Bloomberg Focuses Mayors on Economy

Thu, January 24, 2008 - 4:24 PM

In Washington to receive an award for his environmental work, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg certainly didn’t focus on that kind of green.

In a speech before the U.S. Conference of Mayors, Bloomberg focused almost exclusively on the economy. (Read the speech here.)

In fact, the mayor spoke briefly about the environment, focusing the bulk of his remarks on the markets, manufacturing, and jobs.

His speech clearly played into the week’s dominating news – the economy.

On the stimulus plan for tax rebates, he said, “If and when Americans get rebate checks an awful lot of them are going to be asking, ‘why is this the first real raise I’ve gotten in years?’ Too many Americans are working hard just to stand still – even after a long period of economic growth. We can do better.”

Bloomberg, who changed his party registration from Republican to Independent last year, also got in a dig at establishment Washington politicians.

“It’s time we start spending on the infrastructure Americans need, not the pork barrel projects that politicians want,” he said.

The billionaire media mogul even trumpeted his own business experience, saying his credo has a lesson for those in Congress.

“There’s a saying: In God We Trust. Everyone else bring data. Washington should be no exception,” he said.

--Neil H. Simon