Mike Bloomberg in Wikipedia.org political website
On Education:
Replaced school board with direct mayoral control
Bloomberg's first mayoralty coincided with a major shift of authority over the city's public school system from the state government to the city government. From 1968 until 2000, New York City's schools were managed by the Board of Education, which was
comprised of seven members. Only two of the seven were appointed by the mayor. In 2000, the local boards and Board of Education were abolished and replaced with a new mayoral agency, the Department of Education.
Source: Wikipedia.org entry, "Michael_Bloomberg"
May 2, 2007
On Education:
No social promotion; more after-school
Under Bloomberg, test scores have risen and the City has obtained a higher percentage of funding from the state budget. Bloomberg opposes social promotion, and favors after-school and summer-school programs to help schoolchildren catch up, rather than
allowing them to advance to the next grade level when they may be unprepared. Despite often tense relations with teachers' unions, he negotiated an average raise of 15% for teachers in exchange for givebacks and productivity increases.
Source: Wikipedia.org entry, "Michael_Bloomberg"
May 2, 2007
On Education:
Strengthened cell-phone ban in city schools
Bloomberg has enforced a strengthened cell-phone ban in city schools that had its roots dating to a 1988 school system ban on pagers. The ban is controversial among some parents, who are concerned with their ability to contact their children.
Bloomberg's aides noted that students are distracted in class by cell phones and often use them inappropriately, in some instances sending and receiving text messages, taking photographs, surfing the Internet.
Source: Wikipedia.org entry, "Michael_Bloomberg"
May 2, 2007
On Gun Control:
Founder of Mayors Against Illegal Guns
Bloomberg is a strong advocate of gun control and made it a major issue of his administration in his second inaugural address. Bloomberg once said, "I don't know why people carry guns. Guns kill people."
Bloomberg is also a co-chair and founder of Mayors Against Illegal Guns, an organization of 210 mayors who claim to work only towards eradicating the use of illegal firearms by criminals.
Source: Wikipedia.org entry, "Michael_Bloomberg"
May 2, 2007
On Health Care:
Prioritize city healthcare on HIV, diabetes & hypertension
Bloomberg is passionately interested in public health. He has donated millions of dollars to the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Under Bloomberg, the city Health Department has made HIV, diabetes and hypertension priorities.
Bloomberg extended New York City's smoking ban to all commercial establishments, including bars and nightclubs. In Dec. 2006, New York became the first city in the US to ban trans-fat from all restaurants. It will go into effect in July of 2008.
Source: Wikipedia.org entry, "Michael_Bloomberg"
May 2, 2007
On Immigration:
Normalize status of otherwise law-abiding illegal immigrants
Bloomberg is a supporter of immigration reform to secure the rights of illegal immigrants. He argues that deportation breaks up families and scares illegal immigrants away from cooperating with law enforcement or accessing vital social services;
as such, he supports proposals like those put forth by Senators Ted Kennedy and John McCain, which would normalize the status of otherwise law-abiding illegal immigrants already present.
Source: Wikipedia.org entry, "Michael_Bloomberg"
May 2, 2007
On Immigration:
Border controls fight natural forces of supply and demand
Bloomberg believes that border enforcement is somewhat futile. He told the Senate hearing on Immigration Legislation on 5 July 2006: "It is as if we expect border control agents to do what a century of communism could not: Defeat the natural forces
of supply and demand and defeat the natural human instinct for freedom and opportunity. You might as well sit on the beach and tell the tide not to come in."
Source: Wikipedia.org entry, "Michael_Bloomberg"
May 2, 2007
Page last updated: Nov 03, 2024