NYC Politics - self interest trumps good governance every time!

"Don't worry about it Mike...I'll take care of it!"

Earlier this year, on January 7, 2009, a bill (Intro # 0907-2009) was introduced at the City Council which would have amended the city’s administrative code to provide a 5 minute period for motorists prior to receiving a “muni-meter” parking violation.

That same day, the bill was referred for consideration to the City Council’s Committee on Transportation which held a hearing on the bill on February 25, 209 after which the bill was “laid over”, meaning it was set aside for action at a future date.

Surprisingly, considering the bill was sponsored by 20 Council Members, the bill is still in limbo with no further action having been taken.

As it turns out Mayor Michael Bloomberg was vehemently opposed to this bill as he could only envision the new law as cutting into parking violations revenue rolling into the city coffers. Obviously he could have simply vetoed it had the council passed the legislation and sent it to his office.

Unfortunately Mayor Mike, realizing that 2009 was an election year, was fully aware that if the council sent him this bill and he vetoed it, he would incur the wrath of city motorists who are already ticketed to death with traffic and parking related violations.

What’s a Mayor to do?

In Bloomberg’s case, it was an easy solution. He turned to the same person he turned to when he wanted the term limits law changed to allow him to run for a 3rd term - Council Speaker Christine Quinn.

Council sources have indicated to the New York Post that Quinn had the bill “laid over” with specific instructions not to act on it until after the recent November 3rd general election here in New York City to avoid Bloomberg having to sign it into law to avoid angering motorists and losing votes.

It’s bad enough that both Bloomberg and Quinn conspired to avoid his having to make a decision on this legislation until after the election so he could veto it without repercussion, but if you examine this issue closely, it gets stranger.

Speaker Quinn, a democrat, endorsed fellow democrat, Comptroller William Thompson for Mayor. If Quinn’s support of Thompson was a truly valid endorsement, why didn’t Quinn forward the bill to Bloomberg (a republican) prior to the election and force him to make a decision?

As usual, political self-interest trumps good governance every time!

Peter J. Mahon