Bloomberg talks sense on terrorism
http://wcbstv.com/topstories/local_story_155160642.html
Jun 5, 2007 10:37 am US/Eastern
Bloomberg On JFK Plot: ‘Stop Worrying, Get A Life’ Marcia Kramer Reporting
(CBS) NEW YORK While questions continue to arise about the alleged
plot to blow up a fuel pipeline beneath JFK Airport and surrounding
neighborhoods, some are questioning why New York City Mayor Michael
Bloomberg hasn’t had a louder voice since the plot was foiled on
Saturday.
On Monday, Bloomberg finally weighed in, but his response was not
what some would have expected.
“There are lots of threats to you in the world. There’s the threat of
a heart attack for genetic reasons. You can’t sit there and worry
about everything. Get a life,” he said.
That “What, me worry?” attitude pretty much sums up Bloomberg’s
advice to New Yorkers on the terror plot. As far as he was concerned,
the professionals were on it, so New Yorkers shouldn’t let it tax
their brains.
“You have a much greater danger of being hit by lightning than being
struck by a terrorist,” he added.
New Yorkers say Bloomberg is entitled to his opinions, but not
everybody agrees with him.
“I feel that he’s definitely wrong about that because terrorism right
now is at its all-time high since 9/11. Everybody wants to be a
terrorist and blow something up,” one New Yorker told CBS 2 HD.
“We’re always going to be a major hit for terrorism. After 9/11, you
never know,” another added.
Still, others agreed with Bloomberg and said the only way to live in
normalcy is to do just that — live in normalcy.
“There’s always a threat, always a possibility, but you always have
to keep living your life,” a city resident said.
“If you are scared, you know it will be tough to come to work in the
city everyday. You don’t have to be scared, we’re not afraid of
anything,” said another.
Officials do point out that our post-9/11 intelligence is much better
now than it was back then. According to Bloomberg, New York City is
still the safest city in America.
New FBI crime statistics show the city continued its decline in
violent crime, defying the national trend. Last year the city posted
another 5.3 percent drop, whereas violent crime nationally increased
by 1.3 percent.
“In terms of what you as individual on the streets should worry about
is not whether the person sitting next to you on the subway is a
terrorist. The likelihood of that is so small it is not something you
should worry about,” Bloomberg said.