Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Stupid Mayor Tricks: Bloomberg Pimps His SUV With Window A.C. Unit
By
John Del Signore
Published Jun 27, 2012
Modified Jun 27, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
John Del Signore
Published Jun 27, 2012
Modified Jun 27, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
In April 2009, Mayor Bloomberg signed a bill giving NYC the toughest laws against vehicular idling, with stiff fines for repeat offenders. Three months later, AP reporters caught the mayor repeatedly flouting the law, with his chauffeur and security detail sometimes leaving their engines running for an hour while waiting for the mayor. Bloomberg had to apologize, but ever since he's presumably had a team of engineers working around the clock to come up with a solution to keep his SUV cool when he's not in it. Well, they finally had a major breakthrough, and yesterday they did some beta-testing!
As you can see from these photos obtained by the NY Post, they're experimenting with a high-tech solution that will enable the mayor to step into a pre-chilled, hypocrisy-free SUV. To be honest, the science at work here is beyond our primitive understanding, but to put it in layman's terms, it seems engineers have connected what appears to be a standard residential A.C. unit onto the rear window of Bloomberg's SUV. Then, using a complicated series of "extension cords" and—no doubt—some sort of nuclear fusion, the A.C. unit will be "plugged in" to an electrical power source.
At press time, it was unclear how many miles of extension cord the mayor will need to conduct official business within the five boroughs, but clearly this innovation will be an enormous boon for New York's troubled extension cord industry. (Rumors that Bloomberg was sourcing the extension cords from Malaysian sweatshops could not be confirmed.) Speaking to the Post, Bloomberg's spokesman said yesterday was just an experiment, adding that "there is far less emissions corresponding to the power of a single air conditioner on the grid than idling a V-8 engine." And by attaching colorful plastic ribbons to the AC's vents, Bloomberg's backseat is bound to be far more festive!
Tagged
air conditioning
global warming
heat wave
mayor bloomberg
nanny state
the environment
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Staten Island flag could become official under NYC Council bill
A City Council committee is set to vote Thursday on a bill that would put the borough’s current flag into city law.
By
Catalina Gonella
Published Aug 9, 2026 at 5:36 p.m. ET
A fresh look at who's gaining, losing ground in New York City's economy
A new state report sheds light on the economic winners and losers amid a growing policy debate.
By
Herb Pinder
News
A fresh look at who's gaining, losing ground in New York City's economy
A new state report sheds light on the economic winners and losers amid a growing policy debate.
By
Herb Pinder
Baby, woman die after boat overturns near Statue of Liberty; Man charged in incident
By
Michael Sol Warren
Former NY Gov. George Pataki’s modest monument to bipartisanship
By
Jimmy Vielkind
NYPD vehicle hits man lying in Bronx street after another car ran him over, police say
By
Samantha Max
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .