The Weekly Watchdog

Good morning New Yorkers! Have you voted yet? It’s the second day of early voting and polls are open 9am-5pm. Find your early vote poll site here. If you haven’t voted yet, check out our Voters Guide on the way to the polls and read on below for some other opinions on issues you should consider.

But first, we have some good government policy updates for you. Another week, another CU priority passed, and a reminder that our public campaign finance systems are working as intended. Enjoy your Sunday!

News Worth Clicking

Another CU win  State legislators agree to limit NYC mayor’s power over ballot questions Politico Pro By Bill Mahoney & Joe Anuta	Is this finally the end of mayoral control over ballot questions? State lawmakers have passed legislation that gives voters and the City Council the same authority to propose ballot measures as the mayor. Citizens Union has been advocating for this change for decades – going back to the mid-20th century, if you can believe it! But it was last year’s battles between the Council and the Mayor that pushed lawmakers to get this across the finish line. This is just the first of several reforms needed to create a more balanced and democratic charter revision process.
Holding $93 billion over us  Comptroller Tom DiNapoli’s analysis of the state budget State of Politics By Susan Arbetter	The state’s Comptroller’s office released its annual analysis of the state budget this week and found that the current proposal relies on $93 billion in federal funds or one out of every three dollars in the plan. That’s a lot of money to rely on from an openly hostile presidential administration. Watch the full interview with Comptroller DiNapoli to get the full picture, but it would not be a surprise to find the legislature back in session this fall to fix whatever is coming NY’s way.
DocGo away please!  UES pol pushes crackdown on NYC ‘broken’ emergency contracting system The New York Post By Craig McCarthy & Haley Brown	Here’s to reigning in the financial abuses caused by no-bid contracts. Council Member Julie Menin has proposed a new law that would end the mayor’s emergency contracting powers after 30 days and require faster audits of any deal. After probably losing close to a half billion dollars in such contracts handed out during the pandemic and migrant crisis, change is certainly needed.
Public campaign finance works!  Ex-New York Assembly Candidate Charged With Campaign Finance Fraud The New York Times By Santul Nerkar, Jay Root, and Bianca Pallaro	Just a quick reminder that our campaign finance system is working. When we see stories where a candidate for office abuses the public campaign finance system for personal gain, that means they were caught and that the system is working as intended. There are reasons why we don’t see many stories like this because it is hard to get away with such fraud. We should applaud the system each time someone is caught and brought to justice, and we should protect our system of fair elections that public campaign finance brings.
What does this office do again? How New Yorkers Choose Judges — and Why There Might Not Be Any on Your Ballot The CITY By Marina Samuel	Ahhhh, New York’s court system. The best representation of democracy out there. Are there candidates for the office on your ballot? If not, that means whoever won was already chosen by party insiders. If yes, you likely don’t recognize any of the candidates’ names! Luckily, The CITY has a guide. But it does make us ask whether there may be too many elected offices in this country. Perhaps it is time for New York to examine an appointment system for judges instead.
The New New York Times Voting Guide Who Should Lead New York City? The New York Times By the New York Times Opinion Editors	To be clear, we still think The New York Times Editorial Board did New Yorkers a disservice by discontinuing endorsements in local races, but their attempt at a replacement didn’t turn out half bad. Plus, two CU members were asked to weigh in! Check out the candidates the Times’ panel of New Yorkers support in the Democratic mayoral contest primary and see how they chose a candidate for each issue facing the city too. Plus, a good piece by Mara Gay on the problems the next mayor must face.
Our guiding lights Brian Lehrer and Errol Louis Take the Pulse of New York City The New Yorker By Eric Lach	They help us hear everyone else’s takes, so it’s about time that we hear theirs. Brian Lehrer and Errol Louis sat down with the New Yorker recently for an interview and it does not disappoint. From the state of New York City’s media scene to how Mayor Adams handles the press to their takes on the race for mayor, they get into a lot and it’s a joy to read to close out your weekend.