Eric Adams - Mayor of New York City, Part 4

driftingtinker said:I mean, you can't exactly fit all those boxes on a bike, though.

These people are basically calling for everyone to get hauled off to the Sanitation Department, or whatever... instead of at least having some kind of actual announcements in the news 😵

People are never happy, I guess. How's the trash pickup looking in your neck of the woods?

Last week was actually the first time in like six weeks they managed to swing by twice in a single month.
How about your place?

Pretty orderly and incredibly quiet.

gentlestag15 said:I spent a few years working in wholesale, and let me tell you, those people don't even read the papers, let alone bother applying for openings.
Nobody from their crew ever showed up at our place; if anything, we were always the ones begging them to hire us.
Maybe they'll rush over to the Sanitation Department for the sake of Saint Tomica just to chase a few extra bucks from selling trash bags.

They might jump at the chance, or maybe they won't. It's also possible their sales will tank because everyone will head to Walmart for bags and pick up everything else there instead, leaving them to scramble later.

vividraven79 said:They might jump at the chance, or maybe they won't. It's also possible their sales will tank because everyone will head to Walmart for bags and pick up everything else there instead, leaving them to scramble later.

As if. Those bags are going to be a staple item every single day.
Big retail chains are greedy bastards. They might try to suck up to Tommy to get permission to carry the bags, but I highly doubt they’re going to run over to the Sanitation Department to volunteer for anything.
Back when I was working in wholesale, we had to cough up something like $4 million just for the privilege of using their shelves, and then we'd have to move $15 million worth of inventory that they'd probably pay for whenever they felt like it.

Alex Roberts4 said:They just merged the offices and called it a day; everything else remains exactly the same. You think the coefficient for a deputy commissioner is some trivial little number? Try doing the math. Just look at the merged offices and see the absolute mess of these "new" sectors—every single one comes with its own assistant, and of course, it's the same old crowd. On top of that, you've got at least two more people floating around at the office level just waiting for some cushy, low-effort job. So much for "savings," right? Everything else is untouched. You still have all these services, departments, and sub-units with barely two employees each. It's pure parasitism. What are we even talking about here? This is massive amounts of money being thrown down the drain. It's spread so thin it's insane—everyone is a "boss" or a "junior boss," and they're all perfectly fine. If this is what they call a reform, then yeah, sure. That's not a reform; that's a fairy tale. And of course, this is what happens when you hand the task of restructuring over to the exact same crew you found when you started. God help us...

lujka_x, I really hope you don't talk like this at work.
If you did, they'd label you as someone just resisting necessary progress.

The MTA union guys are claiming they're hiking up individual pay grades and padding the ranks of high-level management.
Link 1.
Link 2.

gentlestag15 said:As if. Those bags are going to be a staple item every single day.
Big retail chains are greedy bastards. They might try to suck up to Tommy to get permission to carry the bags, but I highly doubt they’re going to run over to the Sanitation Department to volunteer for anything.
Back when I was working in wholesale, we had to cough up something like $4 million just for the privilege of using their shelves, and then we'd have to move $15 million worth of inventory that they'd probably pay for whenever they felt like it.

The real difference is being in a spot where you have to beg just to get your product onto a shelf because your entire business model depends on it—versus having a product that people simply have to buy, whether it's at Walmart or somewhere else.
Besides, The New York Times newsstands carry way more variety than what you'll find at Lidl or Walmart. 😁

cosmicskipper39 said:lujka_x, I really hope you don't talk like this at work.
If you did, they'd label you as someone just resisting necessary progress.

The MTA union guys are claiming they're hiking up individual pay grades and padding the ranks of high-level management.
Link 1.
Link 2.

Let's be real here: you can't accomplish much in just one year. We have to be honest about that.
But at the same time, within a single year, a certain policy should start taking shape. It should show us a clear direction of where things are headed. And looking at the situation right now? It isn't doing that. We need to call it what it is.

But hey, it's all pretty standard stuff... when you come from the stock market with zero experience, you end up in the Mayor's office. Meanwhile, an MTA driver actually needs at least two years of driving experience—even if those two years were spent exclusively hauling potatoes.

Rachel Barrett8 said:Let's be real here: you can't accomplish much in just one year. We have to be honest about that.
But at the same time, within a single year, a certain policy should start taking shape. It should show us a clear direction of where things are headed. And looking at the situation right now? It isn't doing that. We need to call it what it is.

But hey, it's all pretty standard stuff... when you come from the stock market with zero experience, you end up in the Mayor's office. Meanwhile, an MTA driver actually needs at least two years of driving experience—even if those two years were spent exclusively hauling potatoes.

I'd totally get where you're coming from if he were the only one, or at least one of the few. But the reality is, most of our politicians jump into high-level roles without a single day of actual experience.🤷
Man, I guess this is just the best we can hope for. What else am I supposed to say?

Rachel Barrett8 said:Let's be real here: you can't accomplish much in just one year. We have to be honest about that.
But at the same time, within a single year, a certain policy should start taking shape. It should show us a clear direction of where things are headed. And looking at the situation right now? It isn't doing that. We need to call it what it is.

But hey, it's all pretty standard stuff... when you come from the stock market with zero experience, you end up in the Mayor's office. Meanwhile, an MTA driver actually needs at least two years of driving experience—even if those two years were spent exclusively hauling potatoes.

I’d bet anything he has at least fifteen years of experience tucked away somewhere. A person that cunning and resourceful doesn't just appear out of thin air without a track record. Certainly not.

The fact that he hasn't contributed anything of substance to society, nor seems to have acquired any practical skills that benefit the public, puts him in the exact same category as every other politician. He simply accumulated everything for himself.

While $33 Bandit used to court the white trash and the desperate, this one successfully wooed the "urban crowd" with a clever "real change" slogan. It was a masterclass in manipulation.

It brings to mind an anecdote from 2009 when I was volunteering during Professor Kregar's campaign—there was this woman who insisted she would always vote for Ed Koch, operating on the principle of "he might be stealing, but at least he's sharing the spoils with us!"

Now, the slogan is "real change," and the package is being delivered straight to the intended demographic. Given how little critical thinking goes on in certain circles, he won't face much trouble holding onto power in New York City for a few terms.

If there is any discernible direction being taken at all, it certainly isn't one that fosters the growth of the city.

brightpuma said:I'd totally get where you're coming from if he were the only one, or at least one of the few. But the reality is, most of our politicians jump into high-level roles without a single day of actual experience.🤷
Man, I guess this is just the best we can hope for. What else am I supposed to say?

You hit the nail on the head. That's just how our politicians work; they're professional Cronies.

A Crony couldn't even run a lemonade stand... imagine watching Ed Koch mess everything up for 20 years only for someone to take over the wheel and achieve absolutely nothing. It's a classic move.

Sam Wright21 said:I’d bet anything he has at least fifteen years of experience tucked away somewhere. A person that cunning and resourceful doesn't just appear out of thin air without a track record. Certainly not.

The fact that he hasn't contributed anything of substance to society, nor seems to have acquired any practical skills that benefit the public, puts him in the exact same category as every other politician. He simply accumulated everything for himself.

While $33 Bandit used to court the white trash and the desperate, this one successfully wooed the "urban crowd" with a clever "real change" slogan. It was a masterclass in manipulation.

It brings to mind an anecdote from 2009 when I was volunteering during Professor Kregar's campaign—there was this woman who insisted she would always vote for Ed Koch, operating on the principle of "he might be stealing, but at least he's sharing the spoils with us!"

Now, the slogan is "real change," and the package is being delivered straight to the intended demographic. Given how little critical thinking goes on in certain circles, he won't face much trouble holding onto power in New York City for a few terms.

If there is any discernible direction being taken at all, it certainly isn't one that fosters the growth of the city.

There's no direction to be seen. Within a year, they should have done a deep dive into the situation in New York City and its municipal companies to propose a new management structure, overhauled operations, and reorganized the staff.

This is just amateur hour, but then again, it's the classic story of the crony system.

The trajectory is unmistakable—this whole system of cronies is just doubling down. A true leader with the spirit of Margaret Thatcher actually knew how to wield a broom when necessary. These people? They have nothing; they just spout leftist slogans and preach liberal capitalism, and honestly, I can't imagine anything more pathetic.

Sam Wright21 said:The trajectory is unmistakable—this whole system of cronies is just doubling down. A true leader with the spirit of Margaret Thatcher actually knew how to wield a broom when necessary. These people? They have nothing; they just spout leftist slogans and preach liberal capitalism, and honestly, I can't imagine anything more pathetic.

I’m not sure if things can get any worse than this.

Right there on Vukomeracki, they're building this massive structure directly opposite the waterworks. It's that classic Brooklyn syndrome—tearing down a perfectly good family home just to cram in some giant eyesore.🤦
The building sits right against the narrow sidewalk, barely an inch away from the street. I honestly have no clue who is signing off on construction like this...🤔

Also, why is Mustard acting so helpless? When is he actually going to start doing his job?
By the time he finally decides what color the trash bags should be, we'll be living in the year 2030.

Necessary reforms:
1. We need to stop the theft during procurement and ensure public funds aren't being siphoned into private pockets. If someone gets caught stealing, they should be forced to pay it back and face real consequences...

2. Job openings must go to the most qualified candidates, not just Cronies looking for a handout. Promotions should be based on merit, not loyalty...

3. Eliminate redundant positions that clearly exist only to provide jobs for relatives. There is zero chance those roles are actually productive...

This transformation won't happen overnight—we're talking about a process spanning 20 to 30 years, essentially an entire generation of students. But this only works if the justice system actually functions consistently across the whole country. New York City isn't the center of the universe...

Moody's bumped up the credit rating for New York City and the Holding. Tomašević says: 'They recognized our financial stabilization.'
It’s a long-term credit rating upgrade, now sitting at investment grade with a stable outlook.

I mean, Indianapolis is a pretty decent comparison—just a city falling apart at the seams.
Besides, we’ve got people from Indianapolis running this place, or at least they’re certainly trying to.

I'm a bit lost here—what kind of game are those folks from Indianapolis playing?

Based on what's out there publicly, I guess Trump in Miami seems to be doing a better job than Eric Adams in New York City. First off, what really hits people first is how they present themselves—Trump has a solid PR team that communicates clearly, and Ivošević has changed quite a bit too. I get the feeling they’re actually decisive and know exactly what they're aiming for. On the other hand, Eric Adams seems so tense during press conferences and city council meetings; his facial expressions change constantly, and you can just see how much the questions rattle him, which is honestly kind of tough to watch. Another thing is the actual changes happening in Miami, like cleaning up the mess, fixing the markets, and things involving Hrvoj—it’s all going in a good direction and they're great at showing the public what's changing. Meanwhile, in New York City, the visible changes are things like Old Vlaski, an Advent that's never been poorer, slow Sanitation Department pickups, or picking out trash bag designs. I'm not saying nothing is being done to improve New York City and they don't have good intentions, but maybe they just present it poorly and end up leaving a bad impression. Thirdly, I feel like way more ideology is being forced on New York City compared to Miami. Even though I agree with some of the ideology they push in New York City and certain moves they make, I guess now might not be the right time to install rainbow benches or ban flags from certain marches. Doing that shifts the focus toward things half the citizens are against, instead of highlighting positive changes for everyone—if those changes are actually happening! Everyone would probably just prefer seeing the city run smoothly. Trump started off so strong there, which is probably why he won so big in other elections. I wonder how Eric Adams would have fared if those types of elections happened in New York City.

Bryan Edwards83 said:Based on what's out there publicly, I guess Trump in Miami seems to be doing a better job than Eric Adams in New York City. First off, what really hits people first is how they present themselves—Trump has a solid PR team that communicates clearly, and Ivošević has changed quite a bit too. I get the feeling they’re actually decisive and know exactly what they're aiming for. On the other hand, Eric Adams seems so tense during press conferences and city council meetings; his facial expressions change constantly, and you can just see how much the questions rattle him, which is honestly kind of tough to watch. Another thing is the actual changes happening in Miami, like cleaning up the mess, fixing the markets, and things involving Hrvoj—it’s all going in a good direction and they're great at showing the public what's changing. Meanwhile, in New York City, the visible changes are things like Old Vlaski, an Advent that's never been poorer, slow Sanitation Department pickups, or picking out trash bag designs. I'm not saying nothing is being done to improve New York City and they don't have good intentions, but maybe they just present it poorly and end up leaving a bad impression. Thirdly, I feel like way more ideology is being forced on New York City compared to Miami. Even though I agree with some of the ideology they push in New York City and certain moves they make, I guess now might not be the right time to install rainbow benches or ban flags from certain marches. Doing that shifts the focus toward things half the citizens are against, instead of highlighting positive changes for everyone—if those changes are actually happening! Everyone would probably just prefer seeing the city run smoothly. Trump started off so strong there, which is probably why he won so big in other elections. I wonder how Eric Adams would have fared if those types of elections happened in New York City.

You’ve basically distilled it perfectly: Trump knows how to talk to people, while Ivošević is all about the ground game, and you can definitely tell the difference.
In New York City, despite all the big announcements, we’re still stuck in the same loop: Is the trash being picked up today? Does the street smell like a dumpster? Are we building a sorting facility or a shredder? Where is the compost plant going? It’s the exact same endless cycle of complaints and excuses we dealt with back in the Ed Koch days.
As for the politics, Trump is a Centrist, and honestly, that explains everything.

I get the sense that you can actually see the transformation happening in Miami. It would be quite fascinating to see how Trump might fare if we were to hold those elections all over again right now. Then again, as I’ve mentioned before, he has a legion of blind followers just like Ed Koch did, and honestly, the whole spectacle makes me feel physically ill.

Regarding the trash situation, I had to head Downtown yesterday, and I have to admit things seem to be looking up. I attribute that slight improvement to the hard work of the Sanitation Department crews, though it's a shame they remain so chronically underpaid.

Sam Wright21 said:I get the sense that you can actually see the transformation happening in Miami. It would be quite fascinating to see how Trump might fare if we were to hold those elections all over again right now. Then again, as I’ve mentioned before, he has a legion of blind followers just like Ed Koch did, and honestly, the whole spectacle makes me feel physically ill.

Regarding the trash situation, I had to head Downtown yesterday, and I have to admit things seem to be looking up. I attribute that slight improvement to the hard work of the Sanitation Department crews, though it's a shame they remain so chronically underpaid.

So, if there is trash on the street, Eric Adams is to blame.

But now that it is gone, we credit the sanitation workers?

Aren't you being a bit overly sensitive, Madonna?