Wednesday, November 28, 2007
People suggested for Bloomberg’s job
LOOKING AHEAD by Wally Dobelis
There should be a way to clone Michael Bloomberg. I have heard that more than once, along with a recital of his faults.
Looking at the list of the Democratic candidates already rallying to take over the Mayoral duties in 2009, one has the premonition of identity agendas, worthy campaign workers as Commissioners, payroll and city funds directed to repay for party and contributor loyalty, a restructure and politization of appointed jobs with scant regard to merit, and all those things that an establishment bestows on its trusted front people, reward-worthy district leaders and their substructures. Campaign fund contributors will be granted their wishes. Internecine warfare among the expected huge field of Democratic candidates will, as customarily, take a huge toll in the credibility of the eventual emerging contender. The usual mess.
At least four all-but-announced dandidates lead the field, collecting contributions and supporters. All of them already have campaign fund caches from $1 M to $3+M, Christine Quinn and Adolfo Carrion at the low and William Thompson at the high end, with Anthony Weiner in the middle.
Christine Quinn, 41, is the first openly gay City Council President, elected by her fellow council members to the 2nd most powerful position in NYC. She started in NYC politics by managing the 1991 3rd Councilmanic District campaign of Thomas I. Duane, and became his Chief of Staff, five years later moving over to be the Executive Director of the NYC Anti-Violence Project and a member in Giuliani’s NYC Police/Community Relations Task Force. In 1999, when Duane was elected to the NYS Senate, she successfully ran for his 3rd CCD seat. As the only woman candidate and the only gay representative in the race, she has advantages.
William Thompson is seen as a good NYC Comptroller, but has low visibility, despite a long career. His connections to the former Brooklyn Democratic boss Clarence Norman may be a disadvantage.
Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion succeeded Fernando Ferrer in 2005. An urban planner who has worked on improving the Bronx economically, he has announced his ambitions early. Has much energy, Hispanic and some Catholic backing.
Brooklyn Congressman Anthony Weiner made a run for Mayor in 2005, and wisely conceded to Fernando Ferrer. He is associated with Senator Schumer.
The less visible “probables” include John Catsimatidis, CEO of Gristedes, who has announced his interest. He’s not likely to be too popular, having closed 39 supermarkets in the past 10 years. He explains that increasing rents are driving NYC grocers out of business, and his other chain, Red Apple, is surviving because of oil and real estate investments. Memories of D’Ag!
Raymond Kelly, Commissioner of Police, NYPD, would be an instant major contender, but has not made the necessary noises. An ex-Marine serving in Vietnam (he retired from the Reserves as a full Colonel), with two law degrees and a Masters in Public Administration from Harvard’s Kennedy School, he has 33 years with the NYPD in all positions, including the 1992-94 and current 2003-continuing terms as Commissioner of Police. He has also been 1st Deputy Commissioner in Houston, Undersecretary of Treasury, for enforcement (1995-98, in charge of Customs, Secret Service and the Bureau of ATF), Director of International Police Monitors in Haiti, and the Vice President of Interpol, for the Americas. He did turn down an offer to head the FBI once, in 1993, after the first terrorist attack on the World Trade Center, and may feel the same way about the Majorality
Marty Markowitz, BP of Brooklyn, advocate of Atlantic Yards, does not reverberate much in T&V Country.
Maybe we should look at some other rich men who might have a civic duty urge, maybe carry an environmentalist gene, feel a need for fame other than that of aggregating major bucks, and nurse a feeling for this city and the thought that they might help it regain its position in the world.
I am thinking of such as Bruce Wasserstein, ex-Wasserstein Perella, who collected a billion plus from Deutsche Bank from the sale of his firm, and now is the second biggest shareholder in the Lazard Group, after Michel David-Weill.
Then there is Stephen Schwartzman, supporter of the arts, whose Blackstone firm went public with a bang, Henry Kravis, another arts lover, and George Soros, let’s be careful now, who might be too much of a public figure to have his neutrality accepted. Maybe Richard Parsons, soon-to-leave as CEO of money-loser Time Warner, not quite the super-rich tycoon, who will likely get tagged with losses on AOL merger and high consumer fees charged by the cable company. Maybe Mort Zuckerman, Leonard Lauder, Preston Tish – who knows!
And then there is Tom Golisano, always a gubernatorial candidate, with Buffalo connections. He may want to change to a warmer climate.Some of these men are not the paragons of civic interest and altruism that we need, but feel free send me more potential candidates' names, let's examine them. They'll optimally have to turn Republican, to avoid the internecine warfare that destroys the Democratic candidates, but that's life. Paris is worth a mass, said the Protestant prince, Henry of Navarre, when he changed his faith to accept the French crown.
There should be a way to clone Michael Bloomberg. I have heard that more than once, along with a recital of his faults.
Looking at the list of the Democratic candidates already rallying to take over the Mayoral duties in 2009, one has the premonition of identity agendas, worthy campaign workers as Commissioners, payroll and city funds directed to repay for party and contributor loyalty, a restructure and politization of appointed jobs with scant regard to merit, and all those things that an establishment bestows on its trusted front people, reward-worthy district leaders and their substructures. Campaign fund contributors will be granted their wishes. Internecine warfare among the expected huge field of Democratic candidates will, as customarily, take a huge toll in the credibility of the eventual emerging contender. The usual mess.
At least four all-but-announced dandidates lead the field, collecting contributions and supporters. All of them already have campaign fund caches from $1 M to $3+M, Christine Quinn and Adolfo Carrion at the low and William Thompson at the high end, with Anthony Weiner in the middle.
Christine Quinn, 41, is the first openly gay City Council President, elected by her fellow council members to the 2nd most powerful position in NYC. She started in NYC politics by managing the 1991 3rd Councilmanic District campaign of Thomas I. Duane, and became his Chief of Staff, five years later moving over to be the Executive Director of the NYC Anti-Violence Project and a member in Giuliani’s NYC Police/Community Relations Task Force. In 1999, when Duane was elected to the NYS Senate, she successfully ran for his 3rd CCD seat. As the only woman candidate and the only gay representative in the race, she has advantages.
William Thompson is seen as a good NYC Comptroller, but has low visibility, despite a long career. His connections to the former Brooklyn Democratic boss Clarence Norman may be a disadvantage.
Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion succeeded Fernando Ferrer in 2005. An urban planner who has worked on improving the Bronx economically, he has announced his ambitions early. Has much energy, Hispanic and some Catholic backing.
Brooklyn Congressman Anthony Weiner made a run for Mayor in 2005, and wisely conceded to Fernando Ferrer. He is associated with Senator Schumer.
The less visible “probables” include John Catsimatidis, CEO of Gristedes, who has announced his interest. He’s not likely to be too popular, having closed 39 supermarkets in the past 10 years. He explains that increasing rents are driving NYC grocers out of business, and his other chain, Red Apple, is surviving because of oil and real estate investments. Memories of D’Ag!
Raymond Kelly, Commissioner of Police, NYPD, would be an instant major contender, but has not made the necessary noises. An ex-Marine serving in Vietnam (he retired from the Reserves as a full Colonel), with two law degrees and a Masters in Public Administration from Harvard’s Kennedy School, he has 33 years with the NYPD in all positions, including the 1992-94 and current 2003-continuing terms as Commissioner of Police. He has also been 1st Deputy Commissioner in Houston, Undersecretary of Treasury, for enforcement (1995-98, in charge of Customs, Secret Service and the Bureau of ATF), Director of International Police Monitors in Haiti, and the Vice President of Interpol, for the Americas. He did turn down an offer to head the FBI once, in 1993, after the first terrorist attack on the World Trade Center, and may feel the same way about the Majorality
Marty Markowitz, BP of Brooklyn, advocate of Atlantic Yards, does not reverberate much in T&V Country.
Maybe we should look at some other rich men who might have a civic duty urge, maybe carry an environmentalist gene, feel a need for fame other than that of aggregating major bucks, and nurse a feeling for this city and the thought that they might help it regain its position in the world.
I am thinking of such as Bruce Wasserstein, ex-Wasserstein Perella, who collected a billion plus from Deutsche Bank from the sale of his firm, and now is the second biggest shareholder in the Lazard Group, after Michel David-Weill.
Then there is Stephen Schwartzman, supporter of the arts, whose Blackstone firm went public with a bang, Henry Kravis, another arts lover, and George Soros, let’s be careful now, who might be too much of a public figure to have his neutrality accepted. Maybe Richard Parsons, soon-to-leave as CEO of money-loser Time Warner, not quite the super-rich tycoon, who will likely get tagged with losses on AOL merger and high consumer fees charged by the cable company. Maybe Mort Zuckerman, Leonard Lauder, Preston Tish – who knows!
And then there is Tom Golisano, always a gubernatorial candidate, with Buffalo connections. He may want to change to a warmer climate.Some of these men are not the paragons of civic interest and altruism that we need, but feel free send me more potential candidates' names, let's examine them. They'll optimally have to turn Republican, to avoid the internecine warfare that destroys the Democratic candidates, but that's life. Paris is worth a mass, said the Protestant prince, Henry of Navarre, when he changed his faith to accept the French crown.
# posted by Wally Dobelis @ 2:08 AM 
