Is Mike Bloomberg Advocating a Police Strike? (No.)
How did this guy ever call himself a Republican again?
Not only does Bloomberg fully believe in government’s direct intervention into private decisions, like with the soda ban, but he sounded like he was promoting the idea that the NYPD and other police departments across the country go on strike to protest this country’s lenient gun control laws.
Which, wow.
Because this suggestion, as New York Magazine’s Daily Intel points out, is in direct violation of the Taylor Law, which prohibits public employees like teachers, sanitation workers, and police officers from striking.
Oops!
Double oops, in fact, because the law ALSO prohibits any other public employees (which the mayor of New York City most certainly is) from encouraging these strikes.
But you know what?
Who cares?
The whole reason that Bloomberg even suggested a strike is that he is frustrated that there is no serious discussion of passing stronger gun control laws in the wake of the horrific massacre in Colorado. Bloomberg spoke out on the topic of how gun control is important not only for the population at large, but also for the police departments.
He said on Piers Morgan last night:
“I don’t understand why the police officers across this country don’t stand up collectively and say ‘We’re going to go on strike. We’re not going to protect you unless you, the public, through your legislature, do what’s required to keep us safe.’ After all, police officers want to go home to their families, and we’re doing everything we can to make their job more difficult but more importantly more dangerous.”
Well, you know what?
Good for you, Mayor Bloomberg!
Who cares if you’re flouting the Taylor Law?
I mean, first of all, let’s face it. You’re clearly untouchable. You rule this city like Augustus.
But, second of all, you are passionately supporting an issue—gun control—that neither presidential candidate will touch with a ten-foot pole for fear of having the NRA go full-bore against them.
Own it, Mike!
Or, you know, back down from what you said.
Bloomberg cleared things up with a reporter from the Daily News today by saying, duh, I didn’t ACTUALLY mean that.
The Daily News recounts that Bloomberg cleared things up by saying, “I didn’t mean literally go on strike. In fact, in New York, they can’t go on strike. There’s a law against it.”
He wasn’t being literal, everybody.
Don’t you know by now to take his words figuratively?
He’s painting word landscapes for us, that’s all.
All joking aside (yeah, right) it is refreshing to hear a politician speak out in favor of gun control.
Sure, Bloomberg is not running for re-election. He’s not, is he? He can’t!
But still.
Hearing his voice on the issue is a reminder of how very, very few higher level politicians advocate publicly and volubly for gun control. So it’s great to hear our mayor say what’s on his mind, Taylor Law be damned!
But as is so often the case with issues as contentious and politically fraught as this, the cheese stands alone.
Thank you, Mayor McCheese, for speaking up.
