The buzz in the big apple and apparently on national cable news is that Michael Bloomberg is going to announce his run for re-election....for the second time. This would of course fly in the face of voter-approved term limits and most likely bring a whole slate of City Council Members back for their own third terms as well. It seems that the fiscal crisis has got a lot of rich fuddie-duddies and idiot-savant pundits talking about Bloomberg staying in because he's got $20 billion, give or take a billion such a nice guy and knows stuff about finance and what not.
The Times has the details on this disaster:
Yes, I agree Mr. Mayor, this is a disgusting move on your part. It reeks of arrogance and disdain for the voters that approved the term limits that you were in favor of until now, when they get in your way to hold on to power. The only people that could possibly agree with and benefit from your political calculus are the rich and wealthy elite that love to see skyrocketing real estate prices, an environment that encourages gluttonous development and having more Chase bank branches and Starbucks than the entire state needs. New York deserves better than this abrogation and subversion of the law. If you really think we want you to serve another term, then run in 2013 and respect the will of the voters.Right now, Mr. Bloomberg is barred by law from seeking re-election. But he will propose trying to revise the city’s 15-year-old term limits law, which would otherwise force him and dozens of other elected leaders out of office in 2009, the three people said.
In his announcement, Mr. Bloomberg, a former Wall Street trader and founder of a billion-dollar financial data firm, is expected to argue that the financial crisis unfolding in New York City demands his steady hand and proven business acumen.
The move represents an about-face for Mr. Bloomberg, who has repeatedly said he supports term limits and once called an effort to revise the law “disgusting.” He will apparently try to do so through legislation in the City Council, rather than the ballot box.
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