New York City Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr. holds a news conference on Sunday, October 19, 2008 to decry City Hall's "bullying" tactics to sway votes on the Mayor's term limits legislation. Thompson is pictured here with Gene Russianoff of New York Public Interest Research Group and New York State Senator Kevin Parker. Photo credit: Jeff Simmons..

New York City Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr. today issued the following statement concerning last week’s hearings on proposals to approve legislation to change term limits:

While it was clear from the outset that two rushed public hearings held in Manhattan did not serve this city well, it is now clear based on news reports of people being either paid or compelled to testify, that last week's city council hearings were a sham.

The hearings were an abrupt effort to steamroll the Mayor’s legislation forward, and failed to give many New Yorkers an opportunity to voice their opinions. It again illustrates the need to bring this term limits question back to the voters through open, democratic hearings in each borough and a public referendum.

In addition, the fact that high level government officials in City Hall would bully groups that receive City funding to testify on the Mayor's behalf is an abuse of authority that further undermines the legitimacy of this process.

Finally, I am aware of attempts to intimidate council members into voting for the Mayor's legislation and ignoring the voice of their constituents. These tactics are highly inappropriate and paint a portrait of a desperate campaign rife with heavy-handed coercion attempting to discount the will of the public.

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