What Happened To Councilwoman Mealy?

What the Council did yesterday to democracy in our city was atrocious. Thwarting the will of the voters will be a mark of shame for the institution. It was self-serving politicking at its worst. Speaker Quinn was in the tank for the Mayor from the get go as were many in the majority but not everyone. James Vacca switched his vote late in the game but the outspoken Councilwoman Mealy went from being adamantly against the Mayor to standing in line behind him. So what happened?

From The NY Times:

Less than two weeks ago, City Councilwoman Darlene Mealy stood on the steps of City Hall, along with Comptroller William C. Thompson Jr. and a group of ministers who opposed Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg’s plan to extend term limits.[...]

However, when her name was called to vote on Mr. Bloomberg’s bill in the City Council chamber on Thursday, Ms. Mealy votes yes, and with a decidedly more somber tone to her voice.

If she wasn't excited about the bill when she opposed it and dejectedly voted in favor of it, what could have happened in the mean time? Did she get something out of it and what could the Mayor and Quinn have given her?

“She has said that she was under intense, intense pressure,” Mr. Barron said. “I think it merits some kind of investigation, to be quite honest.”

In an interview, Ms. Mealy was asked whether she had been threatened in any from either City Council speaker Christine C. Quinn or Mr. Bloomberg.

“I don’t want to discuss it,” she said.

Oh but we want to discuss Ms. Mealy. Your constituents as well as the entire city deserves an explanation. Here's what the Times thinks it could be:

Since then, she has not had a particularly high profile. However, earlier this year, Ms. Mealy acknowledged that she had sought to have the Council allocate about $25,000 for a nonprofit group operated by her sister. However, the Council never made the funds available.

$25,000?

Is that really enough to make someone switch their vote? Is that the price of democracy for one Councilmember? For a woman who voiced her opposition early and in public, that seems like a small price to buy a vote. If that's what it is, then that is extremely sad and Mealy deserves the boot next year. Yet my gut says there has to be more. Quinn denies any arm-twisting, but her word is worth less than squat at this moment. Mealy needs to come forward and tell the truth behind her change of heart or else face the full fury of her district.