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The Department of Sanitation had trucks out early this morning to make the Fifth Avenue path for the St. Patrick's Day Parade clear for marchers - and controversy. Yesterday, Mayor Bloomberg weighed in about the Fire Department's unhappiness over being moved from near the front of the parade to the middle of the pack. Parade organizer John Dunleavy was unhappy about an FDNY delay caused by a banner last year and also said that the firefighters drank too much. On his radio show, the Mayor said, "Usually, I march with the Police Department the whole way. This time, I'll try to march with the Fire Department as much of the whole way as I can. My advice to the guy running the parade is: Look, nothing's perfect. Lighten up! You have rules. Rules are there to be guidelines. Don't enforce 'em at this level."
The Post looks at Dunleavy's biography, which includes working for the MTA as a bus driver and retiring as a superintendent.
The parade starts at Fifth Avenue and 44th Street. It's also broadcast on WNBC 4 beginning at 11AM. Expect many Irish bars to be packed today and revelers from the LepreCon to be out and about. Finally, there's a funny "editorial observer "in the Times asking "How Close is Too Close to Shane MacGowan and the Pogues?"
Photograph by Amauri Aguiar on Flickr
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If the mayor really wanted to support the FDNY, he would have revoked the parade permit and only have the normal DSNY plowing of 5th Avenue instead of the massive clearing effort done yesterday into today. He also should have not marched in the parade today.
That is what I would have done and yes, I am Irish the other 364 days of the year.
I really think the current closed minded Roman Catholic group that runs the parade should be given what is due to it - revoking the permit.
A few moments ago on WNBC, Cardinal Egan was given lip service about how the parade diversity. If it was, Christine Quinn would have been marching. For the record, St. Patrick is not just commemorated by the Roman Catholics, as he is on the Anglican calendar of saints as well.
I can't believe the Mayor would support drunken lewdness and inappropriate behavior.
Did he even listen to the reason WHY the FDNY was moved to the middle of the parade? I would assume a BUSINESSMAN like himself would understand the reasoning.
Was this an actual quote by the Mayor?
"Look, nothing's perfect. Lighten up! You have rules. Rules are there to be guidelines. Don't enforce 'em at this level."
Of course, it was. look at his snide remarks.
And he used the Lighten up excuse, that's almost as classic as "get over it".
If for some reason I am ever apprehended for a quality of life crime, I will be invoking what I now call The Bloomberg Defense:
"Look, nothing's perfect. Lighten up! You have rules. Rules are there to be guidelines. Don't enforce 'em at this level."
The only reason that firefighters are actually pissed is that they won't be the second or third group into the bars on 2nd Ave. after the parade. They might have to wait in line outside with all the other suckers.
Critical Mass riders should throw that quote back at the mayor.
I must point out that the statements and actions of Dunleavy and of the Ancient Order of Hibernians offer dramatic proof of the dangers of excessive alcohol consumption. Can we use the film for a Public Service Announcement?
In recent years, I have noticed a marked reduction in drunken and disorderly paraders and parade fans. It's clear that most Irish-Americans and friends of Ireland have moved into the 21st century. Only the self-proclaimed "leaders" lag in the stone age.
Thanks joe, you beat me to the punch. How's that for hypocritical?