Talk of open primaries dominates first COGE hearing

More than a hundred people showed up for the first public hearing held by Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s Charter Revision Commission in lower Manhattan Tuesday night. 

The mayor created the 15-member Commission on Government Efficiency late last month, tasking it with crafting a series of proposals to advance onto the November ballot. While the three-hour hearing’s theme technically centered on improving government “for infrastructure projects and public realm improvements,” the public testimony featured a wide spectrum of topics, including improving the outdoor dining application process, amending contract procurement rules, speeding street improvements and strengthening city ethics organizations. City Council Member Gale Brewer even briefly showed up to testify in favor of streamlining Department of Design and Construction projects and better planning for open streets. 

Easily the most popular idea of the night, however, was open primaries. 

Around a dozen people testified in favor of opening up the city’s elections so people of any party can vote in a single city primary. It’s an idea that’s come up frequently before. Just last year, a Charter Revision Commission convened by former Mayor Eric Adams crafted a ballot question proposing an open primary system, though members ultimately killed the divisive prospect to focus on land use reforms instead. Fabien Levy, Adams former deputy mayor for communications, was among the New Yorkers hoping to see Mamdani’s commission take on the issue.

“If you examine why our elections – especially our primaries – have such low voter turnout, it is because our system is rigged to turn voters away,” Levy testified Tuesday.

Even more recently, the latest legally dubious commission convened by Adams has sought to advance an open primaries ballot question despite opposition from the Mamdani administration. While Mamdani ordered the disbanding of the zombie-like group several weeks ago, the commission has barreled forward as if nothing had changed – including holding its third public hearing Tuesday night. Its ability to advance questions onto the ballot will likely come to a head in court with Randy Mastro, Adams’ former first deputy mayor, leading the charge.