New York
Progressive columnist Randy Shaw recently offered New York City as an example of the protections that come from a healthy process of initiative and referendum (emphasis mine):
Sen. Joseph Robach, R-Greece, received the July 2011 John Lilburne Award for sponsoring legislation that would create a citizen initiative and referendum process in New York. The bill (S.709/A.4978) would give citizens the ability to propose and then vote on statutes and amendments to the state Constitution. As it stands, New Yorkers have no such power to enact or appeal laws, or amend the Constitution.
(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.
The New York State Senate today passed a constitutional amendment that would give New Yorkers a more direct role in the legislative process by empowering them to enact and amend laws through initiative and referendum. The bill (S.709), sponsored by Senator Joseph Robach (R-C-I, Rochester), increases the ability of New Yorkers to place an issue on a ballot for a public vote.
While legislatiors in Colorado, Utah, and California work to restrict their constituents’ access to the ballot initiative process, New York Senators voted Tuesday in favor of a constitutional amendment aimed at giving citizens more power by creating an initiative and referendum process in the state.
On January 7, a New York State Supreme Court ruled in favor of proponents of a local initiative, in Saratoga Citizens, Inc. v Franck, 03368/2010, Saratoga County. One of the issues was the requirement that petition sheets be fastened together. The proponents testified that when they had submitted the petition sheets, the sheets were fastened together with a binder clip (a spring-loaded clip).
Whether or not Erie County voters will have a choice in the size of the County Legislature come November will be determined in court soon. A State Supreme Court Judge recently ruled that a referendum on reducing the Legislature from fifteen members to eleven would be allowed on the November second ballot. However, both county election commissioners have filed an appeal to have the referendum removed.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.