My understanding is that if you have a net favorable rating (more positive than negative), you’re doing well. Do you have a particular cite that demonstrates another view, or is this just something you’re personally very confident of?
I think I know just what course changes you’d suggest, and they’re not the ones that got him elected.
They are the ones that got Giuliani and Bloomberg elected five times. The public wasn’t tired of those policies, they just didn’t have an adequate candidate who represented those policies.
Aside from your assurances that de Blasio wouldn’t change the most important ones.
Sure they did. Her name was Christine Quinn, and de Blasio trounced her in the primaries. Linking her to Bloomberg was an explicit part of his strategy, and so was arguing that Bloomberg and Quinn were overly focused on small issues and weren’t responsive to the day-to-day needs of a lot of New Yorkers. This was not a small thing during the campaign, adaher.
Okay, I can see that. But that’s an issue of emphasis. Giuliani and Bloomberg did some good things, but De Blasio’s case was that they neglected some other things important to New Yorkers. Now, has he started work on addressing those issues? Or is he more concerned with carriage riding and catering to teachers’ unions?
While the carriage horse thing isn’t exactly the most pressing issue facing the city, it’s worth pointing out that he specifically campaigned on this. It’s an issue that’s been getting more attention lately and not something he sprung on anybody, although he probably didn’t count on the amount of resistance he’d get. But he’s also emphasized the need for affordable housing and he’s had at least one success on that score.
Head of the police union says New York is returning to the bad old days. De Blasio accuses him of “fearmongering”.
That’s not surprising. De Blasio doesn’t have the best relationship with the police unions, and right now, the Sergeant’s Benevolent Association (which is the union who’s head made the comments) is engaged in fairly contentious contract negotiations with the city. They want a salary increase, and De Blasio’s trying to get them to agree to a pay freeze. It’s probably heading to arbitration.
The stats back up de Blasio too. the crime rate is still dropping.
This thread was revived on a tangent not related to elections. The continued discussion has been moved to Great Debates as NYC murder up this year, union in fight with mayor blames mayor