DeBlasio is courting New York business elite. Quietly. The Wall Street Journal reports the ongoing efforts of the DeBlasio team to put the mind's of New York business leaders at ease.
Of course this may be the reality of governing. Or maybe we should expect something new. Maybe we should expect that officials elected from the progressive wing of the Democratic Party both change the nature of "reality" in governing AND include the electorate in the conversation.
In a word, we may want to know just what kind of deal is being cut to put those troubled minds at ease. Maybe the question is not whether DeBlasio should be engaging in a dialogue with New York's business elite, but whether that dialogue has to be so "quiet"....
Yesterday's Wall Street Journal reports that DeBlasio has "quietly courted the city's businesses, meeting with an array of executives in hopes of calming nerves. He has unveiled plans to decrease fines on small businesses, formed a task force to focus on jobs and proposed a city budget that doesn't raise property taxes." WSJ
WSJ reports that 70 corporate executives heard Mr. de Blasio speak at a private event organized by the Partnership for New York City, an organization representing the city's leading businesses. Attendees included BlackRock CEO Laurence Fink, American Express CEO Kenneth Chenalt and Deanna Mulligan, CEO of Guardian Life Insurance Company of America.
The speech had a magical soothing effect. WSJ reports:
"We are on a much better path of late," said Viacom Inc. CEO Philippe Dauman;
[The reaction of business leadership is] "completely positive," said Kathryn Wylde, the Partnership for New York City's "I've gotten emails since (the recent speech) and responses from people going out—including Republicans who were scared to death—who said they felt 100% better."
"Everybody I know wants to see the mayor do a great job, they hope he's going to do a great job and they think he's going to do a great job." said real estate developer Donald Trump.
Elected officials believe there is a role for government to play in economic development. Traditionally this involves a mix of less regulation and regulatory enforcement and more economic incentives in terms of tax breaks and/or grants and loans.
We ought to debate this traditional game plan and how it can negatively effect voters' progressive priorities.
Its hard to have that debate. We know what had "business leaders scared to death" in Wylde's words -- namely the promises the Mayor made to progressives during the election -- but we don't know what turned that "scary feeling" around to something "completely positive".
DeBlasio is doing a great job so far. Paid sick leave? Check. Universal Pre-K? Check. Affordable Housing plan? Check. Improving Services to Homeless? Check. Ending Stop and Frisk? Check.
BUT ...
We have to keep our eye on the ball to make sure the incentives and breaks and coddling don't impede the momentum.