New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg's take on all things Irish

And you’ve got to turn that around. How’s that done? The president’s the first that has to do it, he’s the cheerleader in chief, the governors and the mayors I suppose as well. The good news is that New York has continued to invest in it’s future. And so people continue to come here.

Tourism is down a little bit, but most museums report more tourists than ever before. The problem is they’re not spending money in the bookstores. They’re not spending money getting in. But as long as they keep coming we have a future.

And so, the long term question for people that live here and have businesses here, is when the economy recovers -- I happen to think it’ll be earlier than later -- but whenever, will we have the people to let businesses expand? Will we have the transportation system and safe streets so they can go to this restaurant and enjoy it? Will we have good schools that attract people, and cultural institutions?

I think there’s a reason to be optimistic. Now that’s not to say there aren’t people who are losing their jobs every day, losing their houses. House loss here is a lot less than in those overbuilt areas in the warm climates.

There are people who are worried about health care, and don’t have insurance, and there is all of that. But I think we’ve done the right things, and we’re not walking away from those who have problems.  

Let me ask you about Ireland, because the economy there is one of the worst in Europe now. 

I know. I remember my company, I was one of the few people that didn’t speak Gaelic at some point! We had the Neils and Siobhans, and then when the Irish economy improved, a lot of them went back, and when I go to Ireland they show up at the events to say hello, now with five kids. They’re like Orthodox Jews, they have so many kids!

And now they’re starting to come back. But now they have visa problems they did not have the last time, and that’s one of the differences.

I argue that this country is committing national suicide. We should open the borders, not close them. And you need to open them in tough times more than you need to open them in good times. And government has to lead, and I don’t think most of our leaders are willing to do that.

I don’t have any easy answers for Ireland. It has some great natural advantages. Gaelic notwithstanding it is an English speaking country, and English is the business language of the world, so that gives you a real advantage.

It is a place where education is valued. When we used to hire people, they were all from great schools, well-educated, and it (Ireland) has a work ethic. 

And they play hard too. There’s a – I don’t know how you say it in Gaelic -- a joie de vivre.  That maybe something that’s long term and may carry them through this.

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