There’s Something Obscene About Michael Bloomberg Spending $37 Million Before July 4 . . . Here’s Why

Like a pro, Bloomberg dumped the news that he has seemingly broke every conceivable spending record on a Friday. How brave:

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg’s campaign for re-election has already burned through nearly $37 million, according to records released Friday, about four times as much as he had spent at this point in 2001 to introduce himself to New York voters.

So is this a “self-made man” practicing “free speech” or is it actually kind of one of the most offensive examples of the ever-present nexus of wealth and power that hangs over American society? OK, don’t answer that.

But here are some comparisons. Combined spending during the 2000 New York Senate race between Clinton, Giuliani and later Lazio was “only” $90 million — apparently the most expensive Senate campaign in history. Even Senator Clinton’s 2006 reelection campaign “only” spent $36 million, which was still the highest amount during the 2006 Senate campaign cycle. Jon Corzine — another “self-made man” — “only” spent $60 million for his first Senate run in 2000. And while Bloomberg outspends Thompson (or whoever) 50 gazillion to one (or whatever), remember that Al Gore spent $49 million during the 2000 primary cycle in an election where people were shocked to see the first $100 million campaign. (Last several figures from here.)

$100 million seems like a lot for someone whose main responsibility is to fix potholes.

Here’s How Our System Works

Spend $20 million to tell people you’re going to create jobs, then $1.5 million to actually create jobs.

Admit It: “Inspired By Bogota” Sounds A Lot Better Than “Rehashed Mayor Lindsay”

Maybe it was “inspired by Bogota” — Bogota being the place where all those exotic, sexy ideas come from — like Bus Rapid Transit! — but Mayor Lindsay also tried it out in 1970*, right when his political career was starting to implode. Hahahahahaha:

Traffic on Park Avenue may seem lighter in August than in much of the year, thanks to the summering habits of its well-to-do residents. But much of the boulevard will have no traffic at all on three Saturdays this summer, as the city shuts down 6.9 miles of Manhattan roadway in a reprise of last year’s Summer Streets program.

In its debut last August, the program attracted about 50,000 bicyclists and pedestrians on each of its three days to a path from the Brooklyn Bridge to East 72nd Street. This year’s events, announced on Monday by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, will take place on Aug. 8, 15 and 22, from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Citing a positive response to the program — an idea inspired by a recreational experiment in Bogotá, Colombia, that began in the 1970s — the city has expanded it to smaller stretches of the other boroughs on weekends throughout the summer. The program will reach 13 neighborhoods, although none of the additional street closings will match the size of the main Manhattan route.

*Back then it involved closing Fifth Avenue between 42nd and 57th Streets, and the idea was referred to as a “pedestrian shopping mall” — which, if you think about it, is basically what it amounts to.

Not Too Busy Refreshing TMZ.com That He Can’t Issue A Press Release!

Councilmember Domenic Recchia, who loves children and would never want to see one harmed by a Tic Tac, is out in front of the pack in paying his respects to two of his childhood favorites:

“As chairman of the City Council’s Committee on Cultural Affairs, I would like to express my thanks, for the impact they’ve had on their respective fields and the cultural community at large, as well as offer my prayers to their families, their friends and their legions of fans.”

Tap Directly Into Her Hopes, Her Wants, Her Fears, Her Desires, And Her Sweet Little Panties (And Magnolia Bakery!)

As if losing Hiram Monserrate wasn’t bad enough, now there’s this:

Rumors have been going around lately that Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes are making a big move to New York. We heard it for the first time from Nat Hentoff, who told us a few weeks ago that he’d heard it from doormen on his block of west 12th Street in the Village.

. . .

During another visit we talked to a doorman in the neighborhood who said: “Can’t tell you who lives there. I would lose my job. But you know, we doormen know everything that goes on around here. I can tell you the owner won’t be there much because he’ll be filming in LA a lot, and I can tell you he bought the house for his wife, who was in a Broadway show.” The doorman smiled, “But I can’t tell you who it is. I could lose my job.”