February 2008

Project Sunlight [Sunlightny.org] is up and running. Blair Horner, formally of watchdog group NYPIRG, is coordinating this project for the Attorney General. He presented information on Sunlight in person to CBGNY inc. members and guests this past year and we look forward to an update in the coming year. Stay tuned.

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Fellow Reformer,

Please save November 28, 2007 6:45 to 8:30pm for an important update on fixing Albany.

· As you have read in the media, our legislative and executive branches are broken.

· Urgent legislation is not being considered!

· Powerful special interests loaded with campaign money are getting their way.

· Unique circumstances present us with a rare opportunity to achieve one of our core goals. We're ready to share our plan with you.

Join us on November 28th at the Pittsford library to find out more about our plans. We've invited some of the top people in NYS to help us including Jessica Wisneski, state organizer for Citizen Action's
" Clean Money, Clean Elections" effort. Her job is to go around NYS to help local organizations like CBGNY to take action. Getting special interest money out of our elections is the single most important step as we prepare for the big redistricting fight to come.

On November 28th CBGNY will hold an important workshop session:

· We'll learn of a clever and powerful new alliance that is working to reduce the power of special interests via a Public Financing Bill. This will move us toward Clean Elections by limiting the one-sided power of all special interests.

· You'll learn how you can help bring Clean Elections to reality, and how this will mean a more effective, efficient, and transparent government for all New Yorkers. We'll be asking for your help in several key areas.

There will time for questions and answers.

Details:

When: Wednesday, November 28, 2007 at 6:45 pm

Where: Pittsford Community Library, first floor conference room. Free parking in back of library. Map.

Donate: Can you chip in and help us carry the need for Clean Elections to the public? Send your check to Mr. Richard Barone; CBGNY; 154 Allwood Drive; Rochester, NY 14617 or donate using PayPal

by going to our web page at http://cbgny.org/donate.htm

Free munchies and soft drinks provided by CBGNY!

See you on the 28th

Stu Berger,
President, Citizens for Better Government in New York
NOTE: This note has also been sent as snail mail
585-267-5898

Links to CMCE pages.

Special "Sunlight" Workshop Held!
Wednesday, June 13, 2007 at 7pm.
Blair Horner (c) with CBGNY President Stu Berger (L), and Rome Celli (R) on June 13, 2007

While many of us feel keeping track of where our own money goes is challenging, Blair Horner is taking on the daunting task of overseeing the development of "Project Sunlight," New York State's first-ever comprehensive Internet database tracking donors, lobbyists, special interests, state contracts, and elected officials, and the links between them.

Touted as an "uncompromising force for government openness and accountability," a "constant and tireless voice for reform of government in New York State," and "the people's reformer" by such groups as NYPIRG, the League of Women Voters of New York State and Common Cause/NY, Blair Horner continues more than twenty years of solid reform work with his current effort to bring light to the otherwise obscure/murky world of elected officials, campaign contributions -- the lifeblood of their trade, and the usual beneficiaries, the lobbyists.

Citizens for Better Government in New York welcomed Blair Horner to our annual meeting. He presented highlights of a significant project to bring more openness to our State Government.

2007 REFORM NY DAY OF ACTION
Monday, April 23rd in the Hart Lounge of the Egg Theater in Albany, NY

We were there!

Members of CBGNY joined reform groups from across the state to demand fundamental changes. It was a high-energy day with important talks by Governor Spitzer, Lieutenant Governor Patterson and others.

Governor Spitzer laid out his minimum requirements for the 1st phase of campaign finance reform that was being actively negotiated as he spoke with an announcement expected later in the afternoon. His other priority is redistricting reform. He asked the reform groups to maintain their course and pressure.

There is still resistance in the Legislature that can be overcome by citizen pressure on legislators. Contact your representatives in the State Assembly and Senate and tell them you want significant real reform now!