The Mayor even asserts that services have not been affected by the last two years of budget cuts, a statement that many residents would question.

The Mayor asserted that the city had a right to ask commuters to contribute to the costs of police, fire and other services.

This information was conveyed well before the Mayor asserts that he was made aware of these circumstances.

Yet, the Mayor asserts that he was unaware of such claims until Wednesday afternoon.

"I'm the boss," a witness said the Mayor asserted at a recent angry confrontation with some of his top police officers.

The Mayor asserted that the board could not be trusted to spend the money efficiently.

The Mayor has asserted that the boxes are more a hazard than a help, and he wanted them done away with entirely.

The Mayor has asserted for months that school administrative expenses are far too high and that too little money reaches the classrooms.

Thus the $67 million restoration was not really extra money for the board, the Mayor asserted.

And the Mayor repeatedly asserts that he is dedicated to structural reforms in city government.