The proposed extension of New York City’s term limits (Int. No. 845-a) from two (8 years) to three terms (12 years) applies to five offices: mayor, public advocate, comptroller, borough president and City Council.  On the question of whether a referendum is legally required, not all of these offices are treated the same.  This potentially […]

The talk in New York today is all about Mayor Bloomberg’s decision to seek a third term, which would require an amendment to the two-term limits law to open the way.  If the proposal to permit current office holders to run for third terms in 2009 is adopted, there likely will be a scramble […]

In today’s New York Times, partner Laurence Laufer discusses legal issues in enacting Mayor Bloomberg’s proposed change in New York City’s term limits.

Talk of changing term limits in New York City continues. The New York Sun reported today that the City’s Campaign Finance Board has begun to draft a plan for dealing with term limits changes.
A month ago, we discussed some of the ramifications a term limits change or repeal would have for campaign finance requirements. […]

A key issue under any campaign finance reform is whether the ground rules enable credible candidates to run competitive campaigns. At times the direction a reform will take is shown in the legislation. But more often there are twists and turns that are revealed only in the course of implementation.
Thus, it can […]

In the last decade, competitiveness in New York City elections has increased substantially. The “chicken and egg” question has always been: was term limits or enhanced public campaign financing the key reform?
Now comes talk of legislative change or repeal to the two-term limit for NYC officeholders. Should the 36 currently term limited NYC […]

The New York City Campaign Finance Board recently published proposed amendments to its rules pursuant to changes contained in Local Laws 34 and 67 of 2007.
The public is invited to submit comments by September 22, 2008 - the date of the public hearing on the proposed amendments.

Most contribution limits are set in relation to an election, an election cycle, or a precise time period (such as a calendar year). In contrast, New York City’s doing business limits revolve around when a person or entity is considered to be “doing business” with the City of New York, a variable time […]

The third phase of NYC’s “doing business” contribution limits is scheduled to go into effect before the end of the year.  Indeed, these final components of the “doing business database” must be certified by December 1, 2008; otherwise, the DB limits will not triggered by these business transactions during the 2009 citywide elections.

When the second phase of NYC’s “doing business” contribution limits goes into effect, likely next month, the limits will apply to an additional category of persons: those employed in a “senior managerial capacity” regarding an entity doing business with the City of New York. This is defined as a “high level supervisory capacity, in […]