By The TimesLedger
The democracy that appeared so vital in Queens just a few short weeks ago is in grave danger of being nibbled to death by candidates who would rather win at the Board of Elections than at the polls. It is customary in New York City for candidates to avoid primaries by nitpicking the ballot petitions submitted by their opponents.
Sadly, as primary day draws near, a number of candidates with outstanding credentials and a record of public service have been removed from the ballot. There are nearly three dozen possible reasons for challenging a signature or an entire petition.
The state’s arcane election laws make it incredibly difficult to get on any primary ballot. Even candidates who know the ropes and have been hanging around political circles most of their adult lives find it hard to get the petition process right.
This could not have been what Thomas Jefferson and the other Founding Fathers had in mind at the birth of this democracy. This, of course, is not news. Virtually every legislator in Albany would acknowledge the need to reform the state’s arcane election laws. But since these same men and women are the primary beneficiaries of the election laws, there is no incentive for reform. Quite the opposite.
In Albany there are few profiles in courage. Still we keep hoping that some courageous politician will lead the fight for campaign reform and make it easier for qualified men and women to get their names on the primary ballot. It is this simple: we would much rather see elections decided at the polls on election day than by some bleary-eyed bureaucrat at the Board of Elections.
Editorial: Promises, promises
We are suspicious of all campaign promises. We are particularly suspicious when a candidate promises a special interest group that he or she will increase funding for a pet project.
We do not doubt for a moment that the newly formed Queens Coalition for Parks, which is composed of 40 Queens civic associations, has the very best intentions. Nor are we surprised that the candidates vying for the borough’s 14 city council seats are lining up to pledge their support for the demands being made by this coalition for increased funding for parks. The coalition wants the funding to increase from 0.4 percent of the overall city budget to a full 1 percent.
It sounds good. Parks are a critical factor in the overall quality of life. But we wonder how anyone can make such an enormous commitment without close study of the budget. Parks are important. So is public safety. And what about our decaying schools?
If politicians are going to commit to increasing the budget for parks maintenance, they should be asked where the money would come from. An increase of 0.6 percent in the overall city budget is an enormous amount of money. Will these same politicians also commit to increasing salaries for teachers and police officers? Will they also commit to not raising the city income tax and property taxes?
The goals of the coalition are laudable. Although we think Parks Commissioner Henry Stern has done an outstanding job, there is always room for improvement. Might it not make more sense for this coalition to seek out corporate partners that will help fund park maintenance just as they do with the city’s highways? Would it hurt to have signs in each park acknowledging the generous support of a private partner?
The city has enjoyed seven years of economic prosperity. But we have landed upon leaner times that call for creative solutions. Campaign promises cost nothing. Balancing a complex city budget is not that easy.
