And By “Changed Her Mind,” They Mean “Threatened And Strong-Armed Until She Was Reduced To Tears”

Because obviously it’s easier to do that to handful of the 29 councilmembers who voted yes than actually make a case to the public:

Less than two weeks ago, City Councilwoman Darlene Mealy stood on the steps of City Hall, along with Comptroller William C. Thompson Jr. and a group of ministers who opposed Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg’s plan to extend term limits.

In fact, it was that very day that Ms. Mealy, a Democrat who represents the Brownsville and Ocean Hill sections of Brooklyn, announced that she would vote against the bill.

“People are telling me that they like Bloomberg, but that we should not take the power away from the people, where it belongs,” said Ms. Mealy, speaking loudly at that press conference. We shouldn’t be held hostage by anyone. Imagine if President Bush said he wanted four more years.”

However, when her name was called to vote on Mr. Bloomberg’s bill in the City Council chamber on Thursday, Ms. Mealy votes yes, and with a decidedly more somber tone to her voice.

What could have transpired in such a short time to convert one of the strong voices of the opposition to a supporter the mayor’s bill?

Some of her colleagues have charged that Ms. Mealy was the subject of a high-pressure effort from either the speaker of the mayor. In fact one Council member reported seeing Ms. Mealy emerge from City Hall late last week in tears, saying that she was the subject of intense pressure.

“They put unbelievable pressure on her in a way that may have been unethical,” said City Councilman Charles Barron, who represents an adjoining district to Ms. Mealy in Brooklyn and who was a strong opponent of the mayor’s bill.

“She has said that she was under intense, intense pressure,” Mr. Barron said. “I think it merits some kind of investigation, to be quite honest.”

In an interview, Ms. Mealy was asked whether she had been threatened in any from either City Council speaker Christine C. Quinn or Mr. Bloomberg.

“I don’t want to discuss it,” she said.

. . .

Maria Alvarado, a spokeswoman for Ms. Quinn, repeated the speaker’s comments from a press conference early in the day, insisting that accusations of “horse-trading, arm twisting, anything of that nature, is just quite frankly false and untrue.”

Ms. Alverado said: “Council member Mealy made up her own mind, and said she believed in this.”

Jason Post, a spokesman for the mayor, said that Mr. Bloomberg never met with Ms. Mealy in the weeks leading up to the vote, nor had there been any meetings between the Councilwoman and any senior administration officials.

“The mayor has made his case to the Council and he did it appropriately,” Mr. Post said.