Tish and BdB Suing Over Term Limits
As expected, Councilmembers Letitia James and Bill de Blasio have formally announced their intention to file a lawsuit over yesterday’s vote to extend term limits. “New Yorkers twice voiced their opinions on term limits,” said de Blasio in their joint press release, “and yesterday their will was subverted.” And James: “The vote taken by the…
As expected, Councilmembers Letitia James and Bill de Blasio have formally announced their intention to file a lawsuit over yesterday’s vote to extend term limits. “New Yorkers twice voiced their opinions on term limits,” said de Blasio in their joint press release, “and yesterday their will was subverted.” And James: “The vote taken by the City Council yesterday represents a great step backward for democracy.”
Good for Bill de Blasio and shame on Mayor Bloomberg and the Council members who selfishly voted against term limits. What the heck is anti-democratic about a law that was passed………….by public referendum? And give me a break about this “choice” business. The fact of the matter is that term limits have served NYC and Mayor Bloomberg himself very well. In case you have forgotten, this very issue came up after 9/11, when somehow someone thought that keeping Guiliani in office for a third term would “help” this city. Total nonsense. Bloomberg, who most people in this city had never heard of, came in and did a fantastic job. Can you imagine the damage to NYC that would have been caused by extending Guiliani’s term? There’s no doubt in my mind he would have won, because voters tend to stick with what they have. Incumbents of all stripes get relected not through the democratic process but because they have the party machine behind them and the bully pulpit of their current job. NYCers recognized that, voted in term limits, still support them by an overwhelming majority, and would be well served if Mayor Bloomberg, Christine Quinn and all the others who don’t want to find a new job after 2009 would leave them as they are.
What about MKG?
As far as self-serving goes, I can’t really think of anyone who acted in a more self-serving manner than Bloomberg and his term-lilited henchmen.
council member’s slush fund corruption, thats what pisses me off. Not seeing Bloomy on the ballot again – just vote against him if you don’t want him.
ugh. so this means that great old buildings that can be used for roller discos are going to be turned into more bland condos? 🙁 boo!
-rob
So I guess previous posters are not real concerned with process? How about the Lauder amendment? Were you OK with that? You guys buy into the argument that by ignoring voter precedent the Council is expanding democracy? I can’t see how ignoring the overwhelming desire of the electorate to vote on the issue is expanding democracy? Can you explain?
It’s not the end of democracy, but it’s an abuse of power. I don’t feel that political bodies should be able to have direct voting control over things that effect those same political bodies. I don’t think congress should be able to vote on its own salaries, and I don’t think city council should be able to vote on its own term limits.
Just because Bloomberg wants to remain relevant until he can run for president in 2012 doesn’t mean he should be allowed to rewrite policy without letting the people of New York vote on it.
If they put the term limits rule up to a popular vote, like they should have done, it would’ve been upheld. That’s why they shoved it through this way, and why this lawsuit is necessary (though even if successful, its success will come too late to impact the 2009 elections, I imagine).
Not only nonsensical but also self-serving.
Totally agree fsrq…these arguments are nonsensical.