BLOOMBERG'S ONE "I"

by Rafael Marteinez Alequín


When Mayor Michael Bloomberg became Mayor, the city was divided along racial and ethnic lines. Under the administration of former mayor Rudolph Giuliani, now a hopeful republican presidential candidate, the racial tension in the city was palpable. The anger that people felt was obvious. Former Mayor Giuliani was one of the leaders who created racial tension in our city. However, he was not the only one. Both mayor Edward Koch and David Dinkins were contributors to that tension. Mayor Koch, when he turned his back on the racial killing of Yusef Hawkins, and Mayor Dinkins, during the Korean boycott for his fear of the late Sonny Carson.

When Michael Bloommberg became the city’s mayor he was able to bring the city together, by meeting with the people that then Mayor Giuliani refused to meet with. Mayor Giuliani refused to acknowledge the existing not only of Rev. Alfred Sharpton, but more importantly with former elected officials such as Mayor Dinkins, and elected officials, like Congressman Charles Rangel, former Manhattan Borough President C. Virginia Field, and many other minoritiy officials. Mayor Bloomberg took a different approach and the city is better for that.

When the history of the Bloomberg administration is written, this will be his great accomplishment —today New Yorkers have a sense of union.

Thursday, February first, the Mayor will be in Israel to dedicate a medical facility in honor of his late father. There, he will join his mother. Then he will go to Irelansd. It seem that years ago, politicians seeking higher office would travel to what is known amongst political aficionados as the three "I's". Israel, Ireland, and Italy. However, the mayor will not visit Italy on this trip. He will substitute the the Italian I's for the I.R.T. line, unless, his presidential bug intensifies.