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Bloomberg's Thuggish Politics
As the markets continues to collapse despite Bloomberg's power play, more and more is coming out about how and why the City Council decided to declare votes of the people unimportant by reversing popular referenda on term limits. Much attention both here and in the New York Times has been focused on the illogical and hypocritical excuses made by Councilman David Yassky who first came out against the Bloomberg Putsch, then offered a reasonable referendum that he admits he KNEW would fail, then voted the exact opposite of his originial stated position.
David Yassky convinced himself to flip flop on the Bloomberg Putsch.
But it seems others were outright threatened by the Bloomberg/Quinn mafia until they gave in. Not only have Bloomberg and Quinn disregarded the CLEAR will of the people (expressed in not one, but TWO referenda and in numerous polls since), they used disgustingly thuggish tactics to do so.
According to the NY Post: (the NY Times covered it in a much wimpier way)
REALLY SICKENING VOTE:
PRESSURED TERM POL PUKED BEFORE SHE CAST LOT WITH MIKEDarlene Mealy - one of only two City Council members to switch sides in the tense term-limits vote - was under such intense pressure and threats that she vomited twice at City Hall before announcing her decision, sources said yesterday...
"She was very upset. She kept saying she has to deliver for her district, and she was tired of being on the losing side," said Councilwoman Letitia James (D-Brooklyn), one of the bill's leading adversaries.
Opponents said Mealy was told she would face trouble for trying to sponsor a $25,000 grant for a Brooklyn block association run by her sister in Fiscal Year 2007.
There have been persistent rumors of both Quinn and Bloomberg threatening people over this issue including from Comptroller Bill Thompson. This latest just illustrates just how thuggish the whole thing has become. Tsar Bloomberg and Director of the Gendarmes Quinn seem willing to stop at nothing to hold onto power.
All of these allegations
All of these allegations should be brought before the CITY DOI. This is an abuse of power issue, not just politics. The powers that be also used these tactics on the Local Community Board elections. This happenned in the past the CB 13 elections of 2004. Councilman Domenic Recchia used his influence to strong arm members of the Community Board & have the vote for Chair goes his way. He used his decretionary spending power to put pressure on the CB members to vote his way. He wanted a rubber stamp for his own policies, which affected all of those who live in the community. It's either My Way or the Highway for Mr. Recchia.The community board was purged after this election of those who supported the opposition. A formal complaint was made to various agencies which included but not limited to the Conflict of Interst Board, the NYC DOI & others, but to no avail. Recchia was never held accountable for his actions. He's the Teflon Councilnmember.
I'm A Firm Believer
That what goes around comes around. Recchia is my Councilman also and a real slimeball. He will pay for all those he's screwed. Think Fossella, need I say more?