Back from Israel, Bloomberg Orders Blitz on Potholes

One day he's posing for photo-ops with Middle East war as his backdrop, the next he's filling potholes for photographers in Sheepshead Bay—but according to Mayor Bloomberg, it's all part of the same gig: "That's the mayor's job, filling potholes and showing the flag and trying to support those that help us keep a safer world." Running for re-election happens to be another job requirement, and with a controversial third term within his grasp, we can expect to see Hizzoner doing more press highlighting kitchen table issues like these.

Discussing yesterday's pothole photo op with the Daily News, political consultant Hank Sheinkopf says, "You know it's election time." It's also wintertime, and, all pandering aside, the city is in the midst of a big "pothole blitz." According to the Mayor's office, up to 40 DOT crews fanned out across the five boroughs in the last six weeks have filled 20,805 potholes citywide, with more than 80,000 potholes repaired in the last six months.

You can report a pothole by calling 311, and the city also monitors holes through the SCOUT (Street Conditions Observation Unit) program, a group of inspectors who drive every city street once per month and report conditions. The term-hungry Mayor would also like you to know that paving funding was increased to more than $132 million last year, up from $97 million two years ago, and NYC leads the country in the use of recycled asphalt product (RAP), which diverted 174,000 tons of paving material from landfills last year. Now who's got a baby he can kiss?