Ex-Staten Island BP plans suit vs. term limits extension

The Staten Island Advance reports on the growing political and legal heft opposing Bloomberg's term limit maneuvers. Ex-Staten Island BP plans suit vs. term limits extension reports on the impressive list of elected officials supporting the new suit:

Molinari, a Republican who also represented the Island in Congress for a decade, said he will be the lead plaintiff in the civil action against Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who sought the extension to three terms. The former borough president will be joined by more than a dozen plaintiffs, including Brooklyn Democrats Charles Barron, Leticia (sic) James and Bill DeBlasio, the City Council's most vocal opponents to the term limits bill; Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum; and the New York Public Interest Research Group.

There is an interesting legal basis for the new suit:

The lawsuit contends that overturning two public referenda that overwhelmingly supported a limit of two 4-year terms for public officeholders violates the First Amendment, which guarantees the right of political speech and meaningful elections; and it violates the Fourteenth Amendment, which "forbids incumbent elected officials from making legislation for the purpose of extending themselves in office."

Molinari's move come with a personal cost:

His decision to join the lawsuit was difficult, the 79-year-old said, because he considers Bloomberg a personal friend. However, Molinari, who still remains a force in Staten Island politics, said he "certainly wouldn't rule out" backing the mayor for a third term -- should he lose the lawsuit, of course. "Despite the feelings I have for Mike, if you don't agree with someone, and you really believe it

article >>

~
~~
~

Roundup of Bloomberg term limit bill signing

There was a flood of coverage of Bloomberg's signing ceremony today which featured a garnish of public testimony. Nothing can quite capture the raucous nature of the crowds gathering before the hearing. It was disorganized, but it was an inspiring and spontaneous expression of democracy... followed by a pre-ordained event.

Here are the videos that I recorded:

http://www.youtube.com/nopowergrab


Here are a ton of links:

• NY Times: Bloomberg Gets 3rd-Term Bill, and a Public Earful
  
  
• Daily News: Term Limits A Done Deal
  
  
• NY1: Mayor Signs Term Limits Extension Into Law
  
  
• Associate Press: NYC mayor signs term-limits bill
  
  
• Reuters: NY mayor wins chance for 3rd term despite criticism
  
  
• AlterNet: The Big Money Barrier Surrounding the White House
  
  
• WNYC: Mayor Extends Term Limits
  
  
• The Wonkster: Bloomberg Signs Term Limits Bill
  
  
• SI Advance: Staten Islanders speak at signing ceremony for Bloomberg's term-limits bill
  
  
• Brooklyn Daily Eagle: Assemblyman Jeffries Announces State Proposal on Term Limits

A few links via Gotham Gazette:

Final Hearing on Term Limits (Daily News, 11/03/08)
The public will get one more chance Monday to sound off about term limits, and this time they'll get to say it directly to Mayor Bloomberg.

Imperial Bloomberg (New York Magazine, 11/03/08)
During the City Hall press conference officially making Michael Bloomberg a term-limits flip-flopper, a reporter began a question by referring to the mayor’s extended flirtation with a third-party bid for the White House.

~
~~
~

Mayor Risks Image by NY Times and other commenters

The NY Times explores some of the dirty politics that goes behind Bloomberg enlisting support for a third term. The paper suggests that his dealings with party insiders will make it harder for him to govern in the future.

As he doggedly pursued a third term, Mr. Bloomberg bridged disparate political constituencies that barely communicate, much less agree on anything — enlisting union leaders and titans of finance, party bosses and abortion rights advocates. (Even the rabbi at Mr. Bloomberg’s Manhattan synagogue called a wavering City Council member on the mayor’s behalf.)

But in creating those alliances, the mayor may have hurt his chances for re-election. A large part of Mr. Bloomberg’s popularity rests on his image as a nonpartisan billionaire not beholden to special interests or fellow elected leaders.

article >>

The Times article prompted additional observations on The Neighborhood Retail Alliance:

And the mayor has governed in such a way as to bolster the confidence of the investor class as every turn. Why shouldn't they feel he's the "most sophisticated and the most skilled person available?" But this may all, as the Times points out, be about to change. The erosion of the image can be seen as the first step towards a popular re-evaluation: "But in creating those alliances, the mayor may have hurt his chances for re-election. A large part of Mr. Bloomberg’s popularity rests on his image as a nonpartisan billionaire not beholden to special interests or fellow elected leaders."

This is just the beginning, however. As the NY Post reports this morning, plans are on the table for municipal layoffs; and if this comes to pass-along with the inevitable knee jerk Bloomberg tax hike-people are going to see Mike Bloomberg in a totally different light. No longer on the pedestal constructed by a fawning editorial phalanx, Bloomberg's diminished image may be the harbinger of his ultimate political demise.

article >>

~
~~
~

Avella to Bloomberg: What You Did Was a Disgrace

Here is a reaction from Tony Avella to Bloomberg's recent attempt to mend fences:

Last week, Tony Avella received Mike Bloomberg’s “reconciliatory” telephone call, following the vote to extend term limits.

“While I appreciated receiving Mr. Bloomberg’s phone call, I told him that what he did (extending term limits) was clearly a disgrace,” Avella stated.

“Although he tried to rationalize his actions as a measure that provided voters with a choice, I told him he can justify his own actions however he wants; but what he did was still wrong."

website >>

~
~~
~

City residents' last chance to weigh in on term limits

In City residents' last chance to weigh in on term limits, Newsday reports that tomorrow is your last chance to speak up about the bill before Bloomberg signs it into law:

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.

Some people would disagree with Weiner. Many accuse Bloomberg of being responsible for detaining people to prevent them from using their right to free speech and assembly at the 2004 Republican convention.

article >>

~
~~
~

Vote Ourselves In

Room 8 raises a scary proposition. If the term limit controversy has shown that the mayor has too much control, then you might want to give more power to the city council. But given the council's recent actions, that's not a pretty option. Here is how nymaverick concludes the post "Vote Ourselves In":

Bloomberg's powers should be reduced through referendum in his third term. But the City Council, for having little responsibility, has become stocked with irresponsible people. The voters of New York should grant themselves greater ability to serve as a check against both of them.

article >>

Larry Littlefield responded with this:

I've Got Bad News

We have had initiative and referendum since the 1989 charter. Only one referendum generated by initiative was ever introduced and passed -- term limits. That's how it got there.

And I'll bet that the City Council gets rid of it, without a referendum, after the 2009 election, so term limits cannot be voted back in. Then they will extend terms indefinately or, as the NY Times wants, get rid of it entirely. Public campaign financing will be eliminated before or after this. All this is merely a logical extension of what has already happened.

~
~~
~

Sounds of Voting and Check-Writing

Consortium News just published "Sounds of Voting and Check-Writing" by By Bill Moyers and Michael Winship:

Once upon a time the mayor supported the rule that city officials can only serve two terms. But then someone pointed out term limits applied to him, too, and that he couldn’t run for a third term.

So he set out to change the rules. But instead of asking the people to vote on it in a public referendum, the mayor decided he couldn’t risk his ambition on a fickle public.

He turned first to his fellow moguls who own the city’s major newspapers – Murdoch, of the New York Post and The Wall Street Journal; Zuckerman of the Daily News, and Sulzberger of The New York Times.

Then, according to the Times, with his considerable philanthropic clout – before the financial meltdown, his worth was some $20 billion dollars – the mayor leaned for support on the community and arts groups that depend on his charitable largesse.

article >>

~
~~
~