BY GEORGE HAVRANEK
Mark the calendar, 2021
NYC election season is rapidly
approaching. Early voting June
12th-20th leading up to “Primary
Day” June 22nd brings opportunity
to select nominees for
the November 2nd general election.
NYC election 2021 includes
races for Mayor, NYC Comptroller,
Public Advocate, Borough
President and numerous City
Council positions. Term limitations,
rank choice voting, and a
charitable 8-1 public matching
fund program has led to a record
number of individuals seeking
NYC political offi ces. Reports
in the Wall Street Journal and
Gotham Gazette indicates hundreds
of candidates have fi led
for various city government
seats in 2021 with expectations
in the vicinity of 500 candidates
anticipated by the deadline.
In accordance with a 1989,
National Census related, NYC
Charter change 2021 and 2023
New York City council elections
will be for shortened 2-year
terms. City Council elections
for traditional four-year terms
will resume in 2025. Term limitations
have a majority of the 51
NYC council seats up for grabs.
For clarity: Spencer Estate is
located in Bronx Council District
13 and represented by NYC
Councilmember Mark Gjonaj.
Elected in 2017, Councilmember
Gjonaj is not term limited and
actively seeks reelection.
Rank Choice Vote, which
overwhelmingly passed in 2019,
makes a wholesale 2021 NYC
appearance in special elections
and primary elections for
Mayor, Public Advocate, NYC
Comptroller, Borough President
and City Council.
Rank Choice Vote process
as explained in “Harvard Law
Today”- In races where there
are more than two candidates
Ranked Choice Voting permits
voters to rank their preferences
(5 candidate ballot limit in NYC)
in order- one, two, three etc.…
If no candidate exceeds 50% of
fi rst place votes, the lowest candidate
is dropped from the race
and the SECOND choices of
that candidate’s voters are tabulated
and distributed to higher
ranked candidates. This process
continues until one candidate
passes the 50% threshold
and is declared the winner. Importantly,
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, F 42 EBRUARY 5-11, 2021 BTR
the traditional, single
choice, winner takes all process
remains in place for the November
general elections.
The voluntary Campaign
Finance Program increased
the matching rate for contributions
received by candidates
from individual New York City
residents. The recently established
8-1 rate promotes competition
in NYC’s rugged political
landscape. Every candidate
seeking offi ce must comply
with the strict guidelines, regulations,
and limitations set by
the Campaign Finance Act and
overseen by the Campaign Finance
Board. A probe through
the 130 pages NYC Campaign
Finance Handbook 2021 indicates
those in quest of NYC political
offi ce, their staff, notably
campaign treasurers, must diligently
and meticulously perform
numerous duties. It is an
understatement to say, “Political
campaigns, both privately
and publicly funded, face daunting
challenges in their pursuits
of triumph”.
The Campaign Finance Act
ensures public debate. The lack
of public debate in the 1993 mayoral
race prompted enactment
of “The Debate Program” requiring
publicly funded, leading
candidates for city offi ce to
engage in pre-election debate.
NYC election cycle 2021 will
showcase Rank Choice Voting,
crowded candidate fi elds and
passionate debates. The NYC
Board of Elections must initiate
voter education to ensure registered
voters fully understand
the ballot format and Rank
Choice Vote process. Voter confusion
must not play a role in
NYC Election 2021.
Sanitation Regulations:
Property owners are responsible
to clean sidewalks adjoining
their property and 18 inches
beyond the curb into the street.
Cleanliness can be contagious,
when cleaning go beyond property
lines and mandated demarcation
points.
NYC’s shoveling law:
if snowfall stops between 7
a.m. and 5 p.m., sidewalks
must be cleared within four
hours. If the snowfall stops between
5 p.m. and 9 p.m., sidewalks
must be cleared within
14 hours. If the snowfall stops
between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m., sidewalks
must be cleared by 11
a.m.
In Spencer Estate, bulk
items are collected on Wednesday;
recycling day is Saturday.
Household trash is collected
on both days. All trash and recyclables
should be securely
bundled / packaged and placed
curbside after 4pm the day before
scheduled pickup. The collection
programs for Electronic
waste and yard-compost materials
remain suspended. Compost
yard materials should be
discarded with household
trash. Retailers, such as Best
Buy, typically accept most electronic
waste. Due to possible
restrictions always verify a retailer’s
e-waste policy.
Pet owners must comply
with NYC cleanup regulations.
An overwhelming majority of
pet owners fully comply with
cleanup regulations; however,
a small percentage of noncompliance
can tarnish a neighborhood.
“If we want to keep and
reap the blessings of our fi ne
quality of life we must endure
the fatigue of supporting it”
Our community has traditionally
exhibited a “We are
Family” attitude. Now is the
time to let it shine. Communicate;
make that phone call,
text message, or e-mail. Please
check on family, friends, and
neighbors especially the elderly
and vulnerable. Any area homeowner
or renter interested
in membership to the inclusive
Spencer Estate Civic Association
inbox George Havranek
on Facebook or send-email to
spencerestatecivic@gmail.com
Community=Common-Unity
and Inclusion brings Solutions.
CIVIC CENTER
Spencer Estate
Civic Association
Take Care to Protect Yourself and Others
From COVID-19
Safely separate at a Free, Private Hotel Room.
If you have been diagnosed with COVID-19 or were in contact with someone who tested positive, you can qualify for a hotel room for up to 10 days to safely separate and protect others.
Take Care Hotels are safe, comfortable and convenient. All services are free. Children are welcome.
!
treatment or preventive healthcare services related to COVID-19 will NOT be considered under the public charge rule.
The following services are provided FREE at a Take Care Hotel:
+ Round-trip transportation to and from the hotel and any necessary medical appointments
+ Breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily*
+ Private rooms and bathrooms
+ Interpreter services
+ Onsite COVID-19 testing
+ Medication delivery
+ Free Wi-Fi and Cable TV
+ Onsite health care services provided by skilled doctors and nurses
+ Unlimited local phone calls to stay connected with family and friends
+ Telepsychiatry to access expert mental health providers
Book your room today.
Call 212-COVID-19 (212-268-4319)
or visit testandtrace.nyc
*Meals will be tailored to dietary needs scan here
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