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We pay taxes, and we help the city coffers.

I think they got caught up in how much money they could get from each of the city governments as far as tax rebates. But that stuff works when you make money. It's a little bit phantom money.

I really think people understand that in New York City we have high taxes.

As a former mayor, I know that local governments must have control over land use decisions.

You don't get gushers of revenue by raising tax rates. You get it through expansion.

Fish and Wildlife has a significant amount of federal funds for land acquisition, yet it is skimping on management of the lands it already possesses and shortchanging local tax bases.

Why should a city be mandated to do something by the federal government or state government without the money to do it?

The city has to do what any citizen or family does, when you have a dream. You tighten your belt. You sacrifice some luxuries. Above all, you don't waste a dime.

It is a beneficent incident of the ownership of land that a pioneer who reduces it to use, and helps to lay the foundations of a new State, finds a profit in the increasing value of land as the new State grows up.

That's what mayors do. They lobby Congress to provide resources for their city.