"You are the eyes and ears of our city," the Mayor wrote to his 200,000 or so employees.

Sensing what he had done to himself, the Mayor wrote his letter to The Times.

"Having a great time," the Mayor wrote in bold ink.

"This will not be a horror list and it is not a scare tactic," the Mayor wrote.

The story was about a children's book the Mayor is writing in his spare time.

"She looked at it and embraced it fully," the Mayor wrote.

"The City Council has missed a real opportunity for significant reform," the Mayor wrote.

"We probably aren't doing enough for the middle class," the Mayor writes.

"I wish you the very best," the Mayor wrote, "and hope that you will continue your work for many years to come."

The Mayor wrote in response that he was accepting the resignation "with great regret."