Posted on 08/18/2004 3:54:25 AM PDT by kattracks
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is offering an array of perks, discounts and other enticements to hundreds of thousands of anti-Bush protesters in a bid to stave off riots when the GOP convention begins in Manhattan in 12 days.
If they accept the terms of Bloomberg's offer, demonstrators must promise to obey city laws and regulations and pick up a powder-blue button that labels them "Peaceful Political Activists." Bloomberg's rewards program for well-behaved convention disrupters includes, according to Newsday, "a unique package" of discounts on hotels, restaurants, plays — even cut-rate entry to the Museum of Sex - and is open to anarchists as well."I don't know how many anarchists will want to wear this button," Bloomberg told a late afternoon press conference. "But they still would get the discounts as long as they have the button."
William Dobbs, spokesman for United for Peace and Justice, which is battling the city over the right to stage a 250,000-person anti-war rally in Central Park, laughed off Bloomberg's offer.
"The whole thing is cuckoo," he told Newsday. "We don't want discounts, we want our First Amendment rights."
Why aren't these peaceful and love-filled folks put in a cage, like in Boston?
I heard them on Sean Hannity this week as they were not answering questions. Too much.
Hey, I actually agree with the protestors. Bloomberg is coo-coo.
I was looking for the ONION designation. Not there. This is for real? A NYC protestor discount?
I understand the hookers will be half-price.
talk about a fool....he's the only asshole in the world who would take their "WORD"
This is great. The end of August is the most quiet time of year in NY. Anyone purchasing goods or services is a boon to the economy. Why not give them discounts? I would rather see them pay 1/2 price for a room then mess up the park and make the city pay more in cleanup costs.
Look, they are going to demonstrate, they are going to be a nuisance and they will probably cause trouble. Vendors and merchants might as well make money off these people as well as the city in the form of taxes. Figure a good 100k will show up. If each person spends 100 bucks over four days, thats ten million not including what the delegates will spend. Also figure out of the 100k, many will be spending mummy and daddys money. They are the ones that will sleep at the Waldorf Astoria and not in a sleeping bag on 39th street.
Bloomberg is preempting this by being gracious. When he has his hand bitten he can speak up, call these morons ungrateful and it will only help Bush. In the end, people, especially undecideds and the elderly cannot stand anarchy. These idiots are being set up and they haven't a clue.
Question is, how will they respond to the hospitality that is being shown them?
Not a bad concept, but it could use a bit more to make it effective.
1) Add a stick to go with the discounts carrot: Enhanced criminal penalties & sentencing guidelines for protestors who sign up but still break the law.
2) Since a button is too easily removable, the discounts will only be offered to protestors who willingly accept a light blue "Peaceful Protestor" face tattoo.
3) To track the success of Mayor Bloomberg's plan, a small "Peaceful Protestor" registration number will be tattooed on each participants forearm.
It was on Fox News this morning that the Mayor is offering half price on motels, and food. The protestors, if they are 'good' will receive buttons to wear that they were 'good during the Convention.'
~sigh
Brian said on Fox that the protestors aren't interested in food discounts........they bring Saltines.
As for motels......they lay down and sleep in the streets....
Jeez... what about a package deal for al Sadr's militia while he's at it?
BEHOLD THE LUNACY OF NINCOMPOOPS
Oh yea, this will work real well - Offer the carrot but make no mention of a stick for violators (like zero tolerance for disruptive behavior and mandatory jail time).
The only perks these perps really want are an endless supply of 5 pound river rocks and an endless supply of politically correct and "sensitive" NYC police officers to hurl them at.
Blue buttons? No stupid blue lapel ribbons???
I vote for the cage. Bring the same one down from Boston, put it in the same relative spot.
Worked for the dims.
The only thing I would go along with would be free soap and shampoo for all. Then again, they probably wouldn't use it and the streets would be littered with it.
I know, add soap to the water that will be blasting them from those fire hoses. That should get them all running for cover. I'm melting, I'm melting....
I can see it now. LOL!
They are doing everything they can to scare people, pretending that they'll have a quarter million people marching, with the unstated implication that they will eventually be rioting.
They want everybody in NYC, especially visiting Republicans, to be terrified, of the coming violence and anarchy and overwhelming of all police contingency plans. But then the dopey smiling mayor steps out and welcomes them with open arms. Encourages them all to come, bring their friends, enjoy the restaurants and shows!
He really screwed up their plans with this.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.