Other witnesses echoed those points. Charter Revision Commissioner Hope Cohen resisted the push to expand the commission's agenda, noting that the commissioners have to select issues on which there is enough evidence to act. "It's also right for us to say 'No, it's not time,'" she said.
But Goldstein promised to meet with Eddie Bautista, executive director of the New York City Environmental Justice Alliance, after Bautista--who has pressed for attention to the flaws in fair share--testified, "My question for you guys is, how long do we have to wait?"
The worry among advocates on fair share and other issues is that after this commission lapses--which it will as soon as it places questions on a ballot--there is no guarantee that the mayor will appoint another one. The problems with fair share have existed for 21 years.
The issue of nonpartisan elections, on the other hand, was raised by a 2003 charter commission and defeated by voters. Citizen Union wants it to live again, albeit in a slightly different form: "Top two" elections are not strictly nonpartisan, because candidates can list their party affiliations. But instead of separate primaries open only to registered party members, "top two" would feature a single primary, with the top two vote getters--they could both be Democrats--moving on to the general election.
Arguing for a shift to "top two," Citizens Union's John Avalon testified that "We are in danger of having closed partisan primaries replace general elections where all New Yorkers have a voice and a vote," a reference to the dominance of Democratic party candidates in the city in most general election races.
But CUNY professor John Mollenkopf disputed the idea that "top two" will increase voter turnout. That idea, he says, "is not supported by fact or logic," adding: "Party affiliation is associated with higher turnout and parties are good at mobilization."
The commission will on Wednesday continue its final round of public hearings:
Wednesday, July 21, 6 p.m., Bronx Community College, Nichols Hall, Room 104
2155 University Ave., Bronx
Monday, July 26, 6 p.m., Adam Clayton Powell Jr. State Office Building, 163 West 125th Street, 8th Floor, Manhattan
Wednesday, July 28, 6 p.m., Queen Borough Hall, 120-55 Queens Blvd.. Kew Gardens, Queens
Monday, August 2, 6 p.m. PS 58 – Space Shuttle Columbia School, 77 Marsh Ave., Staten Island
