The Election's Over, Now the Real Work Begins

Voters spoke loudly on Election Day and changed the character of state and national government in dramatic fashion. In New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer was elected governor, along with his running mate State Senator David Paterson, who will serve as lieutenant governor, and Andrew Cuomo, who will succeed Mr. Spitzer as attorney general. The sweep brings Democrats back to power in the executive branch after a twelve-year absence.

On the national level voters expressed dissatisfaction with the course of the country and sent a message to the White House by changing the partisan composition of Congress. While midterm elections tend to result in losses for the party in power, the outcome of the balloting on November 7th represented a huge mood swing for the nation's electorate.

Rising Influence for New York State

What does it all mean? Well, for New York, it means newfound political power. The partisan realignment in Washington DC and New York suggests that the state may see additional federal resources in much needed areas. Though it is hard to predict what real benefits to the community may result in a change of political leadership, the fact that several members of the New York congressional delegation will ascend to the chair of key committees is a positive development. Rep. Charles Rangel will lead the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, the key tax writing panel in the lower house. Rep. Nydia Velazquez will chair the Small Business Committee, an important group that formulates public policy for the small business sector.

In addition, New York City's Black and Latino members of Congress, and their caucuses, will gain new influence as a result of their constituents' support of the new majority.

Our senators also appear to be well positioned, with Sen. Chuck Schumer being credited with his party's surprise takeover of the Senate. Our junior senator, Sen. Hillary Clinton, is also well positioned after her decisive victory and the support she lent other Democrats on the ballot nationwide.

Now comes the tough part. What are we to do? While some people may be excited about the change in partisan composition in Albany and the nation's capital, we should take a more measured approach and be strategic in how we evaluate the election's outcome. Truly, just by a change in the personalities in power, there will be some change in how our state and nation is governed. But that change will be tested by the usual caution most elected officials display once in power and our ability to hold those in power accountable. It is on the latter point that we, as voters, most often fail. No matter who is elected, and no matter what party may be in power for the moment, our responsibility, our duty is to make certain that the interest of the public is served.

New Priorities for New Leadership?

The election coincides with the release of our annual survey of low-income New Yorkers, The Unheard Third. What we found through this year's survey is quite interesting and our newly elected administration in Albany should take note. Survey respondents identified affordable housing and improving public education as their top priorities. Clearly the burden of rising rents and the loss of affordable units, and the persistent dropout rates of school children are on the minds of New Yorkers. Another interesting twist is that across income lines, New Yorkers expressed a willingness to pay taxes so long as the investment can be linked to some measurable outcome. That view contradicts the popular perception, and the rhetoric of most campaigns, that suggests under no circumstances are taxpayers willing to pay more. The attitudes uncovered by our Unheard Third survey bodes well for our governor-elect to fulfill the mandate of the Campaign for Fiscal Equity lawsuit aimed at providing much needed resources to New York City public school students.

Now that the election is over, the real work begins. We all have a responsibility to make New York a better place.

From the New York Amsterdam News
November 16 - 22, 2006