Bloomberg Takes On Styrofoam, Soccer in Last Address

Up with soccer! Down with Styrofoam!

Mayor Michael Bloomberg delivered his final State of the City address at the Barclay's Center in Brooklyn Thursday. Details for Queens residents were pretty sparse. Ultimately, the mayor kept his eyes on the future — and on a handful of projects that are likely to meet with some resistance. 

In Queens, Bloomberg said, the city is going to try and find a home for a Major League Soccer franchise — and that means a new stadium.

"We'll work with Major League Soccer to bring soccer back to our city for the first time since the Cosmos left in 1977," Bloomberg said.

It's a plan that has already drawn a lot of harsh criticism from park advocates, who say the plan would be an environmental disaster. 

Bloomberg would cringe if he were called anything other than a crusader for the environment. Case in point: his latest project, banning Styrofoam food containers in the five boroughs.

"It's terrible for taxpayers. Styrofoam increases the cost of recycling by as much as $20 per ton, because it has to be removed," Bloomberg said. "Something that we know is environmentally destructive, that is costing taxpayers money, and that is easily replaceable, is something we can do without. So with Speaker Quinn and the City Council, we will work to adopt a law banning Styrofoam food packaging from our stores and restaurants. And don't worry: the doggie bag and the coffee cup will survive just fine."

What do you think of Bloomberg's final State of the City? Let us know in the comments.