Just Asking

This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.

The New York Sun

With less than three weeks until the election, I’m wondering … Are Mayor Bloomberg and Governor Pataki avoiding each other? They haven’t been seen together since the primary a week before the September 13th primary. Perhaps this is because during the election four years ago, Mr. Bloomberg memorably declared himself a liberal while standing next to the self-described “conservative” governor.


Speaking of the governor, did he agree with Mr. Bloomberg’s worries about a subway terror threat earlier this month? State officials knew about the threat for days but Mr. Pataki left for a political trip to California anyway – just hours before the mayor made the threat public. Generally Mr. Pataki relishes being out front on terrorism concerns.


Why is Mr. Bloomberg now showing a meaningful interest in what happens at the World Trade Center site? The mayor spent the last four years deferring to Mr. Pataki’s judgment on downtown issues. But that was before Mr. Pataki nixed the controversial International Freedom Center, an organization some of Mr. Bloomberg’s top aides supported. Now, Mr. Bloomberg is talking for the first time about playing a lead role in Lower Manhattan.


Despite his new interest downtown, does Mayor Bloomberg know which well-known museum might take over the World Trade Center’s museum facilities? State officials are hush-hush about the leading contender, even though – theoretically at least – city officials have to give their okay.


Why is Fernando Ferrer having so much trouble maximizing a message? He finally seemed on the verge of an idea that could gain some traction the other day when he accused Mr. Bloomberg of raising taxes too much. But then he fell silent. When reporters asked which taxes he’d definitely roll back, Mr. Ferrer demurred.


Is Mr. Ferrer really flying blind? Recent campaign finance filings show he hasn’t conducted any polls since the primary. Some Bloomberg supporters suggest outside groups are handling polls, but Mr. Ferrer’s campaign says that’s not true.


Why is anyone volunteering for Mr. Bloomberg? The guy’s worth more than $5 billion, and pays actual campaign staffers quite well – not including the bonuses likely after Election Day. Even with expenditures quickly creeping towards the $100 million mark, the campaign is trying to keep the payroll from exploding. The campaign manager’s sister is a volunteer.


Why are failed Democratic candidates for Manhattan Borough President finding an after-life as sideshows in the race for mayor? Margarita Lopez, Brian Ellner, and Eva Moskowitz combined couldn’t win a headline when they were running. Suddenly they’re in the news as the latest Democrats for Bloomberg. They do help perpetuate the story line that Democrats are backing the mayor. But on their own – as we found out on primary day – they don’t move many votes.


How can Mayor Bloomberg promise a third property tax rebate next year? By his own estimates, the city will face a multi-billion dollar deficit after the election. Those $400 checks add up to a quarter billion dollars, which Mr. Bloomberg might decide the city needs. And even if he does want the rebates, the City Council – which has to sign off on them – could decide to use that cash for city services.


Will the mayor’s endless spending cost him an endorsement from the New York Times? The paper’s editorial board champions the campaign finance system, which the mayor is defying by financing his own campaign. Gifford Miller apparently lost the paper’s endorsement in the Democratic primary over finance questions. We’ll soon find out soon if Mr. Bloomberg’s spending is a deal breaker for the Gray Lady.


Who would Mr. Ferrer pick as a police commissioner? He’s already said Raymond Kelly wouldn’t have the chance to work for a third mayor.


What would be Mayor Bloomberg’s signature issue of his second term? He’s unveiled only a handful of policy proposals during the campaign, and none of them is quite as sweeping as 311, the smoking ban, or taking over schools.


What would be Mr. Ferrer’s signature issue? He hasn’t unveiled any major policy proposals since the primary.


Will the mayor ever unveil his annual report card rating his performance? Over the last few years, he’s produced a report in the fall listing the status of the promises he made during the 2001 campaign. No word on an election year evaluation yet.


Who is playing Fernando Ferrer during the mayor’s debate preparations…and who is playing hizzoner in Mr. Ferrer’s debate preparations?


With Mr. Bloomberg leading in polls by about 30 percentage points, why are his daily schedules heavier than Mr. Ferrer’s? If Mr. Ferrer is using the free time – yesterday he made just one campaign stop in the morning – to raise money, finance filings indicate the time hasn’t been well spent.


Why does Mr. Bloomberg always add an “s” to the word way, as in, “There’s no ways I’ll …”? Reporters have been commenting for years on the extra consonant, but to date no one has asked the mayor if he’s aware of this habit.



Mr. Goldin is a host of NY1’s “Road to City Hall,” which airs weeknights at 7 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.


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