Your guide to NYC's public proceedings.
TESTIMONY
Testimony by Alan Cox from SICA on the injustice of closed primaries for independent voters
1:25:18
·
152 sec
Alan Cox, a community health worker and longtime independent voter, argues strongly against New York City's closed primary system.
He frames it as a matter of fairness and representation, asserting that the over one million independent voters whose tax dollars fund the primaries are effectively disenfranchised.
Cox calls for open primaries to grant equal voting rights, encourage participation (especially among young voters increasingly registering as independent), and make elected officials more accountable to all constituents.
Alan Cox
1:25:18
Mister chairman, members of the commission, My name is Alan Cox.
1:25:24
Thank you for the opportunity to testify this evening.
1:25:30
I am a community health outreach worker and have worked with various organizations to promote health healthy lifestyles and disease prevention in poor communities.
1:25:45
I'm a longtime independent activist and an organizer for SICA, the Committee for Independent Community Action.
1:25:55
I also am a basketball referee for PSAL.
1:26:00
Just wanted to throw that in there.
1:26:02
This is March madness.
1:26:07
As a registered independent voter for decades, I believe it is unjust for New York City to prevent independents from voting in the all important city council and mayoral and citywide primaries.
1:26:22
There are over 1,000,000 independents across our city, and our tax dollars pay for the primaries.
1:26:29
So, essentially, it's a form of taxation without representation.
1:26:36
No American should be forced to join a political party to be able, and be able to vote let me say that again.
1:26:46
No American should be forced to join a political party to be able to vote in a primary.
1:26:53
I believe it's time for New York City to open its primaries and allow all voters to have equal voting rights as so many other major cities do, like Chicago, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Dallas, Boston, etcetera.
1:27:10
This is especially important as young people are registering without a political party at rate of 50%.
1:27:17
We need to have a political process that welcomes their participation.
1:27:23
I believe that the that I believe that opening the primaries would force the more participation and encourage our elected officials to represent all their constituents.
1:27:36
As a long time New York New Yorker, I am here to ask you to open the primaries.
1:27:44
I come before you to ask you to let me and 1,000,000 other New Yorkers vote.