New York, NY —

For weeks now the debate over Mayor Bloomberg's Council bill to overturn term limits has been dominated by politicians and wealthy power brokers. Today it's the public's turn. WNYC's Bob Hennelly has more.

The term limits bill, and the alternatives under review, fall under the jurisdiction of the Council's Government Operations Committee. It's chaired by Brooklyn Democrat Simcha Felder.

Felder is a long time ally of the mayor and is the single largest recipient of millions of dollars in mayoral discretionary funds.

Felder, noting his role as presiding chairman, has refused to take a position on the mayor's term limits bill. Felder says he'll keep today and tomorrow's hearings open as long as there are members of the public who want to go on the record.

Good government groups like Citizens Union and Council members who want the term limits decision to rest with voters, are pushing for a heavy public turnout. For WNYC I'm Bob Hennelly.