Your guide to NYC's public proceedings.
TESTIMONY
Testimony by Asher Ross from the New York Immigration Coalition against jungle primaries
2:43:29
·
103 sec
Asher Ross, representing the New York Immigration Coalition, testifies in strong opposition to the proposed "jungle primary" system.
He argues that this system would diminish the power of grassroots groups, labor unions, and community organizations that have worked to mobilize working-class and immigrant voters.
He believes it would nullify their work and give a dominant advantage to big donors and corporate interests.
- Ross states that the New York Immigration Coalition is opposed to jungle primaries.
- He believes the system would weaken the power of community organizations that act as a counterweight to big money in politics.
- He argues that the current system of closed primaries with ranked-choice voting and public financing is working to engage and grow the electorate.
Asher Ross
2:43:29
Good evening.
2:43:29
Thank you for the opportunity to testify.
2:43:32
My name is Asher Ross, and I'm here representing the New York Immigration Coalition.
2:43:38
And I'm here to express our strong opposition to the proposed adoption of a so called jungle primary system in New York City elections.
2:43:46
We are opposed to jungle primaries because they would diminish the power of member organizations and grassroots groups, including labor unions and community organizations.
2:43:56
These groups have worked long and hard to organize, educate, and mobilize working class and immigrant voters so that they have a voice in our political system.
2:44:05
And importantly, they act as a counterweight to big money in politics.
2:44:10
These groups have spent years organizing within the Democratic Party to win representation for their communities.
2:44:16
Jungle primaries would nullify their work and their role in our elections, and it would allow big donors and corporate interests to gain the advantage and have a dominant role.
2:44:26
As others have noted, we've just had an election in a closed primary with exceptional voter engagement and turnout, including by young voters and traditionally low turnout groups.
2:44:37
We've just had an election in which the playing field was leveled by our public matching fund system, allowing candidates that weren't funded by big donors and corporations to compete and get their message out to working class voters.
2:44:49
And we've just had an election in which voters could rank candidates in their preferred order, leading to coalition strategies that allowed voters to rank their preferences while not wasting their vote.
2:44:59
These reforms have only been in place for four years, and they're clearly working to help engage and grow the electorate.
2:45:06
We should let them continue to produce positive results and not tamper with our current election system.