A Stitch in Haste

Back in February I lambasted Mayor Bloomberg for his obnoxious stunt of sending property tax rebate checks. I love lower taxes, but not as a political gimmick and certainly not as a progressive redistribution maneuver (the rebate was a fixed $400 for anyone who paid at least that much in taxes -- a fixed rebate on a proportional tax is the same as a progressive tax). Rather than simply reduce property taxes going forward, Bloomberg had the city mail checks to all taxpayers, with his signature on them and with a nice "thank you" letter from him. Like I said, a political gimmick (one he learned, remember, from another Republican -- go figure).

Well, now a senior Democrat on the City Council is grabbing the baton:

A Queens councilman said yesterday he'll propose legislation to bar Mayor Bloomberg from sending out $400 property-tax rebate checks with his name on them while he seeks re-election.

City Council Finance Committee Chairman David Weprin said he would submit the bill for consideration at the council's August meeting.
...
The bill would also call attention to Bloomberg's tax cut -- not a politically astute thing to do, political insiders said.
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"It's inappropriate to have [Bloomberg's] name on the [checks], particularly in an election year when he is running for re-election," Weprin said.

Indeed. I can't speak to whether it's politically smart to draw attention to the checks -- one might think the checks will draw attention to themselves.

But the real point is that if Bloomberg were an honest politician, then he would abandon the signature stunt voluntarily.

Just like how, if he were an honest politician, he would run as an independent rather than hijack the Republican nomination again.

But as we all know, "honest politician" is a contradiction in terms.

The past four years under Bloomberg have been, and the next four years are likely to be, business as usual, his financial "independence" notwithstanding. He's no different than the rest of them.

And you can take that to the bank, right along with your rebate check.