As per the New York Times, the City Council has voted 29 to 22 to extend term limits, thus allowing Mayor Bloomberg -- and all the councilmembers -- to run again.
Democracy in New York City died today.
Here's a picture of that enemy of democracy, City Council President Christine Quinn. Shame on her.
According to the New York Times, the term-limits question may be decided today by the New York City Council. Check out this great geographic graphic from the Times' website.
Sphere: Related ContentBefore I post the information below -- sent to me as an email this afternoon -- I'd like to write a little bit about term limits.
To me, the idea of term limits was always redolent of the Passive-Aggressive School of Politics -- the Coddling School, too. I happen to believe, for one thing, strongly in the idea of institutional knowledge, that in any endeavor one mustn't throw the baby out with the bathwater, and that the people, the ordinary citizenry, the Joe the Plummers, are the ones who must exert power in this nation, be it at the presidential, gubernatorial, mayoral or dog catcher levels. Therefore, the movement toward term limits that swept the country more than a decade ago always struck me as profoundly anti-American and certainly anti-democratic. It bespoke of a nation in a state of perpetual fury against entrenched incumbents and interests that came to be convinced that it isn't about throwing the bums out by actually vetting candidates and voting but instead about a system of valuing institutional change rather than institutional memory. It's lazy and it's dumb and it's more harmful to the government, I believe, than it is helpful.
That New York City was suckered -- twice! -- into voting for term limits always made me angry, especially since it was bankrolled by Ron Lauder. But still, it was voted on and the veracity of the vote was never in question.
Now Mayor Bloomberg would like another term and, Gee, I can't imagine that the City Council wouldn't want more time in office if they could get it. And so the City Council is set to vote very soon on overturning the will of the people -- eliminating term limits so that Bloomberg can run for one more term and so can the Council members. I keep reading about how this is set up to be a one-time thing, necessitated by the economic, social and foreign-policy crises we're in, but do you buy that? I don't. Now we're in the Sophistry School of Politics.
Fortunately, efforts are underway to make it clear to the New York City Council that it must not act like the Soviet Politburo. I received today, reprinted below, a letter that asks people to visit a website and sign a petition designed to honor democracy. I didn't like the outcome of those term limit votes, as I say. But the citizenry voted for it and if it is going to be eliminate or modified, it is only appropriate that the citizenry have the opportunity to do so. Why is the mayor so afraid of anything otherwise?
Please read below.
Sphere: Related ContentTwice, New Yorkers have voted overwhelmingly for terms limits in New York City.
Now, Mayor Bloomberg and some City Council members are plotting to extend term limits without the voters' permission -- instead of dealing with the real issues.
Your City Council member Peter Vallone hasn't said if he thinks term limits should be up to voters or the politicians. We need the Council to serve us, not themselves.
Go to www.itsourdecision.org today. Sign the petition, and send a message to Councilmember Vallone: let the Voters decide!
No matter how you feel about term limits, one thing is clear: the voters have spoken, and the politicians need to listen.
This isn't about whether Mayor Bloomberg or Councilmember Vallone have been effective leaders or whether they deserve another term.
This is about respecting the rules, and respecting the will of the people. If voters want to overturn term limits, that's our decision, not theirs.
That's why we've teamed up with the Working Families Party to make sure New Yorkers have their say.Go to www.itsourdecision.org. We need 26 members of the Council to stand up for democracy, and if Councilmember Vallone stands up for the people we can get it done. On our website you can see where every City Council member stands and get the latest updates from our campaign to make sure the people's vote is respected.
Log on to www.itsourdecision.org. It may be the last vote the Mayor and the City Council let you get.
Thanks,
Congressman Anthony Weiner
Michael Schenkler, Publisher, Queens Tribune
If so or if not, here is something everyone should read and think about:
Term Limits: It's OUR Decision!
In 1993, New Yorkers overwhelmingly voted for terms limits - two four-year terms for elected officials in New York City. In 1996, New Yorkers voted again to keep term limits, and keep them at just two terms.
No matter how you feel about term limits, one thing is clear: it's OUR decision, not the politicians. If they want to change term limits, it should be done the fair way, by asking the voters’ permission.
But a new bill introduced in the City Council would do just the opposite. The bill would ignore the voters and give politicians a third term (the same politicians who will vote on it).
City Hall needs to hear from you. Sign the petition and make your voice heard:
http://itsourdecision.org/
You can also see where your Council member stands, see a term limits time line, tell a friend, and see who we are.
Thanks for all you do!
