By Stephen Stirling
Fueled by a tirade against Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s drive to extend term limits by state Assemblyman Mark Weprin (D−Little Neck), Community Board 11 unanimously approved a resolution against the plan Monday night.
The resolution voted on by the board at its monthly meeting states the members’ opposition to any plan to extend term limits without a public referendum on the topic first. Prior to the vote, not on the calendar, Weprin blasted Bloomberg’s plan to extend city politicians’ maximum stay in office from two four−year terms to three.
“If you have enough money, you can do just about anything I guess,” Weprin said. “This is kind of an outrage what is going on here.”
Bloomberg recently announced that he would seek a third term as mayor if the City Council altered the city’s current term limit laws. The once Republican now independent Bloomberg said his financial background makes him best equipped to guide the city through the economic crisis facing Wall Street.
Weprin also assailed the city’s media, such as The New York Times, which he noted has come out in support of the move, but was against a similar scenario proposed by aides to former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani shortly after Sept. 11, 2001.
“In all of New York City, with all of these media outlets, there’s not one dissenting voice,” he said. “I just think it’s kind of comical. I say comical, but it’s really not funny. I don’t think there’s any doubt it’s going to happen either as long as the mayor wants it.”
His brother, City Councilman David Weprin (D−Fresh Meadows), chairs the City Council’s Finance Committee and was planning to run for the city comptroller post next year after being forced out of office by term limits.
After Weprin spoke a motion was made to formulate a resolution against Bloomberg’s plan. After a brief debate over whether the board should take a stand on such a political issue, a resolution was introduced.
“What’s the worst that could happen? They could cut more of our budget,” said board member Victor Mimoni, referring to the fact that the city recently trimmed CB 11’s budget by $15,000 over the next year and a half.
East Bayside Homeowners Association President Frank Skala agreed, arguing that the board should not be concerned about issuing an opinion against the administration that funds it.
“We should take a position on an issue regardless of the names involved,” Skala said.
The northeastern Queens community board plans to send its resolution to all other boards in the city. CB 11 covers Bayside, Little Neck, Douglaston and part of Auburndale.
Reach reporter Stephen Stirling by e−mail at Sstirling@timesledger.com or by phone at 718−229−0300, ext. 138.
