Cutting the Cost of Ticket Fees in New York

The problem
In New York, everyday services come with convenience fees, overdraft charges, and other hidden costs that disproportionately affect low‑income residents and state workers.

Tourism vs. transparency

• Tourists generate $10 billion annually, projected to rise to $150 billion with the 2026 World Cup.
• Companies like Ticketmaster add steep markups on concert tickets, eroding this revenue.
• Live Nation—owned by the state through pension funds—is still levying fees that burden ordinary citizens.

Current Comptroller’s stance
Tom DiNapoli holds a $13 million stake in Live Nation but has not demanded greater transparency.

New candidate’s strategy

• Leverage state ownership of Live Nation to force disclosure of ticket and service fees.
• Audit every venue that receives state money, searching for hidden charges and preventing profit‑driven exploitation.
• Create a public database where residents can report unfair fees; data will be shared with the Attorney General and consumer‑protection groups.

Combatting predatory lending

• Require new loan products to clearly state costs, interest rates, and borrower rights.
• Collaborate with the Department of Financial Services to curb excessive overdraft fees.

State‑level leadership
While city officials already target junk fees, the new Comptroller will take the lead at the state level, ensuring New York’s funds are used wisely and businesses are held accountable.