שמחה פעלדער ריזיינט פון סיטי קאונסיל

City Councilman Simcha Felder, a close ally of Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg who supported his campaign to revise term limits, plans to resign from the Council to work for the new comptroller, John C. Liu, according to a City Hall official with with direct knowledge of the situation.

Mr. Felder, of Brooklyn, is expected to become a deputy comptroller for Mr. Liu, the official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because the move is not yet official.

A spokesman for Mr. Felder declined to comment. A spokeswoman for Mr. Liu also declined to comment. An announcement was expected late Tuesday morning.

Mr. Felder's plans to resign from the Council were first reported Tuesday morning by The New York Observer. His departure would trigger a special election for his seat.

Mr. Felder has experience in the comptroller's office, having previously worked there. He is a certified public accountant, and holds a master's degree in business administration.

Mr. Felder has privately expressed an interest in leaving the Council, after two terms in office. He flirted with the idea of working for the Bloomberg administration, and is said to have spoken repeatedly with aides to the mayor about the possibility. Two years ago, with the support of Mr. Bloomberg and his top aides, Mr. Felder ran for the State Senate, but was defeated.

Mr. Liu's decision to hire Mr. Felder will unite two of the Council's most outspoken members. But the two have not always agreed on policy: Mr. Liu opposed rewriting the term limits law, while Mr. Felder vigorously supported doing so.

http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/05/felder-to-leave-council-join-liu/