Public Advocate Gotbaum Will Step Down Next Year

Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum says she will not seek re-election next year. Gotbaum, who is in her second term and opposes the term limits extension passed by the City Council last week, told the NY Times, "It would be very hard for me to benefit from something that I fundamentally disagree with." She also mentioned that her stepdaughter-in-law's death at the Phoenix airport influenced her decision to step down. This means there will be a heated race for the position (which reviews problems and complaints of residents, community boards, etc.) --a few names mentioned by the Times are City Council members Eric Gioia, John Liu, and Bill de Blasio as well as lawyer Norman Siegel.

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By Jen Chung in News on October 28, 2008 11:40 AM

Comments [rss]

Asphyxia8

The only time I ever see or hear this woman's name mentioned is during an election. For someone with the job title "Public Advocate," she sure keeps to herself. I wrote in "Anastacia Beaverhausen" on the ballot during the last election.

A-8

HUGO_MEGO

Gotbaum, I tip my hat to you. You are truly a class act.

JenChungsBaby

OH MY GOD! What a terrible tragedy! How on earth will we survive without Betsy Gotbaum as Public Advocate?!?!?!?!?!? I had thought that the one good thing about the whole term limits debacle is that at least we'd have Betsy around for another four years, but now this! Heavens to Betsy!

schizofriendly

One of the nicest customers at a health food store I once worked at. Very personable.

burgeon

That's a shame, she was always so full of good ideas...

ANGRYGOD11

The NYC Office of Public Advocate assumes we all need someone to represent the public because elected public representatives who write our laws, collect taxes and spend the money will not.

If true, then she should be handing out guns and rocket launchers for the revolution.

If not, remove this BS position.