Mayor Bloomberg took time out of his busy Friday morning kissing Miss Piggy to take a jab at city council's living wage bill, comparing the legislation to communism.
On his regular appearance on WORS radio, Bloomberg said, "The last time we really had a big managed economy was the USSR and that didn't work out so well," adding, "You cannot stop the tides from coming in."
City Council Speaker Christine Quinn announced a watered down deal on the living wage agreement Wednesday, which will require businesses receiving $1 million or more in city subsidies and earning more than $5 million a year in revenue to pay their workers at least $11.50 an hour, or $10 with benefits.
Quinn called the bill "the most impactful living-wage law in the United States," according to Capital New York. After some businesses were exempted from the measure, however, experts say it will effect roughly only 500 New Yorkers.
And yet, Bloomberg has vowed to veto the bill.
"No matter how much you try to carve out certain industries and certain locations and certain size businesses, you're gonna hurt somebody ... " hizzoner said. "I will veto any bill."
And if the veto is overridden? "We certainly will go to court and sue," the mayor stated. "Whether you win or not, you never know."
The spat between Bloomberg and Quinn is rare in the pair's close political relationships. Quinn, who many see as the frontrunner to succeed Bloomberg, has received his quiet, unofficial endorsement.
The mayor also took the opportunity to call a measure requiring certain businesses to offer their employees paid sick leave a "god-awful bill." On this bill, the mayor and Quinn agree.
Minimum wage in New York City is currently $7.25 an hour.
Cities across the United States have already implemented living wage laws, including Pittsburgh and San Francisco.