Common Cause/NY Responds to Speaker Candidates Pulling Out of Forum

NEW YORK, NY (12/01/2021) (readMedia)-- Today, news broke that multiple Speaker candidates backed out at the last minute of the Common Cause/NY, Transportation Alternative, Citizens Union and Riders Alliance forum. In response, Susan Lerner, Executive Director of Common Cause/NY, issued the following statement:

"We are outraged to cancel our Speaker Candidate forum for the close to 200 New Yorkers who registered to hear about transportation and transparency policies. We understand now that the Speaker candidates have made an arrangement to collectively skip forums besides NY1 and City and State. They have a right to choose what forums they attend. There is no requirement. But what is unacceptable -- and bodes poorly for the future of the City Council -- is the lack of honesty and transparency about certain no-shows and cancellations from all but two members, Gale Brewer and Carlina Rivera. Leaders should be forthright and bold, not hide behind excuses when backing out at the last minute. Whoever becomes Speaker must operate with accountability and transparency to make real change. But after what we saw in the past few days, we're not confident a majority of candidates share those qualifications."