Oct 22, 2008 6:11 am US/Eastern
NYC Council To Vote Thursday On Term Limits
Opponents: Bloomberg Is Trying To Hijack Will Of People
Poll: 89 Percent Against City Council Giving Mayor The Right
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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Mayor Michael Bloomberg's bid to stay in office for a third term could be a step closer to reality. The City Council will vote Thursday on Bloomberg's proposal to change term limits law. (File)
CBS
The term limits debate is not only on the fast track, it's now on the Acela fast train as well.
The vote is set for Thursday.
But what will happen?
A mirror on the ceiling had New Yorkers seeing double on Tuesday. Mayor Michael Bloomberg right-side up and upside down -- just as he's poised to turn the city's term limits law on its head.
"I've been through lots of ups and downs," Bloomberg said.
The "ups" on Tuesday were highlighted a decision by New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn to schedule the vote on the mayor's term limits extension bill in two days. Typically, when the speaker puts a bill up for a vote it means there is enough support to pass it.
"After much deliberation I have decided that voting to extend term limits from eight years to 12 years is in the best interests of all the people of the city," said Councilman Peter Vallone Jr., D-Queens.
Vallone's change of heart was also an "up" for the mayor.
A "down" came in the form of a new poll showing New Yorkers overwhelmingly against allowing the City Council to change term limits. Of those polled, 89 percent said term limits should only be altered by the people through a referendum. Just 7 percent said the City Council should go ahead, plus or minus 3.1.
The poll also gave Mayor Bloomberg a 75 percent approval rating and 59 percent said they would most likely vote for him if term limits are extended and he is on the ballot.
Still, opponents continued to try to defeat the bill.
"I've seen this dance before," former mayoral candidate Fernando Ferrer said. "It's wrong. It's wrong to hijack the express will of the people."
And voters had mixed feelings.
"He should get the right to campaign again for it," said Rich Masio of Manhattan.
"He had enough time to do what he needed to do and I think he should go and let someone else try," said Moses Cardona of the Upper West Side.
"I think it's great. He deserves it," said Patrice Vogt of Murray Hill.
"I don't think so. He should abide by the laws that the people have out in place," said Larry Dalvin of Chelsea.
Now that the vote has been scheduled a number of groups are trying to stop it. Citizens Union called for a "time out," to find a way to put it to the voters, and others are said to be considering court action.
Stay tuned.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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