December 30, 2002

NEW YEAR'S WISHES.

By James Eugene*

Yes, I know it is supposed to be New Year's Resolutions, but when you write a column you get this great thing called a literary license, which allows you to butcher all sorts of things. And besides, not everyone celebrates Christmas and Chanukah.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg - Brownfields legislation passed by the State legislature and signed by the Governor… so he can actually build some of the housing that he is planning.

Speaker Gifford Miller - An end to term limits… so he can actually experience a healthy budget instead of all these deficits.

Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum - Some press, any press… so she can retort my prior column and justify her existence.

Ronnie Lowenstein (who you may ask -- she is the director of the Independent Budget Office) - an acknowledgment from someone in the political world that says "yes, we do read your reports and love them; in fact, we think we will act on them."…. so the IBO can have the illusion of power and legitimacy.

Comptroller Bill Thompson - a workman-like year… so he can just keep building up his credentials as he traverses the City preparing to be the next Mayor (which he is my odds-on favorite to be).

Governor George Pataki - George got all he could wish for in 2002, in 2003 he will face all his worst nightmares as he has to face a huge budget deficit, much of it of his own making for failing to plan ahead and use some of his political capital rather than having to win reelection by 20 percentage points.

The City's restaurants and bars - A huge supply of nicotine patches and straws… so their customers can get their nicotine and oral fixations satisfied while being smokeless.

Attorney General Elliot Spitzer - Spitzer lives in the best of all worlds right now, I don't see how any of my wishes could improve his situation. He is not responsible for the State budget, he hit a jackpot on Wall Street (deservedly so) and he has received massive national exposure. Name me one other State Attorney General that has been on national news shows so much over the past ten years. No, Elliot Spitzer does not need any wishes or advice.

Commissioner of Homeless Services Linda Gibbs - a relaxed low-income housing market… so the homeless family crisis subsides. Come to think of it, I give the same wish to Justice Helene Freedman, Steven Banks and all those homeless families.

Council Member Tony Avella - some more Democratic voters in his district to offset the Republican voters placed in his district by the Redistricting Commission. The Commission placed more Republican voters in there to make Avella's district, which he won by about 500 votes, a "fair fight" district. Gee, a 500-vote margin of victory sounds like a district that is already a fair fight district.

Brooklyn D.A. Joe Hynes - the realization that it is time to retire so some younger fresher blood can take over.

Manhattan D.A. Robert Morgenthau - a long life because no one does it better.

Borough President Virginia Fields - an open position worthy of her quality, brains and grace (before she gets term-limited).

Deputy Mayor Marc Shaw - a police uniform, preferably in black, so he can play the bad cop role even better.

PBA President Patrick Lynch - some common sense… so he can realize that those advertisements he ran made it sound as if he wanted the City to go to hell if the police were cut by attrition. And a further realization that the fact that he played the terrorism card was not appreciated by the general public.

The New York Times - a realization that its reporting on the City sounds… well, tired.

Newsday - a City readership and expanded City coverage. New York Newsday always was the best paper for reporting City news even if it was a Long Island paper.

The Empire Page - more subscriptions so everyone can read the pearls of wisdom from James Eugene.

AND THE BAND PLAYED ON…..

Recently, the Mayor played host to the City Hall press corps at Gracie Mansion. (Yours truly was not invited… (weep) they do not even know my name… then again, neither do you.) What amazes me is that the press was all too eager to go. I hate to be a party pooper, but did anyone ask if it was appropriate to go? I know after eight years of Mayor/Prosecutor, it seemed like a nice change of pace. And I know that many reporters will think that it will not effect their reporting. But I am going to use a phrase that reporters' editorial boards use all too often… "the appearance of impropriety." Reporters are not held in the highest esteem by the public, and partying with a pol in such a setting does not help perception-wise with the public-at-large. Now those who were there will make every excuse in the book on why it was okay. I just hope the next time they write one of those "appearance of impropriety" pieces, they think about their Gracie Mansion party. Some thoughtful discretion might have been wise.

* James Eugene is the pseudonym of a veteran of NYC government affairs. Inside The Big Apple will appear exclusively on the Empire Page. If you want to send tips or column ideas to James Eugene, email them to jameseugene@empirepage.com.