New York Shitty
New York is a black hole for Democracy. As we speak, the New York City Council is voting to extend their own tenure as legislators.
Does anyone else think this is outrageous? Details after the jump.
So much like the presidency, all offices in NYC are limited to two four-year terms before they are forced to leave. 90 percent of the current government in place in the city will be term-limited out of office in one year.
Today, they are voting to extend term limits to three terms despite the fact that it has been voted down in public referendum twice before. Not only that, they voted against putting it to the people of the city again in a public referendum, opting to make the decision to extend the life span of their own jobs themselves.
Granted, they will have to be elected, but much like congress, the incumbency retention rate is absurdly high because its difficult for outsiders to generate the clout and funding to make a run at an incumbent. These councilmembers likely wouldn’t be in office in the first place if it wasn’t for term limits.
Now, I understand the arguments against term limits, but to do something like this without letting the public have a say is absurd. The City Council may be representatives of the public, but I think this is a clear conflict of interest.
Gah, I just think its the slimiest thing ever. Thoughts?
Comments
Is it all offices or just Mayor? I know Bloomberg is pushing for this but I thought he was the only one. Or is it him pushing for it, but for it to happen it would need to apply to everyone?
Yeah, I mean he could’ve technically asked for the exception for just himself, but then there’s no way the council would’ve pushed it through since there wouldn’t be anything in it for them. As is, it only passed 29-22.
It’s awful, just like when Guiliani threatened to postpone elections after 9/11. But I like Bloomberg, so I’m not an ideologue on this one.
Besides, it doesn’t matter what I think. The voters of NYC will have a chance to vote against the incumbents if they so choose.