Citizens for Better Government in New York

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Help Restore New York State to Greatness.

Citizens Rally for Reform of New York Government on April 29, 2008

Reform Day was held on April 29th in Albany.
In cooperation with Common Cause, CBGNY members met with legislative leaders one-on-one, to learn of their opinion on urgently needed reforms.

For the most part, legislators passed on the usual "agree with us in concept, but not now". We have work ahead.

To watch a brief two-minute video, featuring CBGNY President Stu Berger, Click Here.

Important Annual Meeting - June 3 - Join Us!
We'll be meeting at the Brighton Library Learning Center. Learn more about what's needed to restore New York State to greatness, rather than failure.

Can you chip-in $15 for CBGNY membership for a year? It's CBGNY membership dues time for 2008 with a minimum of $15 contribution per member requested. Please consider giving as much as you feel able, our coffers have been depleted! Your donation counts! Feel free to bring a check or cash to our Albany trip, although not required. Sorry, not tax deductable.

Imagine Albany filled with politicians owing nothing to special interests. "Clean Elections" will make this reality.

More Information from YouTube on Clean Elections:
Beth Edmonds, president of the Maine State Senate, talks about the benefits of Clean Elections-style public financing of elections. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIHlZ_5P58w

Excellent TV spot from Arizona Clean Elections Board: http://youtube.com/watch?v=aqIGL2hhLeU

Good "real life website" of the official Arizona Clean Elections commission: http://azcleanelections.gov/ccecweb/ccecays/home.asp

For details on CMCE, view this excellent four-part series prepared by Metro Justice. You'll find that this is a non-partisan campaign to clean up state government. View first part at the link below. Then look for other "TV Dinner" links to the right of the YouTube page:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pm27KMR3FE

General Important Concerns of New York's Citizens

People are concerned about Education, Jobs, Health care, Property taxes, and other important issues. Serious problems are not being addressed because the machinery of government in Albany is broken.

The first step to fixing New York's problems is to fix Albany. The health of New York cannot be restored unless the legislative process is open, fair, democratic, deliberative, transparent, effective, and accountable to citizens. Healthy government is the prerequisite for a healthy State. (Why This Matters)

Who's Buying our State Legislature? Find Out the Answers on a New Website:

[Sunlightny.org] "Project Sunlight" easily exposes the links between donors, lobbyists, contracts, campaign contributions, proposed laws and elected officials.

Special Interests use big money to buy our elected officials. We need legislators to work for us on – health care, jobs, education and property taxes.

Fundamental Process Reforms

CBGNY is campaigning for fundamental process reforms which will put our State on the road to recovery. Now is the ideal time to press legislators for commitment and action on reform.

Citizens demand action by our Legislature. Add your name to the petition supporting Reform and join the E-march on Albany. (ReformNY Petition)

CBGNY is a non-partisan, statewide citizens organization dedicated to changing New York State's government. Our State's legislative process has been described as the "most dysfunctional in the nation."* Working together, citizens can help to fix our State, and build a better future. Our ultimate goal is a healthy State where all citizens can prosper.

* Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law, Press Release dated 7/21/04, accompanying publication of its report: "The New York State Legislative Process: an Evaluation and Blueprint for Reform"