Bloomberg Wants to Accelerate Downtown Redevelopment (and a national campaign against illegal guns)

NY Times ^ | January 26, 2006 | MARIA NEWMAN

[neverdem]

Buoyed by his overwhelming re-election victory in November, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg used his state of the city speech today to outline an ambitious agenda that included taking more control of the redevelopment of the devastated Lower Manhattan area. He also said he wanted to reduce the city's poverty rate, provide...

--snip--

But the mayor, who has spoken out harshly against gun violence in recent weeks after the shooting deaths of two New York City police officers, reserved his biggest passion in today's address for the issue of gun control, saying he would help lead a national effort to curb gun violence.

"Illegal guns have one purpose, to kill, period, end of story," he said.

"Getting tough on illegal guns is not a conservative or a liberal issue," he said. "It's an issue of law and order. It's an issue of life and death."

In addition to calling for mandatory sentences of three and a half years for anyone convicted of a crime involving a loaded gun, he also said the city would file lawsuits against what he called "irresponsible gun dealers" whose guns were found to be used in crimes.

"Right now, about 1 percent of gun dealers account for 60 percent of the guns used in crimes nationally," he said. "We are going to hold them accountable for the terrible damage their guns cause."

He said he would work with elected officials in other cities and states about new policies and legislation and ways to share information to crack down on gun violence.

"We will not seek solutions that infringe on the rights of gun owners, but we will seek to move beyond the knee-jerk opposition that special interests invariably pose against even the most basic and common-sense efforts to clamp down on illegal guns," Mr. Bloomberg said.

[A Balrog of Morgoth]

"Right now, about 1 percent of gun dealers account for 60 percent of the guns used in crimes nationally," he said...

I wonder how accurate that particular gem really is....

[Tarpon]

A good way to look at it is that if it were accurate, why don't they just close them down. If they know 1% are doing illegal things, surely the know who they are ... don't you think?

Or are they just making it up, again.

[motzman]

"Illegal guns have one purpose, to kill, period, end of story," he said.

And legal guns have one purpose, which is to shoot confetti

"Getting tough on illegal guns is not a conservative or a liberal issue," he said. "It's an issue of law and order. It's an issue of life and death."

It's an issue of death to the cowed, unarmed populace who aren't allowed to own guns.

In addition to calling for mandatory sentences of three and a half years for anyone convicted of a crime involving a loaded gun, he also said the city would file lawsuits against what he called "irresponsible gun dealers" whose guns were found to be used in crimes.

When is he going to increase taxes on guns and ammo by 5000 percent?

"Right now, about 1 percent of gun dealers account for 60 percent of the guns used in crimes nationally," he said. "We are going to hold them accountable for the terrible damage their guns cause."

And so many people die from secondhand smoke that you can't walk down Fifth Avenue without tripping over dead bodies

He said he would work with elected officials in other cities and states about new policies and legislation and ways to share information to crack down on gun violence.

"Work" = "Force" or "Bribe"

"We will not seek solutions that infringe on the rights of gun owners, but we will seek to move beyond the knee-jerk opposition that special interests invariably pose against even the most basic and common-sense efforts to clamp down on illegal guns," Mr. Bloomberg said

Somehow, one of the cities with the most restrictive gun control laws is having problems with illegal guns. Don't worry, gun owners rights will not be infringed---since you pretty much can't own a gun in NYC anyway...

God, I hate this man.

[frankiep]

I wonder if Mayor Bloomberg realizes that his authority to impose his policies is confined to NYC's five boroughs, and the five boroughs only. I don't recall him being on the ballot in any place other than New York. Hey Mr. Mayor, worry about your own backyard.

[neverdem]

It's probably a real number. I've heard it a few times, but it's probably just a co-incidence. If BATF & E thought there was some cabal going on, those jack booted thugs would stepping on it like stink on sh!t.

[montag813]

Bloomberg is dreaming. Talk to any major real estate developer--commercial or residential--and they will tell you flat out: downtown NYC is dead. No one wants to develop down there. It is barren. It is too windy. You are next to nothing. Midtown/Midtown West is the future of NYC. For residential, Chelsea/Flatiron is also hot hot hot. Nobody wants to or will develop downtown as Bloomberg is dreaming.

[Travis McGee]

Don't you love it when millionaire politicos want to keep "the little people" from owning the best means to protect themselves from criminals?

When those millionaire politicos go everywhere surrounded by a phalanx of bodyguards armed to the teeth with sub machineguns.

[RedMonqey]

The liberal way to get rid of "illegal" guns.

Make ALL guns illegal and get rid of all of them.

[coydog]

To do that, they must outlaw everything that goes into making guns, along with the knowledge of making guns. Then humans will be back to killing each other with sharp objects, blunt, heavy objects and bare hands. That'll show'em.

(/sarc)

[neverdem]

Don't you love it when millionaire politicos want to keep "the little people" from owning the best means to protect themselves from criminals?

The RINOs in NYC may have taken Soros into their ranks just as well as Bloomboob.

[Sir_Ed]

Furthermore, If Bloomie gets his "ring of steel concept pushed through, as in London, where there will be but a few narrow, tightly-controlled exits and entrances to Lower Manhattan, NO ONE will go there!

Ed

[supercat]

"Right now, about 1 percent of gun dealers account for 60 percent of the guns used in crimes nationally," he said...

I wonder how accurate that particular gem really is....

Considering that 1% of the dealers who have been in business within the last 20 years probably sold 60% of the guns, period, I should not think such a figure would be surprising.

[the gillman@blacklagoon.com]

...saying he would help lead a national effort to curb gun violence...

Stay in New York you damned Rino.
The rest of the country does not want to live in your insane asylum.

[planekT]

"Don't you love it when millionaire politicos want to keep "the little people" from owning the best means to protect themselves from criminals?

When those millionaire politicos go everywhere surrounded by a phalanx of bodyguards armed to the teeth with sub machineguns."

Why do they need those sub machine guns? Couldn't they just dial 911?
:-)

[Galveston Grl]

Man, this idiot would be poison for the Republican party if he ever gets a National voice and support by RINOs! He needs to keep his insanity to New York where it plays well.

[Joe Brower]

Great post.

[RedMonqey]

True so True