Michael Bloomberg

By John Terrett in Americas on August 29th, 2011
Photo by Reuters

When Irene struck New York, New Jersey and Connecticut she roared ashore as a VERY serious category one hurricane.

More than 20 people died as she swept up the US east coast.

Driving wind and rain lashed beaches and brought record flooding to the so called "tri-state area". Repairs could run into billions.

Over a million customers lost power in the storm and roads and railway lines became inundated - something that's only likely to get worse in the days to come as rivers and streams crest.

In the Zone A low-lying areas of New York City there was flooding too, but nothing like as bad as had been feared.

I don't know about you but I had visions of a flooded subway system and skyscrapers with blown-out windows.

In the end the winds were light in Manhattan and the rain relentless but the anticipated storm surge in the harbour wasn't enough to seriously breach the sea walls in the financial district.

By John Terrett in Americas, Business on May 26th, 2009

I’m just sitting here in my sunny 4th floor office looking over a Times Square that is void of vehicles.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s experiment kicked in on Monday and will last ’til the end of the year.

I must say the whole thing seems very pleasing to the eye and ear. Goodness knows what drivers and cabbies are thinking at this moment. I wonder if there will be any effect on the economy of New York City?

So, New York is changing and America too.

If you want further proof look no further than the country’s first African American President announcing the country’s first hispanic potential Supreme Court justice Sonia Sotomayor. It’s amazing to witness this on the monitor in our newsroom.

I mention this because the candidate grew up dirt poor in New York. Her mother devoted her life to Sotomayor and her brother working three jobs just to get by. Now look at the reward for all that sacrifice.

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