Bloomberg On Homelessness

Guys, the father that you New Yorkers know and love so much is actually more tyrannical than I had previously thought. Until earlier this week, I had never heard of Michael Bloomberg's ban on donating food to the homeless. Yeah, you read that right. Not a typo.

You might remember the more recent introduction of the "Nannie City", as Bloomberg banned the sale of large sugary drinks in New York City. If you've been living under a rock (or not in NYC, anywhere else is de facto "under a rock" anyway, but I digress...), you can read more about that whole fiasco here.

Well, I suppose a case can be made for getting rid of oversized Monsters and Coca Colas, but donating food to the homeless???

You can read the full story here.

This ban actually took place earlier this year, in March (BEFORE the soda ban), but I hadn't seen anything about it on WSO (or heard of it at all), until a friend linked the above article to me pretty recently. Figured there are plenty of people here who haven't heard of this yet, and it's...bewildering to say the least.

"Richter has been collecting food from places like the Ohav Zedek synagogue and bringing it to homeless shelters for more than 20 years, but recently his donation, including a “cholent” or carrot stew, was turned away because the Bloomberg administration wants to monitor the salt, fat and fiber eaten by the homeless."

Wow.

Never mind that the Bible, a document might have more power in this country than our own Constitution at times, would vehemently disagree, Mayor Bloomberg seems to believe that ensuring the homeless in New York City aren't consuming too much salt takes precedence over ensuring that they not starve to begin with. So what happened to helping the poor and downtrodden? Not on his watch.

Had you guys heard of this? Am I the one who has been living under a rock? I've actually agreed with a lot of Bloomberg's policies, and several friends were supporters of his various Presidential campaigns, but his borderline-tyrannical moves in the past 12 months as mayor have been jarring to say the VERY least. Big Brother is watching guys, he's watching.

And I think, most importantly, what implications do you guys think these types of policies have for large cities and metropolitan areas in the USA? Chicago has had a monarchical system of government until very recently (see Daley), though I don't know enough about the policies of the Daley Dynasty to effectively make any sort of comparison here.

Regardless, mayors of our large cities - NYC, LA, Chicago - are considered to be fairly prominent politicians, just have a look at Bloomberg himself alongside Rahm and Giuliani. These guys mean business, and can often transition to the federal level freely: to what degree is a Mayor encouraged to leave a "legacy" to bolster a political future? Could that be in play here?

Either that or NYC's homeless are going to start enjoying the goods at Whole Foods and Trader Joe's. I'm jealous.

Discuss.

 

That's just fucking stupid. Concerned about salt intake?? Clearly starvation, shelter, drug abuse, etc. should take precedence over monitoring the nutrition for bums. I really just can't see the logic or find a motive. As for leaving a legacy, maybe Bloomberg is trying to further convey his power, and show a caring side for the health of the homeless, but I still can't see it. I think his political future is really what he wants to make of it, regardless of silly actions like this. (though banning huge sodas is a good idea)

 

This is actually real? I'm embarrassed to say I once thought the man would be a good president. I do not support the soda ban. But at least it addresses a problem (or rather attempts to).

This sounds like a conspiracy theory, but this seems to make the homeless more dependent on the government and weaken private charity.

 

The only thing separating Bloomberg from some ding pot African dictator is geography. The man is out of control and a sign of the liberal policies that are too come. Personal responsibility, hell how about common sense, is completely out the window. Salt intake.....I think the urge not to starve or freeze to death might over take a little high blood pressure.

The "American Spirit" that has endured for so long might finally be snuffed out. Personal responsibility and choice are being gutted by the mindless mob and quietly but steadily removed from consideration for the slightest imaginary perception of risk. In this past election, California voted to make wearing a condom in a porno mandatory. Never mind that this is a breach of personal choice, but politicians fail to comprehend the simple fact that thousands of jobs will leave CA and go elsewhere (I hear Nevada is nice). All this is done for the perceived risk of HIV to the public...ignore the fact that porn stars get tested on a MONTHLY BASIS, get tested before doing a film, and the fact that there hasn't been a confirmed case of HIV in the porn industry since 2004. In some respects democracy has gone too far as the mob now sees a majority vote as a way to control every aspect of an individuals lives. Already California (with a new Super Majority) is talking about stripping the low property tax law so that they can suck businesses dry for "needed funds"

Nothing is sacred to a liberal. Personal freedom and choice only extends to what they allow you to have and a man's wallet is simply an ATM.

Throughout history people have lamented the death of America and/or society and their predictions have for the most part failed to materialize, but when I read stories like this I start to wonder "It's truly happening this time, isn't it"...and I weep

"Greed, in all of its forms; greed for life, for money, for love, for knowledge has marked the upward surge of mankind. And greed, you mark my words, will not only save Teldar Paper, but that other malfunctioning corporation called the USA."
 
Gekko21:
In this past election, California voted to make wearing a condom in a porno mandatory. Never mind that this is a breach of personal choice, but politicians fail to comprehend the simple fact that thousands of jobs will leave CA and go elsewhere (I hear Nevada is nice). All this is done for the perceived risk of HIV to the public...ignore the fact that porn stars get tested on a MONTHLY BASIS, get tested before doing a film, and the fact that there hasn't been a confirmed case of HIV in the porn industry since 2004.

How did you know these two "facts" bro? You seem pretty knowledgeable about this particular industry!

 
Best Response
Going Concern:
Gekko21:
In this past election, California voted to make wearing a condom in a porno mandatory. Never mind that this is a breach of personal choice, but politicians fail to comprehend the simple fact that thousands of jobs will leave CA and go elsewhere (I hear Nevada is nice). All this is done for the perceived risk of HIV to the public...ignore the fact that porn stars get tested on a MONTHLY BASIS, get tested before doing a film, and the fact that there hasn't been a confirmed case of HIV in the porn industry since 2004.

How did you know these two "facts" bro? You seem pretty knowledgeable about this particular industry!

Besides the fact that I thought this was common knowledge a simple google search reveals

http://www.businessinsider.com/porn-stars-wearing-condoms-ballot-issue-…

and there are plenty of other articles on the topic

"Greed, in all of its forms; greed for life, for money, for love, for knowledge has marked the upward surge of mankind. And greed, you mark my words, will not only save Teldar Paper, but that other malfunctioning corporation called the USA."
 
Gekko21:

The "American Spirit" that has endured for so long might finally be snuffed out. Personal responsibility and choice are being gutted by the mindless mob and quietly but steadily removed from consideration for the slightest imaginary perception of risk. In this past election, California voted to make wearing a condom in a porno mandatory. Never mind that this is a breach of personal choice, but politicians fail to comprehend the simple fact that thousands of jobs will leave CA and go elsewhere (I hear Nevada is nice). All this is done for the perceived risk of HIV to the public...ignore the fact that porn stars get tested on a MONTHLY BASIS, get tested before doing a film, and the fact that there hasn't been a confirmed case of HIV in the porn industry since 2004. In some respects democracy has gone too far as the mob now sees a majority vote as a way to control every aspect of an individuals lives.

Stumbled upon some Chinese porn on PornHub where they blur shit out, and I'd say we're heading in the wrong direction.
 
BTbanker:
Gekko21:

The "American Spirit" that has endured for so long might finally be snuffed out. Personal responsibility and choice are being gutted by the mindless mob and quietly but steadily removed from consideration for the slightest imaginary perception of risk. In this past election, California voted to make wearing a condom in a porno mandatory. Never mind that this is a breach of personal choice, but politicians fail to comprehend the simple fact that thousands of jobs will leave CA and go elsewhere (I hear Nevada is nice). All this is done for the perceived risk of HIV to the public...ignore the fact that porn stars get tested on a MONTHLY BASIS, get tested before doing a film, and the fact that there hasn't been a confirmed case of HIV in the porn industry since 2004. In some respects democracy has gone too far as the mob now sees a majority vote as a way to control every aspect of an individuals lives.

Stumbled upon some Chinese porn on PornHub where they blur shit out, and I'd say we're heading in the wrong direction.

hahaha amen.

 
Nobama88:

What a complete joke my state has become.

I spoke to some family members in CA today. They were glad Prop 30 passed. "It will give the schools more money" they said. Yeah, it will. California spends plenty per student as is, but achieves dismal results. Throwing more money at the problem won't do anything.

Nevermind that California is becoming far less competitive economically. Were it not for California's climate, the wealthy would be fleeing the state. But there has to be a tipping point. Tax and spend doesn't work.

 

Obviously the salt comment was a lie. It has to be a population control issue.

At this point, I really don't think anyone on WSO is naive enough to wonder why this information wasn't played out in the media to the extent that Big Gulps were.

 

Outrageous. I don't see how it's anyone's business how salty my food is, regardless if I am homeless or not. I guess the food will be thrown away instead of given to hungry people which makes no sense at all.

 

lmao @Gekko21

Bloomberg is a crazed old health nut at this point. Liberals want to curb obesity- but Conservatives are the ones actually willing to go into people's lives- dictating morality of things like gay sex and use of pot and observing conversations and behaviors for "terrorist" activity through wiretaps.

It just so happens that they skipped over the gluttony part in the bible for some arbitrary reason. But they easily could have focused on that like they do with homosexuality.

 
ReadLine:
lmao @Gekko21

Bloomberg is a crazed old health nut at this point. Liberals want to curb obesity- but Conservatives are the ones actually willing to go into people's lives- dictating morality of things like gay sex and use of pot and observing conversations and behaviors for "terrorist" activity through wiretaps.

It just so happens that they skipped over the gluttony part in the bible for some arbitrary reason. But they easily could have focused on that like they do with homosexuality.

Hmmm. Starving people vs. smoking weed and anal sex. Yeah, those are on par with each other. You are fighting for what you like to do, and that's fine with me. I thought you liberals actually cared about poor people. After all, they are the reason we have a dem as president.
 
ReadLine:
lmao @Gekko21

Bloomberg is a crazed old health nut at this point. Liberals want to curb obesity- but Conservatives are the ones actually willing to go into people's lives- dictating morality of things like gay sex and use of pot and observing conversations and behaviors for "terrorist" activity through wiretaps.

It just so happens that they skipped over the gluttony part in the bible for some arbitrary reason. But they easily could have focused on that like they do with homosexuality.

A) Didn't mention gay marriage so don't put words in my mouth, as I actually don't give two shits

B) Actually don't have the biggest problem with the wiretapping provided it is used strictly for major acts of terrorism and nothing else, catching people for speeding or cheating on their taxes or even confessing to a murder would be going to far in my opinion regardless of the so called "good". Also, notice how liberals don't seem to have problem with it either, when was the last time this was a major issue for any candidate?

C) Love how you mention pot, but leave out hard drugs. There have been multipage threads on this topic, I am not touching it again

D) There is a huge difference between the above mentioned and dictating how big a SODA cup can be/can't serve food to starving people because it might have too much salt. The condom issue is just another example. Liberals attempt to control the minute details of a person's life and have the idiocy to believe they actually CAN! Ignore the fact that a person can buy 2 16oz sodas, spending more money and now getting 2x the sugar which is now 33% more than the 24oz he would have bought or 60% more than the 20oz Coke bottle. Ignore the fact that rather than getting soup the homeless person will not either starve or far more likely find bread or some kind of carbs. Ignore the fact that the porn industry hasn't had HIV case since 2004 and is completely self regulated, we NEED MORE TAXES and MORE REGULATION on something that isn't a problem....the law is actually going to institute a new porn tax to pay for condom monitors

Liberals want a say in every decision a person makes, because if the government isn't at least directly supervising you, it can't possibly be right.

"Greed, in all of its forms; greed for life, for money, for love, for knowledge has marked the upward surge of mankind. And greed, you mark my words, will not only save Teldar Paper, but that other malfunctioning corporation called the USA."
 
Hmmm. Starving people vs. smoking weed and anal sex. Yeah, those are on par with each other. You are fighting for what you like to do, and that's fine with me. I thought you liberals actually cared about poor people. After all, they are the reason we have a dem as president.

I don't even understand your asinine logic. Why do we have to choose between battling starvation vs. marijuana use/homosexual acceptance? Or are you actually claiming that liberals want to starve people?

You do realize I called Bloomberg a "crazy old health nut" e.g. NOT a run of the mill liberal. And I spelled it out why- because liberals want to fight obesity but not at the expense of personal choice/privacy. It's a line that unlike conservatives, we don't want to cross to achieve our policy goals. Which might explain why Bloomberg is neither here nor there but an Independent instead.

BTBanker- I find that I have to often break things down for you. You seem unable to grasp fairly simple arguments. Save yourself the braincells and myself the annoyance.

 
A) Didn't mention gay marriage so don't put words in my mouth, as I actually don't give two shits

B) Actually don't have the biggest problem with the wiretapping provided it is used strictly for major acts of terrorism and nothing else, catching people for speeding or cheating on their taxes or even confessing to a murder would be going to far in my opinion regardless of the so called "good". Also, notice how liberals don't seem to have problem with it either, when was the last time this was a major issue for any candidate?

C) Love how you mention pot, but leave out hard drugs. There have been multipage threads on this topic, I am not touching it again

D) There is a huge difference between the above mentioned and dictating how big a SODA cup can be/can't serve food to starving people because it might have too much salt. The condom issue is just another example. Liberals attempt to control the minute details of a person's life and have the idiocy to believe they actually CAN! Ignore the fact that a person can buy 2 16oz sodas, spending more money and now getting 2x the sugar which is now 33% more than the 24oz he would have bought or 60% more than the 20oz Coke bottle. Ignore the fact that rather than getting soup the homeless person will not either starve or far more likely find bread or some kind of carbs. Ignore the fact that the porn industry hasn't had HIV case since 2004 and is completely self regulated, we NEED MORE TAXES and MORE REGULATION on something that isn't a problem....the law is actually going to institute a new porn tax to pay for condom monitors

Liberals want a say in every decision a person makes, because if the government isn't at least directly supervising you, it can't possibly be right.

Are you confused?

A) I know you didn't mention gay sex- I used it as an example of Conservatives controlling personal lives- again, making the argument that the consummate liberal, unlike Bloomberg, is not going to intrude on private live to make her/his policy goals (whether it be anti-obesity or otherwise). e.g. Democrats in the past only went so far as pushing regulation of tobacco- not immediate outright bans.

B) Right. Until it isn't. Also, the progressive caucus of the democratic party has been against it all along. The Democrats are not a perfect proxy for liberal, god knows that we have plenty of blue dogs, especially in the House. But nevertheless it was enough for several ranking democrats to stand up against their president and fellow party member (Obama), something that is rarely done.

C) There is a balance in everything. To think that decriminalization of everything is the typical liberal position is an absurdly pathetic attempt at a straw man.

D) Read my entire reply to BTBanker

To summarize (giving up specificity for clarity, since its a requirement when talking to you), Conservatives = fewer attempts to change behavior, but much larger intrusion, Liberals = more interest in changing behavior, but unwillingness to force change on individuals. Conservative= interested in their warped morality, unsubscribed to policy results (e.g. drug war, homosexuality is natural, birth control/abortion leads to higher socioeconomic standards, etc). and desire to enforce it. Liberal = interested in public welfare, but desire to maintain individual freedom.

last, you had a long diatribe about Bloomberg's soda ban. For the 3rd time in this thread- let me reiterate- Bloomberg is not the traditional liberal for the reasons above. He always had a Republican-esque micromanaging approach but his application of micromanaging to public welfare issues made him switch from GOP to Independent status.

 

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"Greed, in all of its forms; greed for life, for money, for love, for knowledge has marked the upward surge of mankind. And greed, you mark my words, will not only save Teldar Paper, but that other malfunctioning corporation called the USA."

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