An open letter to Bloomberg

Dear Mike-
Come back to where you belong. The Democratic Party in New York needs you, no matter what Freddy Ferrer might say. Remember when Democratic voters wouldn't have elected you in the primary, so you switched parties? Times have changed. It's still the age of the hacks and career bureaucrats who think politics is about paying your dues and waiting your turn. Ferrer is a hack, devoid of ideas and inspiration. He needs to be put to pasture.

Your West side stadium idea was ridiculous. We all hated you for it. But you were wise enough to let a bad idea drop and move on, while Ferrer is still talking about two New Yorks. But there are many, aren't there?

We hated you for banning smoking in bars. It still doesn't feel right. But you were correct to think of it as a public policy matter, even though the romance of a cigarette at a bar on a New York night will always be with us (thanks to the movies).

You showed us the flexibility of a good public servant. You raised taxes and cut programs when we were over budget, and cut taxes and added programs when we were under. That was good.

I can't forgive you the convention. You invited a parade of Texans to rape this city for symbolism. You invited pandering and exploitation upon us. No city should give of itself in such a way. And between overtime for security details and street closings and impossible locations, your New York economy even lost money on the deal. For shame!

We can forgive you if you come back. Admit your mistakes. Accept your destiny, along with your true party's, and return to the Democratic Party. We can't be the party of Al Sharpton. The timid kindness of Virginia Fields has fallen. I can hear Ferrer's ideas creaking.

You know in your heart that you care about one New York. Something's got to be done. The Republicans can't and won't do it. The Democrats need you. Your city needs you. Come back.

Sincerely,

Harry