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What is Searchlight on Campaign 2001?
Searchlight on Campaign 2001 is a guide to the political races in what many are calling New York City's most significant campaign season in modern history.
What is so significant about it?
For the first time in memory, most political offices in the city will be wide open to people who have neither money nor connections.
Why will the races be so open?
There are two reasons. This year, a new law goes into effect that limits the terms of New York City elected officials, forcing the mass retirement of most incumbents in the city - including the mayor, the comptroller, the public advocate, four of the five borough presidents, and 36 of the 51 members of the City Council. At the same time, a new campaign finance law kicks in, which allows any candidate who agrees to certain restrictions to collect four dollars of matching funds for every dollar they raise.
What does this have to do with this site?
As a public service, Searchlight on Campaign 2001 has a separate
page for each race, including all the races for City Council,
that not only sorts out the candidates -- many of them new
and unfamiliar -- but also offers an opportunity to learn
about the issues, and the districts themselves
Who is behind Searchlight on Campaign 2001?
Searchlight on Campaign 2001 is a project of Gotham Gazette,
a non-profit, non-partisan, non-ideological (but non-boring)
web site about New York City news, policy and politics published
by Citizens Union Foundation, part of the oldest and largest
good-government group in the city (founded in 1897).
What's wrong with the way the regular press
covers the races?
That is for you to decide. And one of our regular features,
Campaign Trail, helps you to decide. Campaign Trail provides
succinct summaries and links to campaign articles in the commercial
press.
Who are we?
Masthead
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