Bloomberg on Quinn's Professional Future
Michael Bloomberg told reporters today that Christine Quinn is not just going to be re-elected "overwhelmingly" by her West Village constituents, but will win another term as speaker of the City Council.
If she's not re-elected to public office, however, Bloomberg said she would have "enormous opportunities" in the private sector.
Bloomberg was speaking to reporters on Fifth Avenue just before the start of the annual Columbus Day Parade, kicking off at 45th Street. He was responding to a question regarding an item in the New York Post today that reported Quinn would be named a deputy mayor in Bloomberg's next administration if she does not win re-election as speaker.
Bloomberg also declined to discuss the details of his negotiations with Quinn on the term limits bill, saying deputy mayor Kevin Sheekey handled most of it.
The mayor also declined to discuss any aspect of his re-election effort, saying the city doesn't need "a thirteen-month campaign."
That's damning with faint praise, Mr. Mayor! Why would he suggest that she has a career in the public sector if he thinks she is going to get re-elected "overwhelmingly"?
I feel really bad for Speaker Quinn. This is just getting worse for her. She had a bright political future as the editorial/civic leadership/reform/responsible development candidate, and now Crain’s New York Business is essentially calling for her removal as Speaker today in their editorial, "Principles, politics, term limits":
“...Nevertheless, Ms. Quinn claims she hasn’t taken a position and is waiting to consult with her members. Sure.
That claim only compounds her error of not taking a stand before the mayor made his decision instead of being an instrument of his will. If she has any lingering aspirations to lead the city, she should forget them…Frankly it might be time for her to step aside as speaker…”
The whole idea was for the Mayor to take the lumps on the term limits extension. It doesn't seem to be working out that way. This is the problem when you don't have independent political advice. As you pointed out in an earlier posting Quinn and the Mayor share the same consultant.
Gee, I thought Quinn already worked for the mayor. No?
But it's good to know that Bloomberg thinks she has a rosy future in the private sector, because she's sure ruining her prospects with voters.
The media should really call this what it is : PIMP POLITICS.
Bloomberg has no idea what he is talking about. I voted for Quinn twice and I will NEVER vote for her again. She is as corrupt as the rest. You have disappointed us so much Christine Quinn.
It's very rare that you see this level of bald and craven political calculation on a fundamental issue by our so-called political leaders.
When it was necessary for her to be in favor of amending term limits in order to win her job as Speaker, Christine Quinn was for the Council overturning the will of the voters. When she thought she could be mayor in 2009, she was against overturning the will of the voters. Now, with her citywide aspirations dashed due to a slush-fund scandal and her best hope of becoming mayor being to hitch herself onto the Bloomberg bandwagon for four more years, she is once again comfortable with ignoring the will of the voters and overturning term limits via Council action. Worse comes to worse, she gets a cushy job in the next Bloomberg administration.
Quinn has, all in all, been a pretty good Speaker. But she has just proven that she is no leader.
Quinn is a hard working and effective leader.
Politics is not easy my friends.
Quinn will win re-election and she will be speaker.
Bloomberg has done as good a job as mayor as any that can be named in modern times. I for one trust his judgment.
While I too am in favor of term limits, I also believe I should have a say if I want to excercise my vote for who I think is the best. Term limits only limits my democracy on saying who I can choose to vote for. How can any good goverment group be in favor of limiting my electoral options?
Shame on them. They are nothing more than high minded educrats who simply wish to tell us what we should like. When you undress it they are as phony as they claim Mayor Bloomberg is.
Of which he is not phony and compared to most other politicians keeps his business dealings as transparent as they get.
I for one will vote for Mike Bloomberg for mayor in 2009.
BTW it makes no sense for folks to say Lauder agreed with Bloomberg because they are each billionaires. No one gets to that point in life without being able to stand up for what they believe in. I am suprised more of the educrats and editorials have not followed up with him more to see if Mike should be allowed a chance at three terms, who is to say no one else.
I propose all city electeds get limited to two, four year terms. Then any other four year term after that comes with an automatic removal referendum for that seat after 2 years. THe voters get an up and down say on the member. THey win, they get their remaining two years and a chance to do it again.
Crazy, yes. I think it would spur the right debate for our government, and bring more voters into the system without the whiny good gov't groups.
How can you say in all good faith, that the Mayor's business dealings are transparent ? He doled out slush money to his favorite Councilmembers like Recchiia & Felder. He wanted to buy the Congestion pricing issue, but that failed. In his "world" money talks & bullshit walks. The people of NYC voted twice for term limits, if Mayor Mike & Ms. Quinn want to overturn the LAW, they have to do it by another vote of the PEOPLE, all of the PEOPLE not 51 plus the Mayor.
Quinn and the Mayor have had a good working relationship over the past three years and the city have benefited from it immensely. She could have reflexively opposed him on everything, but that would only have produced gridlock and I don't think that anyone would sincerely propose that all of the improvements that the city government has had over the past three years are not better than nothing. If term limits are extended to three, I hope that Quinn continues to serve as speaker and keep as much of the petty politics out of the council as possible, despite the members who would have it otherwise.