Spectators clearly relished the green regalia and the incessant wail of bagpipes at the 36th annual Queens County St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Belle Harbor, the Rockaways, on Saturday. But Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg appeared intent on not reacting to the mixed reception he received from people along the mile and a half parade route.
At points from Beach 131st Street to the reviewing stand on Beach 105th, the mayor received jeers, catcalls and the occasional expletive, along with rude hand gestures. Alongside Mr. Bloomberg were Christine C. Quinn, the City Council speaker, and Representative Peter T. King from Long Island, who are of Irish heritage.
Underlying the hostility - Bloomberg's response to the December 26 blizzard, his laying off of teachers and cutting of school budgets and his shortening of parade routes.
I grew up in Rockaway, Queens.
This neighborhood is prime Bloomberg territory.
He won 75%-80% of the vote in this neighborhood in 2009
When Bloomberg gets booed and cursed in Rockaway, Queens, that's a pretty good indication of just how far Bloomberg has fallen in two years.
Booing Bloomberg in Rockaway Beach?!
ReplyDeleteIt's not hard, not far to reach.
I can hitch a ride to Rockaway Beach.
He's fallen, but not far enough.
ReplyDeleteWe can hope, though.
Far Rockaway is still mostly a traditional working-class blue-collar neighborhood, a stronghold for guys like Bloomberg who have the ability to speak to the residents' concerns over financial stability and social responsibility. The fact that even this bastion of support is openly speaking against him should serve as a chip in the old man's armor - lots of cops, firefighters, and teachers make their home in Far Rockaway. With his attacks on them, how could he expect to fare any better?
ReplyDeleteIt's too bad that it comes too late to vote him out of his illegal third term. The damage is done. As many others have already opined, there is at least one, possibly two or even more, generation of schoolchildren who are or will be damaged by Bloomberg and his ilk. That's not what "Children First" is supposed to mean - children first on the poverty line?
Well he is going to march today on Staten Island. I have alerted my friends, my old students and parents (of all ethnicities) to go out and boo the proverbial sh...stuffing out of him and that fat pant suit Quinn.
ReplyDeleteIf he got booed in the Rockaways, the people of Staten Island will definitely boost it a notch.
The parade began a block from my house but I was not around to join in the fun. Drat!
ReplyDeletePity these fools for voting him in. I guess Thompson was a few shades too dark? How could you be a school teacher working for the DOE the last 10 years and vote for Bloomberg?
ReplyDeleteI lived in Rockaway Park from 83-95 and the residents are typical New Yorkers, by that I mean great people. Many police, fire, teachers sanitation working class blue collar by and large. Yes this is prime pre-third term Bloomberg supporters. Many Irish-Americans. Salt of the earth types, folks who stand up for what is right and speak out against what is wrong. Bloomberg is toast by their actions yesterday. How many PD will be out in force to protect Bloomy when the Manhattan St Patricks Day parade is held? The least he should do is pay for the additional over time costs as he and his stupid comments have created this controversy.
ReplyDeleteYes, that is bad, when he gets booed and jeered in Rockaway, Queens. My family grew up in the neighborhood for over 40 years so I am familiar with Rockaway as well.
ReplyDelete