The Adventure Of Council Term Limits

By MICHAEL SCHENKLER

My apologies to those of you who think it is important that columns of political commentary address the war in Iraq.

While I, too, am absorbed with accounts coming from the battlefield and the national and international impact of the action, I believe I can add little to what has been said. Our paper continues to cover the local impact and views and I am in touch with my friend from Queens — NY1 Anchorman  Gary Anthony Ramsey — who sent me the following email from Kuwait:

“Hello, all is well in Kuwait. It has been extremely busy as you can imagine but since it is so ‘dynamic’ here, things change all the time. We may get a ride into Iraq soon, but it is not promised. Keeping my head on a swivel and taking no chances. A US soldier today was arrested for throwing two grenades inside a tent in North Kuwait. Crazy huh? Tell everyone I am just fine and still having the time of my life.”
— GARY ANTHONY RAMSAY

While the world focus was oversees, New York political focus was on a major bump in the 10-year adventure of term limits for the New York City Council. And while our thoughts and prayers (there, I said it) are with our troops, our story is here where the Tribune has been in the middle of the decade-long adventure..

Let me explain . . . .

THE TERM LIMITS TALE

In 1993, cosmetics heir and defeated NYC mayoral wannabe Ron Lauder funded a petition and referendum establishing term limits for the mayor, comptroller, public advocate, borough presidents, and city councilmembers. The referendum passed overwhelmingly.

In 1996, led by then-Speaker Peter Vallone, the Council tried to push through a referendum changing the Council term limits from two to three terms. The people rejected it. This was an attempt for the first term limited class to extend their own years in the Council.

In 2001, as they faced the end of their terms, the incumbent first term limited Council — 38 of 51 were term limited — proposed a law which would have repealed term limits without a referendum.

The Tribune was the first paper and clearly the loudest to yell. We never supported term limits, however we were passionate in our fight to prevent its repeal without a referendum. We expressed, week after week in our column and pages, that a law passed by the people could only be repealed by the people. We hammered it home – we even placed the faces of the Queens members who were involved in the effort on the front page behind bars with the headline “Wanted for Crimes Against the People.” We challenged Speaker Vallone — then a candidate for Mayor — to stop the undemocratic effort at the expense of his own political future. He finally relented and the Trib was recognized, credited and congratulated for our effort.

But the story didn’t end there. The new council was elected and our friend Giff Miller, with the help of the Queens delegation became speaker. Giff was one of seven members (of 51) term limited at the end of this year.

Councilmembers are generally elected for four years — every 20 years, due to redistricting, terms are two consecutive two year terms instead of four — and were limited to 2 complete terms, one of which had to be a four year term by the people’s law.

Giff was masterful and orchestrated what he called a term limit “tweak” – I’m not getting into his rationale now – but it redefined a term as four years, which meant he and his six colleagues could run again for another two year term this year. He would remain speaker for two more years. All of this, in spite of the clear language of the term limit law passed by the people.

Giff is brilliant and sold all the good government groups and papers and even Ron Lauder that the Council had the right to “fix” or “adjust” the term limit law — he claimed it really wasn’t a change.

We didn’t buy it. My column clearly yelled “you can’t change the people’s law without a referendum.” Giff wrote a column in the Trib giving his side. We opposed it and editorially stood alone in this city. The law passed the Council overwhelmingly.

Last Wednesday, judge Gerard Rosenberg threw out the Council’s “tweak” and basically said to change the term of a Councilmember requires a referendum. He reaffirmed what we have been shouting all along.

With Miller out, a power struggle would begin for the next speaker and the committee chairs and perks that come with it.

Now Giff and company are appealing the judge’s decision, but this round clearly belongs to the people. I’ve been on the phone ever since the decision, with councilmembers speculating about prospective speaker candidates, and over with the Chicago Sun Times, who called City Hall looking for someone to tell the term limit story from the people’s side and were referred to me.

The Tribune has spent many an hour and several trees in fighting what we believe is the good fight — to change a law passed by the people requires a vote of the people. For this moment, the courts have agreed.

It’s not over, but it’s wonderful to be in the mix. It’s wonderful for journalism and it’s wonderful for the people.

The Race For Next Speaker

Leroy Comrie + Queens County Council Majority Whip; Chair, Rules  Known as “A Consensus Builder” by colleagues, Comrie is likely the first choice of the powerful Queens County Dem Organization. He is a man of color in a City of minorities. He is universally liked and repected. Rate Comrie as frontrunner +

Melinda Katz + Queens County Chair, Land Use Considered bright and knowledgeable, Katz is winning respect as a serious player while she builds her base in the Council. Rate Katz as coming on strong +

David Weprin - Queens County Chair, Finance Committee   As Finance Chair, his committee brings influence. But Weprin has failed to capitalize on the Council’s second most powerful position and has clearly fallen from former frontrunner status since he has not won over many collegues. Rate Weprin as fading –

Peter Vallone, Jr. + Queens County Chair, Public Safety Committee Recognized as courageous and independent by his collegues, Vallone, Jr. has come on strong recently. If he can win over the Queens Dem leadership, he could be the strong finisher. Rate Vallone as the surprise contender +

Joel Rivera - Bronx County Council Majority Leader The bright but young son of the Bronx County Dem Chair will enter the race with that delegation but little more. The Council admires youth, but it won’t elect a Speaker in his early twenties. Rate Rivera as a candidate in name only –

Lew Fidler + Kings County Chair, Youth Services Committee The members like and admire Fidler for his intelligence and know how. He works well with the other members but has a divided delegation. He is, however, building an impressive following. Rate Fidler as a serious contender +

Bill de Blasio - Kings County Chair, General Welfare Impressive and knowledgeable, de Blasio is regarded for his smarts but his popularity is not universal. It appears he can’t capture a majority of his own divided delegation. Rate de Blasio as slightly fading -