When Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced last week that he planned to topple term limits, few doubted his sincerity. Bloomberg has spent the better part of the last year looking for his next job, and now, it seems that the one he wants is the one he already has.After an announcement last Thursday, the mayor’s plan has moved forward in earnest, with the City Council holding a fervent debate on the subject, and promising to follow what they believe is the will of the people.
Tuesday was the most important day so far on the subject, as the City Council considered for the first time two pieces of legislation designed to crystallize the debate. One introduction, put forth by Queens Councilmen John Liu, David Weprin, Eric Gioia and Brooklyn’s Bill De Blasio, closes the loophole that would allow a council vote to extend term limits by another term.
Known as Intro. 850, the law would require that any change to the term-limit law would have to first pass via a referendum — a vote among New York City’s 8 million citizens — before it could be considered by the council.
The other piece of legislation, spearheaded by Brooklyn Councilman Simcha Felder and known as Intro. 845, effectively changes the term-limit law from a limit of two terms to three, essentially cutting out the electorate. Felder, the author of the brief legislation (roughly three paragraphs long) has received more discretionary funds from the Mayor’s Office than any other council member currently serving.
Both pieces of legislation were sent to the council’s Committee on Governmental Operations on Tuesday, which is chaired by Felder. There are six other members of the committee, two of whom — Councilmen Joseph Addabbo Jr., and Peter Vallone Jr. — are from Queens.
Addabbo, in response to questions from the Queens Chronicle, said he would vote no on any term-limit change that came legislatively.
“He would only support a public referendum — if we were to put it back on the ballot as a referendum, then that would be the only process by which he would possibly accept a ruling,” said Alexis Grenell, Addabbo’s spokesman for his state Senate campaign.
Vallone is undecided on changing the law by council vote.
Once the two introductions come out of committee, they’d have to be put to a vote in the City Council chambers. Council Speaker Christine Quinn told reporters that while many in the group have made up their mind, the council was not yet close to a vote on the subject, and that it may be weeks before the council decides to put it on the floor.
Queens council members are somewhat split on the subject, with many refusing to state their positions.
Councilman Tony Avella, an avowed proponent of term limits, told the Queens Chronicle that he’s outraged by the conduct of Bloomberg and Quinn, but does not trust his fellow council members to do the right thing.
“It is the height of arrogance and hypocrisy (by the mayor) to overturn the will of the people,” he said. “Unfortunately, I think it will pass in the City Council.”
Councilman James Gennaro said much the same thing.
“The issue of extending term limits has gone to the people twice through public referendum, and any revisiting of the issue should go back to the people.If brought before the council, I would uphold the will of the people and vote no.”
Comptroller William Thompson Jr., whose well-publicized mayoral run has been somewhat derailed by the discussion over term limits, also accused Bloomberg of circumventing democracy.
“People must come before politics,” he said in a statement. “It is inappropriate for the mayor and City Council to pass legislation that ignores the will of the voters. A government should serve its people and not itself. New Yorkers deserve nothing less.”
It’s not easy to find much justification for a yes vote among Queens Council members. Vallone has said in the past that he believes Bloomberg has done a fine job as chief executive of New York City, but was unwilling to elaborate recently other than to say that he is opposed to the idea of term limits. He added that any change should be taken on via referendum.
Many current council members share his ideological views on the referendum, not limited to Liu, Weprin and Gioia.
“I hate to say it, because we are in trying times and the mayor would be good for the city’s future for another term, but it’s the law and it’s not something we should do by one fell swoop of the pen,” said the council’s newest member, Anthony Como (R-Middle Village). Many of the “no” stances would change to “yes” votes in the event that a referendum were mandated by law, and were able to be voted on, something Avella said would probably happen in a matter of about six months.
“The earliest you could have a special election is in March or April and it would be expensive,” he said.
Helen Marshall, the borough president, said she is in favor of overturning term limits, although — like the mayor — she does not have a vote on the subject.
She called any potential action taken to extend term limits “acceptable,” and highlighted the importance of “institutional memory.” She also admitted that she would be interested in running again in the event that term limits were extended.
City Council hearings on the two proposals will be held on Oct. 16 and 17. No location has been set. The first hearing will be held at 3 p.m., with no time announced for the second one.
©Queens Chronicle 2008
