HAMILTON, Bermuda — At Greg's Steakhouse, the power lunch spot on this sun-soaked island, Mayor Michael Bloomberg is such a regular that he has his own booth, with a view of the Parliament building. The cab drivers in Bermuda know Bloomberg by sight and jockey for a chance to drive him around town. (The billionaire mayor, they said, tips well.)
Members of the Mid Ocean golf club, where he plays up to two rounds a day, can rattle off the strengths and weaknesses of his game. Bloomberg, who owns a waterfront estate here, has walled off his life in Bermuda from voters in New York, arguing it is none of their business. He steadfastly refuses to say when he is on the island, and he has blocked aviation Web sites from making public the movements of his private planes.
Yet residents here view him as one of their own — as much a Bermudan as a New Yorker. They follow his battles against term limits and New York City crime, and argue that their island plays a role in helping him succeed in office.
"We provide him with a place to unwind for a day or two, and then go back to a very important job, not just to New York, but to the world," said John Swan, Bermuda's former premier and a frequent Bloomberg lunch guest.
In dozens of interviews, residents described Bloomberg, 68, as a fixture on the island, dining out with lawmakers, cruising its streets in his golf cart and hosting small parties at his house.
Bloomberg bought an estate called Stokes Bay in 1998. He promptly demolished the 2,620-square-foot house and commissioned a local architect to replace it with a $10 million home three times its size.
Even by Bermudan standards, it was flashy: five balconies, four bedrooms, seven bathrooms, an in-ground pool and space for four cars, all hidden by a gated driveway, according to documents on file with the Bermuda Department of Planning.
The plans showed a sprawling property dotted by imported palm trees, long pergolas and a ridged roof that collects rainwater for drinking.
Bloomberg's new neighbors did not approve. In a tart letter, the planning committee at the Mid Ocean club, which acts as a zoning board for nearby land, complained that the proposed house was "too large" for the site and would result in the "obliteration" of views for nearby residents. Bloomberg's architect agreed to shave 3 feet off the height of the house and ditch plans for a large dock.
It is difficult to say exactly how often he stays on the island; neighbors and friends say he is here about twice a month, depending on the weather in Bermuda and the political climate in New York. The Bermudan jaunts do pose political risks. New York City mayors have historically prided themselves on working seven days a week. The mayor's aides say he can get back quickly if needed — the flight between New York and Bermuda takes about two hours.
Swan dismissed any questions about the mayor's ability to run New York City when he is in Bermuda. "He is never out of reach here," he said. "We are much closer to New York than Florida is."
In fact, Bermudans say they feel especially connected to New York City; cable television carries local New York news stations, making Bloomberg as familiar a sight as "Law & Order" reruns.