Tony Avella for Mayor

Yesterday, Tony responded to City Council Speaker Christine Quinn’s reversal on term limits, as she announced her support for Mayor Bloomberg’s Term Limits Bill. The Bill, which would allow officials to seek a third term in office, is currently being considered before the City Council. As of last year, Quinn had firmly indicated her support for maintaining the current term limits law that was approved by public referendum in 1993 and 1995.

“It is not surprising to learn that the Speaker has yet again reversed her position on term limits and is supporting the Mayor’s plan. The Mayor and the Speaker’s political posturing on this issue is extremely shameful and should not be tolerated by the public. What they are attempting to do by overturning the will of the people represents a fatal blow to democracy in this City,” stated Avella.

Council Member Tony Avella, in conjunction with Council Member Annabel Palma, has introduced Resolution #1640 asking the New York State Legislature to amend the Municipal Home Rule Law (MHRL) to give the City the authority to provide in its Charter that any change in the City’s Term Limits Law must be subject to voter referendum.

Avella has firmly indicated that if this effort to extend term limits is successful and allows current City officials to stay in office – he will not serve. “One of the campaign promises I made in 2001 was to do whatever I could to restore the people’s faith in their elected officials. I will fulfill the covenant made with the people of my district and the City – eight years and out. I can only hope that in the end, both the Executive and Legislative branches of City government will take the same approach.”

Avella encourages all New Yorkers to express their views on this extremely important issue by testifying before the City Council Government Operations Committee. There is a hearing schedule for today (Friday, October 17th) at City Hall.