New York City Public Advocate

The Public Advocate for the City of New York is a public office that is elected by the population of New York City for four years. The Public Advocate acts as an ombudsman for the public and monitors the actions of the Mayor, the City Council and the administration.

History

As a result of 1989 decreed by the Supreme Court resolution of the New York City Board of Estimate the position of the President of the City Council remained little more than just a ceremonial significance. Only in the case of a rare tie, the city council he had the casting vote. Accordingly, the Office was in the early 1990s for grabs.

Rather than abolish it, the New York City Council in 1993, however, decided to rename the office and redefine. The Public Advocate, as it was now called, continued to be Chairman of the City Council, but had now also the role of an ombudsman for the population. He was commanded to take care of concerns and complaints of citizens and to make proposals for the improvement of public services.

The role as ombudsman was also obtained as the Public Advocate, the chair of the City Council and even the right to vote was revoked in another Charter amendment in 2002. He was now only an advisory member of the City Council, but was able to take great impact on the municipal decisions by the public effective and citizen-oriented role.

Choice

The election held every four years, instead of simultaneously with the elections of the mayor, the members of the City Council and the City Comptrollers than direct dial. As for the office of mayor find out beforehand instead of choosing the major parties called primaries, in which decisions are made about the respective nomination.

Office bearer

Since the establishment of the office was always held by representatives of the Democrats, most recently by Mark Green (1994-2001), Betsy Gotbaum (2002-2009) and Bill de Blasio ( 2010-2013 ).

Also de Blasios successor was nominated by the Democrats: The civil rights lawyer Letitia James won the election on November 5, 2013, 83 % of the vote after the Republicans had nominated only no candidates. In the primaries she had been able to in a casting vote, prevail against the favorite, State Senator Daniel Squadron on 1 October 2013.

Weblink

  • Homepage of the New York City Public Advocate
  • Ombudsman
  • Policy ( New York City )
New York City Comptroller Two-round system New York State Senate
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