June 17, 2008
Did Governor Paterson Slam Mayor Bloomberg?
Yesterday, the Post ran a cover story suggesting that Governor Paterson bitterly criticized Mayor Bloomberg. Not to Bloomberg's face or anything, but a source provided the Post's Albany bureau chief Fred Dicker with alleged Paterson quotes like "He has the same kind of anger that reminds you of Spitzer" and "It's obvious that Bloomberg has little use for the kind of people who come from Queens and Staten Island."
But in an afternoon press conference, Paterson denied making the remarks, characterized his relationship with Bloomberg as respectful and friendly (if full of disagreements about issues), and refused to demand a retraction, since the article was just based on sources.
Therefore, today the Post has a huge graphic, complete with "BS-o-meter," that accompanies a an article where Fred Dicker stands by his original story--"[Paterson's] denials were made all the more ridiculous by the fact that only a few people know the source for the story - and Paterson is one of them"--and points out "You demand a retraction if you know a story is false, that's why. The governor didn't demand one because he knows the source."
For his part, Mayor Bloomberg says he doesn't believe Paterson said those things.
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How could 100 percent of these long-winded quotes be accurate if they're being recounted by some anonymous (Post) source? I'll believe it when I hear the tape.
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While there are probably some valid reasons to remove OTB, one wonders how much of this push by Bloomie for the sake of further "cleaning up" Manhattan for tourists (and other, higher rent-yielding businesses)...
I also wonder at what point NYC (specifically, Manhattan) becomes a complete caricature of the mythical Gotham. Does this desire to grow tourism and remake the city eventually render the city as impotent and laughable as a Vegas replica of the Pyramids? I do rethink the vision of the City that I voted for when I supported Bloomberg...
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That is classic BS from the Post. They're calling shenanigans on someone calling shenanigans on their crappy ass publication. Come on! That rag is barely worth using as toilet paper.
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Apparently the Post can read minds now.
I don't think there's an ulterior motive to Bloomberg's push against OTB, otherwise he wouldn't have accepted an agreement that keeps OTB open. He thought the old formula was costing the city money. Pretty simple to me.
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Well said, Anna Merkin.
As for Mayor Bling, he also doesn't believe neighborhoods need to be supported, cranes can break, or that a woman by the name of Jane Jacobs ever existed.
Things are nice in Mike's World. At least for Mike.
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In the afternoons, outside Grand Central Terminal, the NY Post is given away. It's free and it's still overpriced.
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I don't care whether Paterson said any of those things or not. It was typically sleazy of the Post to print them, and unusually sleazy to strike back after he understandably denied everything. Whose interests (other than the GOP's, of course) are served by creating bad blood between our two top executives over such petty garbage?
Dicker should be ashamed. But he works for the Post, so that's unlikely.
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Unecessary shit-stirring, trying desperately to manufacture a story. If there is no news just tell us. No news is good news.
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I'd like whoever made the Queens and Staten Island/Buffalo and Oswego statement to come forward and take credit, because they were correct.
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The Mayor really represents a couple of zip codes in the UES. As for the rest, it's everyone for themself.
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Hmmm...who to believe, sleazy politicians or sleazy tabloid reporter?