NEW YORK – Women’s City Club President Ruth Acker testified in opposition to term limits before the NYC Charter Revision Commission Wednesday at the second of five public hearings on the Commission’s preliminary report about possible amendments to the city charter.
A preview of possible questions on the November ballot, the Commission’s July 9 report focused on term limits, voter participation, public integrity and other issues pertinent to city governance.
Public hearings are being held in July and August to allow constituent feedback on the report’s recommendations.
Acker focused on term limits in her testimony, one of WCC’s top concerns, reaffirming WCC’s stance that they do not make for good government practice.
“We believe that term limits tend to focus public officials’ attention on short-term results rather than long-range planning,” Acker said. “There is no incentive for long-range planning if they will not be able to implement the plans due to term limits.”
“In addition, with term limits, elected officials are not held accountable for the long term results of their actions because they are already on to other pursuits,” Acker continued. “We further believe that term limits create a governmental game of musical chairs where staff and lobbyists wield undue influence.”
Acker also announced WCC’s support for Commissioner Hope Cohen’s recent suggestion to place the question of “No Term Limits” on the ballot this November. WCC hopes its endorsement of Cohen’s endeavor will garner support from other good government groups.
“The Commission has said that it wants the people to decide the term limits issue once and for all,” Acker said. “If that is true, then we urge you to make sure all options on that important question are presented to the voters as soon as possible so that we can move forward to solve the larger problems facing New York.”
Acker briefly addressed nonpartisan elections, which the report surprisingly did not mention, given the preponderance of public comment on the issue during the first round of hearings.
WCC Vice President for Public Policy Barbara Zucker will testify on other priority issues at the July 28 hearing at Queens Borough Hall. The sessions will stream live on the Charter Revision Commission website and will be available via transcript.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
Ruth Acker, WCC President
212-353-8070 x202
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The Women’s City Club of New York, established in 1915, is a nonprofit, non-partisan, multi-issue activist organization dedicated to improving the lives of all New Yorkers. The WCC shapes public policy to promote responsive government through education, issue analysis, advocacy and civic participation.
Tags: charter, term limits
