Contrarian Take Of The Day

And take careful note, because it might be the only time I feel like doing this.

It occurred to me that the mayor’s ability to offer ridiculously bold, politically suicidal proposals in the lamest of lame duck years (i.e., the eighth year of an eight-year tenure) is only possible with a viable threat and a City Council that isn’t suffering from senioritis. No third term, no departing 35 members, no “difficult” belt-tightening, right? And Bloomonster actually might be selflessly sacrificing his place in history by falling on the sword to set the city on solid footing for the immediate and long-term future . . .

Or not:

Michael Bloomberg is already coming under criticism from City Council members over the budget cutbacks he proposed.

And according to Democratic consultant Hank Sheinkopf, that criticism will only make Bloomberg…stronger.

“If they attack him, they strengthen his hand,” said Sheinkopf. The presumption among Bloomberg’s critics “is that New Yorkers don’t know the world is collapsing. Trust me, they know. And Bloomberg is going to appear to be the hero if they attack him. ‘I’m protecting you,’ he’ll say.”

Sheinkopf admitted that it’s easier for the mayor, rather than a local City Councilman, to explain the need for such drastic budget cuts.

“The mayor doesn’t have the problem. The City Council does. The mayor sets policy. The Council delivers services and they have to explain it at home. Not easy to do.”

Sheinkopf said that even they, the put-upon Council members, were unlikely to pay the ultimate price for the strains that the city’s austerity measures would put on their constituents. “In 1975, the city went bankrupt. How many people were turned out of office in 1977? None that I remember.”

OK, back to reality . . .