Freddy goes for Bloomy's throat

gotham news
BY MICHAEL SAUL
DAILY NEWS CITY HALL BUREAU
Looking directly at Mayor Bloomberg and scoffing, "I don't know what city you're living in," underdog Democratic challenger Fernando Ferrer went on the attack yesterday in the candidates' first debate.
Bloomberg met Ferrer's combativeness on issues ranging from education to housing to the economy with cool confidence, throwing few punches of his own and, at times, barely responding to his rival's charges.
Ferrer, who is desperately trying to deflate the mayor's 31-point poll lead with the election just over a week away, took every opportunity yesterday to chip away at the billionaire incumbent's multimillion-dollar TV ad campaign and link Bloomberg to the national GOP.
Ferrer ridiculed the mayor's representatives to the MTA as "potted plants," repeatedly rebuked Bloomberg for chasing the Olympic Games and the West Side stadium, and accused Hizzoner of ignoring the high dropout rate in the city schools.
"Mike Bloomberg thinks everything's going just great in this town, and for some it is, but for millions of others it isn't," he said. "There are two New Yorks.
"I know that very well because I've lived in both," said Ferrer, invoking the controversial "two New Yorks" theme that he first raised in his 2001 campaign.
"I'm running for mayor so that millions of others can cross over that very same bridge I did."
Bloomberg portrayed himself as a bipartisan leader who made "tough decisions" after 9/11 and produced a strong record of accomplishment.
"I'm independent. I'm not beholden to anybody," he said. "I'm proud of what we've accomplished. We've brought crime down. We've improved test scores. We've made life expectancy in this city longer than the country as a whole."
The most dynamic moment of the one-hour debate, co-sponsored by the Daily News, occurred in response to a question about a spike in the number of shootings in the city.
Taking a rare swipe at Ferrer, Bloomberg questioned his opponent's record on gun control and chided him for campaigning with Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean, who has been endorsed by the National Rifle Association.
"Let's talk about Mike Bloomberg's support of the [Republican] party and the President whose policies have hurt this city," Ferrer retorted.
"Not on this policy, I didn't," snapped Bloomberg, referring to gun control.
Pointing at the mayor, Ferrer said, "You have supported right-wing politicians. ... You can't have it both ways."
Then he turned to face Bloomberg, and charged, "You can't disclaim responsibility for the policies you politically and financially support."
"I'm going to go and fight for the city, Freddy, and I can't have everybody in Washington vote for everything I like," Bloomberg replied. "I wish they would. But they don't."
Talking over the mayor, Ferrer insisted, "You could do this city a big favor sometimes by putting your checkbook away."
On the issues, the duo offered very different policy visions:
Despite a budget deficit estimated at $4.5 billion for the fiscal year beginning July 1, Bloomberg said he expected the the city would get through the year "without any tax increases or fee increases."
Ferrer said he would cut taxes and slammed Bloomberg's 18.5% property tax hike.
Bloomberg, who closed six fire companies in 2003, refused to rule out closing others. Ferrer said he would reopen four of the six "immediately."
The former Bronx borough president vowed yesterday to set aside 10% of city-funded apartments for the homeless. Bloomberg said he would have to study the issue further before making such a commitment, but noted the number of homeless is decreasing in the city.
While policy issues dominated the debate, Ferrer - running in a city where Democrats outnumber Republicans 5-to-1 - turned back time and time again to the mayor's party affiliation. "Are you proud of George Bush?" he asked the mayor.
"I agree with him on some things. I disagree with him on others," Bloomberg said. "We have to have a bipartisan approach. ... You've got to work with everybody."
It was the first of two mayoral debates. The next is tomorrow at 7 p.m. on Channel 4. Originally published on October 30, 2005