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New York, NY - City Residents Last Chance To Protest Bloomberg's Term Limits Bill

Published on:   Nov 02, 2008 at 10:02 AM
News Source: Newsday
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New York, NY - It's not too late for New Yorkers to speak publicly on the effort to extend term limits.

The last chance is tomorrow morning, before Mayor Michael Bloomberg signs a bill allowing him and other term-limited officials to seek four more years in office.

Foes of the move are urging residents to show up at City Hall for the 9:30 bill-signing ceremony. Before the mayor actually puts pen to paper, members of the public have an opportunity to express why he should or should not sign the bill, said Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-Forest Hills), a likely 2009 mayoral candidate and opponent of extending term limits.

"The mayor and the City Council may be able to take your vote away, but they can't take away your right to speak," Weiner said.

Opponents said the bill was pushed through the City Council with "unprecedented speed." They said the two public hearings held in Manhattan, before the bill passed Oct. 23, were not sufficient, adding more hearings should have been held in the other boroughs.

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Supporters called the process fair and said more than 20 hours of testimony was given before the council voted.

"What's going to happen Monday?" council member Bill de Blasio (D-Brooklyn) said Friday. "Is the mayor going to allow every citizen who wants to come forward the opportunity to say something? Is he going to be listening?"

De Blasio, council member Letitia James (D-Brooklyn) and other opponents threatened to sue Bloomberg if he signs the bill, on the grounds that it violates constitutional rights and state and local laws requiring a voter referendum to change the limits.

In response, a spokesman for Bloomberg said, "We are confident that the bill that was approved in the council chamber will also prevail in the courtroom."

Exactly when any legal action against the bill would be filed still is being worked out, de Blasio said.

On the eve of the council's vote, de Blasio and James filed a petition in State Supreme Court in Manhattan seeking to stop the vote, claiming it would violate the city's conflict-of-interest law. The petition was denied.

The city's Conflict of Interest Board, composed of mayoral appointees, already had ruled there was no violation.

Thirty-five of the 51 council members are nearing the end of their second term and could seek a third four-year term under the new law.

Opponents say that voters already decided term limits, supporting them twice in referendums in the 1990s. Supporters say extending the terms provides voters with more choices in the upcoming election


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Read Comments (11)  —  Post Yours »

1

 Nov 02, 2008 at 10:16 AM mechelpipik Says:

We don't need to repeat a bum a mistake. Get them both lost. PROTEST! PROTEST! PROTEST! DON'T LET THEM GET IN.

2

 Nov 02, 2008 at 11:01 AM moshe pipik Says:

Throw the bum out. Or you'll be facing higher real estate taxes for sure.

3

 Nov 02, 2008 at 01:29 PM Anonymous Says:

and the ethics committee said it was not a breach of ethics....ha

4

 Nov 02, 2008 at 02:58 PM Anonymous Says:

It is nothing wrong for third term extension. Nobody needs referendum. Anyway, you will have the choice to vote for whom you prefer.

5

 Nov 02, 2008 at 04:32 PM Ben Says:

"The mayor and the City Council may be able to take your vote away, but they can't take away your right to speak," Weiner said.
What is weiner talking about, Take away my vote? I can still vote for anyone I choose! just another politician trying to put the wool over the voter's eyes...

6

 Nov 02, 2008 at 05:08 PM Crown Heightser Says:

Letitia James is our council person. I'm pleased to see she'll sue that piece of garbage. He's a pompous, useless idiot. Go Letitia! I didn't vote for you last time, but you'll have my vote next time around!!!

7

 Nov 02, 2008 at 05:26 PM Anonymous Says:

#6 you can vote for whom you want but please use appropriate language.

8

 Nov 03, 2008 at 12:30 AM We need Blumberg Says:

Blumberg can not be baught and does not take a penny from special interest. He actuay tries to do what is right for the people and does not take a penny. Thank you Blumberg for all your efforts.

9

 Nov 03, 2008 at 09:03 AM Anonymous Says:

bloomberg should have an extended term...this is one city except for wall street that has not gone under..i love 311...it does everything for you....we have a right ti vote....

10

 Nov 03, 2008 at 10:29 AM Joe Says:

Bloomberg is great for the city i will vote for him. Term limits are nice and all, but bottom line is bloomberg has done a lot of good for the city and it will be nice to see him here for an additional 4 years.

11

 Nov 03, 2008 at 12:18 PM Anonymous Says:

Reply to #9  
Anonymous Says:

bloomberg should have an extended term...this is one city except for wall street that has not gone under..i love 311...it does everything for you....we have a right ti vote....

yes, you have the right to vote and that is the concern of the voters that voted for term limits, and if you wanna change the term limits, give the voters the option, we have the right to vote and was voted to term limits

12

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