Your guide to NYC's public proceedings.
TESTIMONY
Testimony by Dr. Jessie Fields, Member of NYC Maternal Mortality Review Committee, on open primaries and community health
1:24:40
·
3 min
Dr. Jessie Fields, a medical doctor in Harlem and member of the NYC Maternal Mortality Review Committee, testifies in support of reforming the closed primary system to allow independent voters like herself to participate. She highlights that New York City has 1.1 million independent voters, a majority of whom are people of color, and nearly half are under 40.
Dr. Fields, who has run as an independent candidate, argues that barring independents from primaries disenfranchises them from choosing local elected officials and impacting public policy. As a doctor, she is concerned about the health of NYC communities, noting that disenfranchised and segregated communities have poorer health outcomes, and calls for an end to this political segregation.
Dr. Jessie Fields
1:24:40
Good evening.
1:24:41
It's it's great to be here.
1:24:43
I really appreciate this opportunity for so many ordinary people and to to come and speak before the commission.
1:24:50
My name is doctor Jesse Fields, and I'm happy that the commission in your charter revision preliminary report that you're considering reforming our closed primary system that disenfranchises unaffiliated independent voters and allowing independents like me to participate.
1:25:09
I'm a medical doctor in Harlem, and I serve on the New York City Maternal Mortality Review Committee.
1:25:17
I've been an independent voter for most of my adult life, and I've been involved in campaigns to open the primaries to independent voters here in New York City.
1:25:26
I served on the board of independent voting, and I'm on the board of open primaries.
1:25:30
I've run as an independent candidate for congress and for Manhattan borough president.
1:25:35
As we know, as has been said, New York City has, 1,100,000 independent voters, a majority of whom are people of color, black, let Latinx, and Asian.
1:25:48
And as we've heard, nearly half, 49% of New York City independents are 40.
1:25:55
Overall, according to the Pew Research Center, forty nine percent of veterans identify as independents.
1:26:03
Independents are the second largest voting bloc in New York City, over 21%.
1:26:09
11% of New York City voters are registered So Democrats are the first largest voting bloc.
1:26:14
Independents are the second largest voting bloc in New York City, yet we are disenfranchised from voting in primary elections.
1:26:22
Of course, the primary substantially impacts on and determines who will ultimately be elected to public office.
1:26:28
And the fact that we independents are barred from voting in primary elections disenfranchises us, disenfranchises independents from having a voice in choosing the elected officials who govern at the local level.
1:26:41
And having a voice is so important.
1:26:44
It's so important in terms of the public policy that our city has, the conditions in which our people live.
1:26:50
We are required like everyone else to pay taxes, but we are not allowed to vote in primary elections.
1:26:58
I'm a doctor of the community, and I'm very concerned about the health of New York City communities.
1:27:05
Those communities that are disenfranchised and segregated have been found to have poor health for decades and decades and decades.
1:27:16
Let's end the political segregation and exclusion of certain voters who happen to choose not to register with any political party and who want to remain unaffiliated and independent and be able to vote in primaries.
1:27:31
It is so important that communities have full representation.
1:27:34
If we really want to increase voter participation and have a more healthy democracy, we should open up our elections, open up our primaries to all voters.
1:27:44
I'm certain where Medgar Evers would have stood on this matter.
1:27:48
Here we are at Medgar Evers College, and I'm certain of that.
1:27:52
Thank you.
Sharon Greenberger
1:27:52
Thank you both so very much.