City - Monday, October 13, 2008 16:58 - 0 Comments
Billionaires for Bloomberg
“Billionaires for Bloomberg has made a video message supporting the end of term limits in order to keep Mayor Bloomberg over the wishes of the little people (i.e., the voters).”
City - Tuesday, October 7, 2008 15:04 - 0 Comments
Bloomberg Introduces Term Limit Bill to Hold on to Power Longer
It’s happening: Mayor Bloomberg introduced the bill to extend term limits from two to three terms today. Right now, council members believe the vote could go either way. There are some powerful opponents of the bill, like billionaire Ronald Lauder and City Councilman Charles Barron, who has announced that he will not seek a third term even if the term limits are extended. Still, 35 Council members and four of the five borough presidents are nearing the end of their second terms, and could provide strong backing for the bill.
City - Tuesday, September 30, 2008 17:39 - 2 Comments
Bloomberg 4-Evah!
Why didn’t we think of this before? If we just changed the term-limit laws, we wouldn’t have to have these silly elections at all and our current leaders could keep their jobs forever and ever and ever! Bush is probably kicking himself for not having thought of it, but Mayor Michael Bloomberg is out there doing it. The New York Times reported that Bloomberg will announce on Thursday his proposal to change the law and run for a third term as mayor. And since he only needs to pass the proposal through the city council – most of whom would have to leave office in 2009 under the current law – it looks like he may even be successful.
Photo: Flickr courtesy of David Berkowitz
City - Tuesday, September 23, 2008 13:25 - 0 Comments
Term Limits and the Media’s Impact
On September 4th, City Councilman Oliver Koppell submitted a bill for drafting that proposes to extend current term limits for elected city officials from two four-year terms to three. (Welcome back to reality, to those taking a break from fretting over the end of the world.)
The focus of the term limit issue naturally turned to Mayor Bloomberg, who will be leaving office December 31, 2009 if the bill doesn’t pass. However, two-thirds of the City Council (including Koppell), along with Comptroller Thompson, and Public Advocate Gotbaum will also be leaving office at the end of 2009, as it stands now.
The controversy surrounding the issue involves two public referendums that were held in 1993 and 1996. Those against any change in term limits cite that the public has expressed its voice twice and has upheld the two four-year term limit both times. Since January 1, 1994, elected officials have not been able to seek re-election after serving their respective eight years. But now, with considerations for having experienced city officials and people who can effectively manage New York with its present financial troubles, the term limit debate has resurfaced.
