From 1:00 Thursday afternoon until 11:00 in the evening, the New York City Council held public hearings on the question of whether or not they should give themselves and Mayor Chutzpah another term. Yes, I know, each of them would still have to win the actual election, but the powers of incumbency are such that it would be extraordinarily difficult for an outsider to defeat either the Mayor or one of the two-thirds of the current Council members who will be prevented from running again as a result of the existing term limits law. That’s exactly why the two-term limit was supported by the people of the City of New York in the first place.
But are these hearings a sham? Some claim that Council Speaker Christine Quinn already has the votes lined up to overturn the term limits law. I don’t know if that’s true, but this well-meaning struggle against the power grab does feel a bit hopeless.
Watching this NY1 video, it’s clear that somebody actually paid people to go to the hearings and hold up signs in support of the Mayor. Ridiculous and ineffective. Certainly the brainchild of some outer borough political aid with a greasy comb-over and poly-blend suit.
I’d be fine with repealing the term limits law, as long as the voters–and not the Council and Mayor–were the ones repealing it. I might even be fine with giving the steady if lackluster Bloomberg one more term. But the way they’re going about this, plotting in a backroom deal to overturn something the people have voted for twice, is reason enough to dump them all right now. You can see it on Bloomberg’s face when he’s speaking in the video above: I know this is bullshit but I’m doing it anyway because, what the hell, this city needs me!
If they were honest and consistent, those supporting the Council’s rewriting the term limits law should come out and say that they also oppose public referendums. What’s the point of having them if the voters’ decision can be overturned at the whim of those in power? The mayor has apparently said that it would be too “distracting and time consuming” to hold a referendum on his plan. Oh, okay, well just do what you want then.
The stupid thing is, if they actually did have a public referendum and spun it as an up or down vote for Bloomberg, I’d bet the people would vote to extend the limit to three terms. Although a NY1/Baruch College poll found that three-quarters of New Yorkers want a chance to decide on the issue in a referendum, 44 percent say they are in favor of the mayor’s quest to allow elected officials to run for a third consecutive term. I’m sure a few glossy mailers funded by Bloomberg’s billions could get that up over 50%.
If you feel like preaching to the choir, there’s a gathering in Brooklyn sponsored by Public Advocate Besty Gotbaum this Sunday, October 19, 2:30-4:30 P.M., at the Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church (85 South Oxford St between Lafayette and Fulton).
I wish were feeling it.
