Mayor Mike does it right

Recent polls show popular three-term New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg’s approval ratings declining as a result of his continued support for the proposed mosque near ground zero. But in my book, Bloomberg will always be top-notch for his willingness to fight for what he believes in, even if it’s not always popular.
I disagree with his position on the mosque.

The proposed developers have every legal right to build the mosque, but in my opinion, they show a shocking lack of sensitivity. And those who oppose the mosque’s development have every right to speak out, too — it’s a democracy!

That aside, when it comes to New York City’s bravest, Bloomberg is right. Did you know that it’s been nearly three years since the city’s Fire Department has hired any new firefighters?

This freeze is a result of a 2007 lawsuit in which a group of African-American and Hispanic firefighters claimed that the FDNY examination process put them at a disadvantage. This spurred a series of civil rights lawsuits, spearheaded by the Justice Department. In 2007, the courts found that year’s entrance exam to be discriminatory against minority applicants.

Since then, more than 300 cadets have been stuck in a torturous waiting game, unable to begin their careers with the FDNY. These men and women scored well on the entrance tests, but have been held back due to a flawed hiring process.

In response to the ruling, Bloomberg showed New Yorkers that he’s indeed color-blind. He said, “I want the person that comes through that door when I’m in a fire, comes through to save me, to be the smartest person that you can find, because who knows what he’s going to find, or she’s going to find, on the other side of the door?”

At a time when the city is desperate for new firefighters, the courts won’t budge. They argue that they are upholding Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, and that the discrepancy between the pass and fail rates of whites compared to minorities is evidence of discrimination.