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TESTIMONY
Testimony by Vincent Albanese, Executive Director of New York State Laborers Political Action Committee, supporting open primaries
0:56:18
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143 sec
Vincent Albanese, Executive Director of the New York State Laborers Political Action Committee, expresses his union's support for changes to the current election system, specifically advocating for open primaries.
He argues that closed primaries limit the voices of over a million New Yorkers, including many of their 16,000 members in NYC, and result in elected officials who don't reflect the city's full diversity.
Albanese believes open primaries would encourage greater participation from their unaffiliated members and ensure all New Yorkers have a meaningful voice in selecting leaders.
- While acknowledging the proposed changes may not be perfect, he states they represent a more inclusive system.
Vincent Albanese
0:56:18
My name is Vincent Albanese, and I'm the executive director of the New York State Labor's political action committee.
0:56:23
Our union is comprised of 21 local LIUNA chapters across the state, representing over 40,000 members primarily employed in construction, with over 16,000 of those members living in New York City alone.
0:56:35
I'm here to express our union's interest in seeing changes to our current election system to address a number of issues which we believe are detrimental to our current electoral process, resulting in important outcomes of our subsequent governing system.
0:56:51
In our current system with closed primaries, the closed primary elections determine the eventual outcome of most elections, the vast majority of the time.
0:57:02
And in doing so, it limits the voices of over a million New Yorkers, many of whom are our members.
0:57:08
As you've heard in prior hearings, nearly 1,000,000 independent voters are prohibited from participating in the primary and as such, electoral process and results in elected officials who do not reflect the full diversity of our city and our membership.
0:57:24
Adopting a version of open primaries, which fits which better fits our electorate here in New York City ensures that all New Yorkers, regardless of party affiliation, have a meaningful voice in selecting political leaders and the policies that they focus on.
0:57:39
Open primaries would encourage greater participation from many of our members who are unaffiliated as they don't recognize their place in either of our mainstream political parties as they once did.
0:57:50
For our union, allowing all voters to have a say in who advances to the general election is a positive.
0:57:58
This simple yet crucial reform would foster a government that is more reflective of New York City, its true diversity, especially on issues affecting union members and their families.
0:58:12
The currently debated charter revisions are a step in the right direction.
0:58:17
While I can't say unequivocally that the proposed changes are perfect, for us and the laborers, they represent a system that would be much more inclusive of many of our members who are registered as independents or with a specific party.
0:58:32
We applaud the Commission for dedicating time and thought to finding a better way forward.
0:58:39
Thank you all for your time.