In two op-eds we are publishing today, John Avlon and Chris Browne make parallel arguments why the city Charter Revision Commission must put a ballot question before New Yorkers this November on having fully democratic voting for local public offices, from mayor to City Council.
Whether it is called open primaries or nonpartisan elections, we vigorously agree and urge New Yorkers to testify to the same at today’s final public input session of the panel, being held at Schomburg Center in Harlem on 135th St. from 5 p.m. until 8. Take the No. 2/3 train there or use Zoom. Speakers are allocated up to 3 minutes, but it comes down to only a few words: Let all registered voters, regardless of party, decide who will guide this city.
If you can’t make it today in person or virtually, the commission will be accepting written testimony until July 15 before their final vote on July 21.
When Mayor Adams created this commission in December, its mandate was to focus on housing and the group has done an admirable job, crafting four ballot questions to improve and speed the creation of more homes for New Yorkers. But along the way the panelists also decided to expand the voting franchise and examined nonpartisan elections and moving our local elections to presidential years to boost turnout.
But then they seemed to have chickened out. While there is a ballot question to shift the timing of our voting to presidential years, which can’t be actually done with a Charter change and needs the state Constitution to be amended (a lengthy and complicated process), there is nothing on the much more consequential nonpartisan elections, which city voters do have the power to enact themselves.
We know some of the commission members quiet well and others more in passing, but Rich Buery, Sharon Greenberger, Leila Bozorg, Grace Bonilla, Shams DaBaron, Anita Laremont, Lisette Nieves, Anthony Richardson, Julie Samuels, Diane Savino, Carl Weisbrod, Valerie White and Kathy Wylde all have a duty to the other 8-plus million people living in this great city.
As their own report says: “Throughout its public hearings, the Commission has heard more testimony in favor of open primaries than on any other subject.” So, listen to the people and let them decide for themselves in November.
The solution is easy: Dump the meaningless ballot question about when the election should be held and offer New Yorkers a way forward to include every registered voter in the process. For decades, local special elections have been nonpartisan, now make that the rule for all elections.
As to the timing of our elections, the state Constitution’s Article XIII (public officers) §8 says: “All elections of city officers shall be held on the Tuesday succeeding the first Monday in November in an odd-numbered year, and the term of every such officer shall expire at the end of an odd-numbered year.” Call us if that ever is repealed.
As for the final ballot question, have one forbidding the City Council from raising its own members’ pay whenever they want and make it prospective only, just like the U.S. Constitution requires of Congress and the state Constitution requires of the Albany Legislature.
