SI was for many years part of NYC based on a political system that no long exists.
For many years, the source of true legislative power in NYC was from the budgetary power weilded by a body called the “Board of Estimate”. This entity had one member appointed by each of the five borough presidents and a few others appointed by the mayor (& maybe some other elected official - I forget). At that time the NY City Council was a figurehead body, responsible for naming streets and matters of similar importance. This system assured SI of significant resprentation in city decisions.
However, this system was struck down by the courts (IIRC the USSC ruled on it) as a violation of the one-man-one-vote principle, and overnight the Board of Estimate ceased to exist, and suddenly the unimportant City Council inherited real power. Once that happened, SI was doomed, and secessionist sentiments gained considerable appeal at that time.
Knowing what little I do about NYC, I have some doubt about the idea that Staten Island is a net benefactor to the city budget. Cite? I did try the obvious Google terms.
According to this map, the mandatory evacuation zones were in coastline areas of all five boroughs and involved 375,000 people. Based on the areas that are marked, it looks likely to me that a fourth or less of that number lived on the Island (there are high-density population areas under the evacuation order in Manhattan and Brooklyn, for example), and using a current population figure of about 470,000 for the Island, I doubt that even a fifth of the Island’s population was supposed to evacuate. And based on news reports, it looks like the flooding and devastation is affecting far more Staten Islanders than that (not just the ones in the immediate coastal zones). Earlier this week I talked to friends who lived just up the block from my former home, and while they didn’t have flooding they were dealing with a blackout and blocked streets making it difficult to get out for food.
For all those attacking Staten Islanders suffering in the aftermath of this storm, out of political motivations based on false stereotypes, a hearty fuck you.
I don’t. As I’ve explained several times already, if there is really no one who falls into the categories I’m suggesting they do (willing recipient of federal aid/categorical opposer of the principle of federal aid) then I’m making something out of nothing and I owe those people my sincere apology. OTOH, if none of them exist, then who would I be offending and apologizing to?
I’m glad we live in a free society that lets all views be heard.
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Me, too. Doubt it very much, though, after they collect their money.
Does this means that it’s not okay that Shayna is “pissed that they’ve actually made recovery harder for the first (second and third) responders because they didn’t follow instructions?”
I second that fuck you. And add one for Bricker’s belief that Rush Limbaugh is a valid news source. My husband had a three hour commute to work this morning. His boss was so worried about him he made a very worried call to my house. I have no idea when he’ll be home from work tonight.
Enough with the fucking politics. Give people a week or two to breath and deal with the storm’s aftermath before you start in with the damned agenda. It’s incredibly inappropriate.
Lavender Blue, I don’t actually think you’re supposed to say “fuck you” to anyone in the Pit any more. (I disagree with that rule, btw, but I try to abide by it, tempting as it gets sometimes.) I don’t want to junior-mod here, but I think that if you (and Jackmannii, of course) want to offer a tepid apology before some Mod notices it, and suggest instead something more along the lines that I insert some sharp object up my anal canal or something of the kind, you might save yourselves a warning or Mod note, and of course save the mod from having to issue it. I’m happy to entertain the idea of inserting all sorts of things up there, I’ve been jamming them up there all afternoon, in fact, and would be pleased to accomodate you as well.
Forget the fuck then. I will offer you an even bigger insult: you are coming across as more of an asshole after this storm than Chris Christie. Christie, the crude, rude, graceless jackass who often embodies every awful stereotype people have about NJ.
I have to say, I found the tenor of the coverage relating to SI distasteful at least. Yeah I get it, you need an inspection to re-enter your home and there’s no power. Staten Islanders are in the midst of a giant shitpile but in fact they share that shitpile with many New Yorkers. They simply DON’T have it worse than anyone, ever, or even worse than anyone in New York City. I’m sure they believe that people from Breezy Point are having stacks of money and deeds to homes hand delivered to them by FEMA, but it isn’t true, so while their distress and impatience are both totally understandable, maybe they should kinda climb down off the cross a touch.
No, he’s really a gigantic douche. That doesn’t mean he’s not capable of governing well at times, but in terms of personality he’s pretty much the asshole to end all New Jersey Assholes. Example: When heckled by a woman, goes straight to the blowjob joke. He’s well known for his insulting, crass remarks on all sorts of subjects.