Oct 14, 2008 7:53 pm US/Eastern
State Sen. Launches Blistering Tirade At Bloomberg
Term Limits Debate Boils Over: 'He's Turned Out To Be The Worst Kind Of Petty Little Grubby Politician'
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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Michael Bloomberg, New York City Mayor, testifies about gun control before the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime Terrorism and Homeland Security, Washington, DC
AP
The debate over term limits got ugly and personal Tuesday as opponents of the move stepped up their criticism of Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
With the City Council's expected vote on extending term limits fast approaching, it's getting really ugly out there. State Sen. Kevin Parker, D-Brooklyn, held back nothing Tuesday as he lambasted Bloomberg and his efforts to serve four more years.
"He has turned out to be the worst kind of petty little grubby politician that anyone's ever seen in the city," Parker said.
Admittedly, Parker may have issues with Bloomberg. The mayor supported Councilman Simcha Felder, one of Parker's opponents in the September Senate primary. Felder is also chair of the City Council Government Operations Committee that will shepherd the term limits bill. His anti-Bloomberg tirade went on and on.
"This is somebody who has been an absolute mitigated failure on everything, on everything it takes other people to do," Parker said. "He said he wanted non-partisan voting. He was a failure. We look eight years later … there's still a hole at ground zero."
The mayor refused to answer back.
"I didn't hear him and I wouldn't dignify anything like that with a response," Bloomberg told CBS 2 HD.
But with reports that the number of Council members intending to vote against extending term limits has grown to 19, the tension is mounting.
The mayor was furious at questions about whether his deputies or aides to Council Speaker Christine Quinn are putting undue pressure on Council members to support his bill.
At first the mayor defended efforts to push the bill.
"This is an administration-sponsored bill," Bloomberg said. "We'd be derelict in our duties. Do you really want us not to go out and promote?"
The mayor was asked directly if Council members are being threatened.
"We don't do that and we never have," Bloomberg said.
Undecided Council members told CBS 2 HD they are getting pressure from all sides. Those opposed to ending term limits are sending sound trucks into Council members' districts.
It will take 26 votes to either pass or defeat the bill.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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