'MANHATTAN MIKE' TAKES GIFF HEAT FOR BUS STRIKE

New York Post ^ | January 17, 2005 | JEREMY OLSHAN and STEPHANIE GASKELL

[nickcarraway]

The weeklong private- bus strike in Queens became a campaign issue yesterday when City Council Speaker Gifford Miller blasted Mayor Bloomberg for supposedly ignoring the outer boroughs.

"If these were bus lines that served Manhattan, they would never get this kind of treatment from the mayor," said Miller during a visit yesterday to a bus shelter in Ozone Park. Miller, who has all but announced his candidacy for mayor this year, attacked Bloomberg for "leaving 70,000 commuters out in the cold." Drivers and mechanics for two private bus lines — Green and Command — went on strike Jan. 10, demanding a pay raise, while the MTA continues to negotiate the terms of the takeover of all the city's private lines. Negotiations between the mayor and the owners broke down last week — and Miller is pointing a finger at Bloomberg. "They've been getting the cold shoulder from the administration," he said as he gathered with two other council members and about a half-dozen commuters. "As far as I know, there have been no additional talks [since Thursday], and it's all part of a pattern of ignoring these commuters," he said. A spokesman for Bloomberg said the mayor has done everything he can. "We have met every demand that the union has made, and they inexplicably continue to strike," said the spokesman, Paul Elliott. "Gifford Miller shilling on behalf of the bus owners and union isn't helpful."

[A Balrog of Morgoth]

For some reason, I'm getting a mental image of Homer Simpson complaining about Mr. Burns' latest outrage.

[ProudVet77]

I didn't know Queens was part of NYC. I thought they seceded when mayor linseed was in office.

[BykrBayb]

You gotta love that union mindset. They're refusing to work, but somehow it's the mayor who doesn't care about the commuters. Hire drivers that are willing to work, and get rid of the union thugs.

[Iscool]

"We have met every demand that the union has made, and they inexplicably continue to strike," said the spokesman

No doubt this is a lie...But some will ignore common sense and chose to believe it...

[Imaverygooddriver]

ho ho ho Gifford Miller replacing RINO Bloomberg. Sort of like replacing Dan RaTHer with Katie Couric. "Hmmm...should I drink the Drano or the gasoline?"

[geedee]

Hire drivers that are willing to work, and get rid of the union thugs.

Now, now . . . you're gonna get in trouble by telling the truth like that.

Don't you know EVERY worker, even those who complain about having to actually show up for work to get paid, are ENTITLED to a living wage?

What is a living wage? It's whatever the Liberals say it should be.

Why are they ENTITLED to living wages and automatic, guaranteed raises regardless of job performance? Because the Liberals believe the gubbermint owes ANYONE and EVERYONE a certain standard of living despite job performance and personal initiative . . . so long as those who would be enslaved vote a straight DemoCrapic Party ticket.

Man, BykrBayb, you've gotta get with the times. Someone's gonna start calling you part of the Vast RightWing Conspiracy.

P.S. Read your homepage -- YOUR SON ROCKS! Thank him for serving for me. Sons and daughters like him are THE reason we're the greatest country the world has ever known.

[BykrBayb]

Thank you. I'm passing your message on to my Billy. It will be ample compensation for having to put up with parents who instilled in him that cumbersome work ethic, thereby denying him the life of leisure he could have had in the union. Darn us!