T: Is for Term Limits.

The question on most New Yorkers minds should be, will the city council members disregard your right to vote? In total there are 51 Council members. 35 will be prohibited from running for re-election next year unless term limits are extended. To extend term limits, 26 members of the council have to vote in favor of the mayor's bill. 16 are in support, 19 are opposed and 16 are undecided. Last Thursday and Friday Public hearings were held and on Sunday Comptroller Bill Thompson came out publicly stating that council members were being "threatened" by the mayor's office to vote for the extension. In a statement he claimed the hearings were a sham. "While it was clear from the outset that two rushed public hearings held in Manhattan did not serve this city well, it is now clear based on news reports of people being either paid or compelled to testify, that last week's City Council hearings were a sham. I'm obviously very disturbed by that. I think that is absolutely abusing authority. And I've heard it's been happening on both sides of City Hall, that they've been pressured on the council side also. So I just think that's wrong. I think it's an abuse of authority and it needs to stop." The mayor's office is denying any abuse of power. Thompson went on to say, "The hearings were an abrupt effort to steamroll the mayor's legislation forward, and failed to give many New Yorkers an opportunity to voice their opinions. It again illustrates the need to bring this term limits question back to the voters through open, democratic hearings in each borough and a public referendum. In addition, the fact that high-level government officials in City Hall would bully groups that receive city funding to testify on the mayor's behalf is an abuse of authority that further undermines the legitimacy of this process. Finally, I am aware of attempts to intimidate Council members into voting for the mayor's legislation and ignoring the voice of their constituents. These tactics are highly inappropriate and paint a portrait of a desperate campaign rife with heavy-handed coercion attempting to discount the will of the public."
I was at these meetings and observed what Thompson said. The polls show New Yorkers want a voice and to rush a vote is not in the public’s best interest. The council could vote as soon as Thursday and that is not enough time to weigh the facts and out of the mouths of babes come the F.A.C.T.S.

RESPONDED "YES"
*Maria Baez, (D) Bronx
*Leroy Comrie, (D) Queens
*Erik Martin Dilan, (D) Brooklyn
*Lewis Fidler, (D) Brooklyn
*Robert Jackson, (D) Manhattan
*G. Oliver Koppell, (D) Bronx
*Miguel Martinez, (D) Manhattan
*Michael Nelson, (D) Brooklyn
*Christine Quinn, (D) Manhattan
*Domenic Recchia, (D) Brooklyn
*Diana Reyna, (D) Brooklyn
*Joel Rivera, (D) Bronx
*Larry Seabrook, (D) Bronx
*Helen Sears, (D) Queens
*Kendall Stewart, (D) Brooklyn
*Al Vann, (D) Brooklyn


RESPONDED "NO"
*Joseph Addabbo, (D) Queens
*Tony Avella, (D) Queens
*Charles Barron, (D) Brooklyn
Anthony Como, (R) Queens
*Bill de Blasio, (D) Brooklyn
Mathieu Eugene, (D) Brooklyn
Daniel Garodnick, (D) Manhattan
*James Gennaro, (D) Queens
Vincent Gentile, (D) Brooklyn
*Eric Gioia, (D) Queens
Vincent Ignizio, (R) Staten Island
Letitia James, (D) Brooklyn
*John Liu, (D) Queens
Melissa Mark-Viverito, (D) Manhattan
Darlene Mealy, (D) Brooklyn
Rosie Mendez, (D) Manhattan
Annabel Palma, (D) Bronx
James Vacca, (D) Bronx
*David Weprin, (D) Queens
RESPONDED "UNDECIDED"
Maria del Carmen Arroyo, (D) Bronx
*Gale Brewer, (D) Manhattan
Inez Dickens, (D) Manhattan
*Simcha Felder, (D) Brooklyn
*Helen Foster, (D) Bronx
*Alan Gerson, (D) Manhattan
Sara Gonzalez, (D) Brooklyn
*Melinda Katz, (D) Queens
Jessica Lappin, (D) Manhattan
*Michael McMahon, (D) Staten Island
*Hiram Monserrate, (D) Queens
*James Oddo, (R) Staten Island
*James Sanders, (D) Queens
*Peter Vallone, (D) Queens
Tom White, (D) Queens
*David Yassky, (D) Brooklyn
* Will be term-limited out of office in 2010.