Mayor: I’ll Help Those Who Help City

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The New York Sun

Mayor Bloomberg made clear yesterday that he would blast anyone who casts a vote in Washington against New York City.


Mr. Bloomberg is taking some flack for withdrawing an invitation to lunch at his Upper East Side townhouse made to an Ohio congressman because he voted against an amendment that would have provided more antiterrorism money to New York City.


Rep. Robert Ney, who is also cochairman of the Republican Party’s effort to get incumbents re-election, had been invited to Mr. Bloomberg’s house for lunch on Monday to tap some wealthy donors who were to attend the lunch.


Mr. Ney lost his invite after the mayor found out the congressman had voted against a provision that would have shifted $446 million from a national antiterrorism program to one aimed at high-risk urban targets like New York City.


“I don’t think I’ve been reticent about saying I’m going to help those who help New York City, that’s my job and that’s my interest,” the mayor told reporters in Staten Island yesterday.


“I’ve said repeatedly that what’s happened to the Homeland Security bills are a disgrace they’ve been turned into pork barrel bills. It is certainly my obligation to do everything I can to encourage Congress to help us. I don’t think that I should be sup porting somebody who voted to take away monies that we need to protect us against terrorists.”


Mr. Bloomberg has been saying for months that he would begin holding politicians in Washington accountable for votes that appeared to run counter to the city’s best interests.


Those who come to New York to raise money, he maintains, should be casting votes that help the city.


Mr. Bloomberg had been playing that card behind the scenes, saying he would discourage New Yorkers to support lawmakers who vote against bills that help the city. He has vowed to track votes in Congress and Mr. Ney appears to be the first who has incurred the mayor’s wrath.


“I think that the political ramifications are important and serious and that’s exactly why I did it,” Mr. Bloomberg said yesterday, delighting in his new tough guy image.


“I want everybody to understand, I will encourage everyone in this city to help support those that help support us,” he said. “There is no reason for people to help us if we don’t explain to them why it’s in their interest to help us.”


A spokesman for Mr. Ney accused Mr. Bloomberg of “petty” grandstanding for political advantage.


“It’s unfortunate that instead of really working with the Congress on the war against terrorism, the mayor instead chooses time and again to play these silly press games,” said Mr. Ney’s spokesman, Brian Walsh.


The New York Sun

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