Term Limits Proponent Blesses Third Term for Bloomberg

Any third term aspirations Mayor Bloomberg has got a vote of confidence from fellow billionaire Ronald Lauder--who funded the previous campaigns to implement term limits. Lauder told the Post, "I've been reading that Mayor Bloomberg might be interested in serving a third term. Because of the unprecedented times, this is welcome news. To me, Mayor Bloomberg's brilliance in the financial sector, particularly Wall Street, would be invaluable."

He also said, "If it wasn't for the fact of what's happening today in the world, particularly Wall Street, it would be a different story. But we need [Bloomberg's] expertise in New York." The Post's David Seifman thinks this means Bloomberg will return for the trifecta--and could be unstoppable, given his $20 billion in resources.

Lauder, who says he has not spoken to Bloomberg, would support an additional term but also called it a "one time-event" (he says term limits should revert to two terms in 2013 and then be decided in a voter referendum), explaining, "I was born and bred in this great city. I am a passionate supporter of two terms placed on elected officials. Term limits allowed many new people to be elected to the City Council. Without term limits there was almost no turnover. Mayor Bloomberg would not have been able to become mayor if not for term limits." And voters like term limits too--a poll suggests voters will need convincing if Bloomberg runs again next year.

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By Jen Chung in News on September 30, 2008 11:15 AM

Comments [rss]

jessecal

NO!

JacqueMehoff

we all get it, we just don't want him a 3rd term.

we already have term limits, they're called elections.

natis

Thank you jnguy. Someone gets it.

jnguy

Bloomberg still has to be elected. If the voters turn out and vote for him, will that be a substitute for a referendum? Allowing for a 3rd term doesn't mean this guy is going to get elected if the people don't want him.

Aren't term limits just redundant?

blablanyc

Hell no. Term limits help stave off corruption.

FelixtheCat & Christine Quinn'

But people already voted TWICE for term limits and still support term limits. Personally, I think Term limits are good considering the slush funds that was under both Vallone Sr and Quinn's watch. I bet it would never had been discovered if it was not for term limits. I know someone drop the dime on Quinn because she was dispensing to those members who voted on her side. Also Bloomberg gave over 5 millions of our money to council member simcha felder who is a thief to vote for congestion pricing. Enough is enough. Bloomberg needs to get out. We don't need a billionaire running this city like wall street. He is selling out all our landmarks to the rich and driving out the small business and residents. This city is cold an has poor quality of life because there are no neighborhoods anymore. He is creating the city into his own private mansion. And in his mansion he doesn't want smoking, transfat, and he doesn't want us.

WesleySnipesAlot

Isn't this how the Galactic Empire got started in Star Wars?

natis

Term limits are a bad idea in general. If a person is doing well, then he/she should be able to run again. If not, then the people should vote him/her out. People's votes should be the mechanism for change, not some dumb law. If term limits didn't exist for the president, maybe we'd still have Clinton rather than Bush (not taking either person's side, but you get the gist).

FelixtheCat & Christine Quinn'

what about all those construction site disasters so his fellow real estate developers can cuts costs and overprice the neighborhoods with out tax money. All those guaranteed bonds Bloombergs give real estate developers to build and turn the city to his own mansion. I hope people really wake up and vote Bloomberg and Quinn and felder and Gennaro and McMahon out of office.

JenChungsBaby

Ronald Lauder is, always has been, and apparently always will be a complete putz. He is only significant in any way because his mommy built a cosmetics empire and left it to him. He spent something like $13 million on his own campaign for mayor and barely made a blip in the polls (back when $13 million was real money). Now he's willing to make a term limits "exception" for one individual? It's always dangerous for government to make exceptions for one person, like the dingleberries who want to change the constitution so that Arnold Schwarzenegger can be president.

Spirit of 76

Is it just me, or does that sound kind of creepy and familiar? Not even Putin was allowed to get away with such an overt exception to the law.

Remember the last NYer who tried this: Giuliani after 9/11.

Wza

Fellow billionaire...nuff said.

JacqueMehoff

Put it to a vote again. this is still america.

someone should tell bloomberg that.

FelixtheCat & Christine Quinn'

Bloomberg is a businessman and that is the problem. WE don't need more of those weasel giving the rich a free handout. Bloomberg met with the New York Post, Daily News and Times to discuss term limits. He would never meet with the people. No public forums because we are irrelevant to him

Think2wice

No, no, no, no, NO!

Qraymond

"Because of the unprecedented times... Lauder... would support an additional term but also called it a 'one time-event.'"

Is it just me, or does that sound kind of creepy and familiar? Not even Putin was allowed to get away with such an overt exception to the law.

I really don't like the idea that voters have twice made it clear that they support term limits and yet our electeds refuse to accept this.

This "one-time event" will quickly become the status quo. There is no way that the City Council will allow Bloomberg a third term without giving themselves one too.

FelixtheCat & Christine Quinn'

in regards to Ted Kennedy, People voted for him. New Yorkers voted TWICE for Term limits and it shows the lack of respect Bloomberg has for the people. All polls, including the ones Quinn and Bloomberg paid for, shows New Yorkers support term limits.

drewo

No surprise to see Lauder is as spineless as most politicians - afraid to stand by his own principles. Good thing he was never elected mayor.

FelixtheCat & Christine Quinn'

This is disgusting. The voters voted TWICE for term limits and now this man will override the majority. i wonder what Blomberg gave to Lauder to change his mind. Bloomberg can't do anything for Wall Street unless he is willing to bail them out with his own billions. Bloomberg gave over 5 million of our taxpayer's money to council member Simcha Felder to buy his vote on Congestion pricing. Bloomberg sold this city to the tourist and the rich and push out the true residents including the elderly. Bloomberg is a businessman and he is exactly the type that cause the greed in Wall Street. Police Brutality, high taxes, neighborhoods neglected except for the tourist spots, poor transits, congested traffic, rezoning, etc. This man is doing a terrible job. He is hardly in NYC. He is all over the country and overseas giving speeches. But nobody wants him. Not McCain and not Obama. the polls showed new yorkers support term limits. He planned to change limits and avoided to put it to vote since he knew people would vote THRICE for term limits. Bloomberg is a weasel