Public Employee Press

Election 2014
3 big questions

New York State voters will find three proposals calling for yes or no votes on their ballots Nov. 4.

Proposals 1 and 2 are amendments to the state constitution that would weaken our democratic processes and reduce the power of working people in the political system. DC 37 recommends a no vote on these.

The union urges members to vote yes on Proposal 3, which would provide vital funding for computers for our schoolchildren and security equipment for our public schools.

The articles below provide important facts about the proposals.

Proposal 1
An amendment to the New York State Constitution:
Revising the state’s redistricting procedure

This amendment would create a supposedly independent commission to establish the districts for members of the U.S. Congress, state Senate and state Assembly. It would throw out the current system, which assigns this important power to our elected representatives in the Legislature.

District boundaries strongly affect who wins elections, and District Council 37 believes Proposal 1 would weaken our democracy by taking this power away from the state Senate and Assembly members elected by voters and their communities and giving it to a commission whose members are appointed by politicians.

“Ultimately, this is not an independent process, and the voters lose,” said Common Cause Director Susan Lerner.

“As surely as a puppet doesn’t act independently, this commission would be a tool,” said the Albany Times Union. Good government groups went to court, and in September a state Supreme Court judge ordered the word “independent” removed from the proposal. “The commission cannot be described as independent,” said the court.

“People like us have fought and even died for the right to vote,” said DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts. “We should never take power from the voters and working communities and give it to a hand-picked commission.”

VOTE NO

Proposal 2
An amendment to the New York State Constitution:
Permitting electronic distribution of state legislative bills

This amendment would end the requirement that legislators get a printed copy of proposed bills three days before they have to vote on them. Instead, it would let bills be sent to legislators by email or other computer methods. This change could weaken the democratic process in the state Legislature and let bills and budgets be rushed through the Senate and Assembly without our representatives having a good chance to examine what they are voting on.

“I’m troubled by the likely outcome of this amendment,” said state Assembly member Shelley Mayer (Dem.-Yonkers).

“It would increase the risk that fewer legislators will get to read bills before they have to vote.” Mayer added, “The paper copies are important, especially as we debate proposed legislation.”

“We should not make it harder for our elected representatives in Albany to do their jobs responsibly,” said DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts.

VOTE NO

Proposal 3
A proposition:
The smart schools bond act

This proposal would let the state issue $2 billion of bonds to provide computers for our public schoolchildren so they can advance and compete in the global economy. Its contents read like every parent’s wish list for their children’s school:

• Equalize opportunities for children to learn by providing desktop, laptop and tablet computers and other modern learning technology, such as interactive whiteboards.
• Equip public schools with high-speed broadband or wireless Internet.
• Build, expand or modernize schools to replace trailer classrooms with permanent facilities and accommodate more pre-kindergarten programs.
• Install high-tech security features at our public schools.

Our children and grandchildren belong in classrooms, not unsafe rusting trailers, and they deserve adequate protection with modern security features. We must provide them with up-to-date learning equipment so they can compete and get jobs in an economy where technical skills are important.

This bond act would send a much needed $800 million or more to New York City schools.

“ALL our children must have equal access to computers these days, and we have to provide the funds our schools need to do this,” said DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts.

VOTE YES