The Progressive model in action. How to make promises to the uniformed and keep them coming back

Let’s see; pre-K is essential to the economic future of children; the teachers union will cut health care costs in return for nine years of raises; zero deaths from auto accident and now more high-density “affordable” housing … it all sounds pretty good doesn’t it? It’s also a lot of progressive nonsensical rhetoric and that is the fundamental problem with progressives, they are out-of-touch with reality and human nature or fiscal responsibility. It will truly be interesting to watch the “progress” of New York City.

Even the NYT raises a concern albeit modest. But hey, it is the NYTs after all.

Have we not learned what happens in high density housing?

New York City’s Public Advocate writes a letter to the Editor NYT 5-8-14

But it is important to recognize that while crime is largely down in most parts of our city, it is still a major problem in public housing developments and certain neighborhoods. According to published reports, the New York City Housing Authority has seen a 31 percent increase in major crime in the last five years.

Over the last few months, I have spoken with numerous public-housing residents who do not feel the same sense of security that many of their fellow New Yorkers enjoy.

It’s why I support the City Council’s budget proposal for an additional 1,000 police officers. And why I believe that they should be concentrated in public housing and other targeted areas with disproportionately high levels of crime.

Is giving raises based on undefined massive savings in health care a prudent strategy? How can one even comment on zero traffic deaths in a city the size of NYC? No matter, progressives are not concerned with the real world, just the world they envision and are able to convince naive people to accept.

Excerpts from Mr. de Blasio’s Moon Shot, a New York Times Editorial 5-6-14

Its most striking feature is its eager embrace of adding height and density to neighborhoods beyond Manhattan, through mandatory inclusionary zoning, the stick-plus-carrot that requires builders in newly rezoned areas to set aside a percentage of units as forever affordable…

Mr. de Blasio’s administration has not learned — or simply rejects — the political value of underpromising. From the pledge of billions of undefined health care savings in its newly struck deal with the teachers’ union, to its plan to reduce traffic deaths (in a city of eight million) to zero, it has spun the dial on expectations well past 11.