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Next Steps for Liu?
June 4th, 2008

We don’t know yet what his plans are for 2009, but we do know he is ready to leave the City Council.

“In all honesty, eight years is all I can take at the City Council,” said Councilmember John Liu at a Citizens Union, the sister organization to Gotham Gazette’s publisher, breakfast brief this morning.

Does that mean the Flushing representative is eyeing bigger and better offices? Most would agree, he certainly is. Which one? Who knows. (Keep an eye on our election feature - Who’s Running for What - for regular updates on city elections.)

Could it be mayor?

This morning Liu sounded particularly executive when taking aim at mayoral control. Supports it — sure, he does. As is? No way. In what seems to be an attempt to boost the power of the City Council, Liu said any reauthorization of mayoral control would need to provide better oversight of the executive’s power — similar to the checks and balances granted to the council over other agencies.

OK, support for tweaking mayoral control may not be a clear indication of mayoral ambitions. So maybe it’s comptroller?

Liu explained he first wanted to chair the council’s Transportation Committee because of its integral linkage of infrastructure and the economy. He then chastised the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s budget practices for a good portion of the hour session.

“It’s not that the MTA proposes fool hardy projects,” said Liu. “I think the MTA capital budget process leaves a lot of room to be improved.”

Public advocate might also be an option.

In what could be the soon-to-be candidate tapping into the office’s so-called “voice of the people” power, Liu urged attendees not to forget the importance of the immigrant community’s contribution to the city.

Hmmm, talking points maybe? What’s your guess?

By Courtney Gross on June 4, 2008, 11:36 am
In category: Gotham City
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One Response to “Next Steps for Liu?”

  1. Second Ave. Sagas | A New York City Subway Blog » Blog Archive » Liu set to leave City Council? Says:
    June 4th, 2008 at 3:25 pm

    […] Gazette’s Wonkster tips us off to a statement by John Liu in which hints he is ready to leave the City Council. Liu, the chair of the council’s Transportation Committee, has long drawn my ire for his […] in Second Ave Sagas

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