I have chosen to suspend my campaign for the New York City Council effective immediately. Let me explain…
When I first entered the race in 2008, I did so with the understanding that I would be running for an "open seat."
Unfortunately, the City Council chose to legislatively overturn two citywide voter referendums, by extending term limits from two to three terms.
As you may know, I strongly opposed this legislation and therefore joined a coalition of elected officials, civic groups, and New Yorkers as a plaintiff in a federal lawsuit. Unfortunately, the federal appellate court recently ruled that the extension of term limits was legal. Needless to say, I disagree. I do, however, respect the court’s decision.
The political implication of this ruling was that if I continued my race, I would need to run once again against incumbent City Councilman G. Oliver Koppell - a repeat engagement that neither I nor my closest allies deem advisable. [Read more →]
Statment from NYC Council Candidate Ari Hoffnung Re: Idling Bill (Int. No. 631-A) Sponsored by New York City Councilman Oliver Koppell that was signed into law on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2009:
In voting to support the ticketing of drivers who idle for over 60 seconds, Koppell has once again proven that he is completely out of touch with the needs and lives of people in the district.
Parents of school children already have enough on their minds. Now because this absurd piece of legislation, they will also be forced to worry about getting ticketed when they pick their kids up from school. The last thing parents need during these tough economic times is another $100 ticket!
While proponents of the new idling law claim that they are designed to reduce pollution - in actuality they will have the opposite effect. In fact, the parents I have spoken to have told me that in order to avoid tickets they intend on circling the school with their cars until they see their child. In other words, this legislation will further increase pollution and congestion on our local streets - exacerbating the existing chaos surrounding school pick-up.
Koppell’s support for 60 second tickets and his previous support for congestion pricing also illustrates the fundamental differences in our approaches to public policy.Oliver prefers the stick - while I prefer the carrot.
Riverdale is already a great place to live, and with the help of the Greater Riverdale Chamber of Commerce, Riverdale will also become a great place to shop and do business.
We cannot afford to sit back and ignore the implications of the number of stores that have recently shut their doors. Riverdalians deserve more parking and better retail and entertainment options. When local options improve, Riverdalians will no longer be forced to head north to Westchester to shop or south to Manhattan to see a movie.
An entity that is laser-focused on addressing the needs of existing businesses and attracting new ones to our neighborhood can help make significant contributions to our community. Now, perhaps more than ever, is the time for a business-friendly initiative like the Greater Riverdale Chamber of Commerce. I look forward to working with members of the Chamber on improving the local retail mix and on ensuring that Riverdale becomes an easier place to manage and open a business.
Ari Hoffnung, City Council hopeful and Riverdale Jewish Community Council co-president, is one of 26 plaintiffs in a federal lawsuit filed Monday that argues the City Council and Mayor Michael Bloomberg violated the 1983 Civil Rights Act when they passed the law that extended term limits from eight years to 12. More>>>
From the Riverdale Review…
New York City Comptroller and mayoral hopeful Bill Thompson, along with other elected officials, public interest organizations and private citizens—including Bronx residents Philip Foglia and Ari Hoffnung—filed a lawsuit seeking to prevent a term limits extension from two to three terms. More>>>
Many frustrated political hopefuls end up doing just that when their path to the ballot is thwarted by wily incumbents and political machines.
Eight City Council challengers are heeding that advice by being among the 26 plaintiffs who filed a federal civil-rights suit Tuesday against the term limits extension law enacted by the Council and Mayor Bloomberg.
"I’m proud to be a plaintiff in the law suit," said Ari Hoffnung, 35, who had hoped to run for a so-called open seat in the Bronx next year.
Incumbent Oliver Koppell (D-Riverdale) would have been barred from running again next year under term limits enacted by voter referendums in 1993 and 1996. But the new legislatively passed extension allows incumbents to serve for as many as three terms, or 12 consecutive years.
One contention in the suit is that prospective candidates, like Hoffnung, "launched their campaigns, raised and spent money, and committed to strategies, only to have the rug pulled out from them by the mayor’s and City Council’s action."
I am proud to join Council members Bill de Blasio and Letitia James along with other elected officials, civic groups, and New Yorkers as a plaintiff in this historic federal lawsuit against the extension of term limits. Mayor Bloomberg and various members of the City Council violated the constitutional rights of New Yorkers when they legislatively overturned not one, but two, citywide voter referendums.
The Mayor and his colleagues on the Council believe that since the bill has been signed into law, it is time for the voters to move on, and for the politicians to run for their third terms. Alas, they forget we live in a democratic country, with checks and balances that allow our courts to overturn unconstitutional laws passed by misguided legislative bodies.
Mayor Bloomberg and the Council must be held accountable for their blatant disregard of the will of the people. I strongly believe the federal courts will be as outraged as the 89% of New Yorkers who opposed overturning term limits legislatively, and I fervently hope the courts will ultimately overturn this disingenuous legislation.
At the local level, it is particularly shameful that our Councilman, Oliver Koppell, voted in support of violating the constitutional rights of his own constituents. As our former State Attorney General, Mr. Koppell surely knows the difference between right and wrong when it comes to legal issues and the will of the people. His vote speaks volumes of his current character and is a radical and sad departure from his days as a political reformer. [Read more →]
The Irish and Jewish communities in New York City came together for the third year in a row Monday night at a celebration of each other’s heritage. The event, "Shalom Ireland," was held at the Riverdale Y as part of the Riverdale Jewish Festival of the Arts and featured participants from the Emerald Isle Immigration Center and also the high stepping dancers of the Keltic Dreams Irish dance troupe. More>>>
Testimony for New York City Council’s Public Hearing on Term Limits
My name is Ari Hoffnung and I am a 2009 candidate for the New York City Council.
Members of the City Council who vote to extend term limits will have a permanent and indefensible blemish on their voting record.
Their attempt to overturn a law New Yorkers have twice voted to support and grant themselves another four-year job guarantee is self-serving and undemocratic.
The proposed legislation to overturn two voter referendums is historic; never before in our City’s 110-year history has the legislature sought to so blatantly disregard the will of the people.
My remarks today, however, are addressed to those members of the Council who intend to vote "No" on this legislation and those groups, like the Working Families Party and the Citizen Union, who are actively organizing against this legislation.
While I applaud your opposition to this outrageous piece of legislation, I urge you to do more to prevent its passage.
To those Council members voting "No," I issue the following challenge: take a pledge stating that even if the Council votes to extend term limits you will not serve a third term unless a voter referendum is held and the voters themselves approve an extension.
Voting "No" on this legislation and then running for a third term is hypercritical. You cannot stand up for democracy and then benefit from the spoils of its destruction while the voters are left standing in its dust. What is more important – preserving your political career or democracy?
To the civic and labor organizations opposing this legislation I issue the following challenge: take a pledge stating you will not endorse, or otherwise support, any member of the City Council in the upcoming 2009 elections who votes "Yes" on this legislation.
If you truly believe that the will of the people should prevail, you must take the side of the people. Do you really expect legislators to vote against their self-interest in the absence of any real consequences?
While press conferences, policy statements, petitions, t-shirts, signs, email campaigns, and interactive websites all are important tools in this campaign – they are insufficient weapons to win the battle. I therefore call on members of the City Council as well as the civic and labor organizations that are against this legislation to support the twice-stated will of the people and take the pledge.
In the spirit of “one should practice what they preach”, let the record show that:
I, Ari Hoffnung, pledge to abide by the twice-stated will of the New York City voters and will not serve more than two full terms in the City Council unless an extension is approved through a public referendum.
My name is Ann Noonan and I reside in the Riverdale section of The Bronx. I have lived in The Bronx for my entire life. I have lived in a democracy for my entire life, and, like many Americans and many New Yorkers. I value my right to vote, and the right for my vote to matter.
Mayor Bloomberg’s grab for power to extend his term in office is an ego trip that this City cannot afford.
We voted two times for term limits. Mayor Bloomberg has no right to take it from us. Neither do any members of the City Council.
I am sad that Councilmember Oliver Koppell, who is supposed to represent the Council district where I reside has championed an undemocratic process of ramming a bill through the City Council to change a law that we the voters voted for twice. Clearly Mr. Koppell does not respect the democratic process, and it is my fervent hope that he is never entrusted with public office again.
I value the democratic system and believe that it is our civic duty to be ever vigilant, and appreciate the efforts of many people to ensure people the right to be heard here today.
However, it remains a disgrace that the New York City Council is only permitting 2 days for a hearing about the very future of our City’s democracy.
I will not say goodbye to democracy, but I hope to say goodbye to Mayor Bloomberg and any elected officials who do not defend our democracy and defiantly vote against the will of the people.
Riverdale is already a great place to live, and with the help of the Greater Riverdale Chamber of Commerce, Riverdale will also become a great place to shop and do business. 
My name is Ann Noonan and I reside in the Riverdale section of The Bronx. I have lived in The Bronx for my entire life. I have lived in a democracy for my entire life, and, like many Americans and many New Yorkers. I value my right to vote, and the right for my vote to matter.
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