“Earlier this year I applauded Attorney General Eric Schneiderman for releasing a report that revealed the unscrupulous practices plaguing the ticketing industry for concerts and sporting events. Though the revelation that the concert and sports ticket industry is unfair is nothing new, discovering how deep it goes is certainly unsettling.

“As it exists today the entertainment ticketing industry is unscrupulous and detrimental to the thousands of fans out there who are just trying to see their favorite show or sports team. Ticket vendors charging substantial fees, or withholding tickets to distribute to industry insiders have created a system that is decidedly unfair to the general public. Moreover, the existing system has also enabled a select few to buy tickets in bulk to Broadway shows like ‘Hamilton,’ or big concerts like Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band, only to sell them on the secondary market at outrageous markups – these people are nothing short of vultures.

“Just two weeks ago, I cast one of only five NO votes in the New York State Assembly on Assembly Bill 9773, which extended the status quo relating to the ticketing industry and its secondary resale markets that enable fraud to take place so easily. I voted against the bill because I believe we need to enact wholesale reforms to fix the industry. I was disappointed the legislation passed, as I do not feel it represented the best interest of consumers. Moreover, the legislation fails to level the playing field between the Goliath-esque ‘bots’ that rob consumers of tickets before they even have the chance to buy them. It’s a high tech version of David vs. Goliath, and honest New Yorkers can’t win with just a slingshot and a personal computer anymore. The ticket vendors have the ability to stop these vultures, and they ought to be held accountable for it.

“As Chair of the Assembly Consumer Affairs and Protection Committee I hope to work with the Tourism, Parks, Arts and Sports Development Committee over the next year to help pass meaningful legislation that will actually protect consumers, while creating a fair market for tickets.”