Mayors

Before I say anything, I’ll admit this: Most of my job is painfully tedious. While it never makes news, the majority of the things I have to do err more to the side of bridge rehabilitation projects than some massive policy change. Most of this has to do with the way our government is formatted: States are given power from the federal government, local governments are given power from the states. There’s a definite trickle down effect to the point that most mayors only deal with minor local projects: streets, garbage collection, funding city police departments property tax if they’re lucky. Very occasionally we get to temporarily rename streets because our city will be hosting the 2014 Superbowl (not that I’m bragging…) My big highlights though? It’s things other would find silly. That we were able to run a 3.3 billion dollar surplus budget in 2010 during a recession, that next year there won’t be a single tax hike for New York City residents. Lately, things have looked up. NYC has been named the safest big city in America, amazing considering some of the cuts we’ve made to police forces. It’s funny how even the good things have a tainted side. We’re running a balanced budget, but we had to cut a drop-in shelter, Senior centers and eliminating units in Protective Services. Ironically, our biggest cut or increase has been the seemingly smallest: Parking in midtown Manhattan will go from 2.00 to 2.50 and hour. Total revenue increase? 12.2 million dollars. There are other perks, too. Teachers won’t get raises this year, but while so many other districts are laying off teachers, we will keep the majority of ours. The James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act has been passed, helping individuals families of those individuals who served their city so bravely not so long ago. I get to help send relief teams to Haiti, make sure our schools have healthy eating programs. We’re getting 100,000 new units of affordable housing. My job is menial at times, just appearances and formalities, enforcing laws that come down from above but occasionally? Occasionally I get to do the little things that make the big difference. Keep one more person employed so that their family can eat, make sure another has a roof over their head. It’s a tough job, and though reluctant to step into a role that carries such responsibility, I can easily say I am honored to be able to serve a city so great.