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Concentrating on the Borough of Queens in New York City...and the neighborhoods of Ozone Park, Howard Beach, Woodhaven, Richmond Hill and South Ozone Park...and Community Boards 5, 6, 9 and 10...
Michael Bloomberg discussing the economy and term limits, during a May 28, 2009 press conference in Queens. Azi Paybarah
Since announcing his third term bid, he has publicly scolded a blogger in a wheelchair for accidentally turning on a tape recorder during a news conference. He called a question about his spending “ridiculous.” And he labeled an inquiry about a political rival a “waste” of a question.
But on Thursday, he seemed to reach new heights of peevishness, calling a reporter who posed a question he did not like “a disgrace.”
At a news conference in Queens, Azi Paybarah, a reporter for The New York Observer, asked the mayor whether an improving economy would undercut his reasoning for seeking a third term. Mr. Bloomberg had argued, during the battle over term limits, that tough times required his steady hand and business background.
Yet at the Queens news conference, Mr. Bloomberg said he was “very optimistic” about New York’s economy. (Thus Mr. Paybarah’s question.)
Mr. Bloomberg cut off Mr. Paybarah midsentence, saying that “the rationale for extending term limits is, the City Council passed it, and the public’s going to have a chance on Nov. 3 to say what they want.”
“I don’t think we have to keep coming back to that,” he said, adding, “When you have a serious question about the economy, I’d be happy to answer it.”
With that, the mayor concluded the news conference, thanked the audience, stepped away from a microphone and looked directly at Mr. Paybarah. “You’re a disgrace,” he snarled, nearly under his breath, but just loud enough to be captured by reporters’ tape recorders.
After receiving inquires from reporters, a spokesman for the mayor, Stu Loeser said: “The mayor asked me to pass along his apologies to Azi for the comment after the press conference, which I did.”
Here’s Eric Ulrich, the newly elected Republican City Councilman from Queens, at City Hall this morning, after he brought a government official from Palermo, Italy to meet Bloomberg.
Bloomberg is also going to officiate at his swearing-in ceremony this weekend, Ulrich told me. When I asked Ulrich if he’d like to see Bloomberg run in the Republican primary he demurred, saying the decision is for the county chairmen to make.
Ulrich said he is more focused on getting re-elected to a full term in office later this year, and then added, “In my district, it would be helpful to have the mayor on the line.”
The district was formerly represented by a not-so-conservative Democrat, Joe Addabbo, who is now in the State Senate.
THE PEREZ NOTES airs every Wednesday from 6-8PM so spread the news and tell a friend. Azi will be giving us all a post election analysis so tune in.
Azi Paybarah bio from Wikipedia...
Azi Paybarah is a New York-based journalist who focuses primarily on local politics. A former reporter for the New York Press and editor of a blog hosted by the New York Sun entitled 51st State, Paybarah has recently returned to his former home at The New York Observer, where he writes frequent pieces for their daily blog, The Politicker.
Azi attended the University at Albany, and spent the next few years in the state capital working on campaigns prior to moving back to New York City.
Here’s Eric Ulrich, the newly elected Republican City Councilman from Queens, at City Hall this morning, after he brought a government official from Palermo, Italy to meet Bloomberg.
