Dear Lucas,
I write to update you on a few important matters related to our work. After you read about the great strides we are making, please consider making a financial contribution.
First is the important progress we are making in our goal of redistricting reform through the creation of an independent commission to impartially draw the legislative district lines for the 2012 election cycle. More specific details follow below.
I encourage you to watch the online video of our 2011 Annual Members Meeting on June 16 where a fascinating civic conversation took place exploring whether transcending partisan politics for the public interest is possible. It was led by CU board member John Avlon, columnist for Newsweek and The Daily Beast, and featured Peggy Noonan, columnist for The Wall Street Journal, and Jeff Greenfield, journalist of note and author of Then Everything Changed.
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Redistricting Reform
The state's legislative session ended two weeks ago and clearly was seen as one of the most productive in recent memory. Among those issues passed and signed into law: an on-time budget that addressed the state's fiscal issues (rightly or wrongly depending upon your viewpoint), an historic ethics reform bill that will change the culture in Albany, and significant civil rights and policy issues like marriage equality, housing affordability in the form of continued rent control protections, and a property tax-cap.
Left undone was passage of redistricting reform legislation that would end the rigged process of partisan gerrymandering and create an independent commission to impartially draw district lines for both state legislative and congressional seats. It may still happen soon however, as the legislature may need to convene in special session this summer or early fall to address a number of issues with redistricting reform topping the list.
Last week former Mayor Ed Koch and Citizens Union issued a call for a special legislative session to tackle redistricting reform , just as the current legislator-controlled system dating back three decades, known as LATFOR , began holding its first public hearings.
Working the last few weeks in Albany to advance this issue left us in a very strong place as 184 of the 212 members of the legislature pledged or co-sponsored legislation to create such a commission.
Prompted in part by CU's reminder about the Governor's pledge to veto partisan lines drawn directly by the legislature, the Assembly co-chair of LATFOR told the press that such a veto would be "petty" and "dumb." The use of those words prompted an unexpected but welcomed rebuttal by the Governor in which he made very clear that he will veto lines drawn in a partisan manner - the first time he has ever been so publicly specific about his intentions. It woke up the political world in Albany to the fact that redistricting reform is still on the table.
We are not taking the summer off as we push forward with our ReShapeNY campaign with the goal of getting the legislature back to Albany to pass redistricting reform legislation. To help us accomplish this, go to our ReShapeNY campaign website and participate in our action alerts to contact your legislators about redistricting.
Please also consider making a special gift to our campaign.
Have a great summer and look for continued updates from Citizens Union!
Sincerely,
Dick Dadey
Executive Director
P.S. If you are interested, here is some of the press CU and the issue of redistricting received last week.
Albany Times Union: Goo-goos: Special Session for Redistricting
St ate of Politics: Goos goos to Lawmakers - Get Redistricting Reform Done
YNN.com: Cuomo continues to push for an independent redistricting commission
Capital Tonight: Dadey-Talks-Redistricting
NY Daily News: Would be 'dumb' for Gov. Cuomo to veto district redraw, Assemblyman Jack McEneny says
Public Radio: Cuomo Renews Veto Threat as Legislative Redistricting Committee Meets