7:58 p.m. Mayor's closing statement paraphrased: We've done a lot of great things, but these are only building blocks, there is more to do. The best days of New York City have yet to come.
Summation of Thompson's closing (which was a bit fragmented): The middle class is being pushed out of New York City. The people of New York City are not for sale. Nov. 3 will be our referendum on term limits.
7:57 p.m. Dominic asks each candidate to say something nice about the other.
Bloomberg compliments Thompson's golf game, the comptroller says the mayor is well dressed.
7:54 p.m. Scotto asks Thompson how he would treat homelessness differently than the mayor has.
He says we need to focus on prevention, more affordable housing, more Section 8 vouchers.
The mayor says the federal government has cut out a number of Section 8 vouchers (AKA "it's not my fault."). "Today you don't see people sleeping on park benches or kids being bussed in the middle of the night."
Thompson asks why, then, has the number of homeless risen this year?
7:52 p.m. Benitez asks about Bloomberg's proposal to ban smoking in public parks.
The mayor points to his strong record on public health, the trans fat ban.
7:47 p.m. Lisberg asks if the NYPD policy of "stop and frisk" has gone too far—the number has skyrocketed this year.
Bloomberg points again to this year's record-setting low crime stats and says that he has been working hard to improve community/NYPD relations. He says the majority of the police force come from minority backgrounds. Says "stop and frisk" is an effective tool, and the police department has struck the right balance.
Thompson says nobody would be tougher on crime than he would be as mayor, BUT this policy has been overused.
7:44 p.m. Lehrer asks about all the development and rezoning Bloomberg has sanctioned. Where should New Yorkers live? The audience likes the question.
Bloomberg argues that he has increased housing options, uses Willets Point as an example.
Thompson tells an anecdote about a middle-class family he met last week who were forced to move out of the city because they could no longer afford it.
7:37 p.m. Thompson paints Bloomberg as a party-switching, term-limit changing, wannabe vice-president of the U.S.
Bloomberg says you gotta be able to rally people from both sides of the aisles— he's too cool for these absurd partisan politics.
7:35 p.m. Cross-interrogation time. The mayor asks why Thompson said he would replace Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly, given his success with crime rates.
Thompson says he wants to bring his own team to the table. Bloomberg frowns. He thinks that's a bad answer.
7:35 p.m. LIGHTNING ROUND! Zing! Dominic's in his wheelhouse.
Do you exercise daily? Thompson: No, Mayor: Yes
Support Giuliani for governor? Thompson: No, Mayor: Yes
Support public option for health care? Both say yes.
Should we send more troops to Afghanistan? Thompson: Yes, Mayor: Yes, but equivocates and deems the question "not cute."
Would Joe Bruno be a better majority leader than Pedro Espada? Thompson: No, Mayor: Yes (very emphatic, chuckles)
Should Roman Polanski go to jail? Both say yes.
Does a Big Mac have more than 600 calories? They both go with "no"—but they don't seem to really know. (It's about 540, FYI)
Is a family worth $1 million rich? Both say yes.
Have you ever had a manicure or pedicure? Thompson: Yes, Mayor: No (???)
Has Obama done enough for gay rights? Thompson: Yes, Mayor: No
7:28 p.m. Thompson fires back, inferring that the Bloomberg engaged in a form of pay-to-play himself by paying for several of the endorsements he got. He doesn't specify which.
He then goes on to say that in fact, the mayor has more votes on the city pension fund board than he does. So, um, the fact that they are underperforming and corrupt is...Both of their faults?
7:26 p.m. It's pay-to-play time! Woohoo! The mayor's been waiting for this one.
"This is not the way we should be running government," Bloomberg says, "The bottom line is that if you want to do business with city pension funds, you gotta pay."
7:24 p.m. Uh oh...Bloomberg's speaking Spanish and some members of the audience are covering their ears—but at least an equal number are cheering on his efforts.
7:20 p.m. Lisberg brings us back to education, and Thompson is back on the attack, saying that school children aren't truly learning under mayoral control, they are only learning how to take standardized tests.
Bloomberg is terse. He says that if people liked the way the school system operated under Thompson, they should go ahead and vote for him.
7:14 p.m. Lehrer asks Bloomberg if he is embarrassed about overturning term limits. Cheers from the audience.
Bloomberg hedges, saying that the voters will have the choice between two candidates when they go to the polls.
The mayor says that in these tough times, the city needs his stewardship.
7:10 p.m. The education issue is raised (only 10 minutes in!) and Bloomberg says that Thompson's work at the Board of Education was tantamount to rearranging the chairs on the Titanic.
7:08 p.m. The candidates are asked about their negative campaigning.
"The mayor has spent an obscene amount to distort my record and rewrite history," Thompson said, explaining that he was simply trying to point out the differences between the mayor and himself, rather than purposefully attacking him.
7:04 p.m. The indomitable Mr. Carter quickly regains control, requesting that the crowd respect the candidates. Rev. Billy finally sits down, and the candidates make their opening remarks.
Bloomberg is slow and steady, defending his record; Thompson is verrrrrry slow—he appears to be formulating his statement as he goes—and he is instantly on the attack. But it's hard to tell, because he is speaking awfully slowly.
7:01 p.m. Thompson and the mayor take the stage, the former to cheers, the latter to a mix of boos. AND wait! Rev. Billy Talen, Green Party candidate for mayor is in the building and he is causing a ruckus! He screamed "Mayor, why are you here?!" and stood up in full regalia and demanded that the mayor answer him on the term limits issue.
6:48 p.m. The debate's host, NY1's "Road to City Hall" anchor Dominic Carter, warmed up the crowd with welcomes to former Mayor Ed Koch, Democratic candidate for comptroller John Liu, Bronx borough president Ruben Diaz Jr. and the panel of journalists who would be interrogating —er— questioning, the candidates. The panel includes WNYC's Brian Lehrer, the Daily News' Adam Lisberg, NY1 Noticias' Juan Manuel Benitez and NY1's Michael Scotto.
6:45 p.m. And we're off! The face off between Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Comptroller William Thompson began before either one even entered the building—and so far the mayor appears to have the advantage. He exited a black suburban to screams and whoops from a crowd of supporters carrying "Bloomberg for Mayor" signs and chanting "Four more years!" There was no evidence of Thompson supporters...
