Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Bloomberg and Council Play Chicken Over Term Limits
By
Billy Parker
Published Aug 30, 2008
Modified Aug 30, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Billy Parker
Published Aug 30, 2008
Modified Aug 30, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
At this point, the next chapter in the saga of whether Mayor Bloomberg and City Council will make a play to extend term limits is waiting to be written by whichever of the two parties will officially pull the trigger and begin the process. Yesterday on his weekly radio show, Bloomberg hinted again that he would sign a proposal to extend the current limits for both him and the Council themselves, but refused to commit saying, "I never speculate on what I'll do until I see a piece of legislation." Council members, meanwhile seem to be reticent to draft a bill until they officially know Bloomberg's official stance. "I don't think we're going to send him a bill until we know where he stands," Councilman Lew Fidler said.
With the mayor already having met with the owners of the city's newspapers and received their pledged support, the Council seems poised to enact legislation. Councilman Oliver Koppel said that it could happen "within twenty-four hours" if Bloomberg pushed forward. However, term limits biggest proponent Ronald Lauder questions if the mayor's flirtation with staying in office could just be a ploy to avoid a lame duck status and retain power over the council in his remaining months. He told the NY Post, “The longer Bloomberg plays Hamlet, the more strength he has in dealing with the City Council.”
Another reason the mayor may be hedging his bets on the term limits issue is because there is supposedly a good deal of opposition to the idea within his own administration. The NY Times reports that Bloomberg's deputy mayors and aides are discouraging any move to shake up the term limits law. The paper suggests Bloomberg's staff is burnt out by the billionaire mayor's demanding schedule and fear that overturning the law to allow him to stick around another four years would tarnish what they see as a proud legacy.
Tagged
City Council
deputy mayor
mayor bloomberg
Ronald Lauder
term limits
Billy Parker
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Mamdani names re-entry specialist as chair of Rikers oversight board
Christopher Watler will help the department that a federal monitor says remains in crisis.
By
Ryan Kost
Published Oct 6, 2026 at 3:52 p.m. ET
NYC weighs expanding upstate reservoir following drought
The Delaware River Basin Commission is evaluating options to increase water storage, including expanding a reservoir in New York City.
By
Rosemary Misdary
News
NYC weighs expanding upstate reservoir following drought
The Delaware River Basin Commission is evaluating options to increase water storage, including expanding a reservoir in New York City.
By
Rosemary Misdary
Legionella found in Staten Island building's water system after 2 positive cases
By
Catalina Gonella
Legal 'loophole' helps NY Gov. Kathy Hochul, Bruce Blakeman raise millions
By
Jon Campbell
Police identify 2 men wanted for stabbing an off-duty NYPD officer
By
Ben Feuerherd
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .