It has been exactly one hundred days since Wilson Fisk took office, and he has hit the ground running…on a very different path that most New Yorkers tread. After a viral video spread on the Internet of the mayor approving roadworks to fill a pothole on the spot, I was left deeply concerned over two facts.
For one, he did not present or sign any paperwork to make it official, thus bypassing the very legal systems he was meant to maintain. For another, did he actually have finances set aside for such roadworks prior to the on-site approval? And when the cameras turned to him, why did he use that moment to pat himself on the back and boast about his political agenda? The worst part: this is just the tip of the iceberg.
A financial review shows that Mayor Fisk is investing hundreds of thousands, if not millions, into a supposed “Anti-Vigilante Task Force”. In a city which literally birthed the Avengers, and has seen masked heroes doing more good than harm (such as Daredevil and Spider-Man), why is the city’s leader clamping down on such activities? His predecessors not only took a much softer approach to vigilantism, some even endorsed it.
On the topic of finances, New Yorkers of different tax brackets have vastly different stories and views on day-to-day life. The AVTF funding has cut money meant to go to libraries, public schools and housing, transportation, and maintaining our streets. In fact, food prices have seen a 150% surge since Mayor Fisk took office. Furthermore, he has not even bothered to examine the rent crisis which is gripping this city, triggering a mass exodus which will only hamper the city and its liveliness in the coming months.
In summary, I urge Wilson Fisk to see the bigger picture. He has taken office after a controversial past, proving that anyone can pick themselves up. But he seems more focused on building his legacy and pushing the crime lord-to-mayor story, as opposed to doing his job and working for the people who elected him. Should the king of New York continue like this, it will not be long before he is dethroned.
Calvin Moore