Posted on 02/20/2004 3:21:23 PM PST by 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.
Because that might have actually made sense. But Bloomberg isn't interested in making sense -- he's apparently more interested in being compared to Nero.
Yeah, yeah, that's it. All these tax payer compensated lackeys have "drivers" not chauffeurs!
Exactly. Do you know how much it costs to outfit just one vehicle with all that crap? I used to do it for a living for municiple fleet vehicles. That stuff ain't cheap.
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