Results tagged “citycomptrollerbillthompson”

Tomorrow is Election Day—make sure you know where to vote and if you still need help with your choices, Gotham Gazette's Guide For The Last Minute Voter is a good resource—and the big election is the mayoral race between Mayor Michael Bloomberg and City Comptroller William Thompson. Both candidates crammed their weekend full of campaign stops, phone calls, ads, etc., because turnout is the wild card.

extend term limits to three. Second, she wouldn't run, "If term limits are extended to 12 years from 8 years, no, I would not run for mayor." As for other mentioned 2009 hopefuls, City Comptroller Bill Thompson's campaign is still "moving forward" and Representative Anthony Weiner, who narrowly lost the 2005 Democratic primary to Freddy Ferrer, is still interested in running and said there should be a special election for term limits.

Take a good, long look New York: You could be staring into the squinty eyes of your future mayor. (Yes, the white dude on the right.) Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, who describes himself as “somewhat comical” [emphasis added] is on the verge of announcing his candidacy for mayor. Fuhgeddaboutit?

In an announcement that surely pleases voters, State Controller Thomas DiNapoli released a report saying the MTA should think again before raising its fares and tolls. DiNapoli said that the MTA hasn't made enough internal budget cuts yet to warrant an increase in fares and tolls. The proposed increases in fares and tolls is 6.5% in 2008 and another 5% in 2010. With the MTA set to vote on the fare increase in December, DiNapoli's report says the vote is premature because it comes before Governor Spitzer's 2008-09 budget and before the findings of a commission on congestion pricing. The budget and congestion pricing both affect MTA's funding.

While this morning's commute seems better, most mass transit riders are still confused, frustrated and even betrayed by the subway system and other rail service coming to a stand still during the Wednesday morning rush hour. The MTA admitted that the service was not acceptable on many accounts, from the flooding to the fact that the MTA's website was overwhelmed. Then there's also the fact that the MTA was urging people not to take the subways and opt for a bus instead, only for buses to be (A) few and far between and (B) crowded as anything.

Because September 8, 2009 is 776 days away, let's talk the 2009 mayoral race.

• Today on the Gothamist Newsmap: a homicide on Sands St. in Brooklyn, a water rescue off City Island in the Bronx, and a stabbing at 146th St. in Queens.
• The national press is focusing on possible candidates Hillary, Rudy, and Bloomy, and catches on to the obvious fact that has been evident for the last century in politics: the rest of the U.S. hates New Yorkers and especially hates New York City politicians.
• If you haven't heard of Florsheim Shoes, you're not really a New Yorker. The company and the family are back.
• A NJ schools superintendent calls "Yuck!" at two gay boys kissing in a high school yearbook. That is so totally gay.
• John Lennon's sons, Sean and Julian, hug and make up.
• Before we get all worked up about the U.N. and its diplomats, City Comptroller Bill Thompson would like to remind us that there are a lot of companies and organizations that owe the city millions in unpaid taxes, like the Cyclones baseball team, the Mets, Hyatt Hotels, and the National Tennis Center. Pay up deadbeats.
• An FDNY rescue worker swam to a man crying for help as he clung to a the underside of a pier at East 38th St. this morning. #1 request after the near-drowning man was rescued from the chilly East River: "I need water."
• Mike Bloomberg: Populist Mayor or Plutocrat Kingmaker?

Kentile (again!) by Dalton Rooney.

The latest Quinnipiac poll says Mayor Bloomberg is well ahead of his nearest challengers. Bloomberg leads Fernando Ferrer by 13 points, with Bloomby hitting 50% for the first time Gothamist can remember. Additionally, he leads C. Virginia Fields by 15 points (49% to her 34%), Gifford Miller by 16% (49% to 33%) and Anthony Weiner by 21 points (51% to 30%). Being the laggard is giving Weiner opportunity to be the most aggressive in attacking the mayor; however, Ferrer and Fields are the Democratic frontrunners, with Ferrer outpacing Fields. And while Gothamist did hear about some faltering numbers for Bloomberg after the West Side Stadium kerfuffle, the Mayor's approval rating is now 55%, a three year high. Gothamist wonders if those polled have just given up, amidst the Mayor's ad blitz, because every morning when Gothamist wakes up, we hear about how great Mike is during the commercials (which is why the Mute button can be fun!).

Mayor Bloomberg marched with New Paltz mayor, Jason West, yesterday in a Queen St. Patty's Day parade; the Times reports that they didn't speak about the issue, which has become an "irritant" for the mayor lately. City Council Speak Gifford Miller and City Comptroller Bill Thompson, eyeing challenging the mayor on the Democratic ticket in 2005, are demanding the Mayor make his views known.