Mr. Met Steps Up to the Plate

Shortly after news that famed manager and Stamford native Bobby Valentine would be tapped to help mediate the city’s long standing fire department conflict, Mayor Mike Pavia announced he would dip yet again into the hall of Mets legends and appoint Mr. Met to a commission to offer independent analysis on the $46 million in capital projects under consideration in the 2010-11 budget.

Mr. Met, pictured here with Wally the Green Monster at last summer’s “Meeting New Economic Realities in the Mega-Region” summit, is the beloved baseball headed mascot of the New York Mets. “Mr. Met is no stranger to responsible capital investment,” Pavia said. “Under his leadership, Citi Field was brought in under time and under budget. This is exactly the comically exaggerated eye we need looking down the list to help prioritize our needs in these tough economic times."

Still, other officials are skeptical. “It’s not entirely clear whether Mr. Met even has the ability to speak,” noted Land Use Bureau Chief Robert Stein. “Can we really rely on mime to help drive policy? Does his exaggerated swing and amusing fall to the ground convey the danger or overextending our capital expenditures in a recession or endorse the need to continue to invest in additional playing fields amidst a citywide shortage?”

Mr. Met answered the criticism by patting Stein on the head and giving a thumbs up with his oversized hands.

The anthropomorphic analyst will chair a public hearing tonight at 7:30PM in the Government Center to discuss which capital projects should move forward and which should remain on hold.

The Philly Fanatic could not be reached for comment.