Oct 24, 2008 9:37 am US/Eastern
New Yorkers Against Power Being Taken From People
Some: Bloomberg's Successes Should Outweigh Voters' Rights; Many: Referendum Was Democratic Way To Go
Council Approves Proposal By Majority Vote, 29-22
By CAROLYN COSTELLO, CBS 2 HD News
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
-
-
Mayor Michael Bloomberg's bid to run for a third term got the "all-clear" Thursday when the City Council voted to allow term limits to be extended from 8 to 12 years. (File)
CBS
The term limit vote is the talk of the town.
As CBS 2 HD found out on Thursday, most New Yorkers think the outcome should have been decided by voters.
The lunch crowd at the Parkside Diner in Prospect Heights was tuned in to the debate at City Hall long before the City Council voted 29-22 to allow Mayor Michael Bloomberg and other city officials to seek a third term.
"I think he has done a phenomenal job," one New Yorker told CBS 2 HD. "You should be able to continue to do a phenomenal job."
They're talking about it at the Lindenwood Diner on the Queens/Brooklyn border, too. Should Mayor Bloomberg run for a third term? Despite his success and popularity, many city residents aren't too keen on having the power to decide taken from the people.
"I don't appreciate the fact that he would want to run," one person said. "We've already said it was two terms."
"Two years is enough in my opinion," said another.
Then there were those who said you can't argue with success.
"You know what? He's done a great job. Nothing else matters so if he wants to run he should," another person said.
But the debate isn't just about term limits or whether or not Bloomberg has done a good job, it's about who should decide to change the law – the City Council or the people.
"If it's gotta be changed put it to the vote instead of the City Council who makes wheelings and dealings," one person said.
"The people have already spoken twice, so it's done," added another.
"A referendum would be fairer rather than railroading it through City Council," another said.
"Why would you trample on the democracy that's been set by the people? That's a sad commentary," said another.
Whether they'd like to see him in office for a third term or not most New Yorkers we spoke to Thursday think they should be the ones to set term limits, voting by referendum.
A Quinnipiac University poll Tuesday found 51 percent of New York voters oppose extending term limits, and 89 percent said the issue should be decided by voters.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
World's Most Useless Facts
Click to enlarge
NYPD: Tests Suggest Powder Scare Not A Threat 7 mins ago 
Stumble It!
Comments