The Issue: Whether the next mayor can balance the city’s budget without giving in to special interests.
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Mayor Bloomberg, Christine Quinn and her faithful councilmembers have refused to deal with next year’s potential $2 billion shortfall, plus up to $7.8 billion in retroactive pay to union members who have been working without contracts (“Other New Yorkers’ Money,” Editorial, June 25).
Just like the Godfather, Don Corleone, Quinn owns virtually all the councilmembers.
They will be rewarded with the 50 percent balance of this year’s lulus, ranging from $4,000 to $29,000 for chairing council committees, along with their share of millions in annual pork-barrel member items.
Change in City Hall can only come with the election of new officials who are independent of municipal labor unions, various liberal special-interest groups and local Democratic Party clubhouses, which currently dominate municipal government.Larry Penner
Great Neck
Out of money? Not a problem. The city will just write more tickets and fines for homeowners, landlords, restaurants and small businesses, and parking and moving violations, and will install more traffic-enforcement cameras and speed cameras.
It will create more medallions for yellow cabs until we have citywide gridlock. Then everyone will get on a bicycle or walk. The city will increase tolls, fees and fines on anything that moves or breathes. It’ll require a meter on everyone’s nose for breathing the air.
The outer boroughs should all secede, and tell them to go stick it.
Mike Mattes
Rockaway