Mayor B swims with kids in 2004; Photo: NYC.gov

Two weeks ago, the Mayor and Park Commissioner Adrian Benepe opened the city's 53 pools, and just like last year, Gothamist appreciates the fact that the Mayor keeps his shirt on in the pool. The NY Times' City section had a nice feature about the city's public pools, with this description of the Mayor at the citywide opening of the pools: "...Michael R. Bloomberg appeared, wearing tasseled loafers without socks and black nylon trunks that revealed jarringly untanned legs." Of course, Mayor Bling would be wearing tasseled loafers. And it seems like the city is getting more than just millions of dollars from Snapple: Snapple provided drinks AND towels, visors and beach umbrellas at the ceremony's cookout (there was also beef from Western Beef and non-fat ice cream from Carvel).

Information on the city's pools from the Parks department. And with the articles about Bloomberg's philanthropic nature helping small arts organizations and anger at Republican Congressmen, could the city be softening towards him? Even the Post is "Positive on the Mayor."