“State of” syndrome has assuredly spread. It is flourishing in New York, now more than ever.
A few days into 2012, the governor gave his State of the State talk. The mayor followed with his State of the City speech.
Because New York is graced with five borough presidents, each of whom insists on being heard, we have been subjected to a series of State of the Borough spiels. The leaders of Queens and Staten Island spoke last week. Wednesday night was Brooklyn’s turn, and Thursday will be Manhattan’s. The Bronx will speak up later in February.
But wait, as they say on late-night television, there’s more. The City Council speaker will deliver her take on the State of the City next week. A week later, the city comptroller plans for the first time to give a speech of his own.
Nor are city agencies immune to “State of” fever. In the not-distant past, a parks commissioner insisted on delivering a State of the Parks address, though the man now in that job speaks to his troops without making it a public spectacle.
(Source: The New York Times)
