The NY Times is reporting today that Mayor Michael Bloomberg is offering "peaceful political activists" discounts at select hotels, museums, stores and restaurants around town during convention week. The buttons, which sport a crudely drawn Statue of Liberty holding a "Welcome Peaceful Political Activists" sign, will entitle the bearer to discounts at retail establishments such as Applebee's, the Museum of Sex, and the Pokemon Center. Bloomberg pitched his button idea yesterday at a press conference saying "It's no fun to protest on an empty stomach." Bloomberg tried to claim that his button program showed his willingness to welcome protesters. "Most times, people try to keep protesters from coming, and they certainly don't go out of their way to accommodate them" claimed the mayor. Considering that the Bloomberg administration continues to deny United for Peace and Justice a permit to protest at Central Park, his claim that he is trying to accommodate protesters and prevent violence seems hypocritical at best. The NY Times article goes on to say that Bloomberg admitted that "Unfortunately, we can't stop an anarchist from getting a button," though he doubted any of them would want to wear one.