NYC Speaker mulls proposal to lease city assets

NEW YORK, Oct 15 (Reuters) - New York City's Council Speaker is considering proposing that the city lease some of its assets, in a similar manner as the governor has proposed, to help the city weather the economic crisis, a spokesman for the Speaker said on Wednesday.

Democratic Speaker Christine Quinn, who planned to run for mayor until Mayor Michael Bloomberg decided term limits should be changed so that he could seek a third term, has discussed this proposal with the City Council and the mayor's office, the spokesman added.

Bloomberg, an independent, in the past has criticized privatizing public properties, a revenue-raising strategy used by some states, from Texas to Florida, and several cities, including Chicago. (Reporting by Joan Gralla in New York; Editing by James Dalgleish)