Is there really a genuine reason why New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg had to get in front of the television cameras about Plaxico Burress' accidental gunshot incident?
He's let everyone have a mayoral tongue-lashing—Burress, the New York Giants front office, the National Football League, the hospital, the doctors and nurses that treated Burress' injury, the guy selling roasted nuts in front of City Hall—just about anyone within arm's reach.
Where were Bloomberg and his soap box when his Wall Street pals and cronies were shafting and bankrupting America with their bad mortgage-backed securities?
Bloomberg got in front of the TV cameras to score political brownie points. Nothing speaks louder to John Q. Citizen walking the mean city streets than the big, bad mayor standing up to one of the many out-of-control and spoiled athletes that all the denizens happen to adore.
Burress needs to be prosecuted "to the fullest extent of the law." Burress is "a sports hero." Burress is "both a public figure and a role model."
"If we don't prosecute him to the fullest extent of the law, I don't know who on Earth we would," Bloomberg said.
"It makes a sham, a mockery of the law. And it's pretty hard to argue the guy didn't have a gun and that it wasn't loaded. You've got bullet holes in and out to show that it was there."
Mayor, can we wait for all of the facts to come out before you speak your piece, less than 24 hours after the incident? A little more than 72 hours afterwards, we still don't know all the details.
What's wrong with doing the mayoral thing and calling for reason and for citizens to not hastily rush to judgment?
The New York Giants and the NFL are working with the proper authorities and conducting a fact-finding investigation. Meanwhile, the mayor's office is playing ringleader to the media circus (which of course, includes the mayor's very own Bloomberg media company).
Today, after a moment to reflect, he is not contrite at all. In fact, he's quoted as saying, "I don’t have nothing to apologize for. The law is the law."
The mayor is obviously right about that, and no one deserves special treatment. Still, Burress will have his day in court. This shouldn't be played out on television without all the facts.
Last I heard, people aren't formally tried in the court of public opinion.
Investigators need to do their jobs and not feel pressure from the mayor's office to draw conclusions as they investigate. This isn't just harmless tough-talk from Bloomberg; his verbosity could actually jeopardize the case against Burress.
23 comments Last one added 7 months ago — Leave a Comment
David Geller 7 months ago
I think Bloomberg is just flexing his muscles on these policies. He talked a big game in 06 about it and this is a follow up.
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Edgar Antonio Nunez 7 months ago
I understand the anti-gun laws are his baby but can he wait until the facts are out? The guy was in front of the cameras before Burress' injury was bandaged up!
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Angel Navedo 7 months ago
What are we arguing? Bloomberg's intentions, or the merit of his words? If we hold Burress to the letter of the law, he had a firearm in NYC, and loaded at that.
We've seen the ads on the subway. Possession of an unlicensed firearm carries a 3.5 year sentence, no matter what. How can the law be bent, or the events skewed to protect Burress' freedom?
I think it sucks. Burress was the victim in this situation, and it was a dumb one to be in—but he brought a loaded, unlicensed gun into a city that doesn't tolerate it. That's pretty open and shut, in my opinion.
If he was responsible enough to get a license in Florida in the first place, he should've been smart enough to do what he needed to do for one in New York.
I'm glad you wrote this, though, Edgar. Bloomberg had no reason to call his press conference and hail fire and brimstone upon the world. His intention is to look like the strong, aggressive mayor in a situation that's going to get national media attention for a long time.
He's being opportunistic after imposing upon the state that they lift the term-limits for a Mayor. The guy wants four more years. So yeah... Bloomberg and all his attention-whore glory really has no place in this situation. But he's saying what most of us are saying... how can Burress possibly get away with it?
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Edgar Antonio Nunez 7 months ago
Bloomberg's intentions in answer to your first question. Cannot dispute anything else you write.
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L.J. Burgess 7 months ago
Burn him.
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Edgar Antonio Nunez 7 months ago
Thankfully we're not in the middle ages any longer.
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L.J. Burgess 7 months ago
Lethal Injection then...
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Michael Miller 7 months ago
Yeah! BURN! HIM! BURN! HIM! BURN! HIM!
HAHAHAHAAA
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Eric Gomez 7 months ago
Doesn't matter what his intentions were. Celebrities and athletes get a free pass when they break the law, and it has to stop. Hold him to the full extent of the law.
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Edgar Antonio Nunez 7 months ago
Well they do because they can hire the best lawyers. That said, let's give everything its due process. All I'm saying is that the mayor of the city and by extension the investigators' boss, shouldn't be leading the torch-burning, stake-carrying mob.
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Laurie Rill 7 months ago
Something that worries me about this whole thing is that latley people have been so pressed on "celebrities" not being treated as such when it comes to breaking the law. I agree that Plaxico needs to take full responsibility for his actions. BUT I just hope that people don't judge him to harshly because he's plaxico burrees. The giants are doing fine without him, but I dont see the Giants just writing him off this season.
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Edgar Antonio Nunez 7 months ago
Thanks Laurie for your more rational comment.
Burress should pay fully just like you and I would in a similar instance. The fact is that things will sort out. He also doesn't have a criminal record and he didn't have a gun on him to harm anyone. He had it for protection. Yes, it was dumb to carry it into a club. Yes, he probably should have bodyguards if he's that concerned for his safety.
But in light of recent well-published events to Sean Taylor and the offensive tackle in Jacksonville that happened just in the past year, players should feel that there are people out there preying on them.
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Edgar Antonio Nunez 7 months ago
JT, my man, we're in agreement about what we know about the case (and no one's denying what is known). All I'm saying is that the mayor is using this platform to further his political means. That's so phony. As I write, where was he when many from his circle cashed out their bad stocks, that now the taxpayer has to pay for?? Where was his moral outrage then??
Burress should be prosecuted to the full extent, just like you and me. No doubt. I think, however, he'll end up doing community work, paying a big fine, etc but no jail time. No basis in fact, just my hunch.
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Shane H. 7 months ago
I hate when people claim that celebrities are role models. That is why there are so many problems with the youths today. My parents always stressed that you look within the home for role models and not TV.
Let him be tried to full extent of the law. If he gets off, fine, if not, fine.
I just find it funny. "Pac Man" cripples a guy among other things and will be returning punts this week. Burress shoots himself and might go to jail fr it. Hilarious!
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Shane H. 7 months ago
oh, and mind-boggling as well
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Edgar Antonio Nunez 7 months ago
You're 100 percent dead on about role models.
Good point about Pacman. And he already had issues from my understanding before that incident at the strip club in Las Vegas.
Burress should pay but the mayor doesn't need to be fanning the flames of frenzy. He's the friggin' mayor (as they would say in New York)!! Totally grandstanding for political points.
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Justin Lowder 7 months ago
I really have to agree with you on this one. All of the facts aren't out yet. Lets get all the facts out and then everyone can make up their minds about what they think. I really don't blame Plax for having a gun. His teammate Steve Smith was robbed at gunpoint one week ago. Athletes are targets for people and he was protecting himself. Nobody was killed. Everyone needs to relax and just let everything play out.
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Edgar Antonio Nunez 7 months ago
Well said Justin.
After everything plays out, Burress should be punished accordingly. This guy has never been in trouble with the law before this.
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matt elias 7 months ago
The facts of the case are pretty clear cut. Burress had an illegal handgun in a new york city night club (even if it was registered in another state its illegal in nyc.) He concealed the weapon but it was found when he was searched at club. They let him in otherwise and he accidently shot himself. I think the bullet wounds are enough evidence for this case.
Bloomberg is tired of these illegal handguns being used to shoot cops and innocent people. He wants guns off the streets. Recently in Brooklyn a church had a gun drive where you got something like $500 dollars if you returned an unregistered gun, no questions asked. They got 500 guns, sounds like a problem to me. As this is just one neighborhood in Brooklyn and I am sure not all the guns were returned. Bloomberg wants to make the streets safer and will use Burress as an example. Go on the Subway there are ads in every car that say 1 gun= 3.5 years. The message is clear: dont carry a gun.
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Edgar Antonio Nunez 7 months ago
Matt you're right on all counts.
That said, the mayor MUST as the leader of the city not be so verbose and stir the pot any more than it needs to be.
Burress should pay. That's not my bone of contention here. The mayor is basically sentencing Burress before his day in court.
He's not the "Duke of New York" (remember Escape from New York?). He's the mayor!
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John Fennelly 7 months ago
Too many gun cases have been pleaded out in recent months...the mayor is just reminding his DAs of that fact...dont' forget - his pet peeve is illegal guns..which bodes badly for Plaxico.
Burress would have been better off getting caught with a trunkful of ectasy
As fir Bloomberg 'getting out in front' of the issue - that's what he does. He probably wouldn't have siad a word until more info came out had the hospital done its job properly - a hospital I'm almost certain he had a board seat on at one time or another.....
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Edgar Antonio Nunez 7 months ago
John, all your points, well said.
He's doing this for political points. The anti-gun law is his baby. I'm down with all of that.
But, where was his moral indignity when Wall Street and his business contacts screw the world and are bailed out by the taxpayers?? Where's his grand standing? That affects not only the citizens of New York but even throughout the world.
I just see him as an opportunist in this instance. Overall, I like the mayor. The city continues its revival, the crime rates compare to those from the early 60s, etc. But, he's wrong here for taking advantage of the situation.
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matt elias 7 months ago
I think that everything that somebody does has some sort of goal behind it. Bloomberg is one of the biggest anti-gun people in this country. (You can agree or not agree with his views but thats not the point.) He sees this as the right time to push this idea across. What better way to get the message to people that if you have a gun you get 3.5 years then to have a superstar athlete be the poster boy? You can see this situation really angers him. I think this is a good move by Bloomberg. If the case wasn't very clear cut you wouldn't hear from him. But he basic facts are known and you cant argue that a) Plax had a gun and b) the gun fired. This is a perfect chance for him to show everyone he means business and how the law works. How many lives will be saved when illegal guns are removed from the streets?
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