New York City, arguably one of the United States most important cities, appears to be operating with a leadership vacuum at the top!
I will present the story providing the anecdotal evidence supporting my thesis in a moment.
But, as someone who lived in Manhattan and who now owns a business that relies on the social and criminal stability of New York City, recent quality of life trends both observed and documented through polling data are quite disturbing.
‘New Yorkers believe quality of life in the Big Apple is rotting at the core, a new poll revealed Thursday.
Only 33 percent of Gotham residents said life here is “very good” or “good,” the lowest number Quinnipiac University has measured since it first polled on the topic in 1997.
As exposed by The Post, quality of life has gotten worse in just the past few years, according to 49 percent of respondents. Just 19 percent said it’s gotten better and 32 percent believe it’s the same.
Mayor Bill de Blasio’s handling of crime got dismal reviews. Just 40 percent approved and 52 percent did not.
The poll found that 46 percent of New Yorkers believe crime is a “very serious” problem — and 44 percent said it’s “somewhat serious.” Just 8 percent said “not very serious.” Those are the lowest numbers in that category since May 2008.
“The quality of life in New York City isn’t good and it’s getting worse, many voters think,” said Maurice Carroll, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University poll.
A key indicator appears to be New York City’s homeless explosion, with 53 percent of respondents saying they’ve seen more vagrants on the streets now than in recent years.
The Post has been a leading voice on the homeless issue, but “It’s not just newspaper hype about the return of the bad old days, New Yorkers say,” according to Carroll. “Many are seeing more homeless people on the streets and encountering more panhandlers.”‘ (Source)
It’s all about leadership!
Under the leadership of Mayor Giuliani (1994-2001) NYC quality of life issues that had plagued the boroughs prior to his taking office were cleaned-up with strong policies that were implemented well. Most if not all of these policies were maintained when Mayor Bloomberg took office.
While these changes in policy were certainly part of the equation that improved life in the Big Apple, no small part of the success was also due to the fact that the rank and file police, fire, EMT’s, etc. witnessed leadership at the top!
So now if you assume that the prior statement is correct, the actions (or more specifically inaction) of Mayor Bill de Blasio today after a member of the NYFD was wounded and the NYPD became embroiled in a standoff, explains much.
‘Mayor Bill de Blasio went to the gym to work out after a firefighter was shot by a reputed gang leader who had barricaded himself in his Staten Island home Friday morning and set it on fire.
The mayor worked out for at least 80 minutes at the Park Slope Y, his aides said, as the NYPD was in a tense standoff that ended in the suspect’s death…
…“Why could anyone think it’s OK for him to be at a gym working out for two hours in the middle of the day and he is supposed to be running the city,” said a former top official who worked closely with two mayors.
Another former official who was involved in the city’s response to several major crises, called the mayor’s decision “unbelievable.”
“What CEO of a company does that? Take the morning off with all that is going on?” the official said.
When Ed Koch was mayor, he went to the gym at 5:30 a.m. and was usually in the office by 7 a.m. at the latest, the officials said.
“Let him get up and go to the gym early in the morning like normal people,” the official added…‘ (Source)
Forgetting for a moment about de Blasio’s ending of successful policies such as ‘stop and frisk’ but instead focusing only on the message that his actions today tell the thousands who put their lives on the line each and every day, and you will understand the idea that a dearth of leadership exists at the top of New York City government!
‘Those who want to be great leaders must first demonstrate that they can lead themselves.‘
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Article written by Michael Haltman, President of Hallmark Abstract Service in New York.
HAS is a provider of title insurance in New York State for residential and commercial real estate transactions.
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