Honestly, it’s better than being late, right?
That’s what came to mind when I heard President Trump intends to honor Rudy Giuliani with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
This news hit shortly after Giuliani, at 81 years old, ended up in the hospital from a serious car accident in New Hampshire over the weekend.
Fortunately, reports indicate he suffered fractures but nothing life-threatening, and he has since been released.
When Trump presents the medal, it seems likely he’ll zero in on Giuliani’s most remarkable achievement—his time as the mayor of New York City.
Though Giuliani played a significant role as Trump’s personal lawyer post-2020 election, it was his leadership during his two mayoral terms that established his qualifications for such a prestigious civilian honor.
His initial term set a political benchmark for significant accomplishments across various sectors that hadn’t been seen before.
And let’s not forget how Oprah Winfrey dubbed him “the Mayor of America,” highlighting his brave leadership in the wake of 9/11.
His response to the terrorist attacks was fundamentally shaped by the immense challenges he faced in preceding years.
It’s as if he had this gut feeling that both he and his city would be tested beyond measure.
Witnessing the recovery efforts at Ground Zero while the fires still smoldered, he transitioned with grace to the solemn tributes at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, honoring fallen firefighters and police officers.
If only he were still around to guide the city now, when strong and wise leadership is desperately needed, especially with the current mayoral election looming.
NYC Can Be Governed
Rudy first took office in 1993, which marked the beginning of significant breakthroughs. He proved that, indeed, New York could be effectively governed.
While that might sound a bit elitist, at the time many wondered if the city had the capacity to overcome issues like crime, job loss, population decline, and failing schools.
Those who didn’t flee the city were often ironically pessimistic, accepting that simply slowing the decline was the most anyone could hope for from City Hall.
Giuliani, a Republican and former federal prosecutor, won a close race against David Dinkins, the city’s first Black mayor, with a refreshing attitude free of sacred cows.
He often challenged the status quo, asking, “Why can’t we do this differently?” regarding city services and spending.
On the education front, he emphasized the importance of smart spending over merely requesting more funds from Albany.
He appointed Bill Bratton as his first police chief, and together they endorsed the “broken windows” theory of policing.
They merged transit and housing police into a larger NYPD and launched “CompStat,” a real-time management system that empowered district leaders while holding them accountable.
It worked so well that it’s now a standard in urban policing across the nation.
Government-Wide ‘CompStat’
Giuliani took it a step further, applying the concepts of “broken windows” and “CompStat” to all city government operations.
In fact, he managed to cut his budget, not just in growth but in total spending. Even so, each year during his first term, crime rates continued to drop, and city services improved.
By the end of those initial four years, annual murders had decreased by more than 60%, from nearly 2,000 to under 700.
Many of the reforms he and Bratton initiated have since been upheld by subsequent administrations, ensuring New York never returned to being the murder capital of the U.S.
Giuliani approached welfare reform with similar enthusiasm.
Dinkins had forecast a grim future, suggesting one in six New Yorkers would rely on government handouts.
Some viewed it as an economic boon, a flow of free money from federal resources.
Giuliani and his team regarded this as both socially and economically irresponsible, arguing it was harsh to condemn another generation to this fate.
City Hall urged Bill Clinton’s administration to enforce stricter labor requirements, which ultimately led to a decrease in welfare rolls.
This marked a shift even liberals saw as beneficial for struggling families.
Rudy handed over the reins to his supporter, Republican Michael Bloomberg, ushering in a prosperous era for Gotham that lasted over 20 years with five terms combined.
The city had never truly thrived before; it had long been in decline, often resorting to harsh measures.
Unfortunately, we’re witnessing a return to uncertainty, especially with the current mayoral race yielding little optimism.
The ongoing crisis is largely a result of Bloomberg’s successor, Bill de Blasio, who largely withdrew into his own world during his eight years.
Now, de Blasio backs socialist Zoran Mamdani, who claims he has the “right ideas.”
But honestly, Mamdani—an anti-police, anti-Semitic figure—has the wrong ideas for New York.
His election could sadly steer the city back toward the troubled times that Giuliani and Bloomberg fought against.
Trump Noticed
Yet, that doesn’t mean the Giuliani model has vanished.
In fact, certain presidents have observed Giuliani’s performance and the changes he stimulate in his city.
Although Trump isn’t one to shy away from the spotlight, I’ve long thought he’s been inspired by Giuliani’s aggressive political style.
Trump adapted that approach in his two terms, realizing his dream of sitting in the Oval Office alongside Giuliani.
Even today, there are remarkable parallels between the two.
Throughout his time in office, Trump displayed relentless energy, much like Rudy, hardly sleeping and always prepared for the next confrontation.
He too had an unending flow of grand ideas, each waiting for its moment in the limelight.
Both men hail from New York and share a knack for leadership.
Thankfully for us, they both chose to serve the public.
