The Independent Student Newspaper of St. John's University

The Torch

The Independent Student Newspaper of St. John's University

The Torch

The Independent Student Newspaper of St. John's University

The Torch

A third term could ruin Bloomberg’s legacy in NYC

Michael Bloomberg has accomplished great things during his two terms as New York City’s “philanthropist” mayor. In 2002 Bloomberg adopted a city devastated by terrorism and steeped in economic crisis.

It’s no secret that he rekindled Wall Street and brought about numerous lifesaving reforms such as an effective smoking ban and the creation of 311.

Without Bloomberg, the city’s emphatic current police commissioner Ray Kelly might not have been reappointed.
According to a current city law, the mayor is limited to two consecutive terms.

This limit would bring Bloomberg’s era as mayor to an end in 2010 after his eight years in office.

However, Bloomberg has recently announced his plans to run for re-election in 2009, and overturn a city term limit law that has been in effect for the past 15 years.

How does Bloomberg plan on doing this? His gambit is simple: convince City Council to pass a new bill which would temporarily destroy term limits for the 2009 mayoral elections allowing him to seek reelection.

This move is wrong for numerous reasons. Not only have New Yorkers voted in favor of term limits twice in recent years, Bloomberg himself has been an avid supporter of the two term limit.

The mayor suggests that his recent turnaround in political viewing is spawned directly by the current economic crisis and its direct impact on New York City.

But this desire to continue as New York’s hero just seems irresponsible and gluttonous.

The mayor’s top three assistants at City Hall have all expressed their disapproval with his decision to seek a third term.
Deputy Mayors Edward Skyler, Patricia E. Harris and Kevin Sheekey all agree that this would be a risky move to make.

The bottom line: if Michael Bloomberg succeeds in clinching a third term as New York City’s billionaire mayor, his legacy and time spent as mayor will be in danger.

All the good that he has contributed to the city will be overlooked by his inability to call it quits and his insatiable need for more power.

Bloomberg may succeed in adjusting term limits to his favor, but whether or not he succeeds in taking a third term will depend on what voters think.

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