Your guide to NYC's public proceedings.
TESTIMONY
Testimony by David Green from Unite NY in support of open primaries
3:48:51
·
3 min
David Green, Statewide Organizing Director at Unite NY, testifies in support of the commission's proposal for open primaries.
He shares his "culture shock" moving to New York from a state with semi-open primaries and finding 3.5 million voters statewide shut out of the process.
He argues that the commission's proposal to combine a top-two system with ranked-choice voting is a big improvement on other models and will create a truly representative democracy.
- Green represents Unite NY, a nonpartisan organization that advocates for reforms including open primaries.
- He notes that 40 other states are ahead of New York on this issue.
- He believes open primaries combined with RCV will make elections more competitive and representative.
- He highlights that unaffiliated voters are a growing segment of the electorate, especially among young people and veterans, who are being disengaged by the current system.
Yvonne Lee
3:48:51
Good evening.
3:48:51
My name is Yvonne Lee.
3:48:54
When I first arrived here today, I looked across the street.
3:48:59
My mother was born in Harlem Hospital
Diane Savino
3:49:03
Mhmm.
Yvonne Lee
3:49:03
In 1919.
3:49:05
Seven generations of my family born and raised in Harlem.
3:49:09
We're still here.
3:49:11
Okay?
3:49:12
So it is great.
3:49:14
Well, living here in Harlem, my own community, and I have an opportunity to testify.
3:49:23
I'm here tonight speaking for myself and for my son, Robert, who's an independent.
3:49:30
My grandchildren are independents.
3:49:35
And thank you for listening to so many independents and independent minded New Yorkers like who like us are excited for the opportunity to finally talk in the open about what we have suffered for so many years in private, a closed primary system that we pay for, but we're not allowed to participate in.
3:50:09
That shuts us out while our neighbors pick politicians that will determine our future.
3:50:17
That's not fair.
3:50:19
I would fully support a top two primary for our city.
3:50:24
I think it is a great choice, and I wouldn't offer any stronger arguments than your own report make in simple terms.
3:50:39
Top two would give 1,100,000 independence like my son, Robert, my granddaughter, Denise, my grandson, Eddie.
3:50:55
They're all in their thirties, so that's how long they've been here.
3:50:59
They're independents.
3:51:02
Who would love to vote in the primaries?
3:51:08
We need to level the playing field for candidates.
3:51:15
It's lopsided.
3:51:18
Being excluded from the primary doesn't feel like a true democracy for all people to be included.
3:51:31
So, again, I would like to be able to have a ballot with all the candidates for an office on one ballot.
3:51:43
I think that will be a good thing, and it would allow the whole city to shape the elections from the beginning.
3:51:52
We live here from the beginning.
3:51:54
Why can't we vote in the beginning?
3:51:57
You understand what I'm saying?
3:52:00
And
Richard R. Buery Jr.
3:52:01
Thank you so thank you so much, miss Lee.
3:52:03
I appreciate your testimony.
Yvonne Lee
3:52:04
Very good.