Pols Want Public to Attend Term Limits Bill Signing

While the term limits extension legislation was passed by the City Council last week, the public does have the chance to speak up when Mayor Bloomberg signs the bill on Monday. Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum points out, "The voices mainly heard on this subject were elected officials and the newspapers themselves. Contrary to what some are saying, there was very little opportunity for public input or dialogue... That's why I urge New Yorkers to use their last chance on Monday to speak face to face with the mayor before he signs the term limits bill."

Representative Anthony Weiner, who is running for mayor in 2009, hopes for big turnout, "The Mayor and the City Council may be able to take your vote away, but they can't take away your right to speak. I hope every New Yorker comes out and tells the Mayor that the people should have the right to vote on term limits." Today at 11:30 a.m., Representative Weiner will be at City Hall to rally the public to attend on Monday. And he'll be joined by Rachel Trachtenberg, the 14-year-old who testified during the City Council's hearings (and essentially stole the limelight--even from former governor Mario Cuomo). You can see more of her handwritten speech at Limewire, but here's one page:

At LetNYCVote.com, you can sign up to attend the bill signing/hearing on Monday, 9:30 a.m. at City Hall's Blue Room.

Top photograph of City Hall by chrisinphilly on Flickr

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on November 1, 2008 9:28 AM

Comments [rss]

Jen Chung

@sartre is for lovers -- click on this to see the bubblehearts

thefacts

Little Rachel gives little spoiled Manhattan brats a bad name.

In fact, she is a one-time cover girl on TimeOut NY, has her own band, and has her own Wikipedia page! Her own Wikipedia page!!

The media fell for the b.s. and the hype.

NannyState

I wonder what Anthony Weiner is doing hanging out with 14 year old girls and doodling into their notebooks.

sinisterteashop

#12, why do you think Bloomberg was better than Dinkins?

Steven

If Rachel Trachtenberg was active during the David Dinkins years she will sure have a different option about Bloomberg.

Bloomberg may not be a saint, but he was sure better than Dinkins.

HUGO_MEGO

BLOOMBERG IS AN ASSHOLE JUST LIKE OBAMA AND HILLARY.

Mr Mel

The alternative to Bloomberg is a Democrat hack who will only reward his or her political friends. Then they will take back for themselves and the teachers unions, the biggest boondoggle of them all, the Board of Education.

Dirk

I hate it when people use their kids as political props.

JacqueMehoff

bloomberg can eff himself, maybe with those free toys Babeland is giving on Nov. 4 if you showed that you voted.

Rocknrope

I smell someone prepping for their Harvard application.

ihateregistering

hahahaa @ sartre_is_for_lovers

What I don't like about Rachel Trachtenberg is the fact that she calls Bloomberg the "Worst Mayor Ever." I'm not saying that as a 14 year old she can't have political opinions and can't be politically active - she can, and I was at her age. But still, she's only 14! She was only 7 when Bloomberg was first elected. And I highly doubt even the most precocious 7 year old is politically active/aware. How can she call him the worst when she has no experience with other mayors?

sartre_is_for_lovers

i call serious fraud on this entry. no bubble hearts. it is impossible for 14-year-old girls to resist bubble hearts.

cucarachita

And that means I'd vote for Bloomberg over lackey Quinn, if he did run a third time! I'd rather him than some weak-willed politicians who voted with him out of some sense of obligation. What does he have on all these people, I wonder?

cucarachita

It's a problem when we allow people to spend unlimited amounts of money on a mayoral election, and then turn around and say he "cheated and stole" his votes by "buying" them.

Either allow money to be spent like this, or ban it. But he got is votes legitimately. I voted for him, and I was not "bought." I'm sure all the people who voted for him, whether they're happy about it now or not, would object to being called "bought."

And as for all the idiots who let themselves be pressured to vote for the extension of term limits against their will -- all they had to do was stand on their principles, and they wouldn't be feeling this way. So I have no pity for them. They made their bed and they can lie in it.

I may have liked Quinn before, but if she's going to act like she was made to vote against her better principles -- well, then, who needs her as a mayor either? Good luck to her efforts to portray herself as her own woman next time she runs for office.

ides_of_march

I was hoping for term limits on congress too. I also think a politician should be forced to resign from their current office before seeking a higher one.

What I liked about Bloomberg in the beginning was the fact he wasn't a career politician. The minute he starts a 3rd term he will be one.

moocowtoo

no 14 year old is going to come up on that by herself. its freakin obvious she was couched by some parent who has an agenda and is using their kid to get it out, quite sad.