Your guide to NYC's public proceedings.
TESTIMONY
Testimony by Amy Tsai, Member of the Public, opposing jungle primaries
3:01:47
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3 min
Amy Tsai, a Bronx parent of public school students, testifies in opposition to jungle primary or top-two/top-four nonpartisan primary systems.
Speaking from her experience with grassroots organizations like the Alliance for Quality Education (AQE), she argues these systems would diminish the influence of community-led organizing and make it harder to elect leaders accountable to their communities, instead favoring wealthy candidates and special interests. Tsai contends that such primaries silence historically marginalized voices and hinder the ability of groups like AQE to elect champions for issues like educational equity.
- Opposes jungle/nonpartisan primaries, fearing they would weaken grassroots organizations and community-led efforts.
- Believes these systems favor wealthy candidates and special interests over leaders rooted in and accountable to their communities.
- Argues such primaries would make it harder for working-class candidates and candidates of color to compete.
- Cites California and Washington State as examples where communities of color have seen preferred candidates eliminated early under similar systems.
Amy Tsai
3:01:47
everyone.
3:01:49
Thank you for the opportunity.
3:01:52
I have my written testimony available if you need it.
3:01:55
Good evening, commissioners.
3:01:56
My name is Amy Tsai, and I am a Bronx parent of public school students.
3:02:02
I'm here today I am here tonight to oppose the proposal shift for a jungle sorry.
3:02:10
I am here tonight to oppose the proposed shift to a jungle primary or top two, top four nonpartisan primary system.
3:02:18
As someone who works alongside grassroots organizations like the Alliance for Quality Education, AQE, I was first force I see firsthand the power of community led organizing to make change, especially in the fight for educational equality to black, brown, and low income communities across New York City.
3:02:41
The proposed jungle primary system would severely diminish the influence of grassroot organizations like AQE and would undermine our ability to elect leaders who represent and are accountable to our communities.
3:02:58
Jungle primaries claim to promote fairness, but the truth is they simplify the influence of wealthy candidates and special interests while silencing the voices of those who have historically been shut out of political power.
3:03:14
Under the system, the top vote, getters, regardless of party, advance to the general election, every candidate, regardless of party or of values, appears on one crowded sorry.
3:03:29
Crowded, ballot.
3:03:33
In a high in a high candidate, low information race without party queues, the the, winners are usually, those who have bag bagged war chesses, the most the most named recognition or the backing of wealthy interests.
3:04:00
Organizations like AQE build power to organizing parents, students, and educators to elect leaders who prioritize fully funded, equitable education for public schools.
3:04:14
These are not always the candidates with the biggest war chests or the highest name recognitions, but they are rooted to their communities.
3:04:22
Jungle primaries would push these candidates out early and deny voters meaningful choices to the general elections.
3:04:34
And party primaries are where your voters are and organizing can can make a real difference because it makes it clear who our politically friends and foes are.
3:04:47
We know what happens in places that have adopted the system.
3:04:51
In California and Washington states, communities of color have seen their pry their preferred candidates, and I'll wrap up, eliminated in the first round even to majority of minority districts.
3:05:07
Junker primaries don't uplift underrepresented voices.
3:05:12
Instead, they drown out with large money and media drive campaigns.
3:05:19
I urge the commission to reject these proposals to protect the voices of grassroot organizations and communities, protect our communities' rights to choose leaders who reflect our values and just their just their bank accounts.
3:05:37
Thank you.