NEW YORK - New York’s billionaire Mayor Michael Bloomberg has claimed that a dinner and Broadway undertaken by Barack Obama and his wife Michelle is a celebration of New York’s affordable night life.I can’t think of anything that is better as an advertisement for our tourism industry, for Broadway, for our restaurants, for saying that this is a safe city and an affordable city,” Bloomberg said Monday.

“The President doesn’t get paid that much. He’s on a budget, too,” he added.

For the record, the President earns 400,000 dollars a year - plus a few perks like free housing and a private jet - and raked in 2.5 million dollars in book royalties last year.

Forget, too, that the President and First Lady dined at Blue Hill restaurant, where entrees are in the 30 to 40 dollars range. Ignore the fact that the cheapest available tickets to “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone” on Broadway, which the Obamas enjoyed, went for 51.50 each.

Don’t mention the cost of the Secret Service, the motorcade and the entourage.

“We’re ecstatic to have the Obamas come here,” he said.

“The fact that the Obamas are out there, sharing in what’s wonderful about America - the theater, Broadway, freedom of travel, meeting people - I think is just great, so I would love to have the Obamas come back here as much as they want,” Bloomberg said. (ANI)