Nov 3, 2008 8:13 pm US/Eastern
Bloomberg Signs Term Limits Bill Into Law
Mayor Faces The Wrath Of Many At Public Hearing
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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Mayor Michael Bloomberg's bid to run for a third term got the "all-clear" when the City Council voted to allow term limits to be extended from 8 to 12 years. (File)
CBS
The outcome was never in question. Mayor Michael Bloomberg signed the term limits bill into law Monday. But before he did, he had to listen to over four hours of public testimony about whether it was a good idea.
Some of it was rough sledding.
One man even turned his back on the mayor.
"I have no desire to look at you," Jimmy McMillan said.
Another vented about Bloomberg's redevelopment programs.
"You're just trying to drive out the working people who make this city great, that make the city run and I'm angry," said David Tieu of Sunset Park, Brooklyn.
Through it all -- over four hours of public testimony on his bill to extend term limits – Mayor Bloomberg sat quietly at a table listening as people from all five boroughs told him why they are either for or against him serving another four years. Some talked about the Wall Street meltdown.
"To preclude somebody who has the extraordinary ability and the financial background that our mayor does would be almost masochistic," said Abraham Biderman, former city finance commissioner under Ed Koch.
Some don't buy that rationale.
"Seeking a third term had nothing to do with an economic crisis," said Benjamin Haber of Kew Gardens Hills, Queens. "It had to do with your inflated ego and desire to remain in the media limelight."
But the mayor had his defenders.
"By extending term limits New Yorkers will have a choice, more choices," said Daniel Lucarelli of plumbers' union Local 1.
But to that, there were objections.
"In the recent past the people have already voted against this bill twice so quite frankly Mayor Bloomberg you are cheating," said Rachel Tractenberg of Greenwich Village.
Each person testifying -- all 137 of them -- got two minutes to speak. Then Mayor Bloomberg signed the bill into law, saying he has always supported term limits. He just changed his mind about how many terms officials should serve.
"Nobody is irreplaceable, but I do think if you take a look at the real world about how long it takes to do things, I just think that three terms makes more sense than two," Bloomberg said.
And so the next step in the term limits debate will be a court suit.
For those keeping track 68 people spoke against a term limits extension, 65 spoke in favor. Four spoke on other issues including one man who brought his resume to ask for a job.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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