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General News: Village Supports NY State Reform
September 22, 2009
The village of Cornwall-on-Hudson has thrown its hat in with a group calling for a constitutional convention in New York aimed at reforming state government.
On Monday, the board of trustees approved a resolution to support the bipartisan movement for a People’s Convention to Reform New York Act. Trustee Rick Gioia introduced a motion in favor of the act, noting that it represents an attempt to address problems in Albany by citizens rather than elected officials. "The top down is not working," Gioia told his fellow board members after reading the document, "this is really a bottom up effort."
New York State Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb is promoting a petition drive to get the issue on the ballot so voters can decide whether to hold a convention. On his website, www.reformny.org, Assemblyman Kolb says that the word “mess” may not be strong enough to describe the state of New York. He calls on average citizens to bring real solutions to New York’s problems.
By law, citizens may vote every 20 years on whether they want to hold a constitutional convention that would have the power to change the fundamental structures of state government. The last time the state constitution was changed by participants in a convention was 1938. In 1997, voters rejected a measure calling for a constitutional convention and the next official time they could vote on it is 2017, unless the current effort persuades lawmakers to call for an earlier vote.
According to a spokesperson for Assemblyman Kolb, only one other municipality in New York has adopted a resolution similar to the one adopted in Cornwall-on-Hudson. Josh Fitzpatrick said that a representative of the town of Ridgeway in Orleans County called him on Tuesday to report approving the measure. In addition, 1,179 people, most of them from upstate New York, have signed an online petition in support of the act.
The trustees briefly discussed the resolution before voting on it with all agreeing with Mark Edsall's comment, "they need help in Albany."
Comments:
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I do not recall any public discussion by the Village Board about either the benefits or the risks of a constitutional convention in advance of this vote. What makes Rick Gioia believe the Village Board speaks on behalf of the community on a matter of statewide concern? Do they even understand all of the issues this raises? Is this the best way to help Albany? Does Rick think the Village Board can claim to speak on behalf of the community regarding health care or the war in Iraq ? Village Board, please spend your time making the Village a better place to live instead.
posted by Howard Protter on 09/25/09 at 10:48 AM
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If that were the only thing accomplished at last Monday's board meeting, Howard, I'd have to agree with you. By the way, if you had been there you'd know that there was discussion and full board consensus on the motion. Is it the "best" way to help Albany? There's a joke there somewhere. I'm just not sure if this is the punchline.
posted by Rick Gioia on 09/27/09 at 6:53 PM
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