Mayor Bloomberg Wants Peaceful Protesters

Oh, the joys of having a billionaire mayor! Mayor Bloomberg realizes that one way to people's heart is through tax-free shopping and discounts, so he's hoping that a city- and NYC Visit-sponsored promotion of discounts will encourage people to protest peacefully. Yes, that's right - the city hopes that by offering various discounts to plays, museums, and products, protestors will be more apt to be docile. Clearly, the City has done the due diligence to realize that protesters will bend to the temptation of 15% at the 79th Street Boat Basin, especially the protesters who are looking for free lodging. Speaking at the press conference, alongside former Mayors Koch, and Dinkins, Mayor Bloomberg mentioned that protesting was a "lawful right," (though he had been implying protest was a privilege) while Michael O'Neal, owner of the Boat Basin and O'Neals, said, "Whether you come to protest or just to be seen as a statement, please bring your credit cards as well as your placards."

The NY Times' Jennifer Steinhauer writes about this ploy in an article dripping with yummy yummy sarcasm:

Law-abiding protesters will be given buttons that bear a fetching rendition of the Statue of Liberty holding a sign that reads, "peaceful political activists." Protesters can present the buttons at places like the Whitney Museum, the Museum of Sex, the Pok�mon Center store and such restaurants as Miss Mamie's Spoonbread Too and Applebee's to save some cash during their stay.

If only the Romanovs had thought of this.

The press release from the City and the NYC Visit site for
New York City Welcomes Peaceful Political Activists. Gothamist suspects political activists would be happy and more apt to be peaceful if they got some space closer to Penn Station or at the Great Lawn.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on August 18, 2004 10:29 AM

Comments [rss]

Rose

The button thing is stupid.

Rose

The button thing is stupid.

Sterling

The buttons actually contain a radioactive isotope so that the Feds can track protesters massing from orbit.

Just kidding.

Howard

What I found particularly interesting about this NYC & Company promotion was comparing the discounts they offer protestors to the discounts offered Republican delegates.

Apparently, protestors like to fuel up before the melee at Applebees (3 on the list) while Republicans go for restaurants named Serafina (5 on the list).

Protestors like sex (They get discounts to the Museum of Sex) but Republicans can only fulfill their animial urges at the American Museum of Natural History.

...and so on.

u

That first sentence should be read in a voice dripping with sarcasm.

u

I know. It's so retarded to try to promote the idea of non-violent protests.

I really don't think the city can "bribe" protesters into being peaceful?

Can't the city just try to promote peaceful protests and give a nice little reward to peaceful protesters without getting dumped on? Do you think it's really so bad that the city would like to reward non-violent protesters?

72

I can't believe the buttons are gone! What a rat race, down to peaceful protesting.

erikka

They'll be too full of awesome blossoms and too sedated from third-rate broadway shows to riot!

This has to be the stupidest idea yet.

Matt

I just called the Midtown NYC Official Visitor Info Center (52nd and 7th) where the pins are available...or rather, WERE available. They are all gone. Guy on the phone said more should be available on Monday afternoon. First those yellow Lance Armstrong bracelets...and now the pins.

I need trinkets dammit!!

Dirk

Mmmm... junk bonds... I wish it were the 80's again...

This whole button thing is so stupid. I wonder how much it's costing the taxpayers to make these damn buttons?

sp

20 years ago, you mean the coke snorting, junk bond stock market, Iran- Contra scandal, Reagan era 80's? What the hell are you talking about?

Christopher

Let's face it--in America everything is about money. There is nothing else but money. Twenty years ago, other things--like principles, morality, mattered. Today, it's only money.

D

The irony here is that it seems like protesters will pour more money into small businesses like restaurants and bodegas than convention-goers will.

Gumby Fresh

What sort of protestor is going to wear a badge saying they'd rather get cheap goods than get into trouble? Is not wearing a badge a sign that you want to break stuff? Assuming city actually thinks people might wear it, the law enforcement possibilities are endless.

S.D.

What amuses me is: A lot of the protesters intend to be completely Peaceful and Law abiding.

While some (hopefully not much) will be violent most that are not "Law abiding" will simply do non-violent sit ins. The assumption that Protesters need an incentive to stay "peaceful" is offensive. IMO, This is an amusing attempt to quell Civil Disobedience by a Mayor who needs a Serious reality check.