Mayor Overrules 2 Aides Seeking Food Stamp Shift (Bloomberg does something right for a change.)

NY Times ^ | April 18, 2006 | SEWELL CHAN

[neverdem]

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg took the rare step yesterday of overruling his own top two social service officials, deciding not to pursue a federal waiver that would make it easier for able-bodied childless adults to receive food stamps.

A statement issued by one of those officials, Deputy Mayor Linda I. Gibbs, said the city was taking the action "because we believe that every New Yorker who can work should work." She said the city would "continue to monitor this population closely and may consider seeking a waiver next year."

Ms. Gibbs and the commissioner of the city's Human Resources Administration, Verna Eggleston, had approved the waiver request, which would have allowed some able-bodied adults ages 18 to 49 to receive food stamps for longer than the normal federal limit of three months in any three-year period.

Administration officials said last night that the mayor ultimately had to sign off on the policy anyway. "The city was exploring its options and didn't need to make a final decision on whether to seek the waiver until the end of the month, so it was premature for anyone to assume which option the city would ultimately choose," said Paul Elliott, a spokesman for the mayor.

In explaining the administration's decision not to seek the waiver, Ms. Gibbs said in a statement, "This potential policy change is not consistent with the mayor's goal of helping New Yorkers become self-sufficient."

The mayor's move was not only a highly unusual public decision to overrule a city department's actions, but also something of an embarrassment for Ms. Gibbs, who was promoted to deputy mayor for human and health services in January after running the Department of Homeless Services, and for Ms. Eggleston, who has led the Human Resources Administration since Mr. Bloomberg took office in 2002.

The...

[Full Court]

The thing I struggle with is why can Mexicans who don't even speak the language find work and support themselves, but Americans will not?

[A Balrog of Morgoth]

The thing I struggle with is why can Mexicans who don't even speak the language find work and support themselves, but Americans will not?

I'm thinking it might be because they actually look for work.