The Big Apple And The Arts

Compare the two mayors and how they react to a dispute.

Our Mayor wants to litigate the Capitol matter rather than sitting down to resolve it.

• "Windsor Mayor Eddie Francis says he sees no quick end to the city’s battle to take control of the financially troubled Capitol Theatre, despite the good intentions of a newly formed executive board...
  
  “We are trying to get in front of a court to argue the validity of the mortgage. We believe the building and property belong to the City of Windsor.”

Here is what the New York Mayor tries to do as reported in the New York Daily News.

• Union rejects Bloomberg's bid to mediate stagehand strike
  
  BY JOE DZIEMIANOWICZ and STEPHANIE GASKELL, Monday, November 12th 2007
  
  Picketing stagehands have told Mayor Bloomberg, "Thanks, but no thanks" to an offer to mediate the crippling Broadway strike as it enters its third day.
  
  "He could not be more of a gentleman, but we have respectfully declined his help," James Claffey, president of Local One, said yesterday of Hizzoner's rebuffed plan for a powwow.
  
  The mayor said the city had offered "neutral ground" for the sitdown and a mediator.
  
  "Everybody's got an interest here in finding some ways to get together," Bloomberg said. "And the city will do everything it can to help."
  
  The producers agreed to the mayor's proposal, but striking workers are furious at being portrayed as moneygrubbing - and say they won't return to the bargaining table until they're shown more respect...
  
  Bloomberg stepped in to help settle a strike by musicians in 2003 that lasted four days.
  
  Many on Broadway are hoping he can put a stop to this walkout, which experts say is costing the city at least $5 million a day in lost revenue and is threatening the lucrative holiday season.
  
  "I assume the mayor will escalate the pressure," predicted Greg David, editor of Crain's New York Business.
  
  "The mayor's pressure is likely to be most effective on the producers because they are the businesspeople who do business with the city," David said.
  
  "We would be happy to accept his offer. The union has declined," said a spokesman for the League of American Theatres and Producers.
  
  Bloomberg said his offer remains on the table.
  
  "We can't tell them what to do, but we can make sure that we give them every opportunity, and we'll certainly do that," he said.

Perhaps the New York Mayor could get a part-time job to mediate disputes here. We have several matters that have gone on forever that need a business solution.