I want to go on record that both NYC charter amendments are bunk put out by Michael Bloomberg simply for his own personal reasons. Some aspects of the amendments are outright useless because they are superseded by state law and therefore would be knocked down in any lawsuit. Other aspects are pure hypocrisy on Bloomberg's part.

To quote reform Assemblyman Jim Brennan regarding the flawed and corrupt charter amendment process:

James Brennan, Assemblymember, Brooklyn
In January good government groups, recognizing the Mayor would create a Charter Commission, wrote him asking that any commission “be given sufficient time to do its important work…“ I also wrote the Mayor asking, “Will the Charter Commission be taking a serious look at the City government?”

Borough President Scott Stringer urged the Commission to put its questions on the ballot in 2011, and the New York Times urged the Commission to postpone placing questions on the ballot until 2012. The hope was for broad public engagement.

Unfortunately, the first question is simply the fulfillment of the deal between Mayor Bloomberg and businessman Ronald Lauder, to revisit term limits through a charter commission in exchange for Mr. Lauder’s support for Mr. Bloomberg’s third term.

The second question is seven separate questions but you can only vote yes or no on them as a group, which is unfair to the voters. One of these proposals would put the judges who hear cases involving sanitation and other tickets in one agency and allow their working conditions to be altered, which could harm their independence and ability to be fair to citizens.

Vote no.

Backing up Jim Brennan here is the Downtown Independent Democrats:

Downtown Independent Democrats
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Vote NO on BOTH City Charter Revision Ballot Questions

They aren't reforms.
Send the Commission back to do its homework.

In the general election on November 2 voters will revisit Term Limits, as well as a bundle of other issues packed into two controversial proposed City Charter amendments drafted by a Charter Revision Commission, whose members are all appointed by Mayor Bloomberg.

The first yes/no question asks voters whether to reinstate term limits for City offices to two terms, from the current three terms that was enacted last year by the City Council.

A very powerful mayor's office can easily overpower neophyte councilmembers.
Restricting the Council to two terms is putting further power into the mayor's hands.

However, should the electorate vote for a return to a two-term limit, the proposal paradoxically would allow the "Bloomberg amendment" to continue for incumbents.
Incumbents would still be given three terms, again defeating the will of the people.

Another section of this yes/no question would bar the City Council from altering the term-limit rules in the future.
Well, the courts have already affirmed the Council's ability to rewrite term limits - no matter what the Charter says.

WE URGE YOU TO VOTE NO ON QUESTION #1.

The second yes/no question on the ballot would shoehorn campaign financing, conflicts-of-interest, zoning, ballot access, voter-assistance functions, City tribunal and advisory-body administration, and other issues into another single yes/no vote.

Our executive committee was unanimous in feeling that the mayor's hasty rewriting of the Charter was a flawed procedure. Combining so many important issues into a yes/no question doesn't help.

WE URGE YOU TO VOTE NO ON QUESTION #2.

Vote NO on BOTH Charter proposals. They aren't reforms.
Send the Commission back to do its homework.

Jeanne Wilcke President
Adam Silvera Vice President
Jim Stratton Vice President
Sean Sweeney Treasurer
Alex Li Secretary
Jean Grillo District Leader
Paul Newell District Leader

Contact info: Downtown Independent Democrats info@didnyc.org