By JOSEPH VITALE
STAFF WRITER
In the final weeks of October, Mayor Michael Bloomberg was one of the busiest men in New York.
He was the face of a city that was under water, out of power and, in some places, destroyed. He was the voice of a people in need of vital resources and relocation. He was the man who had to assure New Yorkers the subway would soon resume service and he was at the center of a controversial decision to host the New York City Marathon, which he ultimately cancelled.
And yet, with the national spotlight shining brightly upon him, Mr. Bloomberg went forward with two huge political moves: the registration of his own super PAC and his endorsement of President Barack Obama for reelection. Both gestures sent ripples through the national political scene, causing skeptics to call him out as a wealthy elitist using money and power to sway votes. His supporters fought back, arguing that if anyone could unite a polarized nation, it would be a respected and fair-minded independent like Bloomberg. His history shows the latter is far more plausible.
While Bloomberg’s success as a businessman and generosity as a philanthropist have not necessarily earned him influence in the national political sphere, his determination and effectiveness as a three-term mayor of New York City have. Since his first inauguration 10 years ago, he has helped New York re-examine issues plaguing American cities such as pollution, spending and crime. The mayor has also enacted numerous health, environmental, educational and economic measures to better the city, its residents and the millions of tourists who visit each year. He is eager to voice his opinion on issues most politicians would gloss over. But, to him, it is not daring: It is practical, and it is progress.
“Being mayor of the largest city makes him a major political figure in his own right,” Daniel Soyer, professor of history at Fordham, said. “It is to be expected that he will get involved in broader policy debates.”
As Bloomberg has stressed in his work and his politics, the key to creating a prosperous future is to ignore electoral politics and seek bipartisan solutions. Furthermore, his model of arriving at these solutions, centers around championing politicians who share his vision for America. Like him, they understand how to best shape their vision: through compromise and transparent conversation.
In an editorial posted within a week of Election Day, Bloomberg affirmed his positions on abortion, gay marriage, gun control and climate change, all of which were traditionally liberal. While he compared both candidates’ stances on these specific issues, he did not endorse a candidate just for sharing a position on an issue. Instead, Bloomberg cited former presidents Bill Clinton and Ronald Reagan, praising their ability to unite divided Congresses and gain the faith of America’s moderates. As if this symbol of leadership mattered more than a platform, he concluded that President Obama would be best-suited to carry out the role of president.
The late endorsement gained media attention, but most argued it had little effect on the outcome of the election.
“Bloomberg’s endorsement of Obama did not sway national public opinion,” Brennan Delsing, FCRH ’16, said. “Though [his] comments may have heightened Democratic pride and confidence in New York, they didn’t create a big enough impact on voters’ minds to be the difference maker in this year’s election.”
President Obama was leading almost every poll and hardly any voters cited the mayor of New York City as a deciding factor in their choice, but what ensued suggests it was just one development in a more robust plan.
The super PAC he created (Independence USA PAC) allowed Bloomberg to funnel around $15 million of his own money into various campaigns around the country, many of which were highly-competitive congressional, state and local races. His donations went to various Republicans, Democrats and independents who have a long standing history of bipartisanship. All were in support of same-sex marriage, gun control and educational reform, which are the issues Bloomberg is most convinced require re-thinking. The super PAC’s additional spending on ballot initiatives related to same-sex marriage may or may not have altered their outcomes, but all four passed in favor of same-sex marriage anyway.
There is something to be said for Bloomberg and his approach. He may not be the biggest crowd pleaser, as he often brings the government into the lives of Americans when many feel it is unnecessary and unwelcome, but he understands what will benefit New Yorkers and Americans alike. He makes it his goal to work, to reform and, if necessary, to compromise for the sake of the people.
He may have been unable to bring power to the thousands of New Yorkers who lost it during Hurricane Sandy, but he did not come up short when doling out money to those who would rise above playful politics and bring about bold changes. It was practical, it was progress and it is what America needs.
Joseph Vitale, FCRH ’16, is a communication and media studies major from New York, NY.
