The Mets give de Blasio a lesson in accountability

The local news in New York is dominated by two riveting stories. One involves Mets pitcher Matt Harvey, the other involves the head of Rikers Island, Correction Commissioner Joseph Ponte.

Despite their different settings, the stories are remarkably similar, with both men guilty of serious misconduct. Yet their bosses are dealing with that misconduct in starkly-contrasting ways, presenting New Yorkers with a lesson on the value of competition and an example of the shoddy service that comes with a monopoly.

Harvey, once a golden boy, is now an average pitcher prone to injuries. Yet he retains a prima donna attitude, and failed to show up for Saturday’s game after a night of heavy drinking,…