Competing Bills on Term Limits

Today, a bill will be introduced at the City Council that would change the city's term limits law and allow lawmakers to serve three consecutive terms instead of two.  A competing bill from Councilmember David Weprin will be introduced that would require that any proposal to change term limits have an attached referendum for voters. And Councilmembers de Blasio and James will introduce a third piece of legislation that would create a Commission to revise the term limit law and have voters decide it in a special election this Spring.

On Sunday, I stood with Councilmembers, advocates, good government groups, and others who feel strongly that democracy will be undermined if term limits are changed without allowing the people to have a say. I've been saying this all along, and I will keep saying it - only the voters should decide if and how term limits should be changed. One argument we keep hearing is that special elections have low voter turn-out. Not only is that an anti-democratic argument, its a weak justification to subvert the will of the people. I can guarantee you that any low-voter turnout at a public referendum on term limits would far exceed 51 people - the number that will currently make this hugely important decision.

I am against term limits, but what matters here is that New Yorkers have twice voted for them. Any attempt to change term limits should be done by voter referendum.