New Yorkers have a tradition of standing up for themselves and finding innovative solutions to tackle the challenges facing their city. In the 1970s, leading New Yorkers joined together to create institutions and implement reforms that fundamentally changed the way the city did business. Today, the city faces the challenge of dramatically changing the way it does business with Washington and Albany.
During his 24-year tenure in the U.S. Senate, the late Daniel Patrick Moynihan drew the public’s attention to New York’s balance of payments deficit and led the fight to get New York its fair share. Senator Moynihan produced an annual state-by-state analysis of federal taxes and federal spending, referred to as “the Fisc,” which demonstrated how the federal government routinely shortchanged New York.
This imbalance persists today. New Yorkers provide billions more in taxes than they receive in services from the state and federal governments. In addition, New York City serves as a key fundraising destination for candidates running for almost every political office in America. In the 2004 elections, six ZIP codes in New York City gave over $61 million to federal candidates, parties and PACs. While candidates and legislators from across the country turn to New York for funds, rarely do they make the city’s needs a priority.
Fair Share New York is dedicated to addressing this imbalance by providing the business and donor communities with information on issues of importance to New York City and by hosting forums where New Yorkers can meet federal and state candidates. In keeping with the spirit of Senator Moynihan’s work, Fair Share New York seeks to leverage the city’s enormous power as the world’s financial, cultural and media hub to raise awareness about the structural imbalance the city faces and advocate policies to remedy the situation.
