Senator Squadron Cites Jay-Z, Billy Joel on Senate Floor to Ban Resale of Charity Tickets for Profit

Daniel L. Squadron

May 6, 2015

Squadron Fights Annual Ticket Resale Extender Bill So Resellers Can't Profit from Charity Events

Squadron: "H to the izz-O, T to the icket... Of Ticket Scalping You Wouldn't Believe, How Many Charities Have Been Cheated, Funds Diverted Like Thieves"

ALBANY -- Today, State Senator Daniel Squadron cited Jay-Z and Billy Joel on the Senate floor in opposition to a bill that would let ticket resellers continue to make a profit on charity events. This annual bill extending ticket resale laws in New York (S.4801) passed the Senate. This follows Senator Squadron's floor speech in 2014 citing Kanye West and Bruce Springsteen opposing this legislation. Squadron has carried legislation for years (S.571) that would prohibit the practice of reselling tickets for more than their face value if the event’s revenue is dedicated to a charity or not-for-profit cause.

Here is the clip of Senator Squadron's speech today on the Senate Floor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPbq8DT3XVA

To the tune of Billy Joel's "We Didn't Start the Fire," Squadron said:

"We shouldn’t scalp the tickets
They were too expensive, tried to tell the Senate
We shouldn’t scalp the tickets
We have to right it, it’s our chance to fight it"
And to the rhythm of Jay-Z's "Izzo (H.O.V.A.)," Squadron said:

"V to the izz-O...T to the izz-E…
Welcome ladies and gentlemen to the 8th wonder of the world
The New York State Senate, oh it’s timeless, vote!
Thanks for comin’ out this afternoon
You coulda been anywhere in the world, but you decided to come to session
I appreciate that...

H to the izz-O, T to the icket
On charity shows
Sizellers say stick it
Of ticket scalping, you wouldn’t believe
How many charities have been cheated, funds diverted like thieves
 

V to the izz-O, T to the izz-EStop this bill, stand with me
V to the izz-O, T to the izz-E
Now’s the time, Mr. President,
I vote N to the izz-O"

Charity tickets have been resold on secondary sites for many times their face value. Money generated by ticket sales from charity events is meant to go to the designated charity and to defray the costs of the shows, not to those who can resell the tickets to the highest bidder. For example, the concert event 12/12/12 raised money for the Robin Hood Foundation to help Sandy victims. But the show sold out in minutes and resellers posted tickets at prices up to $6,500. Billy Joel performed a charity concert to benefit Long Island Cares in 2013, where tickets were resold online for up to $4,000. On May 28 of this year, the MusiCares MAP Fund will host a benefit concert, headlined by Billy Idol and Joan Jett, and tickets are being resold for upwards of $1,250. Bombshell the Musical is a one-night-only performance on June 8, 2015, and a ticket is up for sale for $2,305 on Stubhub. There are many more examples of ticket resellers making a profit on charity events. Squadron will continue pushing his legislation in the Senate to stop this practice.

*This is a revised version of the press release

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