Michael Bloomberg Has A Toxic Legacy On Lead

[JoeOtterbein]

Politico

The former New York City mayor sided with landlords over kids of color in a long-forgotten battle that could dog him in 2020.

By Alexander C. Kaufman
12/13/2019 05:45 am ET Updated 1 day ago

When Cordell Cleare went to meet the mayor of New York City for the first time in winter 2003, she expected to be disappointed.

The Harlem mother had spent a decade crusading against landlords whose neglect of lead paint hazards had poisoned thousands of kids, including her youngest son. Michael Bloomberg, the billionaire who was then New York City’s mayor and is now a candidate for president, had opposed the efforts to enforce cleanup. He argued that the city’s existing laws were working just fine and that any new rules risked hurting the real estate industry.

But Cleare kept pressing, and by late 2003, she was working as an aide to City Councilman Bill Perkins as he marshaled one of the most progressive lead paint bills in the country. On that sunny winter day, she made a final plea to Bloomberg in his Lower Manhattan office to sign the bill into law.

First, Bloomberg made her wait. A mayoral aide, who came out to delay the meeting for the fourth time, told Cleare that Bloomberg only wanted to meet with Perkins. Cleare insisted on joining, and they were both ultimately ushered into a conference room for a meeting that lasted under 20 minutes.

As Cleare appealed to the first-term mayor about the lead paint dust causing an epidemic of brain damage among mostly Black and Latino children, Bloomberg interrupted her.

“He said, ‘Yeah, well, I just don’t understand certain behaviors in certain populations,’” Cleare recalled on a recent morning over a cup of tea at a Dunkin’ Donuts on 116th Street. “Then he told me his foundation was trying to find out why people take drugs.”

She understood the mayor’s insinuation: Irresponsible minority parents, not landlords, were the ones to blame for lead-tainted paint dust coating the floors and surfaces of their poorly maintained apartments.

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more at link

[Eliot Rosewater]

1. I'm curious, are you VOTE BLUE NO MATTER WHO?

[JoeOtterbein]

3. In '16 I voted for both Bernie and Hillary.

So, I've already proved it. Did you?

[Eliot Rosewater]

5. I am not asking about then, I am asking about now...

In fact I voted for Bernie in the primary knowing Hillary would win my primary and mostly because while I dont think he can accomplish most of what is on his agenda it is also mine, although mine goes WAY further to the left than his.

Then of course I voted for Hillary, I am wondering how can people vote for Joe, for instance, if they have been told Bernie is the ONLY way or the best and Joe is bad for this reason or that reason, you see if SOME OF THE people supporting Bernie would cut that shit out, then I wouldnt care.

[JoeOtterbein]

6. Bernie is still the best!

Why settle for second best, in the Primaries. We can win and save the earth. Or settle for second best.

Will you vote for Bernie against Trump?

Just as easy for you to answer that, is as easy for me.

Now, or then.

So why the doubt? I hope it is not fear. Fear is a killer.

[LanternWaste]

7. If so, why then the consistent pattern of attributing people's concern to fear?

"Fear is a killer."

If so, why then the consistent pattern last week of attributing people's concern of a thing to fear?

Or maybe I simply answered my own question.

[ehrnst]

9. No, he's not the best by any stretch. And I'll vote blue no matter who in 2020.

Last edited Mon Dec 16, 2019, 06:16 PM - Edit history (1)

However, I strongly doubt he'll be the Democratic nominee, so I don't think it'll ever be an issue of needing to vote for him.

[Eliot Rosewater]

11. What boggles my mind are WELL MEANING people who BASH mainstream dems all day

long while supporting Bernie and then are SURPRISED when the election is close.

THe BASHING is why the election is close, people HEAR that, people who are ON THE FENCE and the NONstop BASHING pushes them over to the NOT GONNA VOTE CUZ THEY ARE ALL THE SAME side of that life and death fence.

SIGH

SIGH

[ehrnst]

12. Yep. (nt)

[Eliot Rosewater]

10. Not only will I vote for him over Rump, I can ASSURE you the likelihood is

that I was listening to Bernie LONG before you or most here were...I had 95% there but it didnt make sense, what I meant was I am pretty damn sure

I can assure you I am FARTHER TO THE LEFT than he is...

The difference between me and some is I want to make sure the fascists are beaten and some folks dont have that as their top priority.

Not saying who, but some folks have proven that is NOT their top priority.

Are you or Bernie in favor of nationalizing ALL energy? I am.

It goes without saying I am for nationalizing HC.

How about making access to the internet AND Cell phones GUARANTEED for those who cant afford it? Yeah, I could go on.

Can those things happen now? NOPE, so I will HOPE we get someone in office who can make something happen, not alienate everyone around him or her which some have, in case you didnt know it. But removing the FASCISTS is what I care about.

ps

Which person has a better chance of getting someting signed into law

person A. known to NOT be a friendly type , never hardly smiles, gets along with practically NOBODY and has a legislative history to prove it...but who wants UHC and college guarantees etc.

person B. known to get along with EVERYBODY, smiles all the time, well liked and has a legislative history to prove it...but who wont go full UHC in his or her first term because it wont pass so improves ACA or whatever., something that is a step forward not backward...REMEMBER unless you have LARGE margins in both Houses NOBODY gets ANY Of this progressive stuff done, and we are FAR from that in the next 4 - 8 years, right?

HOW Can you IGNORE what I just said which is factual...how can you say you are a political junkie like we all ARE, and not acknowledge that. Do you know some GOP who want UHC that I dont know about?

[ehrnst]

13. +1000. (nt)

[ehrnst]

8. That's the past, not 2020, and not what you were asked.

Did that question hit a nerve?

[Sloumeau]

2. Thanks for posting this.

Fortunately, Bloomberg has no chance of winning the nomination.

His billionaire status and his Stop and Frisk alone will keep him from winning.

This is just another reason to toss his candidacy into the ash bin of history.

[appalachiablue]

4. Disturbing to see this; stop & frisk and more.. Tx for posting.