Peter Vallone Jr. (Photo: Facebook)

Peter Vallone Jr., chair of the City Council's Public Safety committee, is fuming over the federal Justice Department's support for a federal monitor over the NYPD.

Filling in for a traveling Mayor Michael Bloomberg on John Gambling's WOR radio show this morning, Mr. Vallone, who is already fighting other measures to curb stop-and-frisk, blasted Attorney General Eric Holder for trying to "mess with New York City" by suggesting new police oversight in response to a lawsuit against the controversial policy. He specifically warned a monitor would lead to more shooting deaths.

“We might as well just call our police commissioner ‘Deputy Monitor’ because they won't be in charge any more," said Mr. Vallone, who accused the Justice Department of intervening in an attempt to change the conversation away from a slew of bad news.

“It’s the best way for them to turn the attention from the problems that Eric Holder and the administration are having ... I think that’s part of this also, because now we’re talking about this and were not talking about the IRS or the press snooping or any of the other problems, giving guns to the drug dealers," he said. "He can now move the conversation to reforming police procedures."

But Mr. Vallone, who is running for Queens borough president, and a sympathetic Mr. Gambling argued the oversight was unnecessary, pointing to the city's record-low murder rate, which is far below other cities, including Chicago.

“How come he's not all over Rahm Emanuel?" asked Mr. Gambling, referring to the city's mayor and former White House chief of staff.

"Exactly!” exclaimed Mr. Vallone, claiming the city is doing just fine on its own. “We don’t need their help. We’re doing very well in New York City, as you pointed out. Much better than every other city.”

He further said the consequences would be disastrous.

"I’d much rather a 14-year-old boy get stopped legally--civilly--courteously sent on his way than a 14-year-old girl get shot in the head on a bus. And that’s what will happen once we get rid of stop-and-frisk," he warned. “That’s the biggest civil rights violation going. Being killed, right?"

Mr. Vallone, a former prosecutor, was equally critical of his City Council colleagues, blasting them as "clueless" when it comes to the law.

"Some of them actually have good intent, but are just clueless. They don’t have a day of law enforcement experience, and that’s a big problem,” he said. “We’ve got these elected officials that don’t have a clue who are now passing these laws, which are very, very dangerous."

"The thought of the City Council being in charge of the security of New York City when it comes to terrorism is probably as terrifying a thought as I can come up with,” Mr. Gambling quipped.

Mayor Bloomberg during an appearance on WOR. (Photo: Flickr/nycmayorsoffice)

Mayor Michael Bloomberg--who previously suggested so-so students skip college to become plumbers--dished out some more advice to young people Friday morning during his weekly radio show.

Mr. Bloomberg, whose own syntax has sometimes been the butt of jokes, warned kids to pay attention to their grammar lessons or risk losing opportunities later in life.

"Kids have to learn to speak grammar," said the mayor, in response to a caller who suggested kids weren't being taught the subject in schools.

"If you don't speak good grammar--English with good grammar--you're not gonna get the kind of jobs that you want," said the mayor. "You can make an argument that it shouldn't be the case, it's not fair, whatever, [but] people judge each other by how well-spoken they are. And if there's a lot of jargon, and if you can't--double negatives and things like that--they hurt your career prospects."

That's one of the reasons, he argued, it's so important to have good schools. "It is an English-speaking country and, like in My Fair Lady, we do judge each other based on how well we speak."

Host John Gambling said he hoped that message was getting through to young people.

"People think it's cute to jive. And it may be for entertainment, but you just still have to have a command of the English language," concluded Mr. Bloomberg, who admitted he was never good at the subject at school.

"I could never figure out a dangling participle," he joked.

Mayor Bloomberg showing off a new Boro Taxis. (Photo: flickr/nycmayorsoffice)

Mayor Michael Bloomberg was especially chipper this morning during his weekly radio sit-down with WOR's John Gambling, a day after the courts delivered two victories: a win on the city's plan to introduce a new fleet of "Boro Taxis" that will roam the outer boroughs and one that will allow riders to use apps to hail cabs.

The good news continued on the air, where Mr. Bloomberg received calls from two listeners singing his praises, including "Harry from Forest Hills," who suggested a new name for the fleet of outer-borough, green-colored cabs.

"Mayor, this is said with all respect: I think to celebrate your legacy, the new green cabs should be called 'Bloomberg Cars,'" he said.

"Call 'em 'Bloomy Cars!'" suggested host Mr. Gambling, building on the idea.

"Well, you're nice to say so," responded Mr. Bloomberg, who then recalled a conversation he'd had at a restaurant about a customer who would always turn down bottled water and ask for "Giuliani Water" instead.

"Now I said we should say 'Bloomberg Water,'" said the mayor, laughing. "Not to take anything from Rudy."

"Giuliani has a better ring on the water. I don't know why," he continued to muse.

In London, the city's bike share bikes are sometimes called "Boris Bikes" after mayor Boris Johnson, and Mr. Bloomberg has previously joked about naming the city's new fleet "Mike's Bikes" after him.

Giuliani

Anthony Weiner and his skin. (Photo: Getty Images)

Anthony Weiner made the radio rounds Friday morning, as he wrapped up his second week on the campaign trail. And while, in recent days, he has been largely able to avoid conversation of the lewd sexting scandal that forced him to resign two years, the topic was front-and-center Friday for hosts John Gambling and Mark Riley.

WWRL's Mr. Riley asked Mr. Weiner whether he got mad over the all the Weiner jokes or seeing the word "disgraced" before his name in newspaper stories.

“Frankly, if you don’t have a thick skin—and I’ve developed an almost rhinocerosly thick skin going through this process—then you probably shouldn’t put yourself up for office, particularly if you want to be mayor," said Mr. Weiner. "I certainly understand completely, Mark, that people have some pretty tough things to say to me, and I’ve certainly seen them all.”

But he also offered harsh words for Mayor Michael Bloomberg, saying that--while he had helped to unify the city and curb the "palpable" racial tensions post-Giuliani--in some ways, the city was worse off.

"The solutions to many of the city's biggest problems have not been met, and frankly, in many ways the city is in a worse position," he said, pointing to growing economic disparities, the growing poverty rate and "an education system that's not much better" despite a huge spike in spending. “So the record is mixed."

And on public safety issues, he said that he would not keep on Police Commissioner Ray Kelly—but nonetheless praised the city’s top cop.

“No disrespect intended to him,” he said, but argued that—just like the police department rotates precinct commanders—the city would benefit from a new perspective.

“You always want fresh eyes,” he said. “I think he’s done a good job … but I think that, frankly, some of the policies need to change, and I think having a fresh perspective would be helpful."

Still, he said, if elected, he’d love to have Mr. Kelly continue to serve in another capacity. Mr. Weiner has said he is favor of stop-and-frisk, but argues the stops need to be done more carefully—“if for no other reason,” he said, “then it’s reversing this sense that we actually have an improvement in the way that persons of color looked at their government. That’s getting eroded by the stop-and-frisk policy and it really needs to change.”

He also bemoaned the number of meals served to homeless children living in city: “It’s a crime,” he said.

Later, speaking with WOR’s John Gambling, who said he personally found it difficult to trust Mr. Weiner after the scandal, Mr. Weiner repeated his practiced line that it will be up to voters to decide.

“What I have said is that people have to make that decision for themselves,” he said, adding that, despite sitting out politics for the past two years, his core convictions haven’t changed.

“I kind of am what I am,” he said. “If people think, 'Well, if I elect Anthony Weiner mayor he’s gonna to be in this Zen space, that if someone pokes a finger in the eye of New York City, he’s gonna calmly say his meditative chants' … That’s not gonna be me."

He also weighed in again on Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who told a newspaper editorial board that it would be “shame on us” if Mr. Weiner were elected mayor. He has since claimed he was making a joke.

“The governor said he was making a joke and I completely get it," Mr. Weiner commented.

Ydanis Rodriguez (Photo: New York City Council)

Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez, who has been a staunch supporter of the Occupy Wall Street movement, appeared on the radio this morning to discuss his plans for a "Protester's Bill of Rights" with John Gambling, who is most certainly not a fan of the Occupy movement. Mr. Rodriguez's bill was inspired bythe NYPD's handling of the Occupy Wall Street demonstration in Zuccotti Park last Saturday.

"I believe that in the last couple of demonstrations there have been a lot of questions about how the NYPD has been handling the arrests," Mr. Rodriguez said. "I witnessed the excessive use of force used by the NYPD last Saturday making the arrest and I believe that a 'Protester's Bill of Rights' will help both the protesters and the NYPD to have a clear understanding of the rights and responsibilities of both the protesters and the NYPD."

Mr. Gambling, who famously dubbed the Occupiers "zoo creatures" last November, asked Mr. Rodriguez if he thinks "that all of the bad falls to the police and all of the good falls to the Occupy Wall Streeters."

"No. I support the Occupy movement because I believe that this movement stands for the needs of the working class and the middle class," Mr. Rodriguez said. "I praise the NYPD, I know that the NYPD has been doing great work keeping my community safe and our city safe."

Mr. Rodriguez went on to explain he thinks the Occupy protesters ar eraising important issues about income inequailty and the rights of minorities. Mr. Gambling wasn't entirely convinced.

"The things that you just said, I understand and to a certain degree. I agree with the points that you just laid out," Mr. Gambling said. "What I think you're making a mistake here is getting behind OWS, Occupy Wall Street, because I think these people are a bunch of losers. I think they're nothing but thugs and anarchists, and all they want to do is make trouble."

Mr. Rodriguez took issue with Mr. Gambling's characterization of the protesters.

"When I had the opportunity to spend some time at Zuccotti Park in the past, I saw thousands of people, young people, I saw senior citizens who were active and have been active citizens, people who were part of the civil rights movement," Mr. Rodriguez said.

In the end, they agreed to disagree.

"I don't agree with you backing these guys, as I just said, but Ydanis, hang in there buddy," Mr. Gambling said. "Thanks a lot appreciate your time, thanks for your opinion and your point of view, it is far different from mine."

Mayor Bloomberg (Getty)

On John Gambling's radio show this morning, Mayor Bloomberg once again addressed the controversy over press access at the NYPD's raid on the Occupy Wall Street encampment in Zuccotti Park last month. Multiple reporters were arrested while attempting to cover the evictions and there were widespread reports of credentialed members of the media being prevented from viewing the raid. "We didn't keep anybody from reporting, they just had to stand to the side while the police did their job," Mayor Bloomberg said. "Police have to protect people."

Mayor Bloomberg has taken a lot of heat for the NYPD's treatment of reporters at the raid. During his appearance with Mr. Gambling, he dismissed these concerns.

"The press made a big deal that they, you know, were denied their rights. They were asked as we do with every such thing where the police have to take action, 'You have to step aside so that police can do their job,'" Mayor Bloomberg said. "You don't have a right as a press person, I don't think, to stand in the way just in the interest of you getting the story."

Press credentials ostensibly allow reporters to cross police lines and other barriers set up during emergencies. Politicker was present for the eviction and we witnessed multiple credentialed reporters blocked from crossing police barricades that kept them several blocks from the park.

On the morning after the eviction, Mayor Bloomberg said he kept the press back from the raid for their own good. Today, he said keeping reporters back also protected police and the protesters.

"Police are human beings. They want their lives protected as well and, in the middle of any police action, you just can't let another group get in and get in the way of doing something," Mayor Bloomberg said. "It would also not be fair to the protesters, because then you're running around, you're working around things. It's hard to find out what's going on, hard to communicate, and then, people can get hurt."

In his radio appearance this morning, Mayor Bloomberg also reiterated his praise for the NYPD's overall handling of the raid.

"I think, in looking back, they did a great job," he said.

Mayor Bloomberg (Getty)

Mayor Bloomberg was asked about New York City's unpopular sanitation parking stickers during his weekly appearance on John Gambling's WOR radio show today.  A Brooklyn councilman has introduced a bill that would ban the stickers, which are placed on cars that violate alternate side parking rules and are incredibly difficult to remove, but Mayor Bloomberg told Mr. Gambling he supports the stickers and he compared people who break the rules to someone murdering their parents and not understanding why they have to go to jail.

"If people are complaining, then we should keep doing it," Mayor Bloomberg said of the stickers.

Mayor Bloomberg explained to Mr. Gambling that New Yorkers can avoid the stickers entirely by obeying parking regulations.

"I mean--don't break the law. It's almost like, you know, you murder your parents and then you say to the judge, 'But I'm an orphan, you can't put me in jail.' Don't murder your parents, you don't have, you're not an orphan, and in this case, don't break the law you don't have to worry about it," Mayor Bloomberg said.

Mayor Bloomberg said he supports the stickers because "the Sanitation Department says it's even more effective than a fine." The Mayor clearly has no sympathy for people who break the rules, but he did suggest one potential remedy for those who are up in arms with the stickers.

"If you don't like the law of cleaning the streets or alternate side, change that, but don't go break the law," Mayor Bloomberg said.

On Monday, King gets to turn the tables.

“I just want to congratulate you on your long career in radio," he told John Gambling this morning. "Today is probably the last day you’re going to host the show.”

On Monday morning, King will guest-host Gambling's four-hour show on WOR, with a slate of guests that includes Police Commissioner Ray Kelly; former MI6 agent-turned-novelist Matthew Dunn; sports reporter Bruce Beck; and maybe Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano.

It's the first time he's hosted a show solo, after some co-hosting gigs last year -- including one with former governor David Paterson -- but King certainly has confidence that he can handle it.

“I’m Lou Gehrig and you’re Wally Pipp," King told Gambling this morning. "And once I’m in there I’m going to be hard to push out.”

I asked King if -- like Paterson -- he might consider radio after politics.

“You always have to be ready in this business for another career," King joked.

2010: "Mr. Cuomo’s campaign paid $1,383.86 in January to a Chicago-based stylist who does hair and makeup for Mr. Cuomo’s girlfriend." [Thomas Kaplan / New York Times]

2013: Liu's campaign insulted when asked how "checkout workers" at "Great Wall Supermarket in Flushing" paid for $800 contribution. [Jeremy Smerd and Shane Kavanaugh / Crains]

2013: De Blasio hit spending limit for citywide candidate in non-election years. [Michael Saul / WSJ]

Debt Ceiling: Bill Clinton said, "idea that the Congress gets to vote twice on whether to pay for [expenditures] it has appropriated is crazy.” [Joe Conason / National Memo]

Same-Sex Marriage: "Episcopalians will be allowed on Sunday to get married by priests in Brooklyn and Queens, but not in the Bronx or Manhattan or on Staten Island; in Syracuse but not in Albany." [Shaila Dewan / New York Times]

Atlantic Yards: "As of this month, the company said that the construction on the arena and the surrounding subway and rail yard infrastructure projects employed 430 workers (180 from Brooklyn), a fraction of what the developer promised and far from the 10,000 jobs that Senator Charles E. Schumer promoted." [Liz Robbins / New York Times]

NY-1: Rove targets Rep. Bishop. [SA Miller / NY Post]

NY-9: "If elected, I would fight for no cuts and cost of living increases for Social Security,” Weprin said. [Shannon Farrell / Forum News]

NY-9: Weprin is "heavily favored to win." [Forward]

NY-9: Weprin said "I have personally taken nine trips to Israel." [Meagan Watson and Alison Gendar / Daily News]

NY-23: Rep. Owens targeted by Karl Rove's group. [Mark Weiner / Post-Standard]

NY-26: Hochul raised in 6 weeks what Rep. Reed raised in 3 months. [Jerry Zremski / Buffalo News]

GOP: Republicans back DA Brown and former Councilman Dennis Gallagher, who the DA prosecuted and drove from office. [Sally Goldenberg / NY Post]

Transportation: Advocates not entirely happy with de Blasio, which is ironic. [Ben Fried / Streetsblog]

Traffic: Busting midtown congestion by having engineers direct traffic via live footage. [Jennifer Fermino / NY Post]

Bike Lanes: Markowitz said lanes around Prospect Park were supposed to be yanked if they caused problems. [Bob Fredericks / NY Post]

Bike Lanes: "I wouldn't ride a bicycle in New York if my life depended on it" said WOR710's John Gambling, minutes after interviewing the city's Transportation Commissioner. [Twitter]

Nuclear: Cuomo has just 2 years to explain how he replaces power from Indian Point. [Bill Hammond / Daily News]

Media: "Citizen Murdoch’s “Rosebud” moment as head of his global media empire might be at hand." [Rolando Pujol / amNew York]

Media: "Although I generally admire entrepreneurs who build giant companies, Rupert Murdoch, despite giving us Homer Simpson, generally has not been a force for good over the course of his long career...His tabloids have lowered the standards of journalism on three continents." [Joe Nocera / New York Times]

Cyberbullying: Quinn convenes a panel to address it. [Heather Brown / Foxny.com]

Union: "generation gap." [Rick Karlin / Times Union]

Union: Editors hope Bloomberg acts like Cuomo. [NY Post]

Union: "[S]tate will continue 2 pay 4 step increases. & a wage freeze in the third year will be offset with a $1K bonus." [Jeremy Smerd and Shane Kavanaugh / Crains]

After Office: Gifford Miller building homes in the Bronx; no more politics. [Joseph de Avila / WSJ]

Congestion Pricing: Advocates hope Cuomo embraces it. [Adam Lisberg / Capital]

Speaking on his weekly radio show, the mayor said the NYPD Commissioner, Ray Kelly "fired them right away," referring to the two cops, who were found guilty of three counts of official misconduct for each time they returned to the woman's East Village apartment that night.

"What we have to deal with is whatever the jury decided; that it" said the mayor.

Soon after, the mayor's co-host, John Gambling, switched the conversation to charter schools.

Later on in the radio interview, Bloomberg was asked about the ticket-fixing scandal that prosecutors allege may involve dozens, if not hundreds, of police officers in the NYPD. "Ray Kelly is all over it," said Bloomberg. "This is embarrassing to the greatest police department in the world."

At 5 p.m. "hundreds of feminists" will protest outside Manhattan Criminal Court, at 100 Centre Street, to rally against the "Rape Cop" acquittal, according to organizers.

City Councilman Jumaane Williams, of Brooklyn sent out a statement saying he hopes the verdict yesterday doesn't dissuade other sexual assault victims from seeking justice against their attackers.