Senator Parker Preserves Democracy By Sponsoring Statewide Term Limits Legislation
Brooklyn lawmaker strongly opposes the Undemocratic Effort to Extend Term Limits
Brooklyn, NY- State Senator Kevin Parker (D-Brooklyn) today announced that he is sponsoring a bill on term limits in the New York State Senate. Senator Parker has always been opposed to term limits. However, the Brooklyn lawmaker is strongly against Mayor Bloomberg’s plan that would allow him, and term-limited City Councilmembers, to seek a third term in office.
“Term limit is and always has been a bad idea,” said Senator Parker. “It is a bad idea because it limits not only democracy but also voters’ rights. The voters of New York City exercised their franchise and sent a clear message that they were in favor of term limits. To brazenly push them aside and attempt to silence their voices is not what we should do as elected officials. For this, I am sponsoring a bill on the state level that will change term limits for the entire state,” said Senator Parker.”
The bill, which is being carried in the Assembly by Assemblymember Hakeem Jeffries, will essential block the Mayor’s attempt to seek another term in office. It will also require any municipality with term limits to hold a public referendum before making any changes that would affect how long elected officials can serve.
“The Mayor’s argument that he is the right person to take the City through the current economic crisis is flawed to its core,” said Senator Parker in a statement made after the Mayor’s announcement. “The fact is that Mayor Bloomberg had seven years to spin his self-taught financial wheel of fortune to strengthen the capital market in order to prepare this city for a downturn in the economy,” he added. “And he failed! In addition to the collapse on Wall Street which happened on his watch, New York’s middle class and working families of all colors and creeds – the people who actually make this City run – are under siege. Taxes, fees and fares have increased, while food, healthcare, and housing costs have soared. Clearly, there is little justification in rewarding the Mayor with four more years in office.”
