Mayor Bloomberg is often criticized as being so rich that he is out of touch with the common person: one way he has tried to maintain “the common touch” is by keeping his residential phone number listed in the NY phone book, along with the rest of the new scum. According to The New York Times:

“Several times in recent years, and again at a news conference in Queens yesterday, Mr. Bloomberg has entertained audiences with anecdotes about people who have looked him up in the white pages and called at odd hours for assistance.”

Personally, I wouldn’t begrudge him at all if he made his home phone number unlisted. I think that’s what office hours are for, and personal time at home away from work is important- and threatened. Cell phones mean people can be “on call” for work at all hours of the day. But hey, since he is making a thing out of it, here it is: Your Direct Mayoral Chatline. As near as the closest payphone. Why don’t you let him know why you think it should have been free to call him?