|
News
At-Large Commentary on WILL AM-580's Public Square
Vote No At-Large had a commentary on WILL AM-580 on October 29 and 30 by
Ben Grosser. You can listen to the
Real Audio version, or download an
MP3.
Press Release: GEO Joins Long List of Organizations Endorsing
Vote No At-Large
The Graduate Employees Organization (GEO) is the latest organization to
publicly endorse a "no" vote on the at-large ballot question in Urbana. The
GEO joins the NAACP, Democratic Party, and other organizations and officials
that have voiced their opposition to at-large.
Read the release.
GEO Endorses Vote No At-Large
The Graduate Employees Organization (GEO) at the University of Illinois has
endorsed a "no"
vote on the at-large question in Urbana. The text of their endorsement follows:
Vote NO to At-Large Representation on the Urbana City Council
In Urbana there is a city referendum that seeks to add two at-large seats to the Urbana city
council (currently only 7 ward seats) to bring the total to nine.
It reads:
Shall the City of Urbana restrict the number of aldermen to a total
of nine, with one alderman representing each of the seven wards, plus an additional two
aldermen to be elected at large?
The GEO urges you to VOTE NO on this question. Here is why it is so important:
The current system divides Urbana geographically by population into seven wards, each of
which is equally represented by an alderperson on the City Council. Regardless of voter
turnout, all ~5500 people are still duly represented in the city government.
At Large Voting is antithetical to our interests and ideals as citizens,
students, and members of a democratic union.
* AT LARGE VOTING IS BAD FOR DEMOCRACY. In city after city, at-large voting results in an
underrepresentation of minority groups. Locally, this is manifest in the following way:
currently, 1/7 of Urbanas population is African-American, and 1/7 councilmembers are
African-American. Adding two seats, to be elected by the city at large, will result in
underrepresentation of minority residents.
* AT LARGE VOTING IS BAD FOR WORKING PEOPLE. Mounting an at-large campaign requires
significant resources; as a result, at-large candidates will be beholden to big-money
contributers. Moreover, because voter turnout is lower amongst low-income people, the
election of the at-large candidates will be disproportionately decided by people of
higher economic class.
* AT LARGE VOTING IS BAD FOR STUDENTS. Currently, 4/7 wards are student-populated,
giving us a majority on the council. As a result,we enjoy more favorable tenant
laws and recycling than our counterparts in Champaign (which has at-large seats). The
two at-large seats would put us in the minority, as they are unlikely to be filled by
people who are concerned with our particular interests.
* AT LARGE VOTING IS BAD FOR POLITICAL SOLIDARITY. When the GEO needed the support of the
Urbana City Council, the Council stretched its purview in order to pass a resolution
urging the UI to negotiate with grads; this
external pressure was crucial in our struggle to attain a recognized
union. Such collaboration is only possible when close, personal working
relationships exist between the councilmembers and the people they represent, and those
relationships cannot be built by at-large candidates who have to represent 40,000 people
rather than 5000.
Vote No on At-Large Referendum (Question #3)
United Citizens and Neighbors (UCAN) Endorses Vote No At-Large
United Citizens and Neighbors (UCAN), the northwest Urbana neighborhood association that
includes the King School and Crystal Lake Park areas has endorsed a "no" vote on the at-large
question. We will include the text of their endorsement here when it becomes available.
Green Party Endorses Vote No At-Large
The Prairie Green Party of East Central Illinois
has endorsed a "no" vote on at-large seats in Urbana. The text of their endorsement follows:
We believe that the creation of two more city wide seats would only
increase the amount of money used on elections in Urbana. By electing representatives that
are not accountable to any specific neighborhood, at large elections will encourage the
further erosion of traditional neighborhoods and initiatives opposed by the majority of
Urbana citizens such as big box store development and urban sprawl.
The Prairie Green Party encourages electoral reform such as full representation
initiatives and instant run-off voting that better ensure minority representation in
government. While we think that electoral reform is necessary, we believe that this
particular initiative will only increase the power of wealthy white people, those able to
afford a run for these at-large seats.
UIUC College Democrats Endorse Vote No At-Large
The University of Illinois
College Democrats have endorsed a "no" vote on the at-large question in Urbana. An
excerpt from their
press
release on the issue outlines their reasons for doing so:
...the Executive Board of the College Democrats came out
against the proposed addition of 2 at-large seats to the Urbana City Council. This decision was
made in lieu of the history of pro-student initiatives and policy produced by the board
as it is currently selected. Traditionally, the Urbana City Council has supported numerous
pro-student issues that make life in Urbana much better for students. This includes the
creation of stronger tenant laws, offering recycling to all buildings, and free street
parking. The proposed addition of 2 seats would weaken student influence on the city council
as well as the influence of minorities in the community. Also the addition of more seats
goes against the current trend to reduce excess in government, as many other local
municipalities have reduced and removed these at-large seats. These are the primary
reasons why the Executive Board of the College Democrats has come out against the
addition of 2 at-large seats to the Urbana City Council.
Debates on At-Large in Urbana Held on TV, Radio
On October 15th, there were two debates between at-large opponent Esther Patt and proponent
Chris Alix. The first was an hour-long call-in show on WILL AM 580 radio. Download the
RealAudio or the
MP3 version. The second was
broadcast live on UPTV and we expect it will run again. Once these times are known they'll be
posted here.
On October 18th, the Urbana-Champaign Independent Media
Center (UCIMC) Radio News ran a story on the
at-large referendum question that contains interviews with at-large proponent Diane Marlin,
and at-large opponents Ben Grosser and former Urbana Mayor Hiram Paley. This show ran
live on WEFT 90.1 FM, but you can now
listen to that show (excerpted) online.
Democratic Party Endorses Vote No At-Large
The Champaign County Democratic Party has passed a resolution
supporting the "voting rights of all residents in Urbana," recognizing that adding
"at-large seats to the Urbana City Council
will dilute minority representation on that body," that at-large produces
a voting contest decided by financial contributions instead of individual merit,
and encouraging Democrats in Urbana to vote "NO" to at-large seats.
Download a copy of the resolution
NAACP Endorses Vote No At-Large
The Champaign County National Association for the Advancement of
Colored People (NAACP) unanimously passed a resolution supporting the
voting rights of all residents in Urbana, recognizing that at-large seats
dilute minority representation, and encouraging the citizens of Urbana
to vote "no" to at-large seats.
Download a copy of the resolution
IVI-IPO Endorses Vote NO At-Large
The Independent Voters of Illinois-Independent Precinct Organization
has unanimously endorsed Vote No At-Large.
"The Independent Voters of Illinois-Independent Precinct Organization believes
that government works best when brought closer to the people. At-large
elections have a long and ugly history as a vehicle for suppressing minority
representation and we have always supported efforts to elect local government
by districts. IVI-IPO supports the progressive members of the Urbana City
Council in their struggle to preserve equal representation in their local
government and recommends a no vote on the at-large referendum."
Betty Magness, State Chair, IVI-IPO, Aug. 25, 2004
Press Conference Launches Campaign
Over 15 supporters and several members of the TV and radio media turned out in
the middle of the afternoon on Wednesday to support the official launch of
the Vote No At-Large Campaign. Held in a home in southeast Urbana, the
statements emphasized the important issues behind
this campaign. Speakers included Ben Grosser, Laura Haber, Mort Brussel,
and Phyllis Clark.
Download and read their prepared statements. (25k PDF)
Laura Haber addresses the media at the press conference.
Residents Oppose At-Large, Press Conference Planned
On Wednesday, September 22 at 2PM, a large
group of Urbana residents united to oppose the addition of at-large
seats to the Urbana city council will gather to announce the formation
of a grassroots group called Vote No At Large. ...
download the
press release
|
VOTE NO on AT-LARGE seats in Urbana