National Reform Groups Announce Significant Support for Public Financing of Elections in New York...

Groups Including NOW, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, Rock the Vote and People for the American Way Agree, 2011 is The Time to Reform Elections in NY

Exactly One Year After Citizens United, Momentum Growing to Limit Influence of Lobbyists, Special Interests

On the one year anniversary of the Citizens United decision, more than a dozen national reform groups, including the National Organization of Women (NOW), Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, Rock the Vote and People for the American Way, announced in a letter to Governor Andrew Cuomo that they were not only endorsing public financing of campaigns in New York, but will be actively providing significant support to pass the much needed reform to New York’s outdated campaign finance laws. The letter from the prominent national groups adds to the growing momentum for public financing in New York.

“For years, states have served as a laboratory for restoring our government to one that is of, by, and for the people. Passing a Fair Elections system in New York would not only be good for New Yorkers, but would create momentum at the state and federal level to pass legislation that would put elections back in the hands of voters,” said Nick Nyhart, co-founder and CEO of Public Campaign.

“With the record breaking and anonymous spending in the mid-term elections, special interests' grip on Washington is tightening and further drowning out the voices of average Americans. We need to change the way we pay for our political campaigns so elected officials work for we the people, not the special interests who paid for their campaigns," said Bob Edgar, president of Common Cause.

The full list of signers of the letter to Governor Cuomo are:

o National Organization for Women

o Rock the Vote

o Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW)

o People For the American Way

o Alliance for Justice

o Americans for Campaign Reform

o Brennan Center for Justice

o Common Cause

o Democracy 21

o DEMOS

o Democracy Matters

o 9to5, National Association of Working Women

o Public Campaign

o Public Citizen

A public funding system with small donor matching funds similar to New York City’s will dramatically reduce candidates’ dependence on special interest donors and lobbyists’ political contributions. Public funding would also begin to reduce the public’s cynicism about elected officials since the public will know they are only accountable primarily to the voters- and not to special interests and donors. With public funding, elections are not just about raising money, but more about a candidate's ability and policy positions.

The full letter is below:

Forest Park Carousel Fans Have to Wait a While Longer as City Continues Search for New Vendor by Lisa L. Colangelo - NY Daily News

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Visitors to Forest Park hoping to take a ride on its historic carousel will have to wait a little longer.

Plans to open the carousel, which has sat silent for more than a year, are still pending while the city works with a new vendor and vies for state funding to help with its restoration.

Local officials had originally hoped the wood carousel - cited by experts as a rare jewel - would be open this summer.

Heartbroken carousel lovers are making their voices heard with a grass-roots campaign that includes a new Facebook page and a petition drive.

More than 250 people have joined the group in less than a week, sharing memories and urging officials to act quickly.

"The response has been overwhelming," said Ed Wendell, president of the Woodhaven Residents Block Association.

"The Forest Park Carousel touched so many of their lives, and they all hope that years from now their little ones will be able to look back on it as fondly as they do now," he said.

The carousel is one of the last remaining works of master woodcarver Daniel Carl Muller. It dates back to the early 20th century but didn't arrive in Queens until the 1970s. It was brought to Forest Park to replace a carousel that had burned down in 1966.

The carousel fell into disrepair and was reopened in 1989 after a top-to-bottom renovation. But it fell into neglect again and its previous vendor, New York One LLC, pulled out almost two years ago.

City Councilman Eric Ulrich (R-Ozone Park) and others wrote letters to state officials in charge of historic grants, saying the carousel is the "heart and soul" of the Woodhaven community.

Parks Department spokeswoman Patricia Bertuccio said yesterday that negotiations were continuing and a reopening date has not been set.

Senator Addabbo: "Election Reforms Ensure Absentee and Affidavit Votes Are Counted and Improve Election Administration" ...

In recent months, the New York State Senate passed a package of election reforms to improve the absentee and affidavit voting process and election administration; some have passed in the Senate or have since been signed into law by Governor Paterson. These bills underscore the Senate’s commitment to delivering an inclusive, reliable and efficient electoral process to the voters of New York.

“The Elections Committee has made common sense reforms a priority because, under no circumstance, should voters question their role in our democracy,” said NYS Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. (D-Howard Beach), Chair of the Senate Elections Committee.

Legislative Summary:

S2868-B/ Addabbo:

• Simplifies the absentee ballot application process by eliminating private and superfluous information requirements and shortening the time for application.
• Removes questions about why a voter cannot make it to the polls, including if they have a permanent or temporary disability. Also eliminates provisions requiring voters with permanent illness or physical disability to list on the application the particulars of their illness.
• Removes the requirement that the Boards of Elections investigate whether such voter is being truthful as it pertains to said illness or disability.

S4960B/ Krueger:

• Allows voters to request an absentee ballot by fax for the first time ever.
• Reduces the time it takes voters to receive their absentee ballot, while making it easier for voters who are out of town or abroad, including military personnel, to return their ballots in time for them to be counted.

S5988/ Klein:

• Provides for a dual affidavit ballot, voter registration and change of enrollment form.
• Ensures that those who vote by affidavit ballot are properly registered for the next round of elections.
• Eliminates cost of postage for local Board of Elections.

S3252/ Addabbo:

• Includes space for an e-mail address on voter registration forms.
• Provides voters with the option of an additional means of communication with local Board of Elections.

S6910/ Addabbo:

• Promotes administrative efficiency by allowing the Board of Elections to determine how changes to mailing addresses are made. It was passed in the Senate on May 17.
• Allows individuals to update their mailing address by additional methods such as telephone, email and fax.
• Requires candidates who file campaign disclosure reports to provide the name and address of the bank where they maintain campaign accounts.

"New York voters deserve a simple and easy way to request materials to participate in our democratic process," said Senator Liz Krueger (D-Manhattan).

"Voters will now be able to take advantage of more convenient, faster technologies including fax and email to request absentee ballots, which will encourage people to exercise their right to vote."

“I am wholly committed to creating a more open, accessible, and responsible electoral process for all New Yorkers. First and foremost, this means breaking down barriers that keep eligible New York voters from being counted,” said State Senator and Deputy Majority Leader Jeffrey D. Klein (D-Bronx/Westchester).

"The League of Women Voters of NYS applauds the Senate for passing these bills which improve the voting process for New York voters. Removing obstacles to absentee voting and expanding opportunities for eligible voters to participate in choosing their elected representatives, especially in this statewide election year, is a positive step," added Aimee Allaud, Elections Specialist, League of Women Voters of New York State.

Susan Lerner, Executive Director of Common Cause/NY noted, “Common Cause/NY applauds the Senate for passing these long overdue election reforms. They remove unnecessary impediments and inconveniences that make it harder for New Yorkers to be able to vote and help streamline election and campaign procedures. As long-time supporters of no-excuse absentee voting, we are particularly pleased by the passage of S2868-B (Addabbo), which simplifies the absentee ballot application process, and by its being signed into law by Governor Paterson on April 28.”

"This package of reform bills individually and collectively will help remove some of the obstacles to voting that get in the way of New Yorkers casting their ballots," said NYPIRG Legislative Counsel Russ Haven. "This moves us in the direction of making it easier to participate in the most essential part of our democracy: voting to choose our designated representatives."

Concluded Dick Dadey, Executive Director of Citizens Union, “Citizens Union commends the Senate for the passage of a number of election reform bills that aim to provide voters with greater ease in registering to vote and casting their ballots. In particular, S2868-B, simplifies the process of receiving an absentee ballot and S5988, which streamlines the process of registering or changing voter enrollment through an affidavit ballot, and was also signed into law by the governor on April 28. Both of these bills provide voters with an easier process for ensuring they are registered and are able to cast their ballot. In addition, allowing voters to include their email addresses on voter registration forms as provided in S.3252, is a smart step toward harnessing today’s technology to provide voters with necessary information and make communicating with the public as widespread and easy as possible. Citizens Union has long advocated for election processes that maximize participation and increases access to voting, and these bills take us in that direction.”

Statement from Public Advocate Bill de Blasio On The Disclosure Act

“In Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission the Supreme Court rolled back decades of restrictions on corporate electioneering spending that protected both the political process and the shareholder owners of corporations. In a new era where massive corporate spending is possible, investors, consumers, and the general public must know how corporations are spending in political campaigns. That is why in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision, I started an investor campaign for corporate political disclosure, including organizing institutional investors and pension funds to demand that Congress take swift action. The DISCLOSE Act introduced today contains the most thorough disclosure requirements ever for corporations and other special interest groups. This is a crucial step in repairing the damage done by the Citizens United decision. I urge Congress to pass this legislation.”

NY Daily News (Queens Section) Op-Ed - Fat Cats Badly Need Harness to Safeguard Our Elections by Senator Joseph A. Addabbo - NY Daily News

This appeared in the print edition of the NY Daily News Queens section on May 11, 2010 but is not available in their online edition...

NY DAILY NEWS-Queens p. 6 - Tuesday, May 11, 2010 – “Be Our Guest”

Op-ED by NYS Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr.

FAT CATS BADLY NEED HARNESS TO SAFEGUARD OUR ELECTIONS

Enormously wealthy corporations should not be able to determine the outcome of elections by spending unlimited amounts of money on political campaigns. The misguided Supreme Court decision, Citizens United, would allow that to happen, and this poses a serious threat to the democratic foundations of America.

Freedom of speech – especially political speech - is an essential condition of democracy. A free marketplace of ideas ensures that citizens will have a broad range of information and opinion available to help them reach good decisions. However, there is no reason to believe that allowing deep-pocket corporations to swamp the airwaves with political ads will result in the public being better-informed. In fact, the public could end up being worse-informed. If corporations buy an extremely large share of the limited television time available, it does not add to the diversity of viewpoints.

In addition, the sheer volume of advertising will give the false impression of more public support than there really is for the opinions being expressed. Remember, the ads will be paid for with the money of corporate stockholders, and in many cases these stockholders will not agree with the opinions they are paying to advertise.

The state Senate Elections Committee, of which I am the chairman, is taking action to prevent unchecked corporate spending in New York elections. Failure to act would undermine the public’s confidence in the independence and integrity of elected officials. Citizens must be certain those holding public office are representing the interests of all the voters, not powerful corporations that fund their campaigns.

The committee is taking steps to ensure the integrity of the democratic process. We have approved legislation requiring all political advertisements to clearly state who is paying for them. We already require candidates to state “I approve this ad.” This measure holds corporate sponsors to the same standard. Voters deserve to know when corporations and other big money contributors try to buy elections. By shining a light on the sponsors of campaign ads, we will make corporations accountable to the public and rein in outlandish rhetoric and accusations.

The elections committee also has passed legislation to increase donor disclosure and strengthen regulation for candidates. We are serious and committed to ensuring fairness in our elections, and we are not alone. The U.S. Congress and President Obama are also working on a legislative response to this decision that would sharply limit the ability of foreign-connected companies to participate in U.S. politics. Proposals are also in the works to require greater transparency from corporations, unions and nonprofit groups for political advertising.

The public is also behind us. A recent Washington Post poll showed that eight of 10 respondents opposed the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision. Both Democrats and Republicans are speaking out, and will work together in crafting a response.

As chairman, I understand the seriousness of this decision and what needs to be done to preserve the integrity of our elections and our democracy. In the coming weeks, I will be reaching out to legislative leaders and my colleagues in the Senate to urge the passage of this legislation. It is what the people of New York, and our nation, deserve and it is what must be done to preserve fair elections free from the corrupting influence of deep-pocket corporations.

Joseph Addabbo, Jr., a Democrat, is chairman of the state Senate Committee on Elections. He represents the 15^th District in western Queens.

Citizens Union For Moya, Chapey, Rose by Elizabeth Benjamin - The Daily Politics - NY Daily News

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After interviewing 10 candidates running in the three Feb. 24 City Council special elections, the good government group Citizens Union has announced its endorsements.

Unlike union endorsements, the CU's backing doesn't come with any campaign help with GOTV efforts or phone banks or door knocking. It basically gives candidates bragging rights and the ability to claim the reform mantle.

The CU's choices are:

- Francisco Moya (21st CD). The CU also evaluated Moya's opponents Julissa Ferreras and Jose Eduardo Giraldo, but not George Dixon. The organization called Ferreras "qualified" and praised Giraldo's "business perspective," but ultimately decided on Moya because of his "admirable history of community involvement in the district and his diverse experience at the local, state and federal level."

- Geraldine Chapey (32nd CD). Chapey has been under fire for her aggressive (and successful) efforts to get some of her opponents bounced off the ballot. The CU didn't mention that in its press release, but said it selected Chapey because of her "extensive experience on state and local issues."

Eric Ulrich was also interviewed, and the CU liked his "driven nature, fresh perspective and energetic presence." Two other candidates, Mike Ricatto (who is ON the ballot; it's Glenn DiResto and Sam DiBernardo who are off (fixed)) and Lew Simon were not evaluated.

- Debi Rose (49th CD). After interviewing five candidates, the CU settled on Rose because of her "vibrant presence," ability to serve as an "inspiring advocate" on health care and community issues, knowledge of the district and "strong support" of the organization's reform agenda.

The CU also endorsed Rose's unsuccessful 2001 Council bid.

The other candidates - Rev. Tony Baker, Kenneth Mitchell, Paul Saryian and John Tabacco (now off the ballot) - "also demonstrated a thorough understanding of the needs of the district," the CU stated.