Tag Archives: Assemblyman James Brennan

Charter Revision Focuses on Term Limits

John Keefe

To jaded journalists, Tuesday’s charter revision commission forum on term limits provided a stimulating, wonkishly entertaining, and ultimately inconsequential diversion. One observer sitting in the second row at Brooklyn’s Borough Hall chuckled throughout.

To John Keefe, who spoke for Brooklyn Assemblyman James Brennan, the forum — and the commission itself — were “part of a cynical and opportunistic deal” that Mike Bloomberg had made in October, 2008 with billionaire term limits advocate Ron Lauder as the price for Lauder’s non-opposition to Bloomberg’s run for a third term as mayor. Continue reading

Charter Panel Hears Pitch for Non-partisan Elections

Carl Paladino at NYC Charter Revision Commission Hearing 4/6/10

A surprise visit by Carl Paladino, millionaire Buffalo developer and newly-announced candidate for Governor, provided some media candy at Tuesday evening’s NYC Charter Revision Commission public hearing at the CUNY Graduate Center in Manhattan. Paladino’s open disdain for New York’s partisan electoral politics brought passion to the dominant message voiced in Tuesday’s public testimony: Make NYC elections non-partisan. Continue reading

Pressure Builds for November Charter Revision

James Brennan

Mayor Bloomberg’s rumored charter revision commission is under the gun to get its proposal(s) on the ballot before New York State alters existing charter revision rules.

The New York State Assembly Standing Committee on Cities, chaired by James Brennan (44AD, Brooklyn), just announced a public hearing to be held on February 17 to consider changes in the way city charters can be modified. Brennan’s committee has been considering legislation “that would change the composition of charter revision commissions and legislation that would repeal the provision that prevents citizen initiated ballot questions if a charter revision commission has been convened.”

To avoid any changes that the Assembly might try to enact, the mayor’s charter revision commission would have to meet a schedule for an Election Day ballot this November.

More on the relationship between New York City and New York State here.