Next Tuesday, Nov. 7, the New York City municipal elections take place. There will be several important elections on your ballot for mayor, borough president, City Council members, judges and even district attorneys. Just as important, there will be three constitutional questions on the ballot, so please be sure to turn your ballot over once in the booth to vote on these three very important measures.
I often consult GothamGazette.com for any background knowledge needed about particular candidates or election-related information. Currently, GothamGazette.com provides a detailed analysis of the three amendments that will appear on your ballot next Tuesday. They state, “There are the three ballot questions that each allow for a “yes” or “no” answer. Voters get to help decide whether (1) New York will hold a state constitutional convention, (2) corrupt politicians lose their pensions, and (3) small amounts of preserved upstate land can be used for vital infrastructure projects and be replaced by other new land.”
The Amsterdam News has decided to weigh in on the various ballot questions and as a board has decided to vote NO on Question 1, whether NY should hold a constitutional convention. We decided to vote YES on Question 2, that indeed corrupt politicians should lose their pensions if convicted of a felony, and NO on Question 3 pertaining to the state using protected land.
If you are confused as to where to vote, please go to NYC Votes at www.voting.nyc to find your polling station and to review your rights as a voter. This election, as with every election, is incredibly important. It is not a choice between “two evils.” It is a choice from among seven candidates for mayor, but primarily between progressive Mayor Bill de Blasio and a GOP candidate who has voted for the current president and continues to support his racist and divisive policies. A Republican mayor is not something New Yorkers can afford to have on a local level and must not leave this important decision in the hands of other voters. Every vote matters, even if you think this election is “in the bag” for the current mayor. There is no such thing, and as the results of November 2016 have shown us, we need all members of society to be active participants in the electoral process.
So be sure to have a voting plan on Tuesday, Nov. 7. Polls are open from 6 a.m. until 9 p.m. Remember that NYC employers must give workers up to two hours off to vote. If you need to learn your rights as a voter, please go to www.promotethevote.nyc to learn your rights as a New York City voter. This election is too important to sit out. Make a plan before Election Day so your voice and your vote can be heard!
Christina Greer, Ph.D., is an associate professor at Fordham University, the author of “Black Ethnics: Race, Immigration, and the Pursuit of the American Dream” and the host of The Aftermath on Ozy.com. You can find her on Twitter @Dr_CMGreer.