Bloomberg's Idling SUVs Routinely Soil the Air

"Leave the engine running, this'll only take an hour." (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

In April, Mayor Bloomberg signed a bill giving New York the toughest laws against vehicular idling; leaving your engine running for more than three minutes is punishable by fines ranging from $220 to $2,000 for repeat offenders. And the limit in a school zone is just one minute. At the bill signing, Bloomberg declared, "Those of us that want to leave a good life for our children, and want to have clean air for us to breathe, and clean water to drink... it's incumbent on us to really carry the fight."

But when Bloomberg said "us," it should have been understood that, as in all things, "us" means "you": The Associated Press just concluded a scathing investigation into the mayor's city-owned SUVs, which whisk him around town and even drive him to the subway. Reporters monitoring the parked vehicles as they waited for the mayor were seen idling at least eight times for periods of 10 minutes to over an hour. Oh, we cannot wait to see Bloomberg's peevish reaction when some disgraceful reporter asks him about this one!

What's even more galling—besides idling engines' serious impact on global warming and asthma—is that the mayor's vehicles don't even need the engine on for radios and heat to function! They do need the engine running for AC, but every time the AP caught the vehicles idling, temperatures were mild and they were parked in the shade. Of course, Bloomberg's SUVs are literally exempt from the anti-idling law because they're considered emergency vehicles. Asked about the "American Idle" expose, Bloombeg spokesman Stu Loesser said, "We're doing our best."

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

By John Del Signore in News on July 23, 2009 11:03 AM

Comments [rss]

xToddrick

The police do this as well. Even if it is allowed for "emergency vehicles", they should only idle when necessary, not because they can. Such situations aren't difficult to figure out.

Also, I don't understand why the three-minute idle law isn't enforced to any degree? The people idling should be ticketed in the same manner as people who illegally park. I see them everywhere and I don't like that they are unnecessarily polluting the air that I'm breathing. It would make the city healthier and wealthier. A win-win situation.

sowhtifithppnsitwll

The list keeps growing.

I HATE BLOOMBERG.

blooming idiot.

Jen S

Bloomie, spare us all the cost and smog - ride Falcor to work!

Reflect

Incumbent mayor. The only time i vote is when i dont want someone to win. Im 29 and will be doing just that.

Matt Joyce

If ever there was a reason to hate bloomberg, it's because his staff left his car running for 10 minutes.

Manitoba

To really save time, Bloomberg needs to perfect the commando-roll move from a moving vehicle.

UpperEastSighed

There's no excuse for this. As someone pointed out, it doesn't take very long to start an engine, so the security excuse is completely bogus. Also, why is he driving an SUV? It's not as though they couldn't make a customized, secure, more eco-friendly sedan for him. He's the mayor of NYC, and he knows that everything he does will be closely scrutinized by the media and the public, so he has a responsibility to consider these issues.

As if I needed another reason to vote for Reverend Billy.

NannyState

That mayor's been idling since Day One.

UnrepentantFenian

Brilliant.

what_a_dick

ugh, Bloomberg is such a dick

GOP

The policies Bloomberg has implemented as Mayor has taken out tons of carbon emissions from the air. Let the man idle his ONE fuckin' SUV. Geez. Besides, do you all really think he's micromanaging his driver and telling him to idle or not idle? Park here, but not there? Take this route, not that route? Please.

Politburo

I agree that he likely isn't personally responsible for the idling.

But you have to admit that it doesn't send the right message.

John Del Signore

I disagree; I hate it when people leave their engines running for no reason, and Bloomberg claims to hate it, too. If I was in charge I'd make damn sure my detail turned their engines off. He just doesn't actually give a shit. And this whole "security" defense is laughable. The drivers are just lazy meatheads too ignorant to grasp the impact of car exhaust.

thefacts

I'm waiting for the story on how 'cyclist' and DOT commish Sadik-Khan pollutes the air constantly with her City town car, while she tells us to walk or take the MTA

whitecastlerock

He should be riding a bicycle to all of his appointments...

hotstepper

bloomBLERG!

valeriob

nothing to see here. move along.

ForrestWhitaker

Everyone must obey King Bloomberg. HE CAN DO NO WRONG.

robdesign13

I'm pretty sure that they keep his car idling because it's a question of security. He's a lot more important than any of us. Get over it.

UnrepentantFenian

Actually the vehicles are not only left running for security reasons, but because there is a ton of electronics in those vehicles that need lots of power. The batteries would be very dead very quick without the vehicle running. As much as I despise King Mike, this is a non issue.

John Del Signore

Where are you getting this? According to AP, the SUVs are equipped with devices enabling heat and radios to run without the engine. And if these other mysterious electronics you mention were actually not capable of running without the engine, you'd think Loesser would be quick to cite that in the mayor's defense.

UnrepentantFenian

Would that magical device allowing equipment to run be the truck's battery? Having been in a couple of the vehicles assigned to Bloomberg's detail I can tell you they need to stay running.

Comic Book Guy

Exquisitely pwnd

jaycjay

"Having been in a couple of the vehicles assigned to Bloomberg's detail I can tell you they need to stay running."

Huh. Apparently Bloomberg hismself doesn't know that, since he has ordered that they stop doing it. What will happen to those poor electronic devices?

echo

It's true, and thank you for bringing that up. It is a matter of security. That doesn't mean anyone has to like the guy, but realize that it really is a matter of security. There may be certain situations that require the vehicle to be left idling. I don't like the guy, but this is such a silly issue to get worked up over.

jaycjay

When he's not in the vehicle, whose "security" is enhanced by leaving it running?

CR

That's why he does it somtimes, but not others. Sorry, but your reasoning doesn't make sense. It doesn't take very long to start a car with an engine that's in good shape, so there's no excuse for it.

ides_of_march

Reminds me of Al Gore telling the peasants they're using too many fossil fuels while he flies around in private jets, limousines and lives in a gigantic mansion with lighted walkways and heated pools.

Bloomberg is just one of many rich and powerful eco-hypocrites.

Rfive

Wow! I agree w/ Ides!

sluggo

"Do as I say, not as I do". Jerk.

stefanieiris

The thing that really drives me crazy about Bloomberg is that he claims to be the "environmental mayor" and yet he snailmail spams me constantly with glossy mailers NOT on recycled paper. I had to write to his website to request an end to this, and to send it back return to sender. It stopped briefly and started up again. I will not vote for him if he continues to hold himself to a different standard.

Outter Burrougher

of all the many reasons not to vote for the man, THAT'S the one you choose?

Bottomless Chips

Never understood why a mayor---even of the biggest city in the US---should wield so much power.

imadick

the power to sign bills from the city council! who knew!

snessnyc

@imadick - actually, NYC has what is called a "strong mayor" form of government. His power goes far beyond merely signing the bills that the Council puts in front of him - it ranges from Executive Orders which need no Council approval to putting forth a budget that the Council must then negotiate with him before they pass a budget that he is willing to sign. He also has veto power over bills and a very large budget of his own to dole out pretty much as he sees fit. If you don't think that the mayor has power, just take a look at how he over-rode the express wishes of the electorate (as in not one but two referenda) and gave himself the ability to run for a third term. Just like that. No public debate, nothing put in front of the voters.