Your guide to NYC's public proceedings.
Q&A
Chair Buery on voter understanding regarding two-step reforms; discussion shifts to selecting a model for open primaries
1:06:49
·
136 sec
Chair Richard R. Buery Jr. concludes his points on the even-year election debate, expressing confidence in voters' ability to understand multi-step reform processes and the importance of the city taking its part of the action.
The discussion then shifts, with Commissioner Diane Savino inquiring whether the commission will need to select a specific model if it proposes nonpartisan open primaries.
Executive Director Alec Schierenbeck confirms that a specific model for open primaries would indeed need to be chosen and detailed for any ballot proposal (his confirmation begins at sentence 662 and is included at 665 per the plan).
- Chair Buery believes it's important for NYC voters to have their say on even-year elections, regardless of the state timeline, and to fulfill the local action requirement.
- Commissioner Savino raises the practical question of how a proposal for open primaries would be structured on the ballot.
- Executive Director Schierenbeck clarifies that any open primary proposal would require the commission to define and recommend a particular system.
Richard R. Buery Jr.
1:06:49
I would just add, I I think, obviously, you know, the reason why we have this commission is to engage on this conversation.
1:06:54
We could very well.
1:06:56
And and people, of course, in the commission have a different point of view.
1:06:59
I will express just my point of view for the record as well.
1:07:03
I think it's two things.
1:07:04
It's not only to express the will of the voters.
1:07:07
I think that is critical, and I would argue that, we should take responsibility, of putting forth our point of view if we think that is the right point of view and give the voters a chance to win.
1:07:17
So one of it is about signaling the voters intent and preference, but it is also about ultimately doing there are two things that have to happen, and there are two things that have to happen, one by the city's voters and one by the state legislature.
1:07:32
It is about doing the part of that thing that we can control.
1:07:34
I don't think there's anything about this process that says that we need to wait for the state legislature.
1:07:40
I would frame it as both these things need to happen.
1:07:43
So let's take on our part of responsibility if we think it's a good judgment.
1:07:48
And I think the voters are smart enough to understand that here's what we think should happen, but there's a further state action.
1:07:56
And at Vogtle, they also have a say in that too because they also can hold their legislators, their state legislatures, to account for making sure that part of the process Impossible.
1:08:16
Perfectly we do.
Diane Savino
1:08:05
They vote no.
1:08:06
It's very it's entirely possible that New York City voters would say, even if the state legislature does this blah blah blah, we would rather keep our local elections on this year and whatever.
1:08:17
Question let me let me just And it's within their own.
1:08:19
To figure out, is on the, if we're gonna put a ballot question forward on the concept of nonpartisan open primaries, are we gonna pick a do we think we're gonna pick a particular model, or are we just going to say Yeah.
1:08:32
That was
Alec Schierenbeck
1:08:32
the we ask questions.
1:08:33
Let me try to clarify that.
1:08:34
We very much have to pick a model.
1:08:36
We very much have to pick a model.
1:08:38
And, in fact, I mean, the reform that, you know, should you direct staff to draw it up, would be a very a particular flavor in all its Correct.
1:08:48
Its detail, for your consideration.
Kathryn Wylde
1:08:50
Mhmm.
1:08:51
And so just to clarify, I was thinking that legislature did put up constitutional amendment under the law, it would still have to go to a referendum.