NYC Mayor Orders Lights, Sirens Removed From 250 Vehicles

AP ^ | 2-20-2004

[nuconvert]

NYC Mayor Orders Lights, Sirens Removed From 250 Vehicles

The Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) - Mayor Michael Bloomberg ordered the lights and sirens removed from more than 250 city vehicles Friday after one of his deputy mayors was caught on video routinely and unnecessarily using the equipment on her official car. Only about 70 civilians in the Bloomberg administration, including the mayor and one of five deputy mayors, will be allowed to keep their lights and sirens.

A week ago, WCBS-TV aired videotape of Deputy Mayor Carol Robles-Roman zipping from work to home in her official car, its lights flashing and siren blaring. Her chauffeur was shown driving on the shoulders of roads to avoid traffic.

Bloomberg ordered an inquiry into which officials truly need the equipment.

"The criteria the mayor used with commissioners was, 'Is this somebody that responds to emergencies as part of their job?'" spokesman Ed Skyler said.

Almost all department heads will lose their lights and sirens, including the schools chancellor, the finance commissioner and the parks commissioner. Among the few who will be allowed to keep the equipment is the sanitation commissioner.

[nuconvert]

No, there are circumstances when the mayor of N.Y. might need to get somewhere pronto. I vote he gets to keep his.

[Atlas Sneezed]

I think that ALL citizens should have lights and sirens, too.

After all, not only government employees ahave emergencies.

;-)

[mass55th]

Why punish everybody. Since she was the only one caught abusing the privilege, take the vehicle away from her. I hate bureaucrats. They can never hold one person responsible for their misbehavior, they have to take it out on everyone.

[syriacus]

If Schumer's wife, who's in charge of the NYC Transportation Department, has that kind of equipment, will she have to get rid of it?

[Thebaddog]

The ruling could work in the PRChicago. An M plate is a license to cut corners.

[Xenalyte]

Ahhhh, its whats called the "WOO-WOO" syndrome...

Thass only in the mawnin - you sposa be up cookin' brefiss.

[clamboat]

Why punish everybody. Since she was the only one caught abusing the privilege, take the vehicle away from her. I hate bureaucrats. They can never hold one person responsible for their misbehavior, they have to take it out on everyone.

I can see you've given this some deep thought. It is not a punishment. If taking the lights away was a punishment then having them must have been a perq, right?

I'm sure that after the deputy mayor was filmed abusing the pivilege Bloomberg asked "how many people are authorized to have the lights and sirens?" The answer must have stunned him. I'm all for his action - take'em away from more people. The little tyrant is not the mayor who is being fiscally and ethically responsible; the little tyrants are the hundreds of little clams who feel they need to have der blinken lights and woo woo siren to beat the 8 am commute traffic.

Go Bloomberg!

[nuconvert]

I don't know. The mayor is allowing some people to keep there's. I don't know how he's making that decision.

[Joe Hadenuf]

Deputy Mayor Carol Robles-Roman zipping from work to home in her official car, its lights flashing and siren blaring. Her chauffeur was shown driving on the shoulders of roads to avoid traffic.

WTF do these government lackeys need chauffeurs for?

Chauffeurs?

While the middle class struggles, these government employees have gone from public servants to government celebrities....

[StriperSniper]

period

No, I'd let the sanitation commissioner keep them, along with any officials that have to do with infrastructure. Those kind of people sometimes might need to get through to clear up the congestion. Now I'm all for him taking them away from the schools chancellor. ;-)

[Joe Hadenuf]

No, I'd let the sanitation commissioner keep them, along with any officials that have to do with infrastructure. Those kind of people sometimes might need to get through to clear up the congestion.

Yeah, I can just see the over paid sanitation commissioner driving around town with his government paid chauffeur.

Sheesh.....

[Slings and Arrows]

The ruling could work in the PRChicago. An M plate is a license to cut corners.

"M plate" - municipal?

[nuconvert]

maybe if you replace the word "chauffeur" with "driver", it won't sound so snooty.

[mass55th]

"I can see you've given this some deep thought."

I can see you've never worked for a bureaucracy/government agency. Let's see, how long has the Mayor been in office? 3 years? And he's only now asked how many people have lights and sirens? If too many people had them, then I'd take it up with whoever the person is in charge of handing the stuff out. Who authorized all those vehicles to have the equipment? The issue never would have been a problem had one moron not decided to misuse what has probably been standard equipment on these vehicles for years. Having the use of city owned equipment is a privilege that comes with responsibilities. When someone abuses the privilege, that privilege should be taken away from the person commiting the violation. In doing so, you set an example and send a message that that type of behavior will not be tolerated. Why should someone have to give up equipment if they haven't abused it?

Ten to one, in a month or two, after Mikey gets over his little tirade and show of power, the equipment will be reissued, either on the sly or by the Mayor himself. He's just got to put a show on for everybody to let them know he's still in charge.

[Focault's Pendulum]

I've seen it many times in some Volunteer Fire Departments...

In what regards?

[timydnuc]

This is a WONDERFUL story for us folks in 'flyover country'. It just proves that NYC is a total, and absolute cluster f&*k. A toilet waiting to be flushed, as in Flushing New York.

Thank God we have them confined to a specific location. Don't let them out, it'll infect the rest of us.

[Thebaddog]

Chicago is not subtle. You are correct.

[mass55th]

"I hear you but I can't imagine any legitimate use of a siren for the finance commissioner"

More than likely, the equipment has been standard issue on all the vehicles for years, and isn't assigned because of any particular position you hold. This could have been standard practice through several administrations.

[mass55th]

"This woman could have caused a serious accident."

That's series friend.

[Slings and Arrows]

Thanks much.