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New York, NY - Furor Over Changing Term Limits No Joke for Simcha Felder |
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The Brooklyn Democrat is known for his pixyish humor and candor. He once ducked into the men's room to avoid a ticklish Council vote.
He cracked, "The only thing I'm acknowledging (is) that if you asked me, 'Is it true that the record shows that I was present but did not vote? Yes, that's what I acknowledge."
But Felder, as chairman of the Governmental Operations Committee, is now the man-in-the-middle of the serious issue of changing term limits, and he won't be able to take a powder from this very thorny task.
Warring term-limits measures have been referred to his committee. As chairman, he will preside over a lawmaking process some have likened to making sausage - it's so messy you don't want to see how it's done.
Felder will have to deal with infighting and pressure, negotiations with the mayor's camp, and lobbying from a bevy of vested interests, including good-government groups, unions, egocentric elected and political officials and who knows who else. And public hearings scheduled for Oct. 16 and 17 could be tumultuous.
Questions about his role have been raised. He's a close ally and supporter of Mayor Bloomberg, who has requested a four-year extension of term limits.
Felder has also been the main beneficiary of $21 million in discretionary funding (commonly called pork) the mayor directed to favored Councilmembers over a six-year span. Felder's share was $5.7 million, which he dispensed to nonprofit groups in his Borough Park district.
"That's a conflict of interest," Councilman Charles Barron (D-Brooklyn) said at a session.
That drew rebukes from several colleagues, including Peter Vallone Jr. (D-Queens), who called Barron's comment "despicable."
Felder said the fact he was able to help community groups "continue doing the holy work that they do" demonstrates why he should be holding the hearings. People "want an advocate" who helps his community, he said.
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Read Comments (9) — Post Yours »
1
Oct 09, 2008 at 09:35 PM i hope we keep term limits Says:
we need fresh faces who will care about the little guy not the big groups
2
Oct 10, 2008 at 03:05 AM Anonymous Says:
Personally I'm against term limits. If the guy is no good vote him out. However in this case i'm against it. !n 2001 Guliani wanted a third term to help the city rebuild after 9/11. Mark Green the dem canidate as well as Bloomberg the repub. canidate were very upset with the suggestion that made it sound that they aren't capable of rebuilding the city. Bloomberg, if it wasn't good for Guliani it shouldn't be good for you.
3
Oct 10, 2008 at 01:53 AM heshy Says:
B"H Simcha is able to stay in the Council! But talk about a "Nogeiah B'dovor"! If he votes against the extension, he loses his job. If the public needs protection against themselves (term limits would be unnecessary if the public trusted themselves to vote against an incumbent) then too bad; they deserve that their (read - Lauder's wishes) should be ignored.
4
Oct 10, 2008 at 12:32 AM vote conservative Says:
i hope we keep term limits: i agree. a good way to start is to register as a republican or conservative, and then vote that way as well, and our politicians will be forced to hear the people!
5
Oct 10, 2008 at 07:44 AM Anonymous Says:
The public voted for term limits TWICE - no politician should be arrogant enough to think it does not apply to himself. The only way to end term limits is to have a special ballot in the spring. Let the people decide. Mr. Bloomberg should be in Washington DC with the Treasury Dept to help the nation through this mess. The city council needs to be part of the city and not part of the "elite".
6
Oct 10, 2008 at 08:23 AM anon Says:
we do not need jews in office
7
Oct 10, 2008 at 12:05 PM Anonymous Says:
Term limits is great and should never be changed. This is the only guarantee against a powerfull and in-defeatable mayor who takes things for granted. THis way a new mayor will have to EARN the trust of the people.
8
Oct 10, 2008 at 01:04 PM Anonymous Says:
“ we do not need jews in office ”
What an ignorant comment that is! Jews have done so much for this city, state, country and world! A person's religion does not make them ineligible to hold office. Your comment says you could never hold office or lead anyone anywhere.
9
Oct 13, 2008 at 11:55 AM ha lol Says:
the aforementioned vote he avoided by going to the bathroom was the vote for city council speaker christine quinn. although felder claims he supports her, he says he cant vote for her for religious reasons. (quinn is a "toeyvah" person)