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Mike Bloomberg: Money, Power, Politics |  | Author: Joyce Purnick
Publisher: PublicAffairs
Category: Book
List Price: $26.95
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Seller: GLOBAL-BOOKS
Rating:  5 reviews
Media: Hardcover
Edition: 1
Pages: 272
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.7
Dimensions (in): 9.3 x 6.4 x 1.3
ISBN: 1586485776
Dewey Decimal Number: 974.71044092
EAN: 9781586485771
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Product Description
Michael Bloomberg is not only New York City’s 108th mayor; he is a business genius and self-made billionaire. He has run the toughest city in America with an independence and show of ego that first brought him great success—and eventually threatened it. Yet while Bloomberg is internationally known and admired, few people know the man behind the carefully crafted public persona. In Mike Bloomberg, Joyce Purnick explores Mr. Bloomberg’s life from his childhood in the suburbs of Boston, to his rise on Wall Street and the creation of Bloomberg L.P., to his mayoral record and controversial gamble on a third term. Drawing on her deep knowledge of New York City politics, and interviews with Bloomberg’s friends, family, colleagues, and the mayor himself, she creates a textured portrait of one of the more complex men of our era.
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| Customer Reviews:
 The inside story of a political phenomenon January 25, 2010
Rolf Dobelli (Switzerland)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Mike Bloomberg's story ranks as one of modern business and political history's most inspiring and instructive tales. Take an average, middle-class man with uncommon vigor. Then, imbue him with the discipline and confidence to take maximum advantage of the great opportunities he encountered in college, Wall Street and, eventually, the electrified world of New York City politics. New York Times reporter Joyce Purnick's fluid writing style makes this portrait of an ethical, tough, innovative leader flow seamlessly, so readers can easily enjoy and absorb its themes and stories. getAbstract recommends her breezy, deft, comprehensive presentation of Bloomberg's uplifting life story to executives, political strategists and aspiring leaders.
Excellent biography of Mayor Mike Bloomberg October 1, 2009
LEON L CZIKOWSKY (Harrisburg, Pa USA)
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
This book excellently presents a biography of Michael Bloomberg, the wealthiest person in New York, who was elected Mayor by spending tens of millions of his own money to fund his campaign. As Jimmy Breslin declared, Bloomberg was buying the Mayor's seat "like it's a cup of coffee".
Bloomberg was not known for giving stirring speeches or making convincing arguments when questioned. He did not appear to have empathy for others as he maintained his businesslike aura. The author describes Bloomberg as "the city's first, and no doubt last, plutocrat."
Bloomberg understood finances and he helped steer New York during the national economic crisis. He had the advantage of not owing any interests for his election or for reelection. He could act without needing help from contractors, unions, or other economic lobbies.
Bloomerg used the money to start his own financial information company using computer terminals. It grew to a company with 2,300 journalists and editors in 140 bureaus, a 24 hour research phone line, and with 280,000 subscribes paying $1,590 a month. This phone line system would inspire Mayor Bloomberg to create 311, a number New Yorkers can call at any time to obtain government information.
Once on the public eye, criticism arose of Bloomberg's past behavior. News he faced sexual harassments charges became known. An old quote of his reemerged, where he stated "I like the theatre, dining, and chasing women. Met me put it this way: I am a single, straight billionaire in Manhattan. It's like a wet dream."
Bloomberg increased by double his charitable contributions before running for Mayor, giving $100.5 million to 200 additional organizations, 79 of which are in New York City.
Bloomberg entered the Republican Primary versus former Rep. Herman Badillo, who had few funds and as a former Democrat lacked a strong base. The primary on September 11, 2001 was postponed due to terrorist attacks. The Democrats required a run-off primary. Mayor Guiliani proposed moving the general election back due to the short time between that election and the second primary and also so Guiliani could continue directing post-attack recovery efforts. Bloomberg agreed with moving the election day, and swearing in, dates back. A leading Democratic candidate Mark Green at first was undecided and then agreed. This agreement caused Green to lose popularity amongst liberals (slipping from 70% approval to 50% approval) and African American voters (slipping from 80% to 65% approval). Green won the Democratic run-off primary with 52% to 48% for Fernando Ferrer, yet his electability had been reduced.
Bloomberg explained he wanted to be Mayor because he wanted to make a difference. The press dup up past Bloomberg quotes, such as his stating at a conference "I would like nothing more in life than to have Sharon Stone sit on my face" and if Jesus was a Jew, why does he have a Puerto Rican first name?" Voters were more concerned about the city's finances and more voters choose Bloomberg, who received 48.9% of the vote to Green's 46.6%,
Bloomberg took control of the Board of Education away from other city officials. He extended the city's no smoking area in restaurants to banning smoking in all restaurants as well as bars.
Bloomberg used patronage only for a few former employees and two jobs for relatives. His sister and daughter received jobs for $1 a year, the same salary he took (although he never cashes the check.)
Bloomberg gave large campaign contributions to Republican legislators, especially ones voting on issues he supported.
Bloomberg was worried about reelection. He proposed a residential property tax cut of $250 million out of the city's $1.8 million budget which would save each owners of a home, co-op, or condo about $400 a year. Large apartment buildings and nonresidential property owners were not included in this cut. The cuts passed City Council and Bloomberg's approval rating increased from 44% to 50%. They had been as low as 24% two years prior.
Bloomberg sought to bring the 2012 Olympics to New York City. He wanted to build a sports stadium in a neglected neighborhood, Hudson Yards. He presumed State House Speaker Sheldon Silver would be convinced to support building the stadium only to discover he as against the idea all along. 58% of residents were against building a stadium and Bloomberg misjudged the public reaction. Ironically, killing the stadium may have deflected an uproar against Bloomberg that might have harmed his reelection chances.
Fernando Ferror won the Democratic Primary to face Bloomberg's reelection efforts. Ferrer stated the police shooting of an unarmed Black was not a crime, a reversal from his pervious opinion. Before that statement in March 2005, Ferrer led Bloomberg in polls by 46% to 40%. In April 2005, after Ferrer's statement, Bloomberg led by 51% to 38%.
Bloomberg tried to introduce congestion pricing to reduce midtown traffic. Speaker Silver supported this idea yet his potential opponent for the Speakership, Richard Brodsiy, opposed it. Silver then decided there weren't enough votes to pass the legislation and he let the proposal die. While the proposal failed, it attracted national attention for Bloomberg.
Bloomberg decided to run for a third term. He had to first change, and convinced City Council to do so, a law limiting the Major to two terms.
 MAYOR MIKE... September 19, 2009
Lawyeraau (Balmoral Castle)
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
This is an even handed, well-researched biography of New York City's one hundred and eighth mayor, Mike Bloomberg. This small town boy from Medford, Massachusetts would grow up to take the financial and business world by storm in one of the most competitive cities in the world and rise above the fray, creating a business empire that would set the standard. Having conquered the business world, this self-made billionaire would come out of political nowhere with many dollars and a dream and enter the rollicking world on New York City politics, determined to become its mayor.
Setting his sights on the highest political office in the city, this physically unprepossessing, highly intelligent man, who is short on charm, managed to pull off one of the biggest upsets in New York's political history. Luck and his own personal fortune would make his dream of becoming mayor a reality. Mike Bloomberg became mayor in the wake of 9/11, determined to make changes that would put the city back on track, applying managerial know how rather than political acumen to the task. For the most part he delivered, winning the respect of the citizens of New York City, if not their affection.
The author clearly knows and understands the world of New York politics and expertly lays it out for the reader. Against this tumultuous backdrop, the author paints a three dimensional portrait of Mayor Mike that is simultaneously both flattering and unflattering. She also tackles his unpopular but successful attack of New York's two term limit law, a success that would allow him to run for mayor a third time. The only question is whether Mayor Mike's power grab will be successful this time around.
Written in clear spare prose with no holds barred, this book is sure to be savored by those who enjoy biographies and politics. New Yorkers especially will enjoy this book for the very personal look at their mayor, warts and all.
 Disappointingly thin in analysis of Bloomberg's mayoralty November 7, 2009
Norman Oder (Brooklyn, NY)
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
While Purnick offers an interesting survey of Bloomberg's life and career, the book is disappointingly thin in its analysis.
For Purnick's verdict on development issues, consider this summary paragraph (p. 4):
"And in every rundown corner of the city he aggressively cleared the way for renovation and real estate development, to the chagrin of serious city planners and devotees of city landmarks, to the delight of builders, construction unions and pragmatists who share his preference for imperfect development over neglect."
A reader might conclude that casual city planners and those who care partially about landmarks are fine with Bloomberg's record. But Purnick sets up a false dichotomy between imperfect development and neglect, fails to look into a controversial project like Atlantic Yards (arena + towers in Brooklyn), and does not even hold Bloomberg to his own standards.
Search on my Atlantic Yards Report blog for more of the review.
 Read the book but take it for what it is -- not much November 16, 2009
Suzannah B. Troy (New York City, USA)
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
Joyce Purnick may give you some ugly insights to Mike Bloomberg including that he speaks "misogynist" fluently at City Hall in the bull pen commenting on women's chests as if he is at one of NYC's famous mammary bars but she somehow left out that one of Mike Bloomberg's biggest supporters, his money manager, Steve Rattner's Quadrangle was being investigated for "pay to play" in pension scandals in three States including NY. No one believes Rattner stepped down from his White House job because he wanted to spend more time with his family. Of all the people Purnick quotes expressing their outrage at City Hall to Mike Bloomberg is none other than real estate developer and landlord "Mike Red Square Rosen". I call him this because he brought forth The Red Square development that looks like the prototype for NYU mega dorms and the NY Law dorm on 3rd Street with balconies. Purnick refers to the developer Rosen as a writer - "community organizer" which is laughable. Rosen may have railed against Bloomberg but in fact he is a mini Mike Bloomberg wannabe buying people's good will just like Mike Bloomberg yet Purnick did not do her research or like Mike Rosen's good friends forgot that he is in fact a developer and that shows you insight in to Purnick...like Rosen she may appear to be a critic but she in fact part of the club. She does expose what we all knew about Murdoch and Zuckerman colluding with Mike Bloomberg to sign, seal and deliver his third term win. We will have to wait a good ten years for a real book with far more insights and accurate "true news" on Bloomberg News...the news that for now we are not privy to. Note: Purnick thanks the owner of The New York Times at the end of her book, also a club member. I renamed the paper "The New York eminent domain Times" also a big supporter of a mayor that represents developers not the people of this great city.
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