled and smug attitudes on things such as driving and food result in outrageous restrictions and surveillance on people who CAN behave as responsible adults.
3
At least this Mayor is in the city most weekends, often taking part in various events - rather than flying to Bermuda, even when a major snowstorm was on the way.
And at least this Mayor does have a great deal of life experience using public transit, unlike Bloomberg who only did so rarely for photo ops.
Frankly, I don't want the Mayor commuting by subway - inevitably, it's disruptive, which is the last thing we need.
People who are criticizing Mayor de Blasio's poor relationship with Governor Cuomo ought to direct their ire to our Governor, who has had it in for our Mayor since before he was elected - and is hurting this city and its people just to spite him.
Focus, people! Do we REALLY want another billionaire Republican who's all about putting big business and fellow billionaires first - and everyone else at the bottom?!?
And at least this Mayor does have a great deal of life experience using public transit, unlike Bloomberg who only did so rarely for photo ops.
Frankly, I don't want the Mayor commuting by subway - inevitably, it's disruptive, which is the last thing we need.
People who are criticizing Mayor de Blasio's poor relationship with Governor Cuomo ought to direct their ire to our Governor, who has had it in for our Mayor since before he was elected - and is hurting this city and its people just to spite him.
Focus, people! Do we REALLY want another billionaire Republican who's all about putting big business and fellow billionaires first - and everyone else at the bottom?!?
12
Enough with the Bloomberg bashing.. really tired Doy1.
Everyone I know thought he was a great Mayor - except of course the extreme left wing. Another self made billionaire who created a business employing thousands of New Yorkers in good paying jobs and tax payments would be fine with me.
and No, I do not count over President in that category.
Bloomberg may have gone away to Bermuda (on his own dime) but he was everywhere in New York and at every event - being a cheerleader for NYC is part of the job.
Sorry but anyone who defends BDB is either related to him or on his patronage mill.
Everyone I know thought he was a great Mayor - except of course the extreme left wing. Another self made billionaire who created a business employing thousands of New Yorkers in good paying jobs and tax payments would be fine with me.
and No, I do not count over President in that category.
Bloomberg may have gone away to Bermuda (on his own dime) but he was everywhere in New York and at every event - being a cheerleader for NYC is part of the job.
Sorry but anyone who defends BDB is either related to him or on his patronage mill.
16
As I recall from newspaper stories, Mayor Mike used a treadmill. He would get up early and use it at home before starting his business day. With just Bill and Chirlane at home in Gracie mansion (children at college), I am confused why he cannot get one of his donors looking for favors to give them an exercise bike to use at home, or in the alternative, like the rest of us, get one at Costco or Modell's or even ProHealth.
11
Former Mayor Michael Bloomberg flew to Bermuda on many weekends - but the media kept that quiet and gave Bloomberg a pass.
True Bloomberg has and is donating much to climate change issues. But in his personal life Bloomberg has a huge carbon footprint wasting resources with multiple homes, constant trips in private plans etc
True Bloomberg has and is donating much to climate change issues. But in his personal life Bloomberg has a huge carbon footprint wasting resources with multiple homes, constant trips in private plans etc
12
I'd rather you wrote about what, if anything, DeBlasio has done to improve - or diminish - life for New Yorkers.
10
First of all, I feel that when the original article on de Blasio taking an SUV to his gym over in Brooklyn felt as if it was a slow news day. Also, I feel that some are just looking for whatever to get at him out of desperation. The reason he goes to the YMCA over in Park Slope is mainly because that has been his usual gym for a long time, and I'm sure many go to gyms they have been at most of their lives as well. Perhaps, he could use a hybrid or electric car, but I have a feeling that who never liked will still find a way to grill him no matter what he does. Seriously, I suggest everyone saying he should take the subway should making a ride from Yorkville to Park Slope via the subway and tell me how long that will take before they grill de Blasio for how he chose to get there. One other thing, most NYC don't take the same transportation everyone else does, but that's pretty common for pretty much every mayor of even other cities as well as presidents and governors, so quit being selective on him. Either way, he is most likely going to get re-elected in the next election whether any of you like him or not, and he will most likely win because of more important issues than this as well as the fact that there is a good number of non-voters as well unless the turnout ends up being higher with more opposing him, but I doubt that will be the case.
8
Thanks, Tal. And yes, he does use a hybrid.
As for subway vs. riding in a car: you can get a lot done while riding in a car - which you can't do during a subway ride. So it's also better use of his time to use the car rather than the subway.
The author - and many of the commenters here - are making a huge issue out of nothing.
As for subway vs. riding in a car: you can get a lot done while riding in a car - which you can't do during a subway ride. So it's also better use of his time to use the car rather than the subway.
The author - and many of the commenters here - are making a huge issue out of nothing.
14
two things Tal -
nice to pontificate from the suburbs.
Second, the guy leisurely rides a stationary bike. I think we can arrange to put one of them in at Gracie Mansion. Or if not, as Ginia says, Asphalt Green is across the street.
nice to pontificate from the suburbs.
Second, the guy leisurely rides a stationary bike. I think we can arrange to put one of them in at Gracie Mansion. Or if not, as Ginia says, Asphalt Green is across the street.
7
So liberals can't drive places they want to go because of global warming? Are you serious? Liberals want taxes on carbon usage, and MDB could afford the tax if it existed. There is no reason to follow rules that don't exist and especially if no one else currently follows them. The standard of hypocrisy proposed in this piece would mean that no man who stood for progress beyond what we have today could live in the world of today.
12
Or he could bike or jog over to the South Bronx and see the existing long term garbage handling facilities that handle 37% of the entire city's waste, or the 4 polluting power plants that serve Yorkville, or the the FedEx trucking facility that serves NYC or the construction of the FreshDirect trucking facility that would serve the region that the mayor promised to end the subsidies to, but changed his tune when elected, r visit one of the nearby parks or gyms on the waterfront ---oops no asphalt green in the South Bronx waterfront, no greenway on the shore, no gym or pool or classes or anything like that. Giuliani shuttered the 91st street faciity to get the white vote there, guess where the burden goes, and with no benefits?.
5
What DeBlasio does is indefensible from many standpoints. It takes a good hour each way to get to a and from YMCA on 9th St. in Park Slope back to City Hall. Does he really have two hours of his office time to waste on this every day?
What is worse, his sour relationship with the governor is not helping NYC.
DeBlasio is not getting my vote in next elections.
What is worse, his sour relationship with the governor is not helping NYC.
DeBlasio is not getting my vote in next elections.
21
Doubt it takes an hour each way - especially from Gracie Mansion to Park Slope, if he leaves very early in the a.m.
But even if it does, who says he wastes the time? Probably like most busy execs, he uses the time to read and answer emails and other correspondence, make calls, read other materials, etc. That's where it's an advantage to ride in a car rather than take public transit.
In fact, since his days are often filled with appointments and events, this may well be his only time to tackle these tasks.
Compared to things Bloomberg and Giuliani did to this city - where our current Mayor works out in the early mornings is really trivial.
But even if it does, who says he wastes the time? Probably like most busy execs, he uses the time to read and answer emails and other correspondence, make calls, read other materials, etc. That's where it's an advantage to ride in a car rather than take public transit.
In fact, since his days are often filled with appointments and events, this may well be his only time to tackle these tasks.
Compared to things Bloomberg and Giuliani did to this city - where our current Mayor works out in the early mornings is really trivial.
14
According to the NYT, he leaves Gracie Mansion at 8AM or a bit later - just in time for the morning rush hour traffic. Not exactly early morning. If he is coming back 9:30-10, the traffic is equally busy. I know that because i ride bicycle to work every day.
How much this exercise routinee cost, given that involves 2-3 SUVs and at least 4 people (chauffeurs and body guards).?
How much this exercise routinee cost, given that involves 2-3 SUVs and at least 4 people (chauffeurs and body guards).?
7
Some commenters criticize de Blasio for not taking on Cuomo aggressively enough, and some criticize him for taking on Cuomo too aggressively.
When you can't win no matter what you do, you might as well do what you want.
politicsbyeccehomo.wordpress.com
When you can't win no matter what you do, you might as well do what you want.
politicsbyeccehomo.wordpress.com
5
De Blasio is the classic hypocritical politician, with an added layer of sanctimoniousness. His outlook is summarized from a line in Animal Farm, the classic novel by George Orwell: "All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others".
De Blasio has limited useful skills so he uses those skills to stay a lifetime politician, enriching himself, and living a lavish life that mere mortals don't have access to.
It is pathetic that the great city of New York is lead by such a petty minded and hypocritical person, but, alas, somebody voted for this cad, and it wasn't me. New York, its time to own up to your mistakes on this guy.
De Blasio has limited useful skills so he uses those skills to stay a lifetime politician, enriching himself, and living a lavish life that mere mortals don't have access to.
It is pathetic that the great city of New York is lead by such a petty minded and hypocritical person, but, alas, somebody voted for this cad, and it wasn't me. New York, its time to own up to your mistakes on this guy.
21
This is right on point. In every socialist nation-state, it is always the ruling class that hoards and enjoys wealth and privilege (Cuba, North Korea, former USSR, China, and on and on).
7
Someone get this guy a city-wide YMCA pass. Then he can see the tale of two cities of inequality and funding at the different YMCA's around NYC. It would be also nice if he took a jog behind Gracie Mansion to observe all the sink holes on the jogging/walking/bike path that the city agencies he runs has been ignoring for a long period of time.
Can one of his millennium staffers tell us all why he can't exercise in the many NYC Parks?
Can one of his millennium staffers tell us all why he can't exercise in the many NYC Parks?
16
These are the same self centered arrogant millenials that have split the Democratic Party and put Donald Trump in the Whitehouse. The have rendered others as uneducated white guys, you know who they are. Have another latte.
4
I find it strange that this article references Bloomberg, but conveniently negates certain facts. Do you remember that Bloomberg traveled, by private jet, to his Bermuda home nearly every weekend?
We are all walking contradictions.
We are all walking contradictions.
12
There's plenty wrong with de Blasio that's worth complaining about; his transportation to the gym is not one of them. This is trivial, petty stuff.
It's ironic that an article complaining of wasted resources itself reflects such a waste of the writer's time, the Times's space, and readers' attention.
It's ironic that an article complaining of wasted resources itself reflects such a waste of the writer's time, the Times's space, and readers' attention.
8
Do people still use tanning beds? And the NYT highlights this gym "amenity" as a positive?
4
More is being made of this than is necessary, sure he's being inflexible but who really turns to the Mayor for climate change advice.
Also as someone who has been working out at the same location for years now I can understand his desire to do so at a place that's familiar.
Also as someone who has been working out at the same location for years now I can understand his desire to do so at a place that's familiar.
11
While I agree with the basic gist of the article, the amount of energy wasted on these gym trips seems rather trivial compared to the energy and tax-payer money wasted by weekly weekend flights to Mar A Lago.
8
Obviously.
3
DeBlasio is just one more guy who says "A" and does "B" - one rule for him (b/c he's sooooo important, and so much MORE important than anyone else) and a different rule for everyone else. He has no right to get officious about things that impact the other 8 million of us, given that he is this tone deaf AND brain-dead about the gym issue. If he can't function without going to a gym in Park Slope, then he needs to move back to Park Slope.
I won't vote for him ever again; if he's running unopposed, I'll write in another name (even Mickey Mouse), rather than voting for this proven two-faced jerk.
I won't vote for him ever again; if he's running unopposed, I'll write in another name (even Mickey Mouse), rather than voting for this proven two-faced jerk.
34
Hypocrisy is one thing. I suppose we are all quiet hypocrites in one way or another, and when confronted, most of us at least have the self-awareness to acknowledge it. But the Mayor defends his many hypocrisies loudly and aggressively. It is hard to know whether he is just that un-self-aware or, well, that big a hypocrite.
30
My first reaction to this was "really - that's all you've got? You're wasting valuable column space in the NY Times for this wordy rant over something so trivial?
First of all, a HUGE assumption here that CEO's operate with "efficiency" - since when?
And as commenter Nathaniel notes, the billionaires and mega-millionaires in this city are still the worst polluters, with their limo's running 24/7 plus their private planes and helicopters - which also add to noise pollution, too. Plus their super-luxury high-rise apartments that are a huge drain on our infrastructure and city services such as police.
How about some outrage about that - and how greedy real estate developers are destroying this city? But noooo - let's distract from the real issues to snipe at the Mayor over something so petty!
Yes, it's poor optics - but that's about it. There are much more important issues in this city, this nation, and this world to focus on than where the Mayor chooses to work out.
You want to criticize the Mayor? Call him out on significant issues - hold him accountable for promises he made and hasn't kept.
But this is ridiculous - it's petty, vindictive, and not worthy of the Times.
First of all, a HUGE assumption here that CEO's operate with "efficiency" - since when?
And as commenter Nathaniel notes, the billionaires and mega-millionaires in this city are still the worst polluters, with their limo's running 24/7 plus their private planes and helicopters - which also add to noise pollution, too. Plus their super-luxury high-rise apartments that are a huge drain on our infrastructure and city services such as police.
How about some outrage about that - and how greedy real estate developers are destroying this city? But noooo - let's distract from the real issues to snipe at the Mayor over something so petty!
Yes, it's poor optics - but that's about it. There are much more important issues in this city, this nation, and this world to focus on than where the Mayor chooses to work out.
You want to criticize the Mayor? Call him out on significant issues - hold him accountable for promises he made and hasn't kept.
But this is ridiculous - it's petty, vindictive, and not worthy of the Times.
63
Kudos to Blink and Planet Fitness!
8
Blink, at least, is a very nice no-frills gym chain. I wish it would open a branch on the Upper West Side. (I'm not that familiar with Planet Fitness.) But there's no reason that de Blasio has to forsake his old, familiar, neighborhood Y.
4
Another "limousine liberal hypocrite" at large and in charge. Where's his citi bike? Is this worse than Blomberg leaving a "window air conditioner" on in his SUV? Plugged in all day to his vehicle wouldn't be hot when he got in. Not surprised.
8
Hypocrisy at its best. Do as I say not as I do. Same entitlement that got him into trouble driving through red lights before. Common folks don't go to local gyms. This is part of the reason why he cannot get anything accomplished!
16
There is a long list of things I don't like about this mayor. His support of oppressive gun laws to marching in the upcoming parade. I could care less how he gets to work. It doesn't seem very practical to take the subway. Just symbolic.
5
The mayor has perfected that brand of smug, holier than thou hypocrisy, normally favored by Christian conservatives who shout about sodomy and fallen women while privately sampling both. In both cases, actions speak louder than words and de Blasio's actions towards his fellow New Yorkers are dismissive on the best of days.
In the end, Ms. Bellafante summed him up best: de Blasio, "A man who embodied all of the arrogance of a corporate chief executive with little of the efficiency" should be his epitaph.
In the end, Ms. Bellafante summed him up best: de Blasio, "A man who embodied all of the arrogance of a corporate chief executive with little of the efficiency" should be his epitaph.
92
I have mixed feelings about de Blasio, but this article is petty. As the mayor, he is in an unusual situation. If he wants to work out in familiar surroundings that ground him, who cares? At least he doesn't lie about how he gets around. Bloomberg boasted of taking the subway, until NYT reporters tracked him taking a limo to the station.
This columnist has a habit of singling out the wrong things for outrage. If I remember correctly, a few years ago, there was an article about the supposed exclusion of low-income people from the Citibike program when housing project residents receive a major discount on membership and the program and related organizations offer helmet giveaways and biking classes.
Please complain about something important. NYC is rife with possibilities.
This columnist has a habit of singling out the wrong things for outrage. If I remember correctly, a few years ago, there was an article about the supposed exclusion of low-income people from the Citibike program when housing project residents receive a major discount on membership and the program and related organizations offer helmet giveaways and biking classes.
Please complain about something important. NYC is rife with possibilities.
37
I think it is fair to characterize the mayor as a "limousine liberal," though in fairness to the mayor i can understand why he would not take the subway as he would never arrive anywhere on time.
28
he doesn't arrive on time anyway
16
@Jack: DeBlasio has a well-earned reputation for being late to most meetings and events as it is - and that's using his motorcade of SUV's.
9
That's an insult to limousines!
1
Not a fan, although I voted for him. I think he's a dullard, a clod, politically inept and a phony progressive, and his place of exercise preferences fits right in with that assessment.
85
Well said JMN, spot on.
And thats it in a nutshell, really. de Blasio is a politician through and through, NOT a leader. He's just too timid. More than anything, I'm disappointed and let down.
And thats it in a nutshell, really. de Blasio is a politician through and through, NOT a leader. He's just too timid. More than anything, I'm disappointed and let down.
11
You know, there are actual substantive critiques of the mayor we might be having instead of this trite nonsense.
This city is packed to the gills with millionaires and billionaires who pollute to the high heavens with their helicopters, private planes, and private drivers whose SUVs run and pollute 24-7. And for the most part they get to write off those expenses on the backs of the taxpayers.
This is the sort of junk I expect to read in the Post. Let's leave it there.
This city is packed to the gills with millionaires and billionaires who pollute to the high heavens with their helicopters, private planes, and private drivers whose SUVs run and pollute 24-7. And for the most part they get to write off those expenses on the backs of the taxpayers.
This is the sort of junk I expect to read in the Post. Let's leave it there.
40
How dare you, MBD? How dare you ask New Yorkers to put up with and support crumbling public transportation and infrastructure, crowded streets and highways, and inefficient and inconsistent trash management, while you undermine out efforts with your wasteful and selfish actions? You should be ashamed of yourself!
New York, of all cities, should be leading the way in combatting climate change, if only because so much of our city is at risk from rising sea levels. New Yorkers have been ahead of the curb on recycling, adopting clean energy alternatives, and managing their carbon footprint for the better part of three decades and you are a disgrace to this proud tradition.
And lest you dismiss my anger at you as "cheap symbolism", let me stop you right there: I pay two to three times more for electricity to ensure it comes from wind, and I happily pay nearly $60K per year in city and state taxes because I know my taxes support our environmental conservation efforts.
I see red, however, when I'm told that part of these taxes go to pay for your and your wife's multi-weekly gym caravans and it makes me livid when you dismiss my rightful call for you to do your part with some lame argument about your exceptionalism.
How's this for exceptionalism: You're right, MDB; you ARE different. You are supposed to be a ROLE MODEL and you have an EVEN GREATER RESPONSIBILITY than the rest of us to protect this city and its legacy of environmentalism. Now do your job!!!
New York, of all cities, should be leading the way in combatting climate change, if only because so much of our city is at risk from rising sea levels. New Yorkers have been ahead of the curb on recycling, adopting clean energy alternatives, and managing their carbon footprint for the better part of three decades and you are a disgrace to this proud tradition.
And lest you dismiss my anger at you as "cheap symbolism", let me stop you right there: I pay two to three times more for electricity to ensure it comes from wind, and I happily pay nearly $60K per year in city and state taxes because I know my taxes support our environmental conservation efforts.
I see red, however, when I'm told that part of these taxes go to pay for your and your wife's multi-weekly gym caravans and it makes me livid when you dismiss my rightful call for you to do your part with some lame argument about your exceptionalism.
How's this for exceptionalism: You're right, MDB; you ARE different. You are supposed to be a ROLE MODEL and you have an EVEN GREATER RESPONSIBILITY than the rest of us to protect this city and its legacy of environmentalism. Now do your job!!!
26
The last couple of years I've begun to see The Mayor in a more complete light.
Never mind his disdain, intentional or not, for the average New Yorker by refusing to take the subway to work.
Never mind his inability to engender even enough chutzpah to get those horses out of Central Park!
Never mind his incomprehensible support for that Puerto Rican parade terrorist felon! What?!
Never mind his inexplicable wimpyness in refusing to standup to Shifty-the-Clown-Cuomo. With his pulpit, de Blasio should be hammering him non-stop everyday - especially over the MTA! Where is the 5% corporation 'train tax'? Our subways and buses should be free to ride - thats right, FREE! This is New York City! Every corporate titan in the world wants their HQ here - make them pay for that privilege by having them finance our transit.
No. The real dispiriting proof is his distinct non-interest in truly taking on the real estate vampires who are behind much of this City's disintegration. Mr. Mayor: where are the 50% (!) affordable housing set-asides? Because we don't need more unaffordable units that wind up sitting empty. Mr. Mayor: where is the commercial store-front rent stabilization program? Surely you realize that block after block after block of empty store fronts hollows out a neighborhood - literally and figuratively? Mr. Mayor: why are national chain stores taking over the cultural capital of The Western World?
DO SOMETHING REAL! NO MORE HANDMAIDEN MAYORS!
Never mind his disdain, intentional or not, for the average New Yorker by refusing to take the subway to work.
Never mind his inability to engender even enough chutzpah to get those horses out of Central Park!
Never mind his incomprehensible support for that Puerto Rican parade terrorist felon! What?!
Never mind his inexplicable wimpyness in refusing to standup to Shifty-the-Clown-Cuomo. With his pulpit, de Blasio should be hammering him non-stop everyday - especially over the MTA! Where is the 5% corporation 'train tax'? Our subways and buses should be free to ride - thats right, FREE! This is New York City! Every corporate titan in the world wants their HQ here - make them pay for that privilege by having them finance our transit.
No. The real dispiriting proof is his distinct non-interest in truly taking on the real estate vampires who are behind much of this City's disintegration. Mr. Mayor: where are the 50% (!) affordable housing set-asides? Because we don't need more unaffordable units that wind up sitting empty. Mr. Mayor: where is the commercial store-front rent stabilization program? Surely you realize that block after block after block of empty store fronts hollows out a neighborhood - literally and figuratively? Mr. Mayor: why are national chain stores taking over the cultural capital of The Western World?
DO SOMETHING REAL! NO MORE HANDMAIDEN MAYORS!
49
Mayor Mike took the subway...but then, he believed EVERYONE would benefit if they aim to do something to stop climate change. He put his money where his mouth is. He taught and continues to teach by example. de Blasio, on the other hand, wants money for only what will benefit him, a typical "do as I say, not as I do" liberal.
71
Bloomberg rarely took the subway. Most of the time, his SUVs were waiting for him - with engines running - every morning. And in the summer, with the AC running - sometimes all day, waiting on "his highness."
15
Bloomberg took the subway oh so rarely...you make it sound like he took it everyday. He absolutely did not. He was also known for using a helicopter A LOT! -Like, most weekends, if I remember some of the NYTimes stories correctly! Bloomberg hugely escalated the give-aways to real estate interests at the cost of 'regular' New Yorkers. Some of us remember well the Hudson Rail Yards mess, the stadium-in- Manhattan mess, the rezoning of Midtown-East mess, the Olympics in New York mess, the stop-and-frisk-everything brown mess, and of course his absolute theft of a third term as Mayor, aided and abetted by that other phony, Christine Quinn (killer of St Vincent's Hospital; killer of paid maternity leave, etc). Under Bloomberg, the invasion of the chain stores escalated hugely and accelerated beyond belief! Did he do some good things? Yes, absolutely. But they were always tied to some corporation getting richer and they were smashed in our faces, a la Citi-bike. He was definitely a generous man, especially with his own personal money, but lets not pretend that he was anything remotely like a 'people's mayor'. He was not.
17
Yeah but he got driven to the subway in a large SUB and then got picked up at the subway and driven to City Hall. It was all optics just for show... This was documented with photos in NY Times.
7
His (or any government official's) use of helicopters is even more arrogant and fuel-wasteful.
7
I am not a fan of Mr. de Blasio's, but this is just petty. There are lots of good reasons to oppose or criticize him -- this is not one of them.
18
It's a question of optics. De Blasio seems to be saying, "Do as I say, not as I do." One small gesture on his part would make it clear that he means what he says, whereas his refusal to make even the slightest change in his routine--when there are so many available alternatives--makes him out to be a hypocrite.
10
I am a fan of the Mayor, in some things (free Pre-K, guaranteed sick days) but this is the ultimate in hubris and hypocrisy. As a parent, hasn't he learned that "Do as I say, not as I do" doesn't work?
4
@Joel: Au contraire! This is NOT petty - it goes to the heart of several issues, including being "a man of the people". DeBlasio is a hypocrite on the gym issue and on a whole bunch of other issues affecting New Yorkers.
26
The mayor should be using one of the City Parks and Recreation Centers to work out. There is one on 54th Street on the East Side that desperately needs some love. Hey, it used to be good enough for Gov. Mario Cuomo!
68
That's a great solution, Christine. If he were to go to an upper east side chain fitness center, he would be accused of elitism - if he took the subway everyday to Brooklyn he could run into something dangerous - we can't fool ourselves into thinking that the mayor would be safe (and he would be accused of disrupting subway system at a very busy time of day). Kind of a damned if you do and damned if you don't situation. But Christine's solution of the park and rec center is golden. Puts him in touch with the people he's meant to serve - and it's not very far away - she would make a wise chief of staff (in contrast to the tone-deaf advice he's been getting!)
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Asphalt Green is even closer - and it's not a place for the elite.
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