Crains New York - March 11, 2013 - (Page 5)

THE INSIDER CIVIL SERVICE: The GOP debate featured no harsh words for fellow candidates. by Andrew J. Hawkins T he Republican contenders for mayor are all seeking public office for the first time, and there were moments at the first formal GOP candidates debate last week when they struggled to squeeze their answers and policy ideas into short time windows. But, in what amounted to the public debut of the Republican race, some ideas and a rough outline of their platforms emerged. The four Republicans—publisher Tom Allon, businessman buck ennis Meet the Republicans! suggesting that the others’ weak fundraising made them nonviable. But civility ruled. When Mr. Allon touted his status as the Liberal Party’s nominee, saying, “We need a fusion candidate to beat the Democrat,” his rivals refrained from noting that the party had lost its ballot status long ago. The rapid-fire debate was short on grand visions for the city and long on amorphous promises to improve education and create jobs. Mr. Catsimatidis did not discuss his plan to bring back a world’s fair. Mr. McDonald offered no blueprint for his goal to employ every New Yorker. Mr. Lhota made no mention of his time at the MTA. Still, they presented an alternative to the Democratic candidates on wages, economic development, education and taxes. “What does it mean to be a Republican in the city of New York?” Mr. Lhota asked. “It’s actually an extraordinary experience because you’re actually talking about doing different things than the normal course in which they’re done.” Ⅲ John Catsimatidis, former MTA Chairman Joseph Lhota and nonprofit founder George McDonald—along with former Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrión, who is trying to edge into their primary, were also notably reluctant to criticize each other in the debate, hosted by Crain’s. For example, none asked Mr. Catsimatidis to square his Republicanism with his opposition to Walmart. When the moderator finally mentioned it at the end of the hourlong event, the grocerystore magnate ignored the issue. Mr. Allon didn’t challenge his rivals on his strongest subject, education, allowing them to get by with generalities. Mr. McDonald joked that he would hire Mr. Lhota, a former city budget director, as his chief union negotiator, declining to mention Mr. Lhota’s failure to secure a new contract with the transit workers’ union when he headed the MTA. Some policy themes came through. Mr. Allon, who taught high-school English, called for improving teacher training and retention, at times sounding more like a candidate for schools chancellor. Mr. Lhota proposed overhauling the opaque and baffling property-tax system. Mr. Catsimatidis embraced casinos, and Mr. McDonald lamented the mandatory shelter law for homeless people and the mass incarceration of black men. All opposed tax increases and bemoaned nuisance fees afflicting businesses. Mr. Carrión, a Democrat turned unaffiliated candidate, vowed to fix the city’s “broken” education system and highlighted the failed Kingsbridge Armory project as evidence that wage mandates backfire. Later, he seemed to backtrack, saying of public-sector unions, “We have to index raises and benefits packages to the cost of living. You can’t have a city workforce that can’t afford to live here.” The closest thing to a barb may have been Mr. Catsimatidis’ comment that “no pure Republican” could get elected in New York—an oblique swipe at Mr. Lhota, the only longtime Republican of the bunch. And the billionaire cited his wealth, Crain’s Insider, our award-winning politics newsletter, is now a blog. Read it every day at www.crainsnewyork.com/insider March 11, 2013 | Crain’s New York Business | 5 http://www.earn5Xsavings.com http://www.earn5Xsavings.com http://www.crainsnewyork.com/insider

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Crains New York - March 11, 2013

IN THE BOROUGHS
IN THE MARKETS
THE INSIDER
BUSINESS PEOPLE
CORPORATE LADDER
OPINION
GREG DAVID
REAL ESTATE DEALS
REPORT: SMALL BUSINESS
STARTUP GUIDE
CLASSIFIEDS
NEW YORK, NEW YORK
OUT AND ABOUT
SNAPS

Crains New York - March 11, 2013