New York City Council Overturns Term Limits

Twice in recent years, the people of New York City voted in referenda to limit the number of terms the mayor and city council members can serve. As a result of this, a majority of the council and Mayor Bloomberg are finishing their final term. Yesterday on a vote of 29-22, the council decided to suspend democracy and allow a third term.

The argument in favor of the change is, on the face of it, nonsense. The “thinking” is that the city is in a pretty dire financial position because of the revenues lost thanks to the Wall Street shenanigans of late. Therefore, billionaire Mayor Mike Bloomberg is needed to guide the city through its financial crisis and must be eligible for a third term. No one, it seems, considered that he would be better off as a budget tsar rather than mayor – who has a great many other things to do in addition to running the city’s finances.

The argument against the change is quite simple. A referendum should only be undone in one of two ways. If the courts hold it unconstitutional or in this case contrary to the city charter, it clearly can’t stand. Otherwise, another referendum is the only legitimate counter-measure.

To be fair, there were a few council members who tried to get a referendum set up. Their amendment was defeated on the grounds that there wouldn’t be time enough to organize one. New York’s Board of Elections should go up to Canada, where an entire general election was run at the drop of a hat (or writ) in under one month. Self-interest used timeliness as a fig leaf.

So, the Kensington Review is making a sight unseen endorsement of whomever runs against Mayor Bloomberg next year. After all, with so many Wall Streeters out of work, it should be easy to find a ton of guys and gals who can deal with the finances of the city. In addition, this journal endorses any candidate who opposes any incumbent who said “yes” in the shameful voting yesterday.

© Copyright 2008 by The Kensington Review, Jeff Myhre, PhD, Editor. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent. Produced using Fedora Linux.

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