MAYOR MIKE BLOOMBERG IS UN-AMERICAN

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THIS AND THAT

Bitching By: James Edstrom

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 Michael Bloomberg

Our Mayor, Mike Bloomberg just never gives up on taking away Americans rights. His new proposed soda law, that that will limit what size drink you can buy in New York City, is just so Un-American. Not only does it infringe on our rights, it is just plains stupid.

Yes, New Yorkers are overweight. Yes there are health care costs and many problems with obesity. But to take away a Americans right to chose, to take away Americans given rights, is just going too far.

Alcohol creates deaths and a huge cost on society. You will never hear the Mayor talk about banning his favorite Scotch.

Mike Bloomberg's taxes on cigarettes are already taking it's toll on the poor. Every where you go, someone asks for a cigarette. Poor people addicted to this horrible product, are still spending what little money they have on this product. Even at rich society parties, I am always asked for a cigarette, because the rich do not want to pay these outrageous taxes. Bloomberg's recent try at taxing soda may have been a flop, but he will not stop till he controls our lives right down to when we sleep.

I understand that there are many things that are not good for us. But it is our right to decide what to smoke and what to eat. Not Mike Bloomberg's!

REPUBLICANS BOUGHT AND PAID FOR

Mitt Rommey

I have never been so ashamed to be a Republican in my life. Mitt Romney is a disgrace. He really is. He supports the rich and anyone that can not see this deserves to get what Romney has to offer. Our Republican controlled Congress could care less about the poor or the middle class. They all got money, health care and anything else they need. They will do anything to get richer, they are never happy with what they already got.

BARACK OBAMA FOR PRESIDENT

Barack Obama

My rich friends and my good friends from Fox News will fight me to the death on re-electing President Obama. Every time I go out to dinner with some of them, I just can not believe that they support these Republicans and these crazy ideas. They act like I am so uninformed on whats happening in the world. I spent two hours on the phone the other night with one rich friend, and I told her to walk around Hells Kitchen or the Bowery in lower Manhattan to see real poverty. Raising money for these already rich charities does just about nothing. Spend Christmas at The Bowery Mission feeding the homeless who are starving. Send some money to The Bowery Mission where every dime counts. Stop spending money at five thousand dollar plate dinners where the charity spent a quarter million to entertain you. When I go to these events, I just feel sickened. I really do.

Barack Obama has the right ideas, but he can not get anything done because of this Republican controlled Congress. We need health care. We need alternative energy solutions so we are not controlled by these oil countries.

We also need laws and regulation, no matter what the Republicans say. What happened on Wall Street was a disgrace. We bailed out the rich. If we had let these banks fail, the rich would have lost their money, the average person who had below 100 thousand would have been insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Banks would have become smaller, and maybe for once, the average customer would have been important again. Maybe banks would have started to play fair again.

Banks are still breaking the laws that we already have in place. Bank Of America is one good example. They break the laws, make billions off doing it and they are only fined a few million. Shouldn't the fine match the ripoff? The banks know they are breaking the law, they just figure the fine will be so much less and it's a cost of doing business. And they are right. It is time to start sending these crooks to jail. If you run a company and you rip off billions, you need to go to jail and not pay a small fine, but do the time.

Barack Obama is for the middle class and the poor. He understands the suffering Americans are going through now. He understands that we need Social Security to keep people out of poverty. Millions of Americans have paid into the Social Security system to insure that they had money coming in as they age. They have a right to get what they paid for and for what was agreed upon when they paid into the system. The Republicans could care less. The Republicans only care about taking care of their interests. 

Vote The Republicans Out Of Office!

Photos By: RD.Kabik./Retna

POLICE IN RIOT GEAR CLEAR ZUCCOTTI PARK

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THE REVOLUTION IS COMING
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Mike Bloomberg

Hundreds of cops have began clearing Zuccotti Park in a effort to clean and this could be the worst mistake Mayor Bloomberg could have made.


Bloomberg's office sent out a message on Twitter at 1:19 a.m. saying: “Occupants of Zuccotti should temporarily leave and remove tents and tarps. Protesters can return after the park is cleared.” Fliers handed out by the police at the private park on behalf of the park’s owner, Brookfield Properties, and the city, spelled out the same message.

The huge police move came as organizers of Occupy Wall Street, put out word on their Web site that they planned to “shut down Wall Street” with a demonstration on Thursday to commemorate the completion of two months in the park.

I really doubt that they will let anyone back in now that they took the park back. Mayor Bloomberg will most likely be the cause of riots and possible deaths that will happen today. The people of this country are sick of the crooks on Wall Street and the corporations that get away with stealing your money and then get a bailout. This is the message.

The very rich Mike Bloomberg does not understand that a revolution is coming and cleaning out one park will not stop it. We are mad, we are all very mad. The banks continue to rip us off and pay little fines. One bank last week alone stole 3 billion from it's customers and was fined only 150 million. Is there something wrong when they are caught and the fine does not even come close to the crime? If I stole 3 billion, I would be sent to jail. I would not be asked to pay a small portion back. Why are the heads of these companies continuing to rob the American Public and being rewarded with huge profits? This is what Occupy Wall Street is all about.

Mayor Bloomberg, what you did today was the worst mistake of your life. This is what the world will remember you for, the rioting in the streets you created to save your rich friends. Back off now, while you can!

Photo By: James Edstrom

MAYOR BLOOMBERG AT HAMPTON CLASSIC

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SARA HERBERT-GALLOWAY
IN
THE HAMPTONS

www.herbertcollection.com

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Sara Herbert-Galloway And Alan Keeley

James Lipton And Barry Klarberg

Liam McConnell With Alana Galloway, Mayor Michael Bloomberg
And Justin Galloway

The 36th Annual Hampton Classic took place without a hitch in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene. New York City's Mayor Bloomberg got some well deserved personal time to watch the show and converse with friends and supporters. My children Justin and Alana along with their friend Liam were happy to meet and speak with him and Diana Taylor. We look forward to attending the Classic every year and have done so for as long as I can recall, it is a family tradition. Alana rode lead line and won a blue ribbon at the Classic at the tender age of 5, so it holds special memories for us. We were happy to be amongst the guests of James Lipton and his lovely wife Kedakai. For many, the Classic signifies the perfect way to say 'see you next year' to summer and summer friends.


The $250,000 FTI Grand Prix and FEI Worldcup winner for the 3rd consecutive year and 6th time was McLain Ward of Brewster, NY.


The Hampton Classic always brings out the best of the best. Some of those in attendance were Rudy and Judith Giuliani, David and Sybil Yurman, Rosanna Scotto and family, Jill Rappaport, Matt Lauer, Howard Lorber, Neil Sroka, B. Smith, Jean Shafiroff, Stewart F. Lane and Bonnie Comley, Nancy Moon, Cassandra Seidenfeld Lyster, Rod and Judy Gilbert, Nacho Figueras, Marty Bauman, Rick and Kathy Hilton and VIP's too countless to mention. To learn more go to www.hamptonclassic.com.

Galloway Photo Courtesy Of: Victor Cangro

MUCH TO DO ABOUT HURRICANE IRENE FETE

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THE WEB GOSSIP

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Mike Bloomberg

WELCOME HOME --- I'll say one thing, I never had a vacation end so abruptly or quickly as my 13-day adventure out of NYC. Let's just say it was a break-neck race back to New York Saturday morning on the red eye from L. A. There was absolutely no waiting for a cab when we hit JFK; and, an eerie silence that immediately announced something was about to happen. From there it was straight home while listening to the dire warnings from Mayor Bloomberg on down (isn't it interesting that most ALL of the politico-talking heads come out when a situation like this develops; to whit: they ALL want to look their best). Being the Mayor of any urban town, cannot be easy. Damned if you do; damned if you don't. Turns out, the whole shebang was somewhat over hyped, but watching some of the footage now of Downtown Manhattan is downright scary. Me, these days, I prefer to be a bit over cautious. With the tenth anniversary of 9/11 coming up ... one can't be too cautious ... right? Sure, the pundits will say they were right and continue on their road to ruin ...but, for me, safety, first and foremost.



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Valerie Simpson And Nick Ashford

SO LONG NICK --- The most devastating news of the past two weeks has just got to be the passing of singer-songwriter Nick Ashford. Has there ever been a more revered songwriter ... along with life-partner Valerie Simpson? Their cannon of songs, including "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," "Solid As A Rock," "Ain't Nothing like The Real Thing"; as well as Diana Ross' "Reach Out And Touch" and Chaka Khan's "I'm Every Woman" and "Clouds" are all solid smash songs. I remember well in 1979, at the legendary Paradise Garage, when RFC Records' Ray Caviano gave the house DJ, Larry Levan, the first shot at playing their newest record "Found A Cure." Needless to say, the place went wild as it was one of the duo's strongest records ever. It was one magical evening and everyone there knew it. Ashford & Simpson's career as recording artists began in the early 1960's as part of the gospel group The Followers, with whom they recorded the album Gospel Morning, later re-issued as Meetin' The Followers on the legendary Roulette Records.In 1964, they recorded "I'll Find You," as Valerie & Nick. Simpson subsequently recorded two solo LPs for Motown: Valerie Simpson Exposed in 1971, and, the following year, Valerie Simpson, which included the single "Silly, Wasn't I," which was later sampled on 50 Cent's "Best Friend" from the movie Get Rich or Die Tryin'. In 1973, the duo left Motown after the albums Simpson recorded for the label received poor promotion and the company refused to release an album of the duo recording a collection of their most famous songs for other artists. In 1974, Ashford & Simpson married and resumed their career as a duo with the Warner Brothers album, Gimme Something Real. This was followed by the hit singles, "Don't Cost You Nothin'" (1977), "It Seems To Hang On"" (1978),"Is It Still Good To Ya" (1978), "Found A Cure" (1979), and their biggest hit,"Solid", released in 1984.They were given writing credit on Amy Winehouse's 2007 CD Back To Black album for the single "Tears Dry On Their Own" which featured a sample of Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell's 1967 Motown classic hit "Ain't No Mountain High Enough." They had begun performing their act in small, intimate venues, such as Feinstein's at The Regency here in New York and the Rrazz Room in San Francisco, and in January 2009, they released a CD and DVD of their live performances titled The Real Thing. On June 22, 2009, they made a guest performance at a party at Tribeca Rooftop, here in New York, to celebrate Virgin Atlantic's birthday party. They also made their first appearance in Tokyo, Japan, in November 2009, and performed 8 shows in 4 days at Blue Note Tokyo. What a tremendous legacy ... while his legacy will live on forever, Nick will be sorely missed. Rest Easy!





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FITZGERALD PASSES --- One of the best people ever in the record business lost his battle with cancer last week, Warner Bros. Rich Fitzgerald, who rose to the presidency of the embattled label. Most recently Rich became involved in managing Eric Clapton. Mary Prout Fitzgerald, Rich's wife, posted the following message on Facebook: "I am sorry to say that our lovely Rich passed away yesterday afternoon. As you know, we were able to bring him home form his hospice, so he was able to go peacefully, wearing his Jimi Hendrix tee, listening to his favorite music, and lay in the arms of our children, Hunter and Sloane, and myself." Rich, aside from distinguishing himself by his superb knowledge of music and the business, to me, perfectly embodied what his predecessors at the label, Mo Ostin, Lenny Waronker and Russ Titleman, so well started there. he will be deeply missed. Warners hasn't been the same label ... but, Rich's presence made it all easier to take. Sad.





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Billy Crystal

GERVAIS REDEUX? --- Ricky Gervais says NBC has invited him back to host the Golden Globes; and, that the Oscars have called too? Well, I can't say I'm all that surprised. The comedian gave the Globes not only the highest ratings in years, but PR too. I mean, I don't think the news cycle of the Globes winners ever went more than two or three days. The fallout from the last broadcast literally went on for weeks. As has been reported, Oscar-mega-host Billy Crystal is itching to get back in the saddle (yes, a City Slickers reference) … so, I believe he'll be a lock, but, our little Ricky will certainly be back. According to our comrades at Deadline Hollywood: The British comedian said at the Edinburgh International TV festival, that the network has asked him to host again, and adding that he is considering it "but, I shouldn't do it." NBC declined to comment on the matter. "I love NBC, I love the fact that they stuck by me through it," Gervais said, adding, "I don't think I should do it. What am I going back as? Well, how about as the best Golden Globes host ever?

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James Taylor

FIRE & RAIN --- I just finished (on vacation) the best music-book of the year, David Browne's Fire & Rain; a brilliant re-look at the four most significant albums and artists of 1970: The Beatles; Simon & Garfunkel; James Taylor; and, CSNY. Brilliant book! More Wednesday.



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Julia Roberts

LAST BITS: Saw 1999's Notting Hill again while I was away. With Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts. Written by Richard Curtis and lovingly directed by Roger Michell ... has there ever been a sweeter movie? Never seen it? Run out now and rent it. You won't be sorry! And, though I almost forgot it, the strangest moment has got to be eyeing NBC news correspondent Jeff Roseen at the Minneapolis Airport looking positively twitchy! Weird.





Photos By: RD/Orchon/Dziekan/Kirkland/Walter McBride/Eckstein/Retna

WILL MAYOR BLOOMBERG HAVE COCKTAILS ?

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THE HAMPTONS GOSSIP

Story By: Edward Callaghan
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Diana Taylor With Mike Bloomberg

Times Square Gossip Columnist Gets New Neighbor in Shinnecock



Looks like our quiet little enclave in the Shinnecock Hills will likely see a lot more traffic - that of the police and security escort kind - now that I hear that none other than Mayor Michael Bloomberg has reportedly plopped down a cool $20 million for my friends’ Charles and Diane Holmes magnificent, historic estate Cryptomeria (originally called Ballyshear) just around the bend from our humble Cricket Cottage. While our neighborhood is no stranger to celebrities – Rachael Ray & her hubby John Cusimano have a home three doors down from us, famed animator Mickey Paraskevas is on the corner and acclaimed artist Paton Miller paints a block away. But billionaire politicos the nabe has not seen since its heyday in the ‘30s, ‘40s and ‘’50s when the big estates were filled with the rich and famous – or infamous.



In any event, this writer thinks Mayor Mike got the steal of the decade. The meticulously restored 22,000-square foot Georgian mansion abuts one of the most exclusive golf courses in the country The National Golf Links, long considered one of the most lush courses in the world. A 35-acre property houses the palatial manor that includes 11 bedrooms, eight and a half bathrooms, black-and-white marbled floors, a beautiful reflecting pool filled with water lilies, Gunite pool, tennis court, stables and riding trails - great for Mike’s equestrian champion daughter Georgina!



The original Ballyshear was designed by F. Burrall Hoffman Jr. for famed golf course designer Charles Blair Macdonald who designed the National Links which the property overlooks. The park like design was created by Frederick Laux Olmstead who designed New York’s Central Park and landscaping was done by Rose Standish Nichols and Annette Hoyt Flanders the most prominent landscape architects of the day.



The original property was over 200 acres but through the years it shrunk much of it being purchased fortunately by the Community Preservation Fund so Hizzoner is assured of major privacy as it is now a nature preserve. But it is still 35+ acres and with much of Hamptons real estate going for close to a million per, it’s a bargain in anyone’s book.



The mansion and the gorgeous terrace have been the setting for numerous lavish parties by the Holmes including each year a cocktail party for the Southampton Hospital

President’s Committee which we have attended. And then there was the lovely bash for architectural historians Gary Lawrance and Anne Surchin’s brilliant tome “Houses of the Hamptons” which chronicled the history of the great homes of the Gilded Age including Ballyshear. It was a splendid evening – even if the walk up the ½ mile driveway past horse pastures was longer than the walk form our home to their gate.



Welcome to the neighborhood Mr. Mayor. We are available for cocktails !

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Ed Westwick

Ferrari Fancier Ed Westwick at Hamptons Rally



Gossip Girl” star Ed Westwick pulled up in a brand-new red Ferrari to Nathaniel Christian’s Ferrari Hamptons Rally in Watermill on Saturday night. Westwick — wearing white pants and a chest-baring blue button-down avoided the press but had plenty of time for the gaggle of gals wanting to have their picture taken with him to which he graciously complied.

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Susan Lucci

Susan Lucci Chats up New Memoir at Sant Ambroeus



Sant Ambroeus remains the ultra-chic lunch spot for the power ladies. On Monday, we spotted Susan Lucci dining with a trio of ladies in fashionable hats. The ladies were toasting Susan on her memoir “All My Life” from which she will read at the Quogue Public Library on July 24. In a booth next to La Lucci was social dynamo Cassandra Seidenfeld Lyster reviewing guest lists with society PR guru John Wegorzewski for the NYC Dance Alliance upcoming Bright Lights! Shining Stars! Gala which will honor the legendary Roberta Flack with the organization’s 1st Ambassador for the Arts Award. Across from them were famed portrait artist Zita Davisson lunching with Kay McEnroe, mother of tennis great John McEnroe.

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Emmanuelle Chriqui

Entourage’s Emmanuelle Chriqui is in love!



Emmanuelle Chriqui is in love!........with the Hamptons. The Entourage star can’t seem to get enough of our seaside playground and is planning on spending more time here this summer with friends. Best known for her role on HBO's Entourage as Sloan McQuewick, she also played the love interest of Adam Sandler in the movie You Don't Mess with the Zohan. In May 2010, she topped the AskMen.com Most Desirable Women of 2010 list – judging from the looks of the Hamptons guys, she would qualify for the same title this year. This weekend she will be feted for her Hamptons Magazine cover at South Pointe.

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Rod Gilbert

Sports Legends Rod Gilbert & Wesley Walker Turn Out for Ann Liguori Dinner Dance at Duck Walk



Radio & TV sports journalist Ann Liguori who has so many “firsts” in breaking the glass ceiling, you can credit her with the spate of young female sports reporters on the networks and cable gives back to her community in a big way. Each year, she hosts a number of events for The American Cancer Society and it Camp Adventure on Shelter Island for children with cancer and their siblings. Her foundation also underwrites nutrition education programs in middle schools throughout the East End of Long Island

So it was no surprise that last week’s Ann Liguori foundation Outback Steakhouse Dinner Dance at Duck Walk Vineyards pulled in a heady mix of sports legends and Hampton’s movers & shakers.


Partying the night away were NHL Hall of Famer Rod Gilbert and his wife Judy, Carolyn Kendall Buchter & her husband Ron Buchter, Mary Skillern, Former New York Jets Wesley Walker, Steve Gould with WPPB 88.3 FM personality Bonnie Grice, Hotel Indigo’s Rob Salvatico, Gabe & Nancy Vigorito, Jason & Diana McCarty, Donna Livingston, Gary De Persia, Dan Liguori, Eileen Casey, Christine and Denis Sheahan, Erin Muller, Petra and Hans Zobel, Gopa and Jay Dobson, Tim McCoy, Barbara Anelle, and Dr. Max Gomez, medical correspondent, Channel 2 News,.


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Alex McCord

Bold Facers Chow Down at Dan’s Taste of Two Forks



Not only did Dan Rattiner pull in most of the East End’s top chefs and vintners for the 1st Dan’s Taste of Two Forks – which we hope will be an annual event - but a number of bold faced names turned out for the epicurean delight including "Real Housewives" Cindy Barshop and Alex McCord with hubby Simon Van Kempen, "Royal Pains" star Mark Feuerstein and actor Bryan Greenberg of “One Tree Hill” fame. They wire among the hundreds who chowed down on culinary creations from more than 40 restaurants from the North and South Forks at the food and wine fest in Bridgehampton on Saturday night.


Photos By: RD/Dziekan/Eckstein/Retna

QUEEN LIZ SMITH ATTENDS 'FETE DE SWIFTY'

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THE ANNUAL FETE DE SWIFTY BASH

Photos And Story By: Ann Watt/Society Photos
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Liz Smith With Ethan Hawke

Yesterday evening was Liz Smith's socialite-studded Fete de Swifty—a silent-auction-based benefit held in a tent on 73rd street. Ethan Hawke and Mayor Michael Bloomberg were on the scene. Proceeds from the event benefit the New York City Family Justice Center Initiative, a unique public/private program administered by the Mayor’s Office to Combat Domestic Violence. This year, the event also benefitted the New York City Housing Authority’s Early Childhood programs, which provide children in NYCHA public housing communities with high-quality early care and learning opportunities for overall child development, and school and lifelong success. Fete de Swifty’s combination of street fair and cocktail party has been a unique event in New York City since 2004. Over that time, Fete has raised critical funds to support the New York City Family Justice Center Initiative of the Mayor’s Office to Combat Domestic Violence.The Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City serves as the umbrella not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) organization for the City of New York. For more information on the event, click here.....

BUTT OUT OF OUR BUSINESS MIKE BLOOMBERG

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NEW YORK CITY
CONTINUES TO
STAMP OUT FREEDOM!
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Christine C. Quinn

You know, I am so sick of the government telling us what to do and not to do. For years while I was growing up, the government told us that cigarettes were safe. When I was 11 years old, government golf courses and beaches were all selling me and my friends cigarettes. They told us cigarettes were safe. The even had children's cigarette shaped gum, that blew smoke. They wanted to hook us so they could reap the tax benefits. And they did. Now our Mayor Mike Bloomberg along with one of my favorite ladies, councilwoman Christine Quinn are proposing to ban smoking in Times Square, City Parks and our beaches like Coney Island. This is a outrage. When are our city officials going to butt out of our business. They all can yell at second hand smoke. There is really no real study that really confirms the dangers of second hand smoke. They say there is, but nothing has been proved beyond a shadow of doubt. They already banned smoking in restaurants, bars, clubs and just about everywhere else. When will it stop. They ban things that we like to eat like trans fat. We should have the freedom to choose what to eat. Now I am going to hear from some anti smoking readers. They will tell me they have rights not to be exposed to smoke. Well you know something, I have rights too. I don't drive, I use mass transit, yet I have to breathe all this carbon monoxide from all these cars in Times Square. There is so much pollution in New York City, that every apartment now has to have a carbon monoxide detector. Yet they continue to allow the endless parade of cars to pollute my air. The cars should be charged 50 bucks to come into the city. Cars are the biggest air polluters to our lungs. But I am expected to breathe all their pollution, and not allowed to have a quick cigarette at the beach. I have been trying to quit smoking. I have the patch, the plastic nicotine cigarettes, the pills and endless other things. I am hooked. I am hooked because the government said it was OK to smoke when I was growing up. They supported smoking because they made money. And now they are taxing cigarettes so much, each pack in New York City is almost 15 dollars. They are still making money off me. You want to make New Yorkers healthier? Ban drinking. More people die from drinking than from cigarettes. Drunk drivers kill innocent people each and every day in New York. New Yorkers die from liver disease from Alcohol. Billions are lost from hangovers when people call in sick to work from a night of drinking. A huge percentage of hospital stays are the result of drinking. Why are we not taxing alcohol like we tax cigarettes? I also wonder where are the cigarette companies are in helping the Americans they hooked. They allow the states to charge unfair taxes without even a court challenge. They do not come to the defence of their customers. Where were they when the city banned smoking in the clubs? I will tell you where they are. They are in third world countries, hooking people there to smoke, because there will not be a cigarette industry in this country much longer. This is why cigarette companies are buying food companies and other investments, they see the writing on the wall. I have supported Mike Bloomberg and Christine Quinn in every election for years. Since Bloomberg is on his last term, unless he pulls another fast one, I urge every smoker to not vote for Christine Quinn if they pass this law. I am pretty sure, if every smoker refuses to vote for Quinn, she will lose her council seat and she will lose when she runs for Mayor, which she will be doing. Our government officials are acting like Adolph Hitler. They are telling us what we can and can not do. This has to stop. Already most of the big clubs in this city have been closed down, because our officials do not want them. Billions of tax revenue already has been lost. Imagine the biggest city in the world, is being run by the smallest minds. This city has gotten stale, it is being run like Disney Land. All they want is the endless stream of tourists that are bringing in people pollution as well as the current bed bug infestation. It takes me 40 minutes just to walk a few blocks because of all the tourists. It's bad enough that I can't even enjoy my own neighborhood, because of all these people. The only time I can relax at a table in Times Square, is around 2 am when everyone is sleeping. Now they are telling me that I can't even smoke in Times Square. If Christine Quinn wants to stamp out our freedoms in New York City, then it's time for us to stamp out her election bid for Mayor. Maybe we should outlaw Lesbians, that would hit home to Christine. I'll print up tee shirts that say no licking allowed!

Photos By: RD/Dziekan/Edstrom/Retna