Your guide to NYC's public proceedings.
TESTIMONY
Testimony by Jessica Rosenfield on streamlining development and considerations for election reform proposals
2:04:24
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147 sec
Jessica Rosenfield, a member of the general public, expresses support for the commission's efforts to help New York City thrive, particularly by streamlining development in transit-rich areas via ULURP and landmark preservation reforms. While she supports open primaries, she believes they do not go far enough to address low participation in general local elections.
Rosenfield notes that many testimonies refer to primaries as the most important election, which she sees as a failure of both how political parties operate in the city and the election system itself. She mentions the Citizens Union proposal as addressing this but cautions that it is a complex system.
Jessica Rosenfield
2:04:24
Good evening.
2:04:25
My name is Jessica Rosenfield, and it's a pleasure to be here today.
2:04:31
I'm here as a member of the general public with New York's, the City Of New York's affordability and future growth in mind is my primary concern and want to love the commission's efforts to help the City Of New York thrive because I do support streamlining development in transit rich areas via ULURP and landmark preservation reforms.
2:04:55
However, it is my position on voting that compels me to testify today.
2:05:03
Many have mentioned political polarization, political disengagement, and a lot of testimony today comes in support of an open primary on the argument put forth that it would increase participation.
2:05:17
But the, concerns outlaid in the preliminary report reflect concerns about participation in the general local election.
2:05:26
And, I while I am in support of a open primary, I don't believe that it goes far enough to address that.
2:05:35
The testimony refers to the primaries as the most important election, which party political primaries were not designed to be that way.
2:05:45
So given this general sentiment, I believe it is a failure of both the city the way political parties are playing out in the cities and our election system.
2:05:58
And I see the proposal from Citizens Union as something that is mentioned in the report that addresses this, but it is a complex and unique system where I would love the commission to outline how risks that these unique systems may have could come into play to ensure that they are well addressed should they go on to the ballot.
2:06:30
Because I think while open primaries and general sorry.
2:06:35
Even your elections are easy to understand, systems that would make create a system that is more participatory and representative are much more difficult and easier to get right.