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Yesterday, the City Council introduced the bill that would permanently extend term limits from two terms to three. The Daily News spoke to "opponents of the bill" who says the legislation is "being rushed through"--and may come up for a vote in two weeks. A source confirms to the Post, "They're really fast-tracking it because of the mounting opposition."
In fact, Ronald Lauder, who supports the concept of Mayor Bloomberg serving a third term but hates the idea of permanently extending term limits, may be wavering. And with Lauder and Bloomberg--both billionaires--figuring so prominently in the term limits narrative, it makes sense why State Senator Liz Krueger is a little annoyed at how the issue is being handled. She told the Observer, "No disrespect to either of them, but they’re two people. This is a city of eight million. Should two guys be the determining factor, rather than the actual public?”
City Council Speaker Christine Quinn's silence on the issue (she didn't make a statement to the press yesterday) is examined by the NY Times--Quinn seems to be caught between wanting to stay in Bloomberg's good graces and her colleagues. City Council member Charles Barron joined the growing chorus of City Council members against extending term limits by announcing he would not seek a third term and member Bill deBlasio is meeting with billionaire Tom Golisano about funding a referendum.
Update: Lauder just released a statement "reluctantly" supporting the Mayor's stance on term limits. Bloomberg and his team apparently convinced him that term limits would have to be permanently extended to three, versus a one-time extension till 2013.
And this image is from Billionaires for Bloomberg--check out their video about term limits after the jump.
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I love Liz Krueger.
I love Billionaires for Bloomberg.
Bloomberg is destroying whatever legacy he had.
Bloomberg has killed democracy in NYC.
It's like watching Bill Clinton in the final stages of this year's primaries...
Regardless of one's views on Bloomberg, it is hard for even his most ardent supporters to accept this blatant power grab.
It's like watching Bill Clinton in the final stages of this year's primaries...
Regardless of one's views on Bloomberg, it is hard for even his most ardent supporters to accept this blatant power grab.
If Bloomberg wants to run for a third term he needs to put it before the public. Term extensions were defeated twice in a popular vote, if he thinks he's in such great demand he can try a third time. But if he runs this through behind closed doors with Cop Quinn bullying the City Council into compliance then there'll be hell to pay.
of course it's being pushed through,
they all knew that's the tactic bloomberg is trying to pull. that and his will he or won't he run game.
State Senator Liz Krueger ... told the Observer, "No disrespect to either of them, but they’re two people. This is a city of eight million.”
Who's dissing who? Please take a stand Senator.
You guys realize there's still going to be an election for mayor, right? If you don't like Bloomberg or what he's doing, vote for someone else.
That's not news. This is the news - Brooklyn legislator defends the city and democracy.
State Bill Would Require Term Limit Referendum
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/10/08/state-bill-would-require-term-limit-referendum/
Fuck Bloomberg and Lauder.
Lauder wanted the term limits to fuck over the Democrats in the early 90s. Now it's time we fuck him over and Bloomberg.
Assemblyman Hakeem S. Jeffries bill will supersede anything the City Council does. Heads are going to roll for the City Council Democrats that vote for the their proposed term limit bill.
From the article:
Hakeem S. Jeffries, a Democrat, will introduce the bill before a special session of the Legislature convenes on Nov. 18. Mr. Jeffries and other community activists who are opposing Mr. Bloomberg’s campaign to rewrite the city’s term limit laws are planning an announcement on Wednesday at 1 p.m. at City Hall.
Mr. Jeffries’s bill would create a new state law requiring any municipality with term limits to hold a public referendum before making any changes that would affect how long elected officials can serve.
You guys realize there's still going to be an election for mayor, right? If you don't like Bloomberg or what he's doing, vote for someone else.
But do you realize what overturning, by Mayoral caveat, a popular vote means for the democratic process in NYC?
Dear Jen Chung,
I respect you since you permit free flows of comments unlike the New York Times that moderate the comments and do not permit free speech.
My comment is as follows:
Bloomberg has destroyed NYC and democracy. With this economic crises and foreign upheavals, we need to all be strong but Bloomberg has struck the final blow. He has null and voids our votes. He has destroyed democracy. With democracy, the terrorist has won and we the people are invisible.
Bloomberg met with the NY Times, New York daily news and post and has bought out the press. Why do you think all their editorials state we should be "honored" that he will run again? With?? This is no longer America and I think there is more democracy in China and Russia than in NYC.
"This is no longer America and I think there is more democracy in China and Russia than in NYC."
You, sir, are an idiot. I won't waste my time explaining why.
You guys realize there's still going to be an election for mayor, right? If you don't like Bloomberg or what he's doing, vote for someone else.
"Don't like the working conditions here? Go work somewhere else."
"We are going to do a thorough internal investigation."
"We're committed to protecting the environment."
"The money you donate is strictly for our charitable works."
Mike Bloomberg outlawed smoking in bars and restaurants because he wanted to have a positive impact on public health for generations of New Yorkers to come. Mike Bloomberg passed the trans fat ban for the same reason. And Mike Bloomberg tried to get congestion pricing instituted here because he wanted cleaner air for New Yorkers present and future. Whether you agree with these actions, he took them because he wanted to do what he felt was right for his constituents.
But Mike Bloomberg is trying to pass a term limit increase ... because he thinks he can.
Referendum? Uh, yeah.
Considering who might run past their term limits, I am afraid of the idea of overturning it. Vallone and Quinn, for example, are destroying liberties in New York City and I think it's time somebody else had a chance to represent their districts.
Everybody knows the real election in New York is in October - the district-wide Democratic primary.
How has Bloomberg killed democracy?
If he runs again...just don't vote for him. TA-DA! That solves that.
People act like he's getting one over on us if he gets the chance to run, when all we have to do is not vote for him if we don't like it.
People in this city are fucking retards. It's humiliating even being among some of us idiots.
I agree with what Liz Krueger had to say.
Quinn stinks.
Bloomberg stinks.
Lauder stinks.
Why is this not major news??
Oh wait, nevermind the press was paid off.
*shaking my head*
I'm so disgusted by politics right now.
once again, the rich cares only about the rich.
I never thought bloomberg would actually go through with overturning term limits. the real problem now is that he stands head and shoulders above all of the other possible candidates financially, in terms of mayoral experience and his business acumen. He'll roll over everyone. Any city agency that was expecting him to not serve another term (DOE?) is fucked.
How has Bloomberg killed democracy?
Bloomberg is acting like an autocrat. He is using the financial crisis as means to change the term limits that people of New York voted on. What's more disgusting is Bloomberg's people are bribing Council members to gain support for the term limit change. Overturning a referendum without holding a vote is not democratic.
The city is in the best shape it has EVER BEEN IN HISTORY. This is a fact.
Think about the oases we have...Hudson River Park, Central Park, today they are beautiful and safe, and two mayors ago, not even half a generation ago...and for many decades before that, they were filled with broken down land and broken down people.
Think about walking through Harlem to your newly renovated apartment. It wasn't that long ago that walking around that neighborhood warranted traveling in a General Petreaus-strength escort.
Now think about who has overseen so much of that rebuilding and growth over the past seven years. Bloomberg isn't perfect, and I'll admit the term limits thing wasn't all on the up and up. But he's a hell of a lot closer to perfect than his predecessors, and he's a lot closer than the Dinkins-wannabes that are most like going to run against him.
Just saying, he doesn't deserve all the hate that goes on here.
longacre- Those projects you are describing aren't Bloomberg's. Their origins precede his time in office. Bloomberg has been receiving much criticism about the lowering quality of life in NYC. There have been more homeless people on the streets, panhandlers, graffiti and other nuisances since he has been mayor. Besides that, he has lost the trust of the people of NYC.