Res. No. 254 Title Resolution calling upon the Mayor to fully finance and adequately staff the City's Voter Assistance Commission for Fiscal Year 2003. Body By Council Members Barron, Clarke, Comrie, DeBlasio, Foster, Liu, Rivera, Sanders and Seabrook; also Council Member Vann Whereas, The rights of all registered voters in the City to participate in a fair, open and efficient electoral system is paramount to democracy in our City, State and Nation; and Whereas, The Voter Assistance Commission ("VAC") was created by the will of the people by public referendum voted upon by the City's electorate on November 7, 1989; and Whereas, VAC was thereby established to be an independent and non-partisan Charter Commission, charged with the responsibilities of facilitating broad-based voter registration and participation in cooperation with both public and private entities, monitoring City agency compliance with voter registration initiatives, advising City officials and departments accordingly, and holding public hearings relating to the City's engagement of its citizens in the democratic process; and Whereas, The Council saw fit to improve the efforts of VAC by enacting Local Law 29 of 2000, which amended the City's Charter to mandate and strengthen agency-based voter registration; and Whereas, Events surrounding both the national elections of November 2000 and subsequent City elections have resulted in the erosion of the confidence held by the City's voters in the administration of this most important of democratic rights - the right to vote and have such vote fully counted; and Whereas, The improvements to the City's voter participation undertaken by this Council, along with the mission and good work of VAC, stand to falter if VAC does not receive adequate funding in order to accomplish its Charter-mandated goals; and Whereas, The Mayor should work to ensure full and adequate funding for VAC by seeking amendments to the City's FY2003 Budget that will provide an appropriation of one million dollars to VAC; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Council calls upon the Mayor to fully finance and adequately staff the City's Voter Assistance Commission for Fiscal Year 2003. 457/2002/JF