The New York City Campaign Finance Board today announced post-election hearings, to be held December 1 and 2, to review the effectiveness of the Campaign Finance Program for the 2009 elections.
The first day of hearings, December 1, will run from 9:00am-5:00pm; the second day, December 2, will run from 9:00am-1:00pm. Both days of hearing will be conducted at the offices of OATH, Conference Room E, on the 6th Floor at 40 Rector Street in Lower Manhattan (between Washington and West Streets), New York, NY 10006.
The City Charter requires the Board to evaluate the success of the Program after each citywide election cycle. As part of its evaluation efforts, the Board seeks feedback from candidates, the public, elected officials, public interest organizations, parties, employee organizations, and other interested parties through these hearings.
Information gathered at the hearings, along with other formal and informal comments, data analysis, and results from the Board’s post-election survey of campaigns, will help the Board compile its comprehensive post-election report. The mandated report will review the effects of the Program in the 2009 elections and make recommendations for changes to the law, and will be submitted to the Mayor and the Speaker of the City Council in September 2010.
Attendees are invited to address any issues of concern. Some of the issues expected to be discussed at the hearings include:
- the effect of independent expenditures on the Program;
- the Program’s ability to help candidates opposed by high-spending non-participants;
- the impact of the new $6-to-$1 matching rate;
- the effect of changes to the law on public funding for candidates who face only nominal opposition;
- the success of the limits on contributions from individuals who are doing business with the City;
- how to improve the Board’s voter education efforts, encompassing the Debate Program and the Voter Guide;
- the effect of the Program’s administrative procedures on campaigns.
For more information about the Board’s post-election hearings, or if you wish to deliver comments at the hearings, please contact the CFB’s Press Office at (212) 306-5262.