By Jeremy Walsh
Harsh words and angry shouts dominated the discourse at City Hall last week as the City Council tried to figure out how to respond to Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s effort to extend term limits at two public hearings.
More than 300 people crowded the Council chambers, including former public leaders, lawyers and regular citizens, to argue in favor of and against the proposal. Some were Queens residents, like Far Rockaway resident Emily Respass, whose voice clouded with hurt as she criticized the mayor’s efforts to pass legislation that would add a third four−year term to current term limits, allowing him to run again in 2009. A Council vote on the bill was scheduled for Thursday.
“I don’t see him using this as a legitimate way to help all of New York, just his special interests,” she said, complaining that Bloomberg has not visited Far Rockaway during his time in office. “Don’t let him back in.”
A Quinnipiac poll released Tuesday suggested Respass was not alone in her opinion, showing that 51 percent of voters oppose extending term limits to re−elect Bloomberg, and 89 percent wanted to see the decision go to a voter referendum.
Bloomberg was unswayed by the news.
“I always say we don’t pay attention to polls,” he said at a news conference in Long Island City Tuesday. “I’m not trying to manipulate the system for an outcome, I’m trying to do the best I can to give the public the most choices. Either the City Council is going to change this, or they will not.”
The bill’s supporters at last week’s hearings also touted the notion that a term limit extension would give voters more choices in the next municipal election.
“It’s in the city’s best interest to give voters more options,” said Anthony Crowell, an attorney for Bloomberg. “Don’t hold this hostage to process concerns that have no legal base.”
Crowell also emphasized the economic crisis as the catalyst for the change.
Several Queens Council members have been involved in efforts to counteract Bloomberg’s bill, which was introduced by Councilmen Leroy Comrie (D−St. Albans), Simcha Felder (D−Brooklyn), Oliver Koppell (D−Bronx), Domenic Recchia (D−Brooklyn) and Kendall Stewart (D−Brooklyn).
City Councilman David Weprin (D−Hollis) is one of the sponsors of a bill mandating a term limit change be put to a voter referendum the same way it was in 1993 and 1996. All city officeholders are restricted to two terms under current law.
“The issue is not term limits but rather the process,” he said. “The people have spoken and it should remain in the hands of the people.”
Councilman Tony Avella (D−Bayside) has sponsored a resolution calling for the state to amend its Municipal Home Rule law to require term limits to be changed by referendum.
“The state Legislature has no vested interest in extending terms,” he said. “They would be outside these arguments. … I am rather dubious these days as to whether or not city government can do the right thing.”
Two illustrious former executives came out in favor of extending term limits. Former Gov. Mario Cuomo said he was opposed to term limits in general and urged the Council to get rid of them by any legal means.
“I’ve fought against them my entire career,” he said, calling them a “desperate attempt to improve government” on the assumptions that elected officials lose their efficacy after eight years and that the new person will be better.
“Let the voters make the decision in what is called an election,” he said with some sarcasm. “I know it works. It made me a private citizen in 1994.”
Former Mayor Ed Koch, who served three terms in office and was defeated in his quest for a fourth term, also supported term limit extensions.
“The job of the mayor is a daunting one,” he said. “It often takes as much as 12 years to get policies and laws enacted.”
Koch good−humoredly rebuked City Councilman Peter Vallone (D−Astoria) when he said that he was undecided on the issue.
“Go talk to your father,” Koch replied, referring to former City Council Speaker Peter Vallone Sr., who recently wrote an op−ed piece supporting a term limit extension. The younger Vallone announced Tuesday that he supported Bloomberg’s bill.
But Koch also said he did not think Council legislation was any better or worse than a voter referendum to decide the issue.
To Council members’ questions on why a referendum would not be better, Koch was disdainful.
“You are the representatives of the people of the city of New York,” he said. “Why you would think your vote is less valid than a referendum boggles my mind.”
“Crisis has a way of clearing the mind and letting us put pragmatism first,” he said.
But controversial changes also bring about strong resistance.
Steve Kramer, a Democratic consultant, warned Council members that he and other consultants had already received inquiries from their potential opponents were a third−term election to take place.
To those voting in favor of the term−limit extension bill, “We’re going to besmirch your reputations,” he said. “We are absolutely going to come after you. If you think your elections were hard the first time, I can guarantee you the next year will be the hardest of our life.”
Reach reporter Jeremy Walsh by e−matil at jwalsh@timesledger.com or by phone at 718−229−0300, Ext. 154.
