Education, taxes, housing and jobs dominate mayoral debate

by Clarissa Wei
Published October 28, 2009

Current New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and New York City Comptroller Bill Thompson faced off in another debate yesterday at the Channel 7 studios. Some of the main points from the evening:

Images

Cora Wu

Via Creative Commons

Education

Bloomberg claimed the school system is improving and is confident that the city scores, which have yet to be released, will be higher than the state's average. Thompson is positive that the test scores are going to come up flat again. He claimed students are merely being taught to memorize.

Taxes

Bloomberg promised not to raise taxes and not to cut essential services. Contrary to Bloomberg's accusations, Thompson promises not to raise taxes as well.

Affordable housing

Bloomberg wants to build more affordable housing and create affordable rent while making sure landlords can turn a profit. Thompson criticized the city for not lowering rents to affordable levels.

Jobs

Bloomberg wants to help small businesses and claimed New York City needs more immigrants. Thompson accused Bloomberg of "squeezing out jobs" from the city.

Clarissa Wei is a staff writer.

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Guang

Nov 01, 2009
1:51 a.m.

I'm still uncertain who to vote for on the 3rd. It's a shame that the standards of the nyc education system has deteriorated. 15 years ago if a student did not keep up the end of the bargain, out (s)he goes. Now, though not all schools, maintain the superficial status of student population in attendance in order to keep their school open and funded, lowers their standards in grades for level advancement and provides negotiable opportunities for juvenile delinquents to partake in further schooling after being discharged from a previous school. On paper, the school annual report looks fabulous; however, the drive in the majority of students to excel, not only pass, is absent. If these students, the pillars of our future, are brought up with the heart to strive for better in a competitive environment where education is the centripetal focus, the city would not need more immigrants. =0D

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