Public Advocate's Corner

Term Limits Ruling

As you may have heard, U.S. District Court Judge Charles Sifton dismissed the lawsuit that would challenge the legality of changing voter-ratified term limits by legislation. The suit was filed on the grounds that the mayor's limit extension violated the First and Fourteenth amendments of the U.S. Constitution. 

Betsy Gotbaum said: "I am disappointed by the court's decision on term limits and remain deeply concerned about this process. It's wrong and un-democratic for a handful of elected officials to overturn a public referendum, especially when that same handful will benefit from changing the law. Millions of votes cast by New Yorkers in previous referendums have been tossed out through this misguided process. As I have said all along, this was decided by the people twice. New Yorkers deserve to have a voice on this issue and we will keep fighting for that. "

 

Spotted: Gotbaum, Thompson and Weiner Talk with New Yorkers about Term Limits

Today, Betsy Gotbaum, Bill Thompson and Anthony Weiner (along with others) listened to the frustrations of New Yorkers lined up to testify at the last public hearing on Term Limits before the Mayor signs the bill today.

Watch Live Video of the public comments on Term Limits here or submit your own public comment below.

Gotbaum on Term Limits: We Will Continue This Fight

Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum stood on City hall steps moments ago to support Councilmembers de Blasio and James as they announced preparations for term limits law suits.

Councilmembers de Blasio and James are preparing a lawsuit to challenge the legality of changing voter-ratified term limits by legislation.

Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum said, "I, along with countless New Yorkers, am
deeply disappointed by the Council's vote. This could have happened the right way, allowing the people to vote as they have twice before, but instead it was decided by a small few who would also benefit from the change. New Yorkers will not forget this disregard of the democratic process. I support the effort of Councilmembers de Blasio and James to pursue legal action; we will continue this fight."

Pictured above: Comptroller Bill Thompson, Councilmember Bill de Blasio, Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum, Councilmember Letitia James, and Congressman Anthony Weiner. [photo credit: Gia Storms]

Council Vote to Extend Term Limits Passes 29-22

I'm very disappointed about today's vote. I'm against term limits, but you have to get out of them the same way you got into them. Instead, the voice of New Yorkers has been silenced and millions of votes ignored. Today democracy lost, but now we need to get back to the real work of improving and strengthening our city, and dealing with this financial crisis head-on.

What do you think about term limits? Post now!

Today is the first public hearing held by the City Council on the mayor's attempt to overturn the current term limits law. On Sunday, Gotbaum will host a public forum (with Councilmembers Letitia James and Bill de Blasio) from 2:30 – 4:30 pm at the Lafayette Presbyterian Church, 85 South Oxford Street between Lafayette and Fulton.

Post your opinion: Should the mayor be allowed to disregard the will of the people and overturn term limits?

Guest Post: Mark Green on Term Limits

Betsy Gotbaum has reached out to New Yorkers across the city to get their opinions on the mayor's effort to extend term limits. Today, former Public Advocate Mark Green is the first guest blogger on the subject. Last Sunday, Green joined Betsy Gotbaum and Councilmemebers Bill de Blasio and Mark Weprin to support a bill requiring that any proposal to change term limits have an attached referendum for voters. 

Mark Green said, "I believe that Mike Bloomberg is a good man who is being misled by ambition into doing something that is profoundly unethical.

First, it's profoundly unethical to run for office knowing the term limits rules, to agree that they're essential for 7 1/2 years, to say that it would be "disgraceful" to change them within a ter in office -- and then at the 11th hour to engage in a 180 degree about-face because you want to cling to office.

Second, it's profoundly unethical to veto voters by railroading a law through the council in three weeks. It can take three years to regulate horse carriages but only three weeks to regulate the electoral rules of New York City? It's sheer political chutzpah for the mayor to stall for 9 months appointing a charter commission to put a referendum on the ballot and then say that deadlines have passed so only a law will do. (There is an alternative -- a voter referendum prospectively, like the 22nd constitutional amendment did.)

Third, it's profoundly unethical and obviously self-dealing to prefer that he decision-makers here be incumbents trying to keep their jobs and pay-checks rather than voters themselves.

And fourth, it's profoundly unethical to win over the important support of Ron Lauder by promising him the public benefit of a seat on a future charter commission, as Lauder himself has reported. If a mayor had promised money for support, we'd all understand how corrupt that would be.

I believe that any change should require that the decision-makers should be voters weighing the public interest rather than political insiders weighing their self-interest. So I support the de Blasio-Weprin effort to put a referendum on the ballot in early 2009. I'm proud to be a part of a collation based on the theme -- Let the Voters Decide!"

Mark Green is the President of Air America Radio and the former Public Advocate for the City of New York.

We need public hearings on term limits in all five boroughs

New Yorkers voted twice for term limits for elected officials.  Now the Mayor wants to overturn the will of the voters by passing a power-grab law that would allow him to serve another 4 years.

This isn’t a debate about how good or bad a mayor Bloomberg has been; it’s about whether or not, in a democracy, it is okay to disregard people’s votes.  At the very least, New Yorkers need a chance to weigh in on this decision.

I'm calling on the City Council Speaker and Councilmember Felder to prolong any council vote until public hearings can be held in all five boroughs. There is no reason to rush a vote on October 23rd when we could easily wait until more New Yorkers have had the chance to make their voice heard. Even the mayor's own Charter Revision Commission in 2003 scheduled public hearings in all five boroughs, all in the evening so that working New Yorkers could attend.

Currently, the City Council is planning on hosting two public hearings: Tomorrow October 16 at 1:00 pm Council Chambers at City Hall and Friday, October 17 at 10:00 am Committee Room at City Hall. I encourage you to attend if you can. However, two public hearings held in Manhattan simply aren't enough, especially for New Yorkers who work 9-5.

Which is why I am co-sponsoring a public forum (with Councilmembers Letitia James and Bill de Blasio) this coming Sunday from 2:30 – 4:30 pm at the Lafayette Presbyterian Church, 85 South Oxford Street between Lafayette and Fulton. First and foremost, I believe that it is undemocratic to undergo fundamental change in New York City government without extensive public input, so I urge you to attend this public forum and voice your opinion on term limits.

Term Limits Bill: A Conflict of Interest

Public Advocate Gotbaum, along with Councilmembers Bill de Blasio and Letitia James, sent another letter to the Conflicts of Interest Board asking for a ruling related to the term limits legislation. They specifically ask the board to rule on the self-serving nature of the bill.

Read the letter here: Download 20081014_letter_to_conflicts_of_interest_board.pdf

Post your thoughts: Is the this bill a conflict of interest?

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.

Gotbaum on Mayor Bloomberg's Announcement