“This is New York City” was the celebratory refrain of Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s seventh State of the City speech, delivered at the new Flushing Meadows-Corona Park ice skating rink last week. Bloomberg ticked off the year’s achievements in crime-fighting, citizen services, health, technology and much more. City Limits asked a varied group of experts to respond. Below are our questions, and answers from:

Hope Cohen, Deputy Director, Center for Rethinking Development, Manhattan Institute for Policy Research

Mike Fishman, President, Local 32BJ Service Employees International Union

Sarah Ludwig, Co-Director, Neighborhood Economic Development Advocacy Project

Zakiyah Ansari, Parent Leader, Coalition For Educational Justice

Javier H. Vald