Declarations

One New York

“Every policy, every action, every decision we make in this administration will further two overarching objectives: we must transform our government so that it is as ethical and wise as all of New York, and we must rebuild our economy so that it is ready to compete on the global stage in the next century. The simplicity of articulating these principles belies the complexity of the task. But victory will be ours, as it must be.”

N.Y. Gov. Eliot Spitzer in his inaugural address on Jan. 1, 2007.

Insanity

“You only have to look at 300 miles of Katrina and Rita wasteland to see that bankrolling federal flood insurance in high-risk areas is just asking the American taxpayer to flush money down the toilet. If people want to build out there, that’s one thing. But to build out there with federal support is insane.”

Oliver Houck, director of the environmental law program at Tulane University in New Orleans, on continuing votes by Congress to extend the federal flood insurance program to new and risky areas, including Jekyll Island, a vacation spot off Georgia’s coast that is poised for redevelopment,and an undeveloped 10-lot subdivision on Florida’s Gulf Coast.

N.Y. City pit bull ban

“Pit bulls are responsible for many, many attacks. A parent on the street can’t protect their children, or themselves from this, what is actually a weapon.”

Democratic N.Y. City Councilman Peter Vallone who is seeking to ban pit bulls as a threat to public safety. The canines account for 15 percent of animal attacks in the city. Other cities have placed similar bans on pit bulls — including Denver, Kansas City and Miami — after high-profile attacks involving the canines.

No new business

“We have been looking at hurricane and storm projections, and we’re going to see a lot more severe storms further north on the coastline. We are working to minimize our risk.”

Allstate spokeswoman Debbie Pickford explaining that the insurer will stop writing homeowners’ policies in coastal areas of Maryland. Starting in February, the company will no longer offer new property insurance in all or part of 11 counties, mostly along the Chesapeake Bay. Allstate will continue to renew existing policies even in those areas.

Very offensive

“It has a tendency to push rates higher and make getting a policy more difficult, especially in coastal areas. Allstate has made incredible profits, and I find their actions very offensive, and I think consumers ought to find it offensive.”

J. Robert Hunter, director of insurance for the Consumer Federation of America and a former federal insurance administrator, responding to Allstate’s decision to curtail writing policies in Maryland’s coastal counties.