Will you be voting in New York State ?
Time to spread the word!
Attention NYS voters:
There are three propositions on this November's ballot.
Yes or No on a Constitutional Convention.
Also an amendment to allow a judge to reduce or eliminate public pensions from officials who are convicted of felonies associated with their public duties.
And a 250 acre land bank to replace land that local governments must use for infrastructure in the NYS forever wild parks in the Adirondacks and the Catskills.
We ran NYS Constitutional Convention around at our Democratic county meeting. Public unions are against it because our pensions are protected by it, NYS government cannot "borrow" the pension fund, ending up with a crisis like other state's pension funds. Second amendment people are worried that NY politicians will put gun restrictions into the Constitution.
The NYS Constitution can be amended by having two years of approval in Albany, followed by a public vote to approve or disapprove the amendment the third year; we really don't need to have the whole Constitution rewritten by politicians fueled by corporate donations.
The last time NYS held a Con-Con, it cost millions (in the mid sixties) and when they were done writing, the NYS voters turned it down. Big waste of time and money.
I encourage a no vote for a Con-Con. and a yes vote on the land bank.
I have mixed feelings about stripping pensions, because it's complicated. There has to be a judgement, and appeals can be made and convictions can be overturned. Pensions may have been earned in lower level position, before someone is elected or appointed, and they are earned and contributions are made by the individual. I don't think the years earned after being in a position where someone is corrupt should be included in their pension calculation. I'm leaning yes, because a judge could reasonably come to a similar conclusion.
Will you want to vote in the NYS primary for governor?
∆∆∆∆ It's important to remind NYS folks they must register with a party by October 13 if they want to be able to vote in primaries in 2018. NYS governor, and other NYS officials, as well as all Congressional and one Senator position may have primaries in June 2018. Change or join a party within the next two weeks!
This is a great time to remind unaffiliated voters about how important it is to join a party that may have a spirited primary contest in 2018. There were a lot of frustrated voters in 2016 in NY.
Your local county Board of Election has the forms and will assist you, just give them a call!