Speaking With The Speaker:
Giff Miller On New York

Giff Miller told me last week that the difference between being Speaker of the Council and a Councilman is the difference between Major and Minor League baseball. “It’s the same game, only the pitches are coming faster and more people are watching.”

Me, I’ve got a great job.

When you get rid of the stresses of running a business, meeting a batch of weekly deadlines and supervising a staff of almost fifty, I get to write a weekly column and spend time with the decision makers that keep our government running – like Giff Miller.

Not only do I get to spend time with them, it’s on my turf — and I get to ask the questions. Friday afternoon, Giff came to chat. He spent an hour and a half with me and Tamara talking about the budget, education, politics and the City Council.

Trib publisher Michael Schenkler and Speaker Giff Miller. Photo by Dee Richard

Giff Miller, a new father for the second time, is the thirty-two year-old speaker of the City Council. He is only the second speaker of the new larger Council made significantly more powerful by charter revision. And Giff Miller is guiding that Council, which he describes as “a very hard working bunch,” after demonstrating his talent to creatively bridge the gap between old politics and new politics.

He won his job through election by the new Council by supporting, working with and being there for many of the 38-newly elected members. He won his job by meeting with, negotiating with and building coalitions with the political powers of the City including Queens Democratic County Chairman Tom Manton.

He is wise beyond his 32 years. He is poised and confident and handles the barrage of questions from this writer like an old pro with a young wry wit.

Giff Miller can avoid your questions with as much humor and grace as any politician who has learned the two-step (whatever that is). Giff Miller can tackle the toughest of questions head-on and courageously.

RAISING TAXES

“There is no way to avoid raising taxes,” was and has been Giff Miller’s clear message. Firmly Miller has challenged the unspoken political deal between Mayor Mike Bloomberg and Governor George Pataki that the dirty “T” word — taxes — would not be discussed during Pataki’s election year.

“Do you really think you can change the Mayor’s mind?” I asked.

Taking for granted what he and I both knew – there is more than a five billion dollar (yes, billion) shortfall in the City’s budget – Giff insisted, “We have already changed the Mayor’s mind.” At a March Citizen’s Budget Commission speech, the Mayor had “six lines in there that we cannot raise taxes,” Miller explained.

He’s backing a cigarette tax, he’s got a $35 million cell phone tax; “he is raising taxes,” the Speaker explained, becoming more animated than his typically subdued demeanor.

He drove home his point that the gap can’t be bridged by budget cuts alone: “With only 20,000 police, if we close every library, every senior center, every after school program and close down the department of cultural affairs not giving any money to any cultural program, we would still need to cut a billion dollars out of the Board of Education.”

Miller and the Mayor have their differences. Education, clearly on top of Miller’s list, would be the beneficiary of a Council personal income tax surcharge to high-income earners, while the Mayor’s cuts include education.

The Mayor was “cutting too much money in all the wrong places and not enough in the right ones,” Miller insisted. The Council’s budget calls for half-a-billion dollars more in spending cuts than the Mayor’s.

He rattled off some examples: eliminate the Mayor’s office on contracts; cut the City heat and power budget — “City employees can be a degree warmer in the summer and colder in the winter time;” eliminate a Deputy Commissioner from each agency.

“The Mayor’s across the board notion of cuts is wrong,” Miller asserted, “We were sent there to prioritize and first and most importantly is our kids’ education.” The Mayor has the “wrong mix in some places” but Miller concluded as long as there is good faith negotiation, we will reach a compromise. “Our responsibility is to work with one another.”

The budget was clearly what was on Miller’s mind. Although he demonstrated a command of all we discussed, he noted June 24th is the drop-dead date to pass a budget allowing the Council enough time to override a Mayoral veto — just in case.

However, once the budget is done, “we will still have to work on the budget,” said Miller recognizing that the fiscal challenge to our city will be ongoing.

OTHER ISSUES

Regarding school governance, Miller believes in Mayoral control and accountability for our education system, but points to the inept scandal ridden Department of Buildings to illustrate that Mayoral control is not a silver bullet. However, Miller was clearly uncomfortable with the time- consuming diversion of the governance debate and wants to “get this behind us” in order to tackle the other, real problems of education.

Miller says the Mayor is doing a good job but feels strongly that the Mayor is letting the Governor off the hook in an election year. “It’s not our job to make the Governor’s election smooth,” Miller said in reference to requesting Albany’s approval for City tax increases. In reaction to the suggestion that the Mayor and Governor plan to address the fiscal crisis after the November election, he objected to the lost time, but insisted if that were the case, “I’d like to have a stronger understanding of the end game.”

Clearly we have a Speaker prepared to work with all levels of government, but one that is unwillingly to quietly wait and rely on others to do the right thing.

Miller has supported the efforts of the Black and Latino Caucus giving them a staff member and both caucus chairs positions on the budget negotiating team explaining that he is following the practice of Albany.

Miller has positioned himself as the champion of education and has taken the debate to the Mayor. Likewise, he points to Albany seeking fiscal responsibility, not political responses.

OLD POLITICS

While he effectively captures the voice of the new Council he is cautious to protect and preserve his relationships and political institutions. When talking politics, we see the old- school Miller.

Term limits: “I’ll think about it after the budget.” I was not a supporter of term limits, explains Miller, who believes that campaign finance has done much to level the playing field. He indicated that in the past he felt that it would have been wrong to overturn term limits without a referendum of the people. However, he remained elusive, claiming to have not discussed or thought about the issue, avoiding it during the budgetary process.

He walked the line on use of staff and public funds for campaign purposes. “It is a delicate balance to strike... It is important to report to constituents what you are doing.” Refusing to condemn prior abuses of public funds by elected officials, he saw no reason “to go there.”

In reference to the public losing confidence in their elected officials, Miller explained away the instances of corruption with “we all live in an imperfect world.”

Perhaps it is understandable that the chosen leader of the Council, which embodies the new politics of this City, chose not to attack or criticize the City’s old politics. It was that old politics that enabled the bright Councilman from the Upper East Side to rise to his position of power while still in his early thirties.

But each response was accompanied with a wry humorous comment indicating that the product of the system knew it has flaws. His ability to sarcastically mock made his old politics much more palatable.

Miller has chosen the path of fighting for our City – which he “loves deeply, especially at this time,” – our kids and for the priorities that matter to the people. He has chosen not to pick up the mantle of reform but to get along in the system that raised him.

THE FUTURE

Giff Miller, who said he feels a sense of opportunity to contribute something to New York, is term limited out of office after next year. That is, unless he and his Council find a way to change the term limit law.

On Nov. 6, the day before Election Day, Giff Miller turns 33 years old. He is thoughtful and poised beyond his 33 years. He is a bright and articulate spokesperson for the people of our City. Anyone who has risen to such a position of influence in his first 33 years offers the City a future of leadership for decades to come.

Giff ducked the question about running for Mayor with the words, “I just became Speaker.” The fire in his eyes gave a different answer. Giff Miller and New York City will be inseparable for perhaps another lifetime.

Watch him.

Tamara Hartman contributed to this column.

Dear President Bush

In my chat last month with Comptroller Bill Thompson, the Comptroller was critical of the Bush administration’s refusal to reimburse the City for operating expenses when the budget shortfall was a result of the terrorist attack. I asserted my objection to his criticism since he had not requested such reimbursement. Although Thompson said he was fairly certain that the Mayor made the request, he was going to investigate the matter.

Last week, I received an exclusive copy of a letter dated May 30th from the Comptroller to President Bush and was informed by the Comptroller staff that this letter was a direct response to my suggestion that a request for operating funds should preceed any criticism of the White House for not being forthcoming with such assistance.

In the letter excerpted below, the Comptroller demonstrated to this writer that he can both take a suggestion and fight for our City.

Thanx, Bill.

“Dear President Bush:

“All New Yorkers deeply appreciate the support you have provided to New York City in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center complex.  I know that I speak for all our citizens in expressing gratitude for your leadership in this time of crisis.

“Although the tragic loss of life can never be replaced, we remain strong and committed to rebuilding our City.  You have been steadfast in ensuring the federal government’s commitment of financial support to assist the City in its historic cleanup and construction efforts.

“I am concerned, however, that the loss of City operating revenues has not been similarly addressed. 

“Since Sept. 11th, we estimate that the City’s revenue collections have fallen by $800 million in the current year and will be reduced further by $2.2 billion in Fiscal Year 2003 due to the impact of the terrorist attacks.  In addition, while FEMA is expected to reimburse the City for nearly $1.7 billion in direct costs, there remains an additional $500 million in expenditures that appear to be ineligible for FEMA funding.

“The City is taking important steps to address these circumstances.  Last week, the City borrowed $1.5 billion to meet operating expenses.  Yet even with such extraordinary actions, the City confronts a growing deficit through the next four projected years.  As we face renewed terrorist threats, New Yorkers look to you for guidance and critical support.

“The Federal government must compensate New Yorkers for lost revenues directly sustained because of the Sept. 11th attack by providing additional assistance in the form of unrestricted federal aid.  Your support will help restore vital service to our City and will serve as a signal that an attack upon one, is an attack upon all.

“Very truly yours,

William C. Thompson, Jr.”

Not4Publication.com by Dom Nunziato

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Michael Schenkler can be reached at: MSchenkler@queenspress.com