Staten Island Chuck Predicts Spring, Tussles with Bloomberg

Staten Island Chuck proclaimed that spring is coming this morning at the Staten Island Zoo's Groundhog Day festivities. The Staten Island Advance reports that the interaction between Chuck and the mayor was pretty amusing, "Though Mayor Michael Bloomberg tried luring Chuck out of his house with an ear of corn, Chuck snapped at the mayor's hand, grabbed the tasty treat and ran back in. As Bloomberg reached for him, the groundhog tried hiding in the corner before eventually being lifted out." Heh! And phorget Phil: The Pennsylvania groundhog thinks there's six more weeks of winter—he's such a Debbie Downer!

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By Jen Chung in News on February 2, 2009 8:50 AM

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libhomo

I wish the City Council would stand up to Bloomberg like Staten Island Chuck does.

Chuck for Mayor!

Sundolly

What a moron, as if taunting a helpless animal can be construed as amusing. After waking Chuck by blasting into his little hut with a news crew and teasing him with food, the poor critter tried desperately to chase the rude man away. When when the stupid people persisted, he tried to make a run for it, only to be squished by Bloomberg for a photo op.

Looked to me like Chuck saw his shadow at least 20 times after the rude awakening, but this was unacceptable to Bloomberg. He was determined to give the people a message they would prefer, regardless of how he had to torment the animal. Isn't it time we let this ridiculous excuse for a "tradition" go and rely a bit more on our sophisticated weather technology? I'd rather think of a happy groundhog asleep somewhere and wonder if it had seen it's shadow, than to see a crowd gawk while a helpless creature is manipulated.

Is it so impossible to honor the rights of creatures to be born free? Abuse is not entertainment.