50s: Starting with a storage ring

Chapter 615 A ​​Good Mayor for the Citizens of New York City
Mayor Ed's schedule for this week includes October 25th, which is tomorrow.

The mayor will arrive at Pumphouse Park, opposite the Twin Towers in Tribeca, at noon.

He was accompanied by six bodyguards, three staff members, two reporters, and their cameramen.

The purpose of the bodyguards is self-evident: to protect Ed's safety.

In the United States, politics is a high-risk profession. Up to the current president, Reagan, there have been 41 presidents in the United States. Eight of them have survived assassination attempts, and four of them died. The success rate of assassination attempts is 50%, and the mortality rate is 10%.

The proportion of mayors who have been assassinated is relatively small, but the security for mayors is not as tight as that for presidents.

If the president is assassinated, one out of two will die; if the mayor is assassinated, eight out of ten will die. It's really damn dangerous.

The accompanying staff were responsible for handling miscellaneous tasks, such as notifying the police in advance to disperse beggars, arranging several shills, taking photos for the mayor, and so on.

The two reporters were from New York's largest newspapers, The New York Times and The New York Daily News, respectively. This kind of continuous reporting was a yearly contract between the city hall and the newspapers, consisting of 12 articles per year, with a discount.

This money cannot be spared; its effects will become apparent when the election comes, as approval ratings are a perpetual pursuit for every New York City mayor.

After confirming Ed's departure time and location, Sun Zhiwei drove away from the downtown area and returned to his home next to Central Park.

The Pump Room Park in the Tribeca district is located just behind the main building of the Rosewood Jewelry store, only about a hundred meters away.

The Golden Cube in front of the jewelry store is the most popular landmark in Tribeca and has been included in New York tourist brochures and the National Travel Guide.

He believed Ed wouldn't miss the chance to appear in such a popular location, as this down-to-earth exposure would be beneficial for him.

So, on the morning of the 25th, he was at the main store overseeing things.

At noon, Sun Zhiwei ate lunch early and then began to take a walk on the sidewalk next to the Golden Cube.

About ten minutes later, he saw a police car pull up to the police station at Golden Cube, and soon after, two men in black walked over from the pump room park.

They inspected all the entrances and exits of the surrounding buildings and looked at everyone who had stopped at the Golden Cube Plaza.

Once it seemed there was no danger, one of the men in black raised his walkie-talkie and spoke into it.

A few minutes later, Ed, dressed casually, arrived at Golden Cube Plaza along a path beside the park.

"Ah, isn't that the mayor?" Suddenly, a tourist in the square exclaimed.

Sun Zhiwei thought this shill was really fake; his voice was so loud it was shrill.

But this exclamation really attracted the attention of many people nearby, and all eyes followed the speaker's gaze, looking in the direction Ed had come from.

Many citizens recognized Ed at a glance and exclaimed in surprise. Hearing the others' comments, the nearby travelers also quickly distinguished Ed, who was smiling and waving incessantly, from the crowd.

Reporters, staff, and tourists started snapping photos, making Ed look like a star.

Many citizens came up to greet Ed, and Ed smiled kindly at each of them and offered greetings in a New York accent.

He would occasionally ask his signature question: "How do you think I've managed New York?"

The answers from those who answered the questions varied; some praised, some offered suggestions, and a few who made rude remarks were quickly shut out of the crowd by bodyguards and police.

Sun Zhiwei didn't approach, but instead stood on the steps at the entrance of the jewelry store, watching Ed's performance below. Ed walked forward, talking as he went, and soon arrived at the entrance of the Magnificent Jewelry Store. Just as he was about to head towards the Golden Cube, he noticed Sun Zhiwei on the steps.

After making eye contact with him, Sun Zhiwei gave him a gentle smile and bowed slightly in greeting.

This obvious gesture of goodwill immediately piqued Ed's interest. He slowly walked up the steps, glanced at the jewelry store's sign, and then smiled as he approached Sun Zhiwei.

Sun Zhiwei immediately stepped forward to greet him, saying, "James Robert of Magnificent Jewels sends his regards."

"Oh, hello, is that 'Golden Cube' yours?" Ed asked in surprise, turning around to look at the Golden Cube below the stage.

“No, Mr. Mayor, it used to be mine, but now the Golden Cube belongs to all of New York, to every citizen of New York.”

"It is no longer just an object, but a symbol of New York's wealth. Everyone with a dream can see a bright future in it."

"well said."

Ed turned around, raised his right hand, and waved it vigorously, shouting to everyone below the steps:
"On behalf of New York City, I thank each and every one of you for your hard work and contributions to the prosperity of New York."

"The doors of New York's wealth are open to every one of you who has a dream."

The citizens around Ed applauded as they heard his blessing, while reporters and tourists captured the image of Ed waving his right hand on their cameras.

Today's trip was a great success. Ed connected New York with wealth for the first time through the Golden Cube, which was a good theme, he thought.

He also had a great fondness for James Roberts, who brought up the topic.

He knew the name James Roberts; he had heard it many times, whether it was the Golden Cube or the billionaires on the US 400 list.

He was surprised that the other party, who was an advisor to the governor, would actually support him.

After the applause ended, Ed turned to Sun Zhiwei with a pleased expression and asked his classic question: "So, Mr. James, how do you feel about the governance of New York?"

“Mr. Mayor, during your years in office, whether it was building bicycle lanes, upgrading the public transportation system, or advocating for improvements to the public education system.”

"These are all measures that benefit the citizens of New York and have had a certain effect on alleviating traffic congestion in New York. You are a good mayor for the citizens of New York."

Ed beamed with joy upon hearing his words, and the reporters below quickly captured the moment in their conversation.

Ed walks around the city many times a year and has asked many people his classic questions.

However, most of the citizens he encountered were not very educated, and even if they expressed their support, they could only offer a few hesitant words of thanks, unable to utter any pleasant words.

But today's Mr. James Roberts is a New York-based billionaire, a member of the wealthy class.

This tycoon not only knows his own policies by heart, but also clearly expressed his support for him, which is very good news for him.

He had already thought of tomorrow's newspaper headline, using the same phrase Mr. James had just said: "Billionaire Praises Him as a Good Mayor for New York Citizens."

Perfect!

(End of this chapter)