DeBlasio isn't that bad

[Renew Deal]

People are getting on DeBlasio for being a poor mayor, but the state of the City isn't that bad. Crime is down. The economy is strong. Real Estate is too strong. He has made strides on pre-k, and sick time.

Snow removal hasn't been great all the time. He has had fights with the cops, but that's normal. He feuds with Cuomo, but I don't think residents mind that much. He's a grandstander. That might be his fatal flaw. But on the state of the city he is doing fine.

[hrmjustin]

1. I will vote for him if he is nominated again but I don't like him.

[flamingdem]

2. Elaborate?

Is your feeling the general feeling or do you have a special reason to dislike him?

[hrmjustin]

3. He is arrogant, he hasn't done much, he is not a good manager, and the rents are too damn high!

[HoneyBadger]

10. Compared to Bloomberg he is worthless

How many subway stabbings were there in 2016?

[hrmjustin]

12. Bloomberg was even worse. I don't have the stabbing statistic.

But remember that the city has under several administration's been caught fudging crime numbers.

[Squinch]

15. Bloomberg was a lot worse.

[hrmjustin]

5. Also he is under investigation on several fronts and look at what he did to Rivington House.

[vi5]

4. Grandstanding...

You'd be hard pressed to find a mayor of NYC who doesn't or didn't grandstand. And when it comes to NY politicians he's got nothing on Cuomo when it comes to ego and grandstanding. I actually find him more reserved and subtle than almost any other NYC politician I can think of in recent memory. I've never lived in New York itself so I can't speak to actual impact on people's lives, but I've been in the NY area/media market my whole life so those are pretty much the politicians who are covered and that I'm most familiar with.

What are people's issues with him exactly?

[panader0]

6. I'd like to know too.

I saw a post yesterday where DeBlasio was trashed and, I gotta admit, I don't know much about NYC politics.

[vi5]

7. All I know....

He ran as a staunch, unapologetic liberal which is obviously a plus for me. He put an end to stop and frisk policies, AND crime has gone down. So not only is the result good, but he proved that it's a stupid policy that does nothing to help citizens OR police.

I'm guessing those that don't like him actually live in the city and have fairly concrete complaints, although I'd be curious as to how many of those are things within his control as mayor. Like I said although I am very frequently in the city for business and for pleasure (probably 5 or 6 times a month), that's obviously a far cry from being a resident and having to deal with snow, traffic, garbage, subways, buses, schools, and other things that people might have issues with so I obviously defer to them with regard to his performance.

Edit: poster above mentioned Rivington house which I was unaware of other than it's history. I just looked it up. It is an interesting story and something that seems to fall in his wheelhouse that was apretty big fail for the people, especially those in need.

[hrmjustin]

8. The courts ended stop and frisk.

[vi5]

9. Good point....

but I believe he was against it before that happened and Bloomberg was obviously extremely in favor of it and likely would have kept fighting for it in the courts

Again.....not a resident so I can't speak for details so I defer to those who can. I had no idea what happened to Rivington house until I read your post and then looked it up. Definitely shady and definitely something that the Admin bears responsibility and blame for. Thanks for the information. As I said above, I don't know enough to say I'm a fan or not just what I hear on the periphery so I appreciate insight from those who have to deal with the day to day.

[hrmjustin]

11. It is not a left-right thing with him.

He is just not a good manager. But he will likely be re-elected because you can't beat something with nothing.

His only major victory imho is his keeping rent regulated apartment increases very low. But rents in this city are horrible and he is not doing anything to help.

[vi5]

13. Yeah, I can see the manager thing...

Again, just from the peripheral perspective and view I have from across the river, it does feel like he does not have much under his control, even many things that should be.

Serious question: Is there anything he or any mayor can do about rents? I can't even fathom trying to pay to live in the city, renting or owning. It's been a steady upward climb since the 90's.

[hrmjustin]

14. Zoning issues and permits.

The mayor has a say in what gets built to some extent. He has done good with the rent regulated apartments and that is a huge amount of apartments including my own but market rates are going out of control. Personally I think price controls are needed.

[dsc]

16. He didn't appeal the decision

and by ending that appeal he ended the policy.

[hrmjustin]

17. True but by that point the courts had pretty much spoken.

[Renew Deal]

19. Is Brad Tusk registered as a Democrat?