You remember correctly. There were barricades erected at intersections around 53 and fifth, and pedestrians were re-directed toward the center of the block to cross.
I agree that it wasn’t really much of an inconvenience. I just see it as an example of Rudy’s authoritarian, former federal prosecutor streak. He did do many good things for the city after the ruinous Dinkins administration, and I think NYC needs an authoritarian type.
But, he still scares the hell out me as President, and he is LYING about his position on 2A, parsing words on abortion, and completely distorting his so called tax cutting record.
His criticisms of Romney’s so called tax raising while Julie Annie was cutting is as completely disingenuous as the rest of his “America’s mayor” campaign, IMO. Julie governed during a period when personal income tax receipts were booming (largely due to capital gains recognition and the Nasdaq bubble). Everyone, including Gov Pataki, Gov Whitman, Engler, etc were cutting taxes. Romney goverend later, during a period when capital gains recognition (and therefore PIT receipts) collapsed, and the state was in a fiscal crisis. I’m not a huge Romney fan, but believe he did a reasonable job with the cards he was dealt.
I agree with you 100%.
I'd also point out that there's a reason why New York City "needs an authoritarian type" . . . it's because it ain't an American city in any sense.