Squadron Pushes to Stop Reselling of Charity Tixs for Above Face Value

Squadron: Those who profit from charitable events when NYC is in need, ‘Yeah that's a trifling friend indeed’

ALBANY – Today, State Senator Daniel Squadron pushed to prevent the reselling of tickets to charitable events for profit. Squadron raised the issue during a debate on S7012, which would extend New York’s ticket reselling law. Squadron, along with 22 other senators, voted against the bill.

The Hurricane Sandy relief concert on 12-12-12 – which featured artists including Bruce Springsteen, Kanye West, Alicia Keys, and Billy Joel – was overwhelmed by ticket resellers who snatched up many tickets for the concert within minutes of being offered for sale, and personally profited from reselling the charity tickets at several times their face value.  

"Those who profit from charitable events when NYC is in need, ‘Yeah that’s a trifling friend indeed’”, said Senator Daniel Squadron, who quoted extensively from lyrics heard at the 12-12-12 concert. “Events like this are about artists donating their time for a good cause. Yet today, profiteers are able to co-opt charity events to line their own pockets. ‘We don't need no education, we don't need no thought control’  to know that profiteering from charitable causes is wrong. ‘Baby we were born to run’ away from letting charitable events be hijacked by profiteers.” 

Senator Squadron carries bill S838, which would amend New York’s ticket reselling law to make illegal the resale of tickets for more than their face value if the event’s revenue is dedicated to a charity or not-for-profit cause.

Watch Senator Squadron’s remarks on S838 here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OVpLDP0Zhw