Group Files Lawsuit to Block Extension of Term Limits

New York Times, By FERNANDA SANTOS, November 10, 2008

Elected officials, aspiring politicians, public interest groups and average citizens who voted to establish term limits in New York in the 1990s filed a federal lawsuit on Monday challenging the constitutionality of a law signed by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg last week that extended the limit from a maximum of two terms in office to three.

From left, William C. Thompson Jr., Charles Barron, Letitia James and Norman Siegel were among those who filed the suit. The suit charges that the mayor and the City Council seized upon the economic downturn as an excuse to undo the term limits law that had been affirmed by voters twice through referendum, in 1993 and 1996, and that it did so with imprudent speed.

Among the people suing Michael Bloomberg and the City Council to block them from extending term limits is attorney Norman Siegel, who said there may be “an implicit restraint” applicable to changing a law legislatively that was created by a public referendum, such as term limits

Vote Makes Councilwoman Vomit (Literally)

"Darlene Mealy - one of only two City Council members to switch sides in the tense term-limits vote - was under such intense pressure and threats that she vomited twice at City Hall before announcing her decision, sources said yesterday."

Click here to read the whole story in The Post.

Councilman's Integrity Terminated

The Brooklyn Paper fires out at Brooklyn Councilman David Yassky, one of the 29 Council Members who ignored the will of 89 percent of New Yorkers and voted to extend term limits for himself and the Mayor.

ChangeNYC.Org Unveils New Ad Challenging Term Limits Extension

ChangeNYC.Org, a new grassroots nonprofit organization fighting for good government in New York City, is inaugurating its progressive agenda for change with an internet ad challenging Mayor Bloomberg and the City Council’s proposed legislative change to the City’s term limits law.

The ad, featuring real New Yorkers, asks the question: “What if George W. Bush wanted a third term?”



ChangeNYC.Org was initially slated to launch after the Presidential election to recruit and organize New Yorkers to be agents of change in their own communities. However, the Mayor and Speaker Quinn’s unprecedented power grab compelled ChangeNYC.Org to move up its timeframe and launch its first Citywide initiative for change immediately.

On the website it launched today, www.changenyc.org, the nascent organization promises that it will be “growing quickly and showing you plenty of ways you can keep the energy of change thriving throughout the five boroughs and beyond.”