Bloomberg: What the hell is his problem?

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So I'm watching the news and see this one ad, the anti-smoking ad, for the millionth time. It's got all these cute bubbly waitresses going around, talking about how they promise they won't fuck up your order if you don't smoke in their restaurant and you agree with the smoking ban. A referendum which is not up for popular vote, I add.

This ad has been bookended by stories about the MTA strike (non-NYers: our public transit is all threatening to go on strike starting this weekend if they don't get raises) and a story about how they're going to shut down firehouses in the city because there is no money.

That ad is paid for by the government. As is all the tourism ads that seem to be exclusively shown in NY state.

So we have money for that but not for firehouses and public transit? What the hell?

― Ally (mlescaut), Tuesday, 10 December 2002 03:39 (10 years ago) Permalink

what do you expect for electing a greedy rich boy to office.

― Mike Hanle y (mike), Tuesday, 10 December 2002 03:44 (10 years ago) Permalink

I didn't vote for him! He's obviously insane!

― Ally (mlescaut), Tuesday, 10 December 2002 03:50 (10 years ago) Permalink

From what I have read about Bloomberg, smoking seems like his personal vendetta. He's an ex-smoker, and they are usually the ones who get so annoyingly evangelistic about the evils of smoking. He should do it on his own dime if he's that obsessed with it.

Still, they can't be as repulsive and off-putting as "The Truth" ads -- they usually make me want to take up smoking for a minute or so, if those are the kind of self-righteous assholes who are that upset by smoking.

― Nicole (Nicole), Tuesday, 10 December 2002 04:03 (10 years ago) Permalink

WHat was the deal with Gulianni anyways? Was he good? I heard he reduced crime, and of course he was sainted during the post 9-11 days, but what else did he do? I dont say that criticizingly, I really dont know much about his term.

― Mike Hanle y (mike), Tuesday, 10 December 2002 04:20 (10 years ago) Permalink

He wore women's clothing.

― Ally (mlescaut), Tuesday, 10 December 2002 04:34 (10 years ago) Permalink

Did he hang around in bars?

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 10 December 2002 04:47 (10 years ago) Permalink

He stood next to Joe Torre

― James Blount (James Blount), Tuesday, 10 December 2002 04:51 (10 years ago) Permalink

They just passed a smoking ban in Florida this election. All restaurants and bars except for 'stand up only, no food bars' are required to remove their smoking sections. I understand the reasoning behind it, but doesn't it seem a bit overbearing? I mean, it's anyone's choice to smoke, right? And then you get the "I have asthma and smoking in restaurants is bad for my lungs" commercials...well no shit...go to another restaurant..i mean I'm sorry you can't breathe and everything, but go somewhere else....if you don't liek it here, nobody's keeping you here...just like nobody's telling me I have to smoke...

― B, Tuesday, 10 December 2002 04:59 (10 years ago) Permalink

Oh god, I had completely forgotten about Giuliani in drag.

― rosemary (rosemary), Tuesday, 10 December 2002 05:01 (10 years ago) Permalink

b - staff can't really go elsewhere.

― minna (minna), Tuesday, 10 December 2002 05:25 (10 years ago) Permalink

Why not? The Union say they have to work there?

― B, Tuesday, 10 December 2002 05:27 (10 years ago) Permalink

finding a new job is much harder than going outside for a cigarette!

― minna (minna), Tuesday, 10 December 2002 05:53 (10 years ago) Permalink

I hate non-smokers. Anybody who's that anal about wanting to increase their life expectancy is just being narcissistic.

― dave q, Tuesday, 10 December 2002 06:54 (10 years ago) Permalink

kick that bum Bloomberg out NOW!

― Paul (scifisoul), Tuesday, 10 December 2002 17:11 (10 years ago) Permalink

Listen, I personally don't have issue with banning smoking in restaurants (it seems most already have anyhow?) and even those dodgy bar/restaurants you see so much in the city (and at Red Lobster) - but a regular no holds barred bar or club? Surely when you apply for a job there you no what you're getting into? It's like being an AA member in recovery and then becoming a bartender and being pissed at serving alcohol.

For what it's worth, most barmaids I know don't support the potential bars-included ban in NYC, because more customers nipping outside for a smoke = less customers inside tipping the barmaids.

― Ally (mlescaut), Wednesday, 11 December 2002 06:26 (10 years ago) Permalink

I must say, I really really really don't like smoking (I've never done it myself for a reason) but, uh, isn't that why bars were invented? So you could go out and smoke and drink and be bad until 9 in the morning? Hello!

― M Matos (M Matos), Wednesday, 11 December 2002 06:37 (10 years ago) Permalink

also, Bloomberg is a fucking scumbag for his recycling-suspension alone; for this he oughta be flogged (and I'm anti-smoking!)

― M Matos (M Matos), Wednesday, 11 December 2002 06:37 (10 years ago) Permalink

What about farting in restaurants? Its about time something was done. or "loudtalking".

― Mike Hanle y (mike), Wednesday, 11 December 2002 06:39 (10 years ago) Permalink

I don't smoke either, and i don't particularly liek being around it, but a government ban as opposed to an individual restaurant decision is too impeding in my opinion.

― B, Wednesday, 11 December 2002 06:43 (10 years ago) Permalink

local governments can most definitely regulate (or ban outright) cigarette smoking ... it's a longstanding constitutional law doctrine that states and municipalities are free to regulate for the "health, safety, and welfare" of those under their jurisdiction unless such regulation violates some fundamental right. and i don't think anyone would get very far in any court by claiming that banning cigarette smoking in restaurants is an unconstitutional violation of a fundamental right.

(not saying that i like this regulation myself ... since i smoke like a chimney ... but it's probably constitutional)

― Tadeusz Dershowitz, Esq. (llamasfur), Wednesday, 11 December 2002 06:51 (10 years ago) Permalink

i should have said "regulate (or ban outright) cigarette smoking in public places and probably restaurants."

but hey, i was too stupid to go to Columbia Law or Harvard Law, so cut me some slack ;-p

― Tad (llamasfur), Wednesday, 11 December 2002 06:54 (10 years ago) Permalink

I think that because a restaurant is a private institution esentially, it does violate a fundamental right of that establishment by regulating it's policies within. A police officer can't declare fault, or even respond in some cases, to an accident on private property....why should another function of that same government be able to regulatethe practices onthat same property?

― B, Wednesday, 11 December 2002 06:56 (10 years ago) Permalink

states and municipalities already do regulate policies within restaurants and other private institutions -- through fire codes, environmental codes, health and safety violations, etc. and there are different legal standards governing how the police can constitutionally enter one's private property and how health and safety inspectors can enter one's private property (even in this Rehnquist Court world).

― Tad (llamasfur), Wednesday, 11 December 2002 07:03 (10 years ago) Permalink

Oh Iknow, but where do they draw the line? Regulating building and fire codes ensures the safety of those around, which is just as well...but smoking only concerns those inside, which I believe is over the line...if we allow smoking to fall under the same categories as fire and building codes, then it could also be regulated in a personal dwelling...

― B, Wednesday, 11 December 2002 07:23 (10 years ago) Permalink

(Giuliani getting credit for lowering crime rates is suspect: The city was in a serious economic boom, thus lots of jobs = no crime, fewer homeless, etc., etc. Obviously post 9-11 he was breathtaking... This will sound corny, but I felt much calmer after watching his press conferences in that wood-paneled room... But overall he's still a suckah!)

― Yanc3y (ystrickler), Wednesday, 11 December 2002 16:21 (10 years ago) Permalink

Yeah, but he was a suckah with a personality, which gets you a long way. Bloomberg has no personality besides strangely paperesque. And obv. insane.

I mean obviously being a song and dance fancy boy like Giuliani doesn't mean you're going to be a good mayor at all but it certainly is more entertaining.

i got the flu.

― Ally (mlescaut), Wednesday, 11 December 2002 20:22 (10 years ago) Permalink

Bloomberg is also 5'2" or something. I've met him twice (when I say met I mean he shook my hand for whatever reason) and he is astonishingly short. Who knows how many Manhattan phonebooks he's standing on behind those podiums.

Most uncomfortable Bloomie moment: When the NFL had the season kickoff party in Times Square and Bloomie went out to the drunk crowd, who had just been grooving to Bon Jovi, to rile them up more. He was stiffer than [penis joke] in a [penis joke]!

(I'm sick too. My girlfriend's got it way bad, though.)

― Yanc3y (ystrickler), Wednesday, 11 December 2002 20:26 (10 years ago) Permalink

don't you all go and forget "Sensation" that stank.

― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Wednesday, 11 December 2002 20:28 (10 years ago) Permalink

Giuliani had an extremely confrontational and dictatorial style that works well with people in the Police Dept but doesn't work so well in the spaghetti of city agencies and constituencies that any NY mayor has to placate and deal with on a weekly basis. He refused to play ball unless there was something in it for him (i.e. demonstrable votes or other more immediate civic powers). He would just announce things, bypassing consultations with groups that traditionally were included in policy discussions.

From what I hear Bloomberg's not nearly as confrontational and abrasive but he's actually worse about including people - poss due to his experience as CEO, where you don't generally poll the janitors or whatever before making a big change. At least with Giuliani you knew where you stood - in the rain, usually, getting beaten by cops.

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Wednesday, 11 December 2002 21:02 (10 years ago) Permalink

Manon Lescault has got the flu!

― nabisco (nabisco), Wednesday, 11 December 2002 21:31 (10 years ago) Permalink

Pardon me, that's "Lescaut."

― des grieux (nabisco), Wednesday, 11 December 2002 21:33 (10 years ago) Permalink

Other Giuliani achievements: fining clubs for allowing patrons to dance and promising to prosecute people who set off firecrackers on Chinese New Year

I think it's safe to say that the man hates fun

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Wednesday, 11 December 2002 21:35 (10 years ago) Permalink

= GREATEST MAYOR EVER IN HISTORY! I never thought of him that way but that's exactly how I'd do things to, I'd be all like, fuck you all, I don't care what you gotta say, I pity the fool who thinks I care what you gotta say, then I'd be all doing things.

Except I wouldn't ban dancing, that's silly. The man can't hate fun though - the drag!

Manon Lescaut is officially a book for assholes, stop talking about it.

― Ally (mlescaut), Wednesday, 11 December 2002 23:10 (10 years ago) Permalink

1 year passes...

I'm a fan of Bloomberg. Why? 311 was a good idea. He's Laissez Faire. And I support the banning of car alarms and the ticketing for noisy dogs.

― Ghostface Threadkillah (calstars), Wednesday, 16 June 2004 02:31 (8 years ago) Permalink

if ally were mayor, she'd be a female giuliani. would she dress up as a dude on saturday night live, though?

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Wednesday, 16 June 2004 02:39 (8 years ago) Permalink

I would immediately enact a law against me doing or saying anything while having the flu.

― Allyzay, Wednesday, 16 June 2004 02:41 (8 years ago) Permalink

made-up quotes attributed to john stuart mill (shit, throw in david hume too!) would be carved onto city hall's walls.

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Wednesday, 16 June 2004 02:55 (8 years ago) Permalink

I was half-expecting this revive to be courtesy of the Pinefox.

― Leeefuse 73 (Leee), Wednesday, 16 June 2004 05:11 (8 years ago) Permalink

there's something about bloomberg i actually like. perhaps his lack of "folksiness"--a disease that seems to plague all politicians these days, whether they come to it naturally or at the urgings of consultants.

what is manon lescaut?

― amateur!st (amateurist), Wednesday, 16 June 2004 05:33 (8 years ago) Permalink

A reference to Ally's email address. It is also a novel and an opera.

― tokyo rosemary (rosemary), Wednesday, 16 June 2004 11:32 (8 years ago) Permalink

I 'm with amateur!st -- I sorta like that Bloomberg doesn't mind taking a few shots to get what he wants to do done. Whether you like his smoking ban, recycling cutbacks (restored), tax increases (rolled back), etc. or not, at least he's had the political will to see them through. He's had a tough act to follow, picking up where the deified Giuliani left off, and I think he's been smart not to try to fill those shoes.

― rasheed wallace (rasheed wallace), Wednesday, 16 June 2004 13:19 (8 years ago) Permalink

311 was a good idea.

yeah, altho he didn't think of it. Chicago had a 311 line at least 2 years before NYC.

Bloomberg sucks because he hates ice cream and puppies.

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 16 June 2004 13:25 (8 years ago) Permalink

4 years pass...

― \\\\\\\\YES//////// (ice crӕm), Tuesday, 30 September 2008 18:55 (4 years ago) Permalink

― Mackro Mackro, Tuesday, 30 September 2008 19:12 (4 years ago) Permalink

― velko, Tuesday, 30 September 2008 19:47 (4 years ago) Permalink

not saying i'll vote for him (not saying i won't either), but term limits suck

― gabbneb, Tuesday, 30 September 2008 20:24 (4 years ago) Permalink

yah theyre completely undemocratic

― \\\\\\\\YES//////// (ice crӕm), Tuesday, 30 September 2008 20:25 (4 years ago) Permalink

if i didn't think so, i might have more of a problem with his making a push as a sitting mayor in a 'crisis' context

― gabbneb, Tuesday, 30 September 2008 20:25 (4 years ago) Permalink

would i feel the same if we still had giuliani? uhhh.

― gabbneb, Tuesday, 30 September 2008 20:27 (4 years ago) Permalink

Skipping 297 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

this kinda (very soft) health paternalism is pretty uncontroversial in countries where they accept that there's a social responsibility for health care provision / that maybe free market capitalism won't result in optimal decision making 100% of the time.

― iatee, Wednesday, 25 July 2012 19:44 (9 months ago) Permalink

I'm all for ppl being healthier, but not nanny statism

― Pangborn to be Wilde (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 25 July 2012 19:45 (9 months ago) Permalink

democratic socialism inevitably requires something of a 'nanny state'. universal health care is nannystatism.

― iatee, Wednesday, 25 July 2012 19:50 (9 months ago) Permalink

i feel a lot more comfortable having huge private for-profit beverage corporations dictate the conditions of my soda consumption than representatives of elected government

― max, Wednesday, 25 July 2012 19:52 (9 months ago) Permalink

I know there's irony somewhere in there, max

― Pangborn to be Wilde (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 25 July 2012 19:53 (9 months ago) Permalink

no way, what is freedom if not making sure that multinational businesses always have more influence than the state

― max, Wednesday, 25 July 2012 19:54 (9 months ago) Permalink

I think what Morbs meant to say is that we don't really care until it affects our alcohol-consuming convenience. Or that could just be me.

― check the name, no caps, boom, i'm (Laurel), Wednesday, 25 July 2012 19:55 (9 months ago) Permalink

as long as mikedolf bloomler stays away from the booze, i'm good with his health agenda.

― Spectrum, Wednesday, 25 July 2012 20:16 (9 months ago) Permalink

1 month passes...

oh, missed the last revive. anyway this is pretty much otm and echoes one of max's points: http://www.newyorker.com/talk/financial/2012/08/13/120813ta_talk_surowiecki

― k3vin k., Monday, 3 September 2012 19:03 (8 months ago) Permalink

I've been turning this over in my mind for a while, and I just can't help but think there is something deeply wrong with the new campaign to convince mothers to breastfeed, like there's something sick about it. I don't know if I can entirely justify this opinion, other than the fact that I'm a new father and see what a sensitive and difficult issue it is already.

― look at this quarterstaff (Hurting 2), Monday, 10 September 2012 02:36 (8 months ago) Permalink

Thanks to the revive, catching up on this thread's back catalog as a recent New York arrival. Holy shit did I LOL over the great "get away from windows during a hurricane" uproar.

― Doctor Casino, Monday, 10 September 2012 02:56 (8 months ago) Permalink

i do like the idea of windowless rooms being the mark of the high class

― J0rdan S., Saturday, August 27, 2011 1:42 PM Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

"i finally knew i had made it when i could sit in a dark, small, windowless room during a tropical storm"

― J0rdan S., Saturday, August 27, 2011 1:43 PM Bookmark

― Doctor Casino, Monday, 10 September 2012 02:57 (8 months ago) Permalink

saw this ad:

plastered on the side of a pepsi truck today

fight the power

― iatee, Thursday, 13 September 2012 13:32 (8 months ago) Permalink

straight from the NYT homepage:

New York City Approves Ban on Large Sugary Drinks
By MICHAEL M. GRYNBAUM 29 minutes ago
The measure, which bars the sale of sweetened drinks larger than 16 ounces, will take effect in six months unless blocked by a judge.

Panel Decides to Regulate a Circumcision Ritual 2:27 PM ET

― kizz my hairy irish azz (Dr Morbius), Thursday, 13 September 2012 20:13 (8 months ago) Permalink

read that article morbs

― la goonies (k3vin k.), Thursday, 13 September 2012 20:15 (8 months ago) Permalink

saw this ad:

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7106/7740341158_f6e34f75fa_m.jpg

plastered on the side of a pepsi truck today

fight the power

― iatee, Thursday, September 13, 2012 9:32 AM (6 hours ago)

amazing

― la goonies (k3vin k.), Thursday, 13 September 2012 20:15 (8 months ago) Permalink

I haven't seen the specific campaign you're referring to, but as someone who also recently became a father, there is definitely a lot of pro-breastfeeding information presented to you by health authorities and others that you encounter on the road to parenthood. I don't think it was too over the top though I'm sure it annoyed some people. My wife and I intended to breastfeed though for various reasons things didn't work out that way.

― o. nate, Thursday, 13 September 2012 21:23 (8 months ago) Permalink

xp I saw that sign in spanish, which somehow made it seem even more effective/ridiculous as faux-revolutionary propaganda

― look at this quarterstaff (Hurting 2), Thursday, 13 September 2012 21:27 (8 months ago) Permalink

is there a thread in which we fight for our beverage choice

― dayo, Thursday, 13 September 2012 21:36 (8 months ago) Permalink

brb patenting a hat that holds 4 16 oz. cocaine colars

― skrill xx (cozen), Thursday, 13 September 2012 21:49 (8 months ago) Permalink

is there a thread in which we fight for our beverage choice

― dayo, Thursday, September 13, 2012 5:36 PM (22 minutes ago)

this one?

― la goonies (k3vin k.), Thursday, 13 September 2012 21:59 (8 months ago) Permalink

lol

― goole, Friday, 14 September 2012 04:01 (8 months ago) Permalink

2 months pass...

― iatee, Monday, 19 November 2012 14:12 (6 months ago) Permalink

LOS BUROCRATAS

― iatee, Monday, 19 November 2012 14:12 (6 months ago) Permalink

speaking truth to power, god bless them

― chief beef (k3vin k.), Monday, 19 November 2012 15:07 (6 months ago) Permalink

some linda mcmahon shit there

― chief beef (k3vin k.), Monday, 19 November 2012 15:07 (6 months ago) Permalink

2 weeks pass...

Quinn feelin' like a hundred bucks

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/04/nyregion/mayor-clinton-bloomberg-asked-her-to-consider-a-run.html?hp

― saltwater incursion (Dr Morbius), Tuesday, 4 December 2012 01:53 (5 months ago) Permalink

1 month passes...

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_SUGARY_DRINKS_LAWSUIT?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2013-01-23-06-18-52

hmm

― k3vin k., Thursday, 24 January 2013 00:32 (3 months ago) Permalink

the thing is like, i totally get it, and i don't disagree with it completely. but like, i LOVE a jumbo size. i grew up with it. a deli means jumbo size to me. sorry that's just the way it is.

― surm, Thursday, 24 January 2013 00:45 (3 months ago) Permalink

well the goal is for the next generation to not grow up thinking deli means 800 calories of sugar water

― iatee, Thursday, 24 January 2013 00:48 (3 months ago) Permalink

i would also get those huge "italian subs" on the reg so u can't go by me

― surm, Thursday, 24 January 2013 02:01 (3 months ago) Permalink

but tbh i would get the jumbo half n half, not soda. altho i'm sure that's illegal now too

― surm, Thursday, 24 January 2013 02:02 (3 months ago) Permalink

itt a strange man asks if you saw the ass on that one

http://nymag.com/news/features/christine-quinn-2013-2/index5.html

Later in the evening, the host interrupted me to point out that the mayor himself had just arrived. Did I want to meet him? Sure. My friend and I followed the host over, shook Bloomberg’s hand, and my friend thanked him for his position on gun control. Without even acknowledging the comment, Bloomberg gestured toward a woman in a very tight floor-length gown standing nearby and said, “Look at the ass on her.”

― goole, Tuesday, 29 January 2013 01:02 (3 months ago) Permalink

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/29/opinion/when-jim-crow-drank-coke.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&_r=0

― manti 乒乓 (k3vin k.), Tuesday, 29 January 2013 04:36 (3 months ago) Permalink

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/26/nyregion/coke-executives-give-christine-quinns-campaign-9750.html

― iatee, Tuesday, 29 January 2013 16:25 (3 months ago) Permalink

1 month passes...

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/health/2013/03/11/judge-puts-cap-on-super-sized-soda-ban/]

FREEDOM LIVES IN AMERICA

― iatee, Monday, 11 March 2013 21:57 (2 months ago) Permalink

Mary Elizabeth Quinn, left, said she doesn't agree with New York City's regulation of sugary drinks. Megan Guinan, right, supports the city's ban. (image credit: Karen Keller)

― iatee, Monday, 11 March 2013 21:59 (2 months ago) Permalink

― s.clover, Monday, 11 March 2013 22:14 (2 months ago) Permalink

― Doctor Casino, Monday, 11 March 2013 23:42 (2 months ago) Permalink

Lol

― latest worst poster (darraghmac), Monday, 11 March 2013 23:56 (2 months ago) Permalink

so awesome, fuck you Granny Mike

― Pope Rusty I (Dr Morbius), Tuesday, 12 March 2013 13:31 (2 months ago) Permalink

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2013/03/12/174048623/mississippi-passes-anti-bloomberg-bill?ft=1&f=1128

― iatee, Tuesday, 12 March 2013 18:17 (2 months ago) Permalink

"If you look at how menus have changed, whether it be in fast food or family dining, you are seeing more and more healthy options," Cashion says. "Not because of legislative mandates or regulatory mandates, but because of consumer demand. Our industry has always been one to respond to the marketplace."

― iatee, Tuesday, 12 March 2013 18:19 (2 months ago) Permalink

http://www.theonion.com/articles/opposition-to-soda-ban-sad-proof-that-americans-st,31658/

― iatee, Friday, 15 March 2013 03:23 (2 months ago) Permalink

time to start shaming instead I guess

― No, not sinister (Austerity Ponies), Friday, 15 March 2013 16:44 (2 months ago) Permalink

ugh just learned about this, fuck this earth

― k3vin k., Saturday, 16 March 2013 17:38 (2 months ago) Permalink

Deal reached on paid sick leave over opposition of Mayor Whineberg, after Mayor-in-Waiting Pantsuit caves:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/29/nyregion/deal-reached-on-paid-sick-leave-in-new-york-city.html

― Pope Rusty I (Dr Morbius), Friday, 29 March 2013 13:02 (1 month ago) Permalink

http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/photobooth/2013/03/slide-show-nina-bermans-stop-and-frisk-photos.html

― 乒乓, Friday, 29 March 2013 13:18 (1 month ago) Permalink

http://gothamist.com/2013/03/27/cigarettes_must_cost_at_least_1050.php

― iatee, Friday, 29 March 2013 14:31 (1 month ago) Permalink

also
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/28/nyregion/bloomberg-expresses-rage-over-failed-plan-for-speed-tracking-cameras.html

― iatee, Friday, 29 March 2013 14:35 (1 month ago) Permalink

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