Bloomberg To Focus On Jobs In State Of The City Address

Before Bush gets his airtime, Mayor Bloomberg will have his moment to talk about the State of the City and what he plans on doing to help us in this time of economic calamity. The leaked information so far is that the Mayor will emphasize job creation and revised tax codes so that businesses will get moving. Lots and lots of jobs in fact.

From The NY Times:

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg plans to announce an ambitious effort to create 400,000 new jobs over the next six years in his State of the City address on Thursday, according to people who have been briefed on the plans.

Mr. Bloomberg also plans to recommend revisions to the city tax code to help businesses — changes that the people briefed on the plans said would not add to the city’s deficit, which is estimated to reach $4.3 billion in the next fiscal year.[..]

Mr. Bloomberg’s job-creation plan will focus on small businesses, capital investment projects and so-called green-collar jobs. He will also propose to eliminate or reduce a tax on about 17,000 of the unincorporated businesses in the city. To make up for that projected loss in revenue, he plans to close tax loopholes.

I can't argue with green jobs, those are key to the future of our economy, both here in New York City and across the nation. Though like any State of the _____ address, big bold ideas are the norm and the implementation aspects are a bit more sketchy. Of course we'll have to wait until we actually hear it, but Bloomberg hasn't been that impressive in the last eight years of managing our city's money (unless you own a piece of Yankee Stadium) and I don't have my hopes up for his future plans either.

Three Cheers For New York! Now What?

Bloomberg held the State of the City address out in Flushing yesterday to not only celebrate the diversity of New York, but how it contributes to our well being and overall greatness. He invited immigrants from South Carolina to India to the event (who happen to live on the same street) as an example of how New York is a culture of diversity. I won't disagree with that, it is one of the reasons why I love New York, and detest Los Angeles. Their beaches and weather may be nicer...but that's about it, sorry.

Anyways, Bloomberg used this opportunity to slam the Republican candidates and called on them to open their eyes when it comes to immigration. The hodge podge of New York defies the fear based crap that the GOP likes to use. Especially when we have the lowest crime rate of any big city out there. Unfortunately, people like Mitt and McCain use hate and xenophobia to such an extent that their eyelids and ears have been sown shut, so they didn't hear him from the campaign trail.

Being that it is a new year, the Mayor also laid out what is in store for us in 2008 and all the programs that will/could go into effect. Things like "Virtual 911" will be instituted so you can multimedia message a crime in progress to the police. Sounds too good to be true to me and with the advent of photoshop, I can't wait to see what the NYPD is going to have to shuffle through on the message board. Besides, what happens if you're a victim who happens to be cellibate?

There's plenty more on the laundry list that tries to tackle public safety, poverty, economic development and a more efficient city government despite the oncoming recession and predicted budget deficits. The one bad thing about NYC is that the national market hits hard when it tanks, because Wall Street (despite making ridiculous money in bad times as well as good) will impact the rest of Manhattan and the five boroughs. How much so is to be determined. So I'd like to wish Bloomberg a happy seventh year in office and hopefully he'll get better at being Mayor and maybe even to STFU about running for President...I can dream right?

NYC: State Of The City

Giuliani's annoited one is about to give his State of the City speech tonight. With our huge surplus Bloomberg is prepared to announce massive tax cuts, but for whom? Certainly not the poor and the middle class that need the break in our expensive city. No, not surprisingly, he'll be targeting people more like himself.

From The Daily Gotham:

The Mayor is very popular. People seem not blame him when his police shoot 50 bullets into unarmed folk; they blame the police commissioner. Even though the schools, under Mayor Bloomberg, are not doing well (remember, he asked to be judged on his success at running the schools), people don’t blame him. Even though affordable housing has all but disappeared and actual hunger appears to be increasing, people don’t blame him. People seem to forgive traffic congestion approaching paralysis and Mayor Bloomberg appears to be getting away with handing over Randalls Island Stadium to Manhattan’s most elite private school. Teflon, thy name is Bloomberg.

Awash in cash, the Mayor proposes $1 billion in tax cuts although no corrections for the wild inequities in the property tax system that has $20 Million 15 room upper East side coops paying lowers taxes than small homes in Queens costing 1% of that. Interestingly, it appears that those fees which fall entirely on the poor – for repairs at the Housing Authority, for example, or for recreation in low income neighborhoods will be maintained. (Also check out Larry Littlefield's elliptical, funny critique.) And a small, but actually affordable housing program, is the subject of great éclat for its chic design. You may also have noticed the bizarre puff-piece praising Amanda Burden burden the other day with which Norman Oder of Atlantic Yards Report had so much fun.. For an excellent review of one of Mr. Bloomberg more bizarre educational blunders see Vanentina Ramia's recent roundup at the DMI Blog.

As a New Yorker, I wouldn't choose to live anywhere else despite the problems. Though we need to fix our fair city so that everyone gets an equal break, not just the wealthy elite. We need to provide for the hungry, help those with housing needs and provide justice for those wronged, even if they are cops.