That time Mike Bloomberg installed an AC unit in his SUV – POLITICO
Posted: February 24, 2020 at 1:42 am
A week later, in an episode described by the New York Post as something akin to a comedy routine, city workers were spotted hoisting a standard room air conditioner into the side window of one of Bloombergs SUVs. It was an experiment, City Hall said at the time: a more green alternative to keeping Bloombergs SUV cool instead of his security detail idling their engines as they awaited the mayors return.
The image of a pampered billionaire scolding school children to suck up the sweltering conditions is just one example of the challenge confronting Bloomberg as he attempts to play Democratic Party savior. His money has made him a force in the presidential primary, but a litany of past statements and policies suggest hes disconnected, at best, from working people.
The disparity was on display at Wednesday nights debate, when Bloomberg scoffed at the suggestion that he could quickly gather up and release his tax returns.
Unfortunately, or fortunately, I make a lot of money and we do business all around the world, and we are preparing it. The number of pages will probably be thousands of pages, he said. Then, winning some scoffs in the room, Bloomberg added, I cant go to TurboTax.
Bloomberg has a history of dust-ups with blue-collar unions and unapologetic defenses of Wall Street and his own extreme wealth his estimated personal fortune is pegged at more than $60 billion while shrugging off complaints from those less off.
On Wednesday, Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden took turns blasting Bloombergs wealth, including over his failure to release his tax returns. (He promised, in response, to do so within weeks.)
Democrats are not going to win if we have a nominee who has a history of hiding his tax returns, of harassing women and of supporting racist policies like red lining and stop and frisk, Warren said. I'll support whoever the Democratic nominee is, but understand this: Democrats take a huge risk if we just substitute one arrogant billionaire for another.
A competing campaign provided other examples of statements that could come back to haunt Bloomberg as he tries to win over moderate voters.
In 2014, Bloomberg called President Barack Obamas effort to raise the minimum wage one of the most misguided things we can do.
In 2012, Bloomberg said legislation to mandate a "living wage" reminded him of communism, remarking, The last time we really had a big managed economy was the USSR.
In remarks before the Economic Club of Chicago in August 2012, Bloomberg seemed to praise Paul Ryan, who was then Mitt Romney's running mate, for pushing to cut entitlements.
Nobody's going to stand up and say to the AARP, We are going to really cut back your benefits. Except maybe Paul Ryan has said that. And, you know, I don't know how that plays, conventional wisdom is it's political suicide, but maybe that is the way to break out.
2020 Election Results
The latest election results sent straight to your inbox.
And in 2013, Bloomberg brought one economic discussion back to air conditioning. In a New York Magazine story, when asked about income inequality, Bloomberg noted that today 80 percent of the poor in the United States have air conditioning and 70 percent have cars, making them better off than in most countries.
One of the things thats different today is the poor 80 percent [nationally] have air-conditioning. Seventy percent have cars. When we grew up we didnt have air-conditioning. Air-conditioning in the schools, the subways. Are you crazy? Now, by most of the worlds standards, you aint poor, the billionaire said.
The old measure just looked at your income. It didnt look at what services you need. Im not being cavalier about it, but [in] most places in the world, our poor are wealthy. Theres a lot of tragedy around the world.
The Bloomberg campaign pointed to a lengthy list of his accomplishments as mayor to help lower-income people, including keeping poverty rates down, providing housing assistance across the city, raising teachers wages, doubling school funding, boosting graduation rates to a record 66 percent and closing achievement gaps between non-white and white students.
From doubling spending on public schools to pioneering economic empowerment and public health policies that were duplicated world wide Mike has an extraordinary record, said Bloomberg senior adviser Stu Loeser. And as we've already seen, he is deploying the resources to tell people about it.
See the rest here:
That time Mike Bloomberg installed an AC unit in his SUV - POLITICO
- Brain hacks to boost productivity with music. Should you be listening to more ABBA? - TechRepublic - November 18th, 2020
- 76% of Shoppers to Conduct Majority of their Holiday Purchases Online - Stockhouse - November 18th, 2020
- Mangaluru: Apostolic Carmel Congregation celebrates 150 years of its presence in India - Daijiworld.com - November 18th, 2020
- At new OKC Black-owned bookstore, "We just want them to come into a place and see themselves" - Oklahoman.com - November 18th, 2020
- Join the club: Womens Empowerment provides a safe space - District - November 18th, 2020
- Death doulas help the dying meet their end with affirmation instead of anxiety - Houston Chronicle - November 18th, 2020
- Free Guy Director Shawn Levy Says the Movie Is More Timely Than Ever - Superherohype.com - November 18th, 2020
- Meet the 40-year-old who has empowered over 1.5 lakh women through self-defence - YourStory - November 18th, 2020
- WCH city manager makes appeal to the community - Record Herald - November 18th, 2020
- Craig Russell revolutionized Canadian drag, and he finally has the outrageous biography he deserves - CBC.ca - November 18th, 2020
- Stream It Or Skip It: 'I Am Greta' on Hulu, a Powerful Portrait of an Activist at the Peak of Her Influence - Decider - November 18th, 2020
- A Corps Leaders Perspective: Chief of Ordnance passionate about serving in U.S. Army - Public Affairs Office of Headquarters, US Army Combined Arms... - November 18th, 2020
- Only for women! 7 pct interest, PF waiver and gold loan discount in this savings account - Equitas Small Fi... - Zee Business - November 18th, 2020
- Tierna McComb overcomes family tragedy to become the height of fashion - The Irish News - November 18th, 2020
- Realize, emphasize and mobilize in uncertainty - SRU The Online Rocket - October 30th, 2020
- Seasons of Hope family in need of help during illness - Johnson City Press (subscription) - October 30th, 2020
- Ariana Grandes Positions shows the power of women writing about their own orgasms - British GQ - October 30th, 2020
- Becky G's Fight for Equal Pay Is Personal: How She's Paving the Way for the Latinx Community - E! Online - October 30th, 2020
- Why Ivanka Trump Is Coming Out Against Abortion Now - Slate - October 30th, 2020
- Up Close: In Conversation with EShopWorld CEO Tommy Kelly - Sourcing Journal - October 30th, 2020
- 3 ways first-generation Americans can build wealth and support family - Business Insider - Business Insider - October 30th, 2020
- Account Manager/Senior Stylist job with A Line Boutique | 148923 - The Business of Fashion - October 30th, 2020
- Fintechs Draw Increasing Attention in Social Media Banking Chats - The Financial Brand - October 30th, 2020
- Women talking, addressing toughest issues they face at Triangle Tech X conference - WRAL Tech Wire - October 30th, 2020
- First payroll system with financial wellbeing and banking capabilities launches today - ResponseSource - October 30th, 2020
- House of Reps determined to resolve ASUU issues and empower youths - Gbajabiamila - Nairametrics - October 30th, 2020
- What's in a Word? Housing Policy and the Shifting Sands of Empowerment - Non Profit News - Nonprofit Quarterly - September 10th, 2020
- One in 10 U.S. Adults Say They Have Been Victims of Identity Theft Since the COVID-19 Pandemic Began - Yahoo Finance - September 10th, 2020
- Empowerment in audit - Accounting Today - September 10th, 2020
- India to empower citizens with control over use of personal data - Business Standard - September 10th, 2020
- Girls on the Run initiates fall season programs with accommodations for health and safety guidelines - LebTown - September 10th, 2020
- Defending Rights of Women in India: A Constitutional Standpoint - The Kashmir Images Newspaper - September 10th, 2020
- How Donnette Dawn Thomas is Making a Positive Impact with Mindful Missions of SC - Kev's Best - September 10th, 2020
- Why we should do away with standardized testing - The Daily Cardinal - September 10th, 2020
- Varsity Brands Deepens Commitment to Social and Emotional Learning as Schools Work to Reopen for the 2020-21 School Year - PRNewswire - September 10th, 2020
- Why we love Megan Thee Stallion - RU Daily Targum - September 10th, 2020
- Weakest, Most Fragile States Will Be Those Worst Affected by COVID-19 in Medium, Long Term, Humanitarian Chief Tells Security Council - World -... - September 10th, 2020
- Integrated Partners and Duffy Kruspodin, LLP Align to Create DK Wealth Management, LLC - GlobeNewswire - September 10th, 2020
- From live sessions to workout videos: Senior citizens take the e-route to stay fit amid pandemic - The Indian Express - September 10th, 2020
- Women in Tech: "You are the best author of your own career path" - JAXenter - August 29th, 2020
- Dear Keith: Works from the Personal Collection of Keith Haring - FAD magazine - August 29th, 2020
- H&M collaborates with Beirut-based designer Sandra Mansour on empowering collection - Manila Bulletin - August 29th, 2020
- 'Nikah Halala' Review: A Scathing Indictment of a Practice That Has No Quranic Sanction - The Wire - August 29th, 2020
- Wafia's new EP 'Good Things' explores the loss and liberation of growing up and relationships - Purple Sneakers - August 29th, 2020
- 'The House of Jaipur' Maps the History, Glamour and Feuds of a Former Royal Family - The Wire - August 29th, 2020
- People Analytics Leader - Governance, Ethics, and Prioritization at Allstate - Insurance Journal - August 29th, 2020
- More Women Tapping On Fintech? - The ASEAN Post - August 29th, 2020
- The Tech Perspective Kamala Harris Could Bring to the Vice Presidency - Nextgov - August 29th, 2020
- The Zondo Commission, the dealmaker, and the botched evidence - Moneyweb - August 29th, 2020
- First Horizon Bank Offers Financial Wellness Programs On Demand - rutherfordsource.com - August 29th, 2020
- DiCarlo Shy upon Recognition, Relentless in Her Mission - Wanderer - July 8th, 2020
- Pureology, #1 Professional Color Care Brand*, Pioneer In Vegan Haircare, To Unveil New Look And Formulas - PRNewswire - July 8th, 2020
- 'Gamificaiton' of educational content offers a peek into the future of classrooms - StepFeed - July 8th, 2020
- Vermont Dance Alliance and Black Freedom Fund Partner to Empower - Seven Days - July 8th, 2020
- Danai Gurira on Empowering Fitness and the Ongoing Fight for Racial Justice - Women's Health - July 8th, 2020
- So You Want to Leave it All and Create a Community? - Resilience - July 8th, 2020
- Blackout Day is July 7, calls for boycott of non-Black-owned business - Business Insider - Business Insider - July 8th, 2020
- To Leave Racist Roots Behind, Child Welfare Needs a Great Reimagining - LA Progressive - July 8th, 2020
- Health and Social Welfare Systems Strengthening Consultant, ACHIEVE/Tanzania - ReliefWeb - July 8th, 2020
- Heralding a new health data regime in India - Observer Research Foundation - July 8th, 2020
- Kiva Receives USAID Design Funding to Structure Innovative $100M Fund to Support 1 Million Women Globally - Business Wire - July 8th, 2020
- Former WE Charity employee says staff tried to silence her by rewriting anti-racism speech - CBC.ca - July 8th, 2020
- Leo Gura - Growing In Times Of Crisis - June 7th, 2020
- Gaia Herbs Offers Grants to Organizations Expanding Herbal Access for Underserved Populations in the United States - Yahoo Finance - June 3rd, 2020
- Women Cant Be Fully Empowered If Theyre Not Financially Empowered. Heres Why. - SWAAY - June 3rd, 2020
- Healthfully and NextGate Partner to Give Patients Safe, Reliable Access to Personal Health Data - thepress.net - June 3rd, 2020
- 'I am determined Oakwood will continue to be a center of empowerment and witness.' - Adventist Review - June 3rd, 2020
- UPES has given more Shakti to all girl students with 25 percent scholarship - Careers360 - June 3rd, 2020
- How a Kenyan climate change documentary inspired the world - Climate Home - June 3rd, 2020
- Free Access to Employment Screening Helps Small Businesses and the Unemployed Get Back to Work More Quickly - GlobeNewswire - June 3rd, 2020
- No buyer's remorse, increased bank balance, more control: The many perks of cutting back on spending in a post-Covid world - Economic Times - June 3rd, 2020
- The Only Task Management Platform You Need Launched to Help Remote Workers, Freelancers, Small Business - Business Wire - June 3rd, 2020
- Prays Together: Honesty in Prayer - Foothills Sun Gazette - June 3rd, 2020
- Religion news May 30 - The Republic - June 1st, 2020
- Why Amy Cooper Felt the Police Were Her Personal Protection Agency - Slate - June 1st, 2020
- Abuse During the Pandemic: What You Need to Know and Do - Women's eNews - June 1st, 2020
- What Is a Shaman and Can Anyone Become One? - HowStuffWorks - June 1st, 2020
- Jennifer Goodman And Ryan Atkins On Maintaining Connection With An Audience Amidst COVID-19 And Guiding Conrad From Pilot To Pitch - Forbes - June 1st, 2020
- Donald Trump, "The Crowd" And A Nation's Bitter Despair - Modern Diplomacy - June 1st, 2020
- Top letters: Contempt for law, Trump on the Titanic, execution was 'cruel and unusual' - STLtoday.com - June 1st, 2020