NYC Charter Questions

NYC voters should vote YES on the Charter Revision Commission's two charter questions, even if they are somewhat flawed.

Question 1 undoes the cynical term limits vote of the NYC Council which by legislative fiat wiped away two voter referenda on term limits.

Reasonable arguments can be made that a term limit of three terms is preferable to two; and that legislators should be subjected to longer term limits than executives, in order to strengthen the city council against all-powerful mayors.

Nonetheless, it is a conflict of interest for elected officials to decide the length of their own terms in office. Question 1 would restore the term limits law to what it was before the mayor and city council speaker put self-interest above the fundamental right of voters to decide this issue.

Question 2 is a muddled collection of unrelated items. On balance, though, the proposal is an improvement over the status quo.

Among other things, this proposal would reduce the number of petition signatures required for political candidates to appear on ballots, thereby weakening the Incumbent Protection Plan which is built into all elections.

In addition, Question 2 would amend the Charter to require individuals and entities to disclose expenditures designed to influence elections and referenda. Voters have the right to know about attempts to influence elections -- including secret expenditures aimed at buying party ballot lines.

I urge YES votes on both NYC charter questions.

Scott