New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg's reputation took a serious hit last December when, after the city was paralyzed by a blizzard, he said, "The city is going fine. Broadway shows were full last night." Bloomberg himself was not to be found in New York the weekend of the blizzard, and the resulting power vacuum prevented a timely call for a state of emergency.
With Hurricane Irene expected to land in the Northeast this weekend, expect Bloomberg to stick around New York. According to Bloomberg (the news outlet), Bloomberg (the mayor) said on Aug. 25 that he will decide on Aug. 26 whether or not to issue an executive order to evacuate low-lying areas in the city.
Bloomberg will undoubtedly take this opportunity to redeem himself and prove that power and insensitivity don't always go hand in hand.