New York City schoolchildren looking to study dysfunction and corruption may be in for a disappointment, but Mayor Bloomberg is standing firm against fire-safety violations at the United Nations’ East River headquarters.
Call it a good first step.
As The Post reported yesterday, Hizzoner has sent a strongly worded letter to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon complaining of hundreds of fire-safety violations at the world body’s buildings.
Of the 866 hazards cited in January FDNY inspections, Bloomberg notes, fewer than 20 percent have been fixed – despite Ban’s pledge to address the problem. “If the United Nations does not adhere to these deadlines,” Mike warned, “the city will be forced to [stop] all public-school visits to the United Nations.”
Alas, it’s not a notice of condemnation, but the mayor’s options are limited. Still, he could go a lot further.
A dearth of sprinklers and smoke detectors is hardly the only danger city schoolchildren face in that building: The motley assortment of thugs and despots that gathered for the UN General Assembly in September is long gone, but a host of their lackeys remains.
Here, then, is Mayor Mike’s chance to exercise some real leadership on the world stage. No more student tours, he could insist, until the UN’s comically named Human Rights Council gives the boot to members like Cuba and Saudi Arabia – and gets serious about abuses in countries not named “Israel.”
Or until Russia and China stop blocking all serious Security Council pressure against their odious client states.
The list could go on – but surely the UN would take the hint.
After all, it’s for the children.