Opponents of New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg's attempt to amend the city's charter to allow him (and other elected officials) to run for a third term are just three votes away from defeating the measure, which the city council will vote on today. That means the situation has tightened up quite a bit since I wrote my column on Bloomberg, progressives, and term limits, which is featured on the main site today. But you should still read it for the lay of land.
In short, New York City reformers have fought long and hard to wrest the political process away from the machine and make it more open to newcomers. Bloomberg is attempting to scuttle those attempts. But there is also powerful evidence nationwide that term limits aren't all they claim to be in terms of getting women and minorities into office. They also drain legislative bodies of expertise and discourage making a lifelong career out of elected public service. Lots to consider.
We'll be back with more after the vote takes place.
--Dana Goldstein
