Fulani: Disappointed but Not Discouraged - NYC Nonpartisan Elections Press Conference August 10

Dr. Lenora Fulani and 35 community supporters of nonpartisan elections hold press conference on steps of NYC City Hall in downtown Manhattan Tuesday, August 10, 2010. Fulani said the Democratic Party got worried when Citizens Union came out strongly in favor of a top two voting system being considered by the Charter Revision Commission. NYC has 1 million voters, the majority of whom are black, Latino and Asian, who are locked out of the decisive round of voting. The Democratic Party insists on holding onto complete authority over the voting system, and Rev. Al Sharpton, who had called for discussion of nonpartisan elections, has been brought back into the fold. It's a shame that Rev. Sharpton missed this opportunity to stand for voting rights. This is a long term project. The media has reported that Mayor Bloomberg has decided not to ask the Charter Revision Commission to put nonpartisan elections on the ballot. We are disappointed but not discouraged. As more and more younger voters of all races and ethnic groups come of age and want to be able to participate in the process without having to sign on a party line, the demand to realign our electoral system will grow. Our job is to expand the dialogue and the power of the independent movement. We are disappointed, but not discouraged.