Brian F. Kelcey
@stateofthecity.bsky.social
Was @stateofthecity on Twitter. Veteran of a B-Grade, Film Noir genre of politics known as "local government." Current gig: second tour of duty in the Winnipeg Mayor's Office. Hometowns: Victoria, Winnipeg, Toronto. Working on 'Debt City' (see debt.city)
November 25, 2025 at 7:05 AM
"It's the second-toughest job in America."
November 25, 2025 at 2:39 AM
"It's the second-toughest job in America."
One could fill a (short but fulsome) book on daft personnel handling in British/Commonwealth and Imperial commands in WW2 alone. Maybe even with a WW1 prequel volume.
November 25, 2025 at 2:39 AM
One could fill a (short but fulsome) book on daft personnel handling in British/Commonwealth and Imperial commands in WW2 alone. Maybe even with a WW1 prequel volume.
NO
I JUST ATE VEGETABLES, DON'T TAKE THAT FROM ME
I JUST ATE VEGETABLES, DON'T TAKE THAT FROM ME
November 25, 2025 at 2:35 AM
NO
I JUST ATE VEGETABLES, DON'T TAKE THAT FROM ME
I JUST ATE VEGETABLES, DON'T TAKE THAT FROM ME
I'll repeat what several others have already said: wasn't this blindingly obvious already? Were there really *that* many people who were stupid enough to fall for the obvious bots? Really?
November 25, 2025 at 2:33 AM
I'll repeat what several others have already said: wasn't this blindingly obvious already? Were there really *that* many people who were stupid enough to fall for the obvious bots? Really?
The flip side is also possible; you delegate *too* much and suddenly "a sparrow falls in Central Park" and you don't know a thing about it.
November 25, 2025 at 2:32 AM
The flip side is also possible; you delegate *too* much and suddenly "a sparrow falls in Central Park" and you don't know a thing about it.
So the usual answer is, "that's ok, the Mayor can just hire some good people to manage it all." Which is true. But, take Lindsay; he had some of the best people in the country, but couldn't resist getting involved in everything.
November 25, 2025 at 2:32 AM
So the usual answer is, "that's ok, the Mayor can just hire some good people to manage it all." Which is true. But, take Lindsay; he had some of the best people in the country, but couldn't resist getting involved in everything.
This is why asking about an NYC mayors' admin skills is at least a reasonably fair question. If I'm not mistaken, the M/O in New York officially has something like 1000 staff. I haven't seen a number later than the 1960s but back then, director/commissioner direct reports were in the 55+ range.
November 25, 2025 at 2:28 AM
This is why asking about an NYC mayors' admin skills is at least a reasonably fair question. If I'm not mistaken, the M/O in New York officially has something like 1000 staff. I haven't seen a number later than the 1960s but back then, director/commissioner direct reports were in the 55+ range.
Jesus Christ. 🤔 I can't beat that (although three hours is about my max per library sitting). I'm reading the Times, the Daily News, the Village Voice, etc. At least the ads have a little entertainment value...
November 25, 2025 at 2:24 AM
Jesus Christ. 🤔 I can't beat that (although three hours is about my max per library sitting). I'm reading the Times, the Daily News, the Village Voice, etc. At least the ads have a little entertainment value...
One of the two essential groups!
November 25, 2025 at 2:21 AM
One of the two essential groups!
It kind of feels like I spent three hours looking at microforms, which normally keeps like someone was kicking me in the head.
November 25, 2025 at 2:16 AM
It kind of feels like I spent three hours looking at microforms, which normally keeps like someone was kicking me in the head.
(Wait a minute; I have this chromebook set up beside my desktop so I wouldn't keep having to waste time jumping between windows thing on the newspaper clips... so why wasn't I using it?)
(*stares at screen as if staring at self in mirror*)
(*stares at screen as if staring at self in mirror*)
November 25, 2025 at 2:08 AM
(Wait a minute; I have this chromebook set up beside my desktop so I wouldn't keep having to waste time jumping between windows thing on the newspaper clips... so why wasn't I using it?)
(*stares at screen as if staring at self in mirror*)
(*stares at screen as if staring at self in mirror*)
(Am I undercaffeinated? Or am I missing something here? 🤪)
November 25, 2025 at 2:06 AM
(Am I undercaffeinated? Or am I missing something here? 🤪)
Oh, this is after work at this point. Long day, now working on the book, and there was something about seeing John Lindsay gripe in tiny NYT 1960s italic font that was pushing me over the edge. Still is!
November 25, 2025 at 2:06 AM
Oh, this is after work at this point. Long day, now working on the book, and there was something about seeing John Lindsay gripe in tiny NYT 1960s italic font that was pushing me over the edge. Still is!