More Joining Term Limits Fight

As we have anticipated, the attempt to alter the term limits law is beginning to generate a coterie of opponents; and the coalition of the upset and aggrieved is bound to grow if this stealth campaign surfaces for real. In this morning's NY Daily News, Liz Benjamin highlights this burgeoning opposition, and it's none other than Mark Green leading the charge: "If Mayor Bloomberg thinks he will be able to overturn term limits without raising the ire of Democrats, he hasn't spoken yet to Mark Green. Green, who ran against Bloomberg in 2001, said the mayor would "cross the line" if he attempts to change the rules midstream to allow both himself and two-thirds of City Council members to run again in 2009. "It is unethical and impermissible to change the rules in the middle of an election to benefit the mayor and the Council, who are the ones drafting and enacting the legislation to overturn the votes - twice - of the people," Green said after picking up his Democratic National Convention credentials here in Denver."

And he's absolutely right. Any attempt to change the rules of the game needs to be applied to the next set of office holders, and shouldn't be done by those whose vote would be self perpetuating. In our view, only the voters should decide. As the NY Post points out, both Anthony Weiner and Bill Thompson-potential candidates for mayor in 2009, feel that it's up to the voters: "City Comptroller Bill Thompson and Rep. Anthony Weiner, both Democrats, said any such proposal should be put before the voters, and not enacted by lawmakers... "I've said publicly before, the council should have three terms," Thompson told The Post from Denver, where he's attending the Democratic National Convention. "[But] I think any change in term limits should go before the voters again." Weiner (Brooklyn/Queens) said he wants to change mayoral term limits, but agrees that it should be done only at the ballot box. "Anthony has favored ending term limits, but believes the right way to do it is by public vote," said his spokesman, John Collins. "New Yorkers voted it in and they deserve the right to vote it out, if they so choose."

Mike Bloomberg needs to be held to account for his two-faced attitude. We have a mayoralty not a royalty in New York City. Mayor Mike has purchased power before, and now he apparently believes that he can effect a leveraged buy out of term limits. The people need to disabuse him of his regal arrogance.