State Feed: New York

New York Senator Honored for Sponsoring Legislation to Create Initiative Process

Mon, 11 Jul 2011 14:03:09 -0400

(LAKE RIDGE, VA) – Today, Citizens in Charge Foundation, a national voter rights group focused on the ballot initiative and referendum process, presented New York State Senator Joseph Robach with the July 2011 John Lilburne Award for sponsoring legislation this year in the New York Senate to create a citizen initiative & referendum process in the state.

Citizens' Rights Safe in Many States as State Legislatures End Sessions

Tue, 18 May 2010 14:23:59 -0400

Of the 45 states whose legislatures hold sessions in 2010, 27 of them have adjourned for the year, and 5 more will wrap up before the end of the month. Of the more than 80 bills dealing with the initiative and referendum process in various states, 51 of them would have reduced citizens’ initiative rights. Thanks to the work of activists in our coalitions, only 3 bills reducing citizen’s rights have passed and become law.

Local initiative to decrease size of legislature

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:46:27 -0500

When Niagara County Republican Chairman Henry Wojtaszek announced his resignation following last week’s election, he did so in the knowledge he was going out a winner. For his opposite number — county Democratic Chairman Dan Rivera — the mood was more somber. Incumbent Democrats in North Tonawanda and Lewiston lost by huge margins, Niagara Falls’ Fifth District county Legislature seat had gone Republican for the first time since the Eisenhower administration, and highly respected members of his own party were publicly calling for his resignation.

Special elections law on ballot

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:16:03 -0400

Southampton Town residents heading to the polls on November 3 will not only be asked to fill several town government positions, they also will cast votes on three ballot proposals, including a new town special elections law. Proposal III on the ballot, if approved, would mandate that Southampton Town elected positions that are vacated mid-term would be filled via a special election held 60 to 90 days after a vacancy is declared. If a vacancy occurs within 90 days of a regularly scheduled general election, the post would remain vacant until the general election.

New York Citizen David Schlegel Honored With September Lilburne Award

Thu, 03 Sep 2009 16:11:22 -0400

Today, Citizens in Charge Foundation, presented Auburn, New York citizen David Schlegel with the September 2009 John Lilburne Award. Mr. Schlegel is being recognized for standing up for the rights of citizens and actively pressuring his state representatives to enact a statewide process of initiative and referendum.

David Schlegel Honored with September Lilburne Award

Thu, 03 Sep 2009 14:08:25 -0400

(LAKE RIDGE, VA) – Today, Citizens in Charge Foundation, a transpartisan national voter rights group focused on the ballot initiative and referendum process, presented Auburn, New York citizen David Schlegel with the September 2009 John Lilburne Award. Mr. Schlegel is being recognized for standing up for the rights of citizens and actively pressuring his state representatives to enact a statewide process of initiative and referendum.

Ballot initiative debate on property tax cap

Thu, 06 Aug 2009 16:52:31 -0400

The Brookhaven Town Board meeting Tuesday was dominated by debate — in some ways reminiscent of prosecutorial cross-examination — between a former federal prosecutor, Supervisor Mark Lesko, and 6th District Councilman Keith Romaine (R-Center Moriches). The subject was a proposal by Romaine to place a referendum on the ballot in November to implement a 4 percent property tax cap in Brookhaven. The often heated debate touched more than once on Nov. 3, Election Day.

Easier access for ballot initiatives in New York

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:17:28 -0400

On June 24, New York Governor David Paterson signed A8501. It makes it fairly easy to qualify a local initiative that has the purpose of asking the voters if they wish to abolish any particular local unit of government, or if they wish to merge two different local governments.

Read the story from Ballot Access News

Citizens need to approve spending cap

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:18:03 -0400

The city of Auburn wants to increase the amount of money it can spend and borrow on green energy projects. But the citizens have to approve the change before it goes on the books. City officials are looking to get a public referendum on the November ballot that, if passed, would raise a spending cap currently in place for all public utility projects. The cap has limited spending on energy projects to $2.5 million each for more than a decade.

Read the story from The Citizen

New York Governor Likely to Sign Local Ballot Initiative Bill

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 15:42:23 -0400

The Governor of New York is expected to sign a bill that makes it easier to use the local ballot initiative process. Only initiatives to dissolve or merge local governments would be effected.

Read the story from Ballot Access News

Potential for a November clean water and clean air ballot measure in NY

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 11:28:39 -0400

Legislation has been introduced in the assembly to put a measure on the ballot for the November 2009 elections.

Read the story from WXXA 23

Public Referendum to downsize local government

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 10:25:30 -0400

Following the lead of the legislature-formed 21st Century Commission and this week’s decisions by voters in the towns of West Seneca and Evans to reduce the size of their town boards, the democratic majority in the Erie County Legislature is proposing a local law to reduce the size of its 15-member body to 13.

Read the story from WNED

New York Citizens Take Charge

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 12:08:52 -0400

Today the Buffalo News reported citizens in New York are taking charge of their government. The state has made it easier to bring issues to a vote.

The author of the bill, Attorney General Andrew Cuomos hopes the legislation will empower voters and create a more efficient local government.

The article states:

Legislation eases path to government consolidation

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 10:41:29 -0400

Citizens will find it easier to bring petitions to merge or abolish local governments — from villages to fire districts to sewer agencies — under legislation that won final legislative approval Wednesday night in the State Senate.

Read the story from Buffalo News

New Yorkers Lobby for an Initiative and Referendum Process

Fri, 22 May 2009 11:02:16 -0400

Citizens in New York are looking for ways to reform the state’s political process.

State Assemblyman Anthony Seminerio, D-Queens, and Sen. Michael Ranzenhofer, R-Amherst have introduced legislation to enact an initiative and referendum process in New York.

Today Charles Roda writes an editorial on the why voters should embrace the process. He argues the state’s current system is broken:

NY State Senator Launches Petition Drive to Restore Rebate Program

Mon, 04 May 2009 12:23:53 -0400

A state Senator has launched a petition drive to restore a program that sends tax rebate checks to homeowners to offset property tax increases. The drive to re-establish the STAR program will use online signature collecting and social media networking on sites such as Facebook.

Read the story from the Evening Observer

State Rep. Allen Treadaway to file recall measure

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 13:15:03 -0500

State Rep. Allen Treadaway, R-51st, announced last week in a press release that he will file a bill prior to the 2009 legislative session that will provide for a recall process to remove elected officials at the state and county levels.

Under current Alabama law, only municipal officials are subject to recall.

“Accountability by elected officials to the taxpayers is the key to good government,” Treadaway said.

Favoring a Simple Way to Get to Another Term

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 09:30:51 -0400

So Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg has decided he wants a third term. Now what?

The simplest and most direct route — and the strategy that Bloomberg advisers say he is most likely to pursue — is to have the City Council revise the term limits law, at least temporarily. The law was adopted in a 1993 voter referendum that amended the City Charter.

Flushing Residents Petition to Recall Local Politicians

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 16:39:16 -0400

Flushing residents are collecting signatures from passers-by to recall two local politicians—Councilman John Liu (Queens) and New York State Assemblywoman Ellen Young. The Epoch Times interviewed some of the supporters on July 20, 2008.

Former Senator Gravel Backs NYC 9/11 Commission

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 11:52:47 -0400

After two presidential runs in one year, former Senator Mike Gravel is setting his sites on New York City politics, specifically a grassroots effort to have New York City citizens vote to establish a new September 11th investigation commission.