When the 13 members of the mayoral Charter Revision Commission meet this afternoon they must set forth on their mission to offer the people of New York City a chance to approve open primaries or nonpartisan elections, the fairest way to conduct the vote for municipal public offices and how it’s done in 85% of U.S. cities, including L.A. and Chicago, the next two largest.
Tashyra Ayers, Shams DaBaron, Ismael Claudio, Betsy Gotbaum, Denis Hughes, Peter Koo, Fernando Mateo, Kayla Mamelak Altus, Gilford Monrose, Musa Drammeh, Menashe Shapiro, Robert Tucker and Jackie Rowe Adams can, and should, expand democracy for more than 8 million of their fellow New Yorkers.
The prior Charter Revision Commission, which produced long-needed changes related to creating more housing, came close to putting this matter on the November ballot last year, but under great pressure decided to stay focused on housing.
However their report said: “Throughout its public hearings, the Commission has heard more testimony in favor of open primaries than on any other subject.” The chairman said: “I remain personally convinced that it is time to open our primary system to independent voters.” A commissioner said she is “personally committed” to the idea while another said the “time has come” for open primaries.
One called herself a “staunch supporter of unaffiliated voters” while another spoke of her “regret to empower 1 million voters.” One was “profoundly disappointed in leaving out 1.1 million voters.” A commissioner was “deeply disappointed” and one said “I want to apologize to my kids” who are registered independents and urged a truly democratic voting system.
And still another said she was disappointed and there “needs to be some changes” and wanted more discussion, which was echoed by yet another. That was eight in favor of open primaries and two wanting more discussion and three who didn’t speak.
The new commission assembling today must pick up on that and put the open primaries/nonpartisan elections question on the ballot this November.
It was only furious lobbying and politicking by the bosses of the Democratic and Republican parties and the Working Families Party and the public employee unions that made the prior commission back down, despite the wishes of the public who testified and the sentiment of the majority of the commission members.
It doesn’t matter that this new commission was set up by Mayor Eric Adams as one of his final acts before leave office on Dec. 31. The panel was lawfully created and there is precedent for a commission empaneled by a mayor to have its recommendations placed before the voters during the subsequent mayoral tenure. In 2021, Mayor Bill de Blasio created a Charter Revision Commission to examine racial justice issues. Its recommendations went to the voters in November 2022, long after de Blasio was gone, and the public voted yes on the Charter changes.
The new commission should also once and for all end self pay raises for the City Council by adding to the Charter a municipal version of the 27th Amendment: “No law, varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of Representatives shall have intervened.”
Finally, the commission should make it that certain critical aspects of the Charter can only be changed by a public referendum, such as term limits, pay raises and open primaries/nonpartisan elections.
Put it on the ballot and let the people decide.