Quantcast

Term limits bill still up in air

With a vote on term limits near - some insiders believe it could come as soon as Thursday - supporters and opponents of the mayor’s bill continue to lobby the Councilmembers who will ultimately decide the fate of the legislation.
On Monday, October 20, Queens City Councilmember Hiram Monserrate became the 20th Councilmember to announce his opposition to Mayor Bloomberg’s bill to extend term limits from two to three terms, while 15 members support the bill and another 16 have yet to announce their positions.
Bloomberg cited his ability to lead the city during these difficult economic times while opponents believe that the decision to extend the term limits should be put to a public referendum. City voters shot down the idea of abolishing term limits altogether on two separate occasions in the 1990s.
“After listening to the many opinions of my constituents in northwest Queens and my colleagues, I believe that any debate on reform or extension must respect this precedent,” Monserrate said. “I do not believe our present day scenario can or should overturn the repeatedly expressed will of the city’s voters.”
Meanwhile, a Quinnipiac University poll released on Tuesday, October 21 showed that by a 51 to 45 percent margin, New York City voters oppose extending the eight-year term limit to 12 years so they can elect Bloomberg to a third term.
“Opponents of Mayor Bloomberg’s plan to extend term limits are winning - narrowly - the battle for the hearts and mind of New Yorkers,” said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.
The new numbers are somewhat of an about face from an October 3 poll that found 54 percent supported extending the limits from two terms to three while 42 percent opposed it.
Meanwhile, amongst Queens Councilmembers, support for passing the term limit extension remains mixed. Seven Councilmembers have said they will not support the bill, four have not taken positions and two - City Councilmembers Leroy Comrie and Helen Sears have announced they will support the bill.
“I have listened carefully to the arguments presented by those both in favor of the bill to extend term limits and those opposed,” Sears said. “It is my sincere belief that it is in the best interest of the city of New York to extend term limits from two terms to three. This decision was not made easily, but it is the right one.”

For more stories on this topic, read the following links:
Pro-Extension.

Anti-Extension.