Growing Opposition To Bloomberg Power Grab

A growing number of voters, civic groups (e.g., LatinoGreens) and elected officials are alarmed by NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg's attempt to continue in office beyond the two terms presently allowed by law.

They are joining Nydia Velazquez (U.S.Rep-Brooklyn/Queens), Anthony Weiner U.S.Rep-Brooklyn), NYC Comptroller Bill Thompson (Brooklyn), Bill de Blasio (NYC Council-Brooklyn), Letitia James (NYC Council - Brooklyn), John Liu (NYC Council - Queens), Annabel Palma (NYC Council - Bronx) and Mark Green (former Public Advocate) in opposing what they view as an undemocratic scheme: using the current Wall Street crisis as cover to deep-six the mayoral term limits law New Yorkers fought so hard to enact.

Stop Mike Bloomberg's power grab - Daily News
Term limit power grab would mar Mayor Mike Bloomberg's legacy - Daily News
Bloomberg Makes Power Grab - Amsterdam News
Bloomberg Expected to Seek Third Term as Mayor - NYTimes
Early Opposition to Bloomberg Power Grab - Village Voice
Bloomy: I'm Good Enough, I'm Smart Enough and Doggone It, People Like Me So Much They'll Let Me Overturn Our Democracy - Room8
Bloomberg Archives: Was a Lauder Deal even legal?; Anatomy of a deception; Unanswered questions, dark suspicions; Bloomberg's saddest moment- SpinCycle
Bloomberg once called change to term limits a 'disgrace' - Newsday
U.S. Rep. Velázquez: Changing Term Limits for Bloomberg Violates Voting Rights - Latino LI

Additionally, people like Velazquez are concerned that such a ploy by a sitting incumbent, a billionaire able to use his personal wealth and the power of the public purse, to "persuade" willing council members, is both a corruption of the democratic process and undermines people's voting rights--especially of minority voters.

What follows is an Open Letter To all N.Y.C. Residents To Act To STOP Bloomberg High jack of City Hall by concerned citizens:

In the midst of the Global financial crisis, Mayor Bloomberg has decided to remain as the Mayor of New York in spite of the existing term limits.

Preying on the fear felt and the uncertainty faced by New Yorkers, Bloomberg has decided that he is the only one able to lead in these dark times ahead. In order to bypass the term limit laws put in place by the New York City electorate on two occasions Bloomberg has resorted to attempting to override the law via his back room dealings with many self serving Council people.

Together they are working to push a bill in the City Council that will, if they prevail, give Bloomberg a third illegal term. This scheme is one that if successful can be repeated again and again as long as people are facing the uncertainty of the world-wide financial crisis.

IF TERM LIMITS LAWS ARE TO BE ELIMINATED OR MODIFIED IT MUST ONLY BE DONE BY THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS THAT INSTITUTED THEM: A REFERENDUM.

CALL, FAX AND E-MAIL THE MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL. LET THEM KNOW THAT YOU WILL REWARD THEM FOR THEIR LOYALTY; OR PUNISH THEM FOR THEIR BETRAYAL. THE PEOPLE OF THIS CITY WILL BE WATCHING HOW THEY VOTE.

Brooklyn City Council Members

Charles Barron
718 Pennsylvania Ave.
Brooklyn, New York 11207
718-649-9495/9496 tel.
718-649-3111 fax

Bill de Blasio
2907 Fort Hamilton Pkwy
Brooklyn, New York 11218
718-854-9791
718-854-1146

Erik Martin Dilan
387 Arlington Avenue
Brooklyn, New York 11208
718-642-8664 tel.
718-642-8639 fax

Mathieu Eugene
123 Linden Boulevard
Brooklyn, New York 11226
718-287-8762 tel
718-287-8917 fax

Simcha Felder
4424 16th Avenue
Brooklyn, New York 11204
718-853-2704 tel.
718-853-3858 fax

Lewis A. Fidler
1402 East 64th Street
Brooklyn, New York 11234
718-241-9330 tel.
718-241-9316 fax

Vincent J. Gentile
8703 3rd Avenue
Brooklyn, New York 11209
718-748-5200 tel.
718-748-5222 fax

Sara M. Gonzalez
5601 5th Ave S-2
Brooklyn, NY 11220
718-439-9012 tel.
718-439-9042 fax

Letitia James
67 Hanson Place
Brooklyn, NY 11217
718-260-9191 tel.
718-260-9099 fax

Darlene Mealy
1757 Union Street, 2nd Floor
Brooklyn, NY 11213
718-953-3097 tel.
718-953-3276 fax

Michael C. Nelson
3810-A Nostrand Avenue
Brooklyn, New York 11235
718-368-9176 tel.
718-368-9160 fax

Domenic M. Recchia, Jr.
445 Neptune Avenue
Brooklyn, New York 11224
718-373-9673 tel.
718-373-0195 fax

Diana Reyna
444 South 5th St.
Brooklyn, New York 11211
718-963-3141 tel.
718-963-4527 fax

Kendall Stewart
1694 Flatbush Avenue
Brooklyn, New York 11210
718-951-8177 tel.
718-951-8191 fax

Albert Vann
613-619 Throop Ave.
Brooklyn, New York 11216
718-919-0740 tel.
718-919-0744 fax

David Yassky
114 Court Street
Brooklyn, New York 11201
718-875-5200 tel.
718-643-6620 fax

Queens City Council Members

Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr.
159-53 102 Street
Howard Beach, New York 11414
718-738-1111 tel.
718-322-5760 fax

Tony Avella
38-50 Bell Blvd., Suite C
Bayside, New York 11361
718-747-2137 tel.
718-747-3105 fax

Anthony Como
78-25 Metropolitan Avenue
Middle Village, NY 11379
718-366-3900 tel.
718-326-3549 fax

Leroy G. Comrie, Jr.
113-43 Farmers Boulevard
St. Albans, NY 11412
718-776-3700 tel.
718-776-3798 fax

James F. Gennaro
185-10 Union Turnpike
Fresh Meadows, New York 11366
718-217-4969 tel.
718-217-4968 fax

Eric N. Gioia
47-01 Queens Boulevard
Suite 205
Sunnyside, New York 11104
718-383-9566 tel.
718-383-9076 fax

Melinda R. Katz
104-01 Metropolitan Ave.
Forest Hills, New York 11375
718-544-8800 tel.
718-544-4452 fax

John C. Liu
135-27 38th Avenue
Suite 388
Flushing, New York 11354
718-888-8747 tel.
718-888-0331 fax

Hiram Monserrate
32-37 Junction Boulevard
East Elmhurst, New York 11369
718-205-3881 tel.
718-205-4145 fax

James Sanders, Jr.
226-18 Merrick Blvd.
Laurelton, New York 11413
718-527-4356 tel.
718-527-4402 fax

Helen Sears
37-32 75th St.
Jackson Heights, New York 11372
718-803-6373 tel.
718-803-9832 fax

Peter F. Vallone, Jr.
22-45 31st Street.
Astoria, New York 11105
718-274-4500 tel.
718-726-0357 fax

David I. Weprin
205-07 Hillside Ave.
Suite 16
Hollis, New York 11423
718-465-8202 tel.
718-776-2302 fax

Thomas White, Jr.
145- 40 Rockaway Blvd
South Ozone Park, New York 11436
718-843-0792 tel.
718-845-0817 fax