Is This New York Or Chicago?

On Tuesday, New York City Council announced that it had place Mayor Bloomberg's plan to increase term-limits to three terms on a "fast track" with a vote expected on Thursday.

As we have already stated on these pages, we disagree with changing term limits without a referendum of the people - in the same way that term limits were brought in - and we object strongly to the idea that the City Council, two-thirds of whose members have a vested interest in extending term-limits decide the matter, since they would have to leave office otherwise.

It is also worrying to see reports in the press about alleged coercion of council members or sweeteners being offered for supporting the bill.

These are the sort of tactics associated with the dark past of Chicago and Illinois Machine Politics not those we would like to think would be used in the self-titled 'Capital of The World' and with the rest of America and the World watching.

Perhaps fortunately, those of us opposed to removing term-limits by fiat, have a billionaire of our own to help the campaign.

Buffalo Sabres owner Tom Golisano has joined the fight and vowed to spend his money in support of the battle: "To maintain the spirit of democracy, there should be at least another public referendum," he said.

In response, New York's Mayor demonstrated his contempt for the democratic process by jauntily noting that he welcomed Golisano's actions but simply because he saw that they would boost the city's economy.

"Well, if he spends a lot of money in New York City, I think that's wonderful, he said. "The advertisement business isn't all that good at the moment. If he wants to spend his money, that's fine."

Golisano apparently responded, "I have no idea if they are taking me seriously or not, but I think it's a really serious issue."

We agree completely with Mr. Golisano and would suggest that the Mayor should start taking seriously the backlash against his new proposals.

The Mayor's actions are undemocratic and unbecoming.