My next mayor is gonna be a dick....

[enders-shadow.livejournal.com]

[EDIT: this is going on the top of this post cause I am unhappy with how the responses have been.
I am interested in your POV on the ideas I cite; do you like them or not like them, why or why not?
I don't understand how the comments have all been about Bloomberg thus far, and aside from 3 jokes, no substantial comment about Weiner or his suggested policies....]

But that's OK. He's gonna be my kind of dick. (insert your own jokes here)

I know that it's heresy to talk about actual policy ideas, but here's a crazy thing: Anthony Weiner has published a pamphlet of 64 ideas he has to improve NYC. This sort of pamphlet is what I want to see from anybody running for office.

Just what the hell are your ideas, anyway?


I'd like to point out, I came across this pamphlet, not because any media source was discussing it (they're all too busy discussing his crotch-shots to talk policy) but by going and looking for Weiner's newly restored twitter feed. He twitters something and links back to his pamphlet. smart guy.

So let me shortly list the ideas he has that I like:

(education)
#2, better pay for teachers who take harder assignments
#8, use kindles instead of textbooks for students
#10, let schools be used after-hours by community groups
(hunger)
#12, eliminate barriers to SNAP
#16, make SNAP worth 50% more when buying fresh produce
(transportation)
#18, cell service in subways
(city vs state)
#25&27, return control of rent guidelines and fees/fines to NYC from Albany
(healthcare)
#29, create a single payer system for NYC
(if that's unaccomplished, #35 make city employees pay small portion to healthcare premiums, seems like a reasonable idea, but with UHC that'd be uncalled for)
(reform/transparency)
#42, digitize city budget
#43, publish all [city] contracts
#46, give city council time to directly question the mayor
(environment)
#54, end prohibition of hybrid taxis [why the hell have/are they prohibited right now??] [EDIT2: so i did a lil digging, seems like the prohibition is on mandating taxis to be hybrids. tis confusing. NYT link on issue
(taxes)
#63, make city taxes more progressive
#64, adjust tax brackets for inflation [apparently feds already do this? news to me, but good to know I suppose]

Let me, to show fairness, list some ideas he has that I dislike:

(safety and crime prevention)
all of em, pretty much
#37-40
expand the COP's program (my POV is that we have enough NYPD officers already)
track sex offenders with GPS (this I am fence-sitting on. not all sex offenders are violent/repeat offenders so it's a broad brush--though sure, the worst of the sex offenders should be monitored, but not all sex offenders are violent rapists)
take more DNA samples from arrestees (not people convicted of crimes, anyone arrested. WTF dick?)
stop tobacco smuggling (maybe cig taxes are just too high?)

(healthcare)
#36, higher premiums from city employees who smoke (wtf? They already pay out the nose in taxes, on each pack of cigs, isn't that why cigs are taxed so high? so now we sin-tax them when they pay for cigs & when they pay for healthcare?)

(education)
#5, effort to preserver Catholic schools (not exactly the sort of education I want to push with city money or efforts, tho I don't wish to eliminate them)


I obviously have some other feelings about some other things he suggests; some I like (and didn't list) and some I don't understand/care about [e.g. I admit lack of familiarity with certain ins and outs of small businesses and city bureaucracy]

That said, the issues I like outweigh the issues I dislike.
His dick shot, well, that was stupid, but I will steal one of Anthony Weiner's very own lines:

“If you make a wrong turn, it [GPS is his referent, but I like to think of it as a metaphor for life -ES] doesn’t shut off, it doesn’t break, it doesn’t yell at you, it just says, ‘Recalculating.’

I calculate that my next mayor is gonna be a dick.
But my kind of dick. Insert jokes freely.

[I am especially interested in fellow NYC residents on this one--who you supporting/supportive of? Foreigners chime in too tho!]

Comments

[badlydrawnjeff.livejournal.com]

Are any of the candidates talking about rolling back Bloomberg's overreach on stop and frisk and "public health?"

[enders-shadow.livejournal.com]

I 99% sure that stop and frisk is discussed during the mayoral debates, yes.
I'm unsure specifically what you mean about public health. Expand?

[sophia-sadek.livejournal.com]

How does Bloomberg's stop and frisk policy compare with that of TSA?

[ddstory.livejournal.com]

Well he sure seems to be well-endowed... with ideas.

[enders-shadow.livejournal.com]

He comes with a great package! of policy.

[korean-guy-01.livejournal.com]

You leaned forward for 0, now do it for Weiner.

[enders-shadow.livejournal.com]

Oh, the peanut gallery is here! Lovely!

[comeonyouspurs.livejournal.com]

[telemann.livejournal.com]

[fizzyland.livejournal.com]

Snipe and run, I see some things never change.

[luvdovz.livejournal.com]

O, hai Steve-O!

[sophia-sadek.livejournal.com]

If Weiner were from Idaho or Maine, we would think of him as a dick-tater.

The kindles for kiddies idea shows a lack of understanding of how children relate to electronics. The machine would get just as lost just as quickly as a #2 pencil.

[enders-shadow.livejournal.com]

I think you misunderstand.

When I was a child attending public schools in NYC, we were given textbooks. If we lost the textbook, our parents would need to pay to replace it. I cannot see why the same system would not work for a kindle; perhaps not for K-5 kids, but 6th graders should be able to handle it just fine.

Is there a reason you think a kindle is different from a textbook in this manner?

[a-new-machine.livejournal.com]

Uh, what? Kids *love* electronics, and cherish the goddamned things. I know several two-year-olds who are, for two year olds, quite responsible with their iPods.

[telemann.livejournal.com]

Sounds like you don't understand children much.

[anfalicious.livejournal.com]

Many schools here have replaced text books with iPads. Some do it badly (give the kid an iPad, don't do anything different), some do it well (replaced ALL books with the iPad, gave the teachers *heaps* of professional development beforehand and a budget to buy and try apps). The latter is awesome. No more "I left my book in my locker/at home". They *don't* lose the iPad as quickly as they do a pencil because it has their games/camera/chatroom on it, things they care about. With the right software in the classroom that hooks them all up to teachers' laptop, they become super powerful (you can write on the digital whiteboard and have it come up on the iPad, you have no idea how good this is for kids who refuse to wear their glasses and autistic kids), you can see what they're doing on their page without getting up (meaning you can snoop for inappropriate work habits without having to stand over shoulders).

I'm not sure if this would all relate to the kindle as well, but I have been completely blown away by the introduction of iPads, I'm a tech-in-the-classroom cynic, but these have really worked; if done right.

[telemann.livejournal.com]

Too bad Jimmy isn't running for mayor ;) (http://www.rentistoodamnhigh.org/) I like his policies. Haha he was in the East Village yesterday.

[enders-shadow.livejournal.com]

I've heard that when you dig around, his position that rent is too damn high basically boils down to "da jooz did it!"

I'll admit to not having dug him much, though of course his soundbyte is an agreeable one (hell, even in one debate, Cuomo said "I agree with him, rent is too damn high" and Cuomo ain't no progressive)

[mindstalk.livejournal.com]

I don't know that much about NYC specific issues, but general urban policies in my ideal world:

removing parking requirements, and make meters 'smart' so they can adjust prices due to demand.

Make it easier to build up and out, and to start businesses whereever... basically scrap zoning, except for noise and smell emission requirements.

Over in Boston I'd pour a lot more money into public transit. More frequent service, new lines, signal pre-emption for the 'light rail'.

I like Medicare for all but I'm not sure city level is a good way of doing it. Social safety nets and free migration don't mix well.

Scrap there being a limited number of taxi medallions, and stop harrassing businesses like Uber or Flightcar. Don't mess with Airbnb either.

Scrap anything like hairdressers needing licensing. There are useful roles for government regulating a market, and then there's anti-competitive rent-seeking, and I think there's way too much of the latter.

"#8, use kindles instead of textbooks for students"

I'm dubious of that. Saves on textbook weight, true. Do kids like reading them? How much do they cost?

[enders-shadow.livejournal.com]

The cost of replacing textbooks with Kindles would definitely be a money saver, as well as the weight saver.

[fizzyland.livejournal.com]

I'm surprised that 'Stop n' Frisk' hasn't been stopped by a judge - not that cops would stop race profiling but legitimizing it sure has created more distrust among non-white people in NYC.

I've only visited NYC - it seemed to have so many weird rules that I don't see in other major cities, not sure why all that is needed.

[telemann.livejournal.com]

I'm curious. I'm from the People's Republic of Virginia, and I didn't notice that honestly when I moved to Brooklyn.

So what are the many weird rules here?

[rimpala.livejournal.com]

Sounds way better then our own Rick Scott that's for sure.

[enders-shadow.livejournal.com]

Isn't he your Gov?
I'm talking bout Mayor, not Gov.

Cuomo is a beast for a different day.
Probably 2016.

[dexeron.livejournal.com]

I know people keep bringing up Bloomberg, but it is somewhat pertinent, insomuch as one wonders if Wiener or any of those he's running against will continue, or rein in, Bloomberg's outrageous stop and frisk policy, or any of the other "I don't care what the science says, I'm going to do whatever the hell I want" initiatives, such as the aforementioned stop-and-frisk, and his stance on medical marijuana. He basically takes mountains of evidence for why his stance is simply based on falsehoods, then ignores it and doubles (or triples) down.

The fact that Bloomberg is not (as yet, as far as I know) endorsing anyone is interesting, because again, while he's on his way out, his policies could be continued by an ideological successor. I don't know what Weiner's attitude is with regards to medical marijuana or stop-and-frisk, but if he diverts from Bloomberg, it shows that he might not be as much of a rabid authoritarian asshole as the current mayor.

---

You listed a bunch of stuff you like from Weiner. I like what I'm seeing too. Some good ideas. Especially:

#16, make SNAP worth 50% more when buying fresh produce

THAT. IS. AMAZING. Yes. That is exactly it. Make healthy foods truly accessable.

It won't fully remedy the issues with food deserts, but what a great forward step.

[enders-shadow.livejournal.com]

Quinn is widely seen as his pick but he won't publicly endorse her cause that might hurt her--least during the democratic primaries. If she wins the primary and the general is a challenge, I'd be surprised if Bloomberg remained above the fray.

And yes, discussing policy differences between the hopeful mayors to be and the mayor-that-is/was is worth discussing, but I'll be damned, if I was just reading the comments, I'm not sure I'd know that this post was about the upcoming mayoral race as opposed to a discussion about the previous mayor.

[mahnmut.livejournal.com]

#2 sounds good, it'd stimulate hard-working teachers.
#8 wouldn't that be too expensive?
#42, 43, 46, I like most of the measures aiming for transparency in the mayor's job.
Can't comment about SNAP, I'm not too familiar with the program.
#63 I need some more clarity what "more progressive" means when referring to taxes.
The DNA samples from everyone sounds too invasive; keeping a DNA database for convicts would be more appropriate.
Hybrid taxis are banned!? Got more info about the reasons?

See? I didn't say a word about Bloomberg. Happier? :-)

[enders-shadow.livejournal.com]

sooooo happy.
thank you!

As for info on the taxi hybrid ban--seems like they aren't actually banned, but they cannot be mandated? (will edit OP, as that is slightly misleading)

"The Taxi and Limousine Commission regulates which vehicle models can be used as yellow taxis, a list that now consists of 12 models, 9 of them hybrids. Any move to enforce environmental standards by restricting the list to hybrids would probably be considered a form of regulation and subject to the same legal challenge.

Asked if the commission might consider that tactic, a spokesman said officials were still considering their options. About 4,300 yellow cabs, one-third of the fleet, are now hybrids" NYT (http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/01/nyregion/01taxi.html)

[policraticus.livejournal.com]

#2, better pay for teachers who take harder assignments

In principle, why not? But schools should be given more flexibility over teacher compensation, generally. Not only harder assignments deserve better pay, but also higher achievement and a host of other factors. Not for nothing, this probably means breaking the holy teacher's union.

#8, use kindles instead of textbooks for students

This is and idea sounds really cool, but that is really dumb. We rely too much on technology as it is. While computers can be a wonderful tool, they are no subsititute for good teaching and basic skills. I confess to being something of a education Luddite.

#10, let schools be used after-hours by community groups

I have no idea why this isn't already being done, frankly. With the usual caveats, it should be the norm.

(hunger)
#12, eliminate barriers to SNAP
#16, make SNAP worth 50% more when buying fresh produce

Not a big fan of expanding SNAP, on principle, but giving a premium to healthier foods seems pretty sensible to me.


(transportation)
#18, cell service in subways

This isn't the City's job. If they want to facilitate whatever company wants to do this, OK, but they should butt out.

(city vs state)
#25&27, return control of rent guidelines and fees/fines to NYC from Albany

Trade one set of incompetent micromanagers for another? Why bother, other than the sheer thrill of adding power to City Hall? Eliminate rent control and return the system to the marketplace.

(healthcare)
#29, create a single payer system for NYC
(if that's unaccomplished, #35 make city employees pay small portion to healthcare premiums, seems like a reasonable idea, but with UHC that'd be uncalled for)

What could possibly go wrong? LOL.

(reform/transparency)
#42, digitize city budget


Sounds good platitude, GIGO applies. Simply digitizing something doesn't ipso facto make it better. It the city budget is still a shitshow, digitizing it will only make it a digitized shitshow.

#43, publish all [city] contracts

Plaitude.

#46, give city council time to directly question the mayor

Platitude.

(environment)
#54, end prohibition of hybrid taxis [why the hell have/are they prohibited right now??]


I see no problem with that. Less regulation the better.

(taxes)
#63, make city taxes more progressive

Platitude.

#64, adjust tax brackets for inflation [apparently feds already do this? news to me, but good to know I suppose]

Platitude.

[enders-shadow.livejournal.com]

What's a platitude about making the city taxes more progressive or doing something that the feds already do? I'm asking that in earnest.

And do you really think local control over city fines (ie. how much a parking ticket costs) should be in the hands of people in Albany and not in NYC? Why on earth.....?
I'm a city resident. If I don't like what my city lawmakers are doin, I can vote against em. I can't vote against the senator from Buffalo that decides how much my parking tickets are!

I'm honestly surprised you have a problem with that. Or were you only arguing against rent-control? [which exists for very damn good reason in NYC] I'm not surprised you dislike UHC for the city.


You may not think they city should be in the business of providing mass transit either, but, uh, they do.
The MTA is definitely something the city deals with, routinely. Why shouldn't the city fight for a change to the cities mass transit system that would bring it up to speed in the 21st century?

[fizzyland.livejournal.com]

Are you still unhappy with the responses?

[enders-shadow.livejournal.com]

They've improved a smidge.
Politicratus has perhaps been most on point in his response; while BDJ is just ideologically hammering away at UHC, saying it's bound to be worse.
As a poor person in NYC, I'm in a much better position than BDJ to say if it could be worse, but he, of course, doesn't listen to anything, so might as well talk to the kitchen table.

But given that there are 64 proposals linked to, it was a lil sad that virtually none of them were discussed for the first 100 comments or so.

[a-new-machine.livejournal.com]

How is he intending to accomplish #25 and 27 as mayor? Unless it's solely seeing the mayoral role as chief lobbyist for the City.

[enders-shadow.livejournal.com]

these are ideas he has, not necessarily ideas he alone will be doing.

presumably anybody who runs for, and wins, the mayorship, will have at least a few allies here and there, no?