Bloomberg Elucidates His Plans for a Second Term

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The New York Sun

Mayor Bloomberg envisions a New York City where the police commissioner calls the shots during transportation emergencies, the mayor wields the power to spur development at ground zero, and the city can authorize as many charter schools as it wishes.


In the past six weeks, the mayor has outlined these and more than 100 other campaign goals related to education, public safety, economic development, and quality of life. Yesterday, holding a commanding lead in public opinion polls just five days before Election Day, Mr. Bloomberg described the New York he says he will create if the voters re-elect him to the city’s top job.


“Here, in this city of opportunity, I had the opportunity to build a better life. I have worked hard and been luckier than I could have ever imagined,” Mr. Bloomberg said, standing in an ornate room at City College. “My mission, my passion is to build a city where everyone has the same chance at success. I want that same opportunity to exist for all New Yorkers. Our city has all the elements to succeed – but our success as a city is not assured. We can move forward or go in a different direction. Those are the stakes in this election.”


The Republican incumbent said his proposals are not “pie in the sky promises that will never happen.” He also said his campaign proposals would not necessitate new taxes, a vow that sets him apart from the Democratic nominee, Fernando Ferrer, who has proposed two major new taxes.


Mr. Bloomberg’s first policy proposal, announced at Grand Central Terminal in late September, would give the Police Department control if disaster strikes at critical transportation infrastructure. Currently, the police can step in only if invited to do so by other police forces, including the MTA and Port Authority police.


As part of the plan, Mr. Bloomberg also proposed alerting New Yorkers about emergencies and disasters with text messages.


After the mayor outlined his security goals, he proceeded to present other campaign proposals once or twice a week, gathering supporters at symbolic locations to describe his plans for education, health care, and job creation.


He outlined three major education initiatives – enhancing and expanding early-childhood education, creating more charter schools, and fixing high schools by launching more small schools and selective schools.


Mr. Bloomberg’s jobs plan proposed creating 250,000 private sector jobs through a number of initiatives to spur development around the city and through the creation of job training programs.


Mr. Bloomberg’s affordable-housing plan, which calls for 165,000 new units by 2013, won praise from housing advocates but criticism from his political opponent, who said the mayor copied his ideas for creating affordable housing. The plans set similar goals, but Mr. Bloomberg’s wouldn’t require new taxes; Mr. Ferrer’s would.


Last week, Mr. Bloomberg outlined his final plans: enrolling more New Yorkers in public health plans and expanding health education programs as well as creating a sweeping program called “Helping Those in Need,” which would aid New York’s neediest.


Yesterday, Mr. Bloomberg vowed not to “play politics or take the easy ways out” when it comes to implementing his proposals and tackling problems that arise.


“I will act, not complain. I will move our city forward, not hold us back,” he said. “I will seek out what’s best, not play politics or take the easy ways out.”


Although Mr. Bloomberg holds a solid 30-point lead in the polls, he said no one should consider the election over.


“In five days, I ask you to take a stand for our future, just like you did four years ago,” he said. “The stakes are high. Our challenge is to keep our city moving forward, and to do that I need your vote. Do not take this election for granted.”


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