Your guide to NYC's public proceedings.
PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Constance Lesold, Member of the Public
4:11:46
·
174 sec
Constance Lesold advocated for the importance of voting in a democratic society, particularly for vulnerable populations in shelters and institutions. She emphasized the need for voter registration efforts and expressed concerns about mandatory work programs and involuntary commitment.
- Called for budget allocation to encourage voting in shelters, jails, and mental hospitals
- Highlighted low voter turnout in institutions like Creedmoor
- Criticized mandatory work programs and big tax breaks for developers
- Expressed opposition to involuntary commitment programs
Constance Lesold
4:11:46
My name is Constance Lisold, and I just want to make a few comments on the importance in a democratic society of voting.
4:12:03
And it seems to me that with all you've talked about today, which is so overwhelming, the difficulties, particularly in the shelter systems, but in all of them, it is very important that you have money in the budget to encourage voting.
4:12:25
Maybe you do.
4:12:26
I'm sorry if I am wrong in suspecting that you don't have money in the budget specifically for the shelters, jails, mental hospitals, whatever.
4:12:41
I do know that out at Creedmoor only one person voted in the last election.
4:12:49
And the part of Creedmoor that is there because there's not enough housing.
4:13:01
Those people are free to come and go as they please.
4:13:04
Only one person voted.
4:13:07
It is very, very important that you get the League of Women Voters and any other groups that you can to get into the shelters and other such places and get permission to get in and register voters.
4:13:27
This is not an appeal to register them for any particular party or whatever.
4:13:33
But we can't have a democratic society if people are not voting.
4:13:39
And they're not.
4:13:41
It's part of why we're in the problem we're in right now.
4:13:47
I also am very concerned about any mandatory work programs.
4:13:54
We've tried those over and over.
4:13:56
They don't work.
4:13:58
Things aren't getting better.
4:13:59
We have more and more people homeless, and the cost of living goes up and up and up.
4:14:05
It is not fair when we give these big tax breaks to developers that we are asking people who are in great need and under great stress to participate in mandatory work programs.
4:14:18
So even if the federal government demands them, I hope you will resist cooperating with these kinds of programs that have not worked in the past and won't work now.
4:14:31
And involuntary commitment comes in the category of those kinds of programs that don't really work.