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January 3, 2007 Media Release

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December 7, 2005 Media release

Citizens for Better Government in New York

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   January 3, 2007

Citizens of New York have petition presented in Albany by representatives of Citizens for Better Government in New York on January 3, 2007.

Citizens Present Petition for Change to NY State Legislature

Exercising their constitutional right to petition the government, representatives of Citizens for Better Government in NY (CBGNY) presented petitions to the Assembly and Senate calling for process changes that will make government more open, fair, democratic, deliberative, transparent, effective, and accountable to citizens. The petition, signed by citizens from 172 communities in every region of the state, calls for legislative process changes that will empower individual legislators.

The State of the State address is the primary focus of everyone today. However, we are in Albany to address the state of the legislature. While our petition focuses on 3 significant reforms to return democracy and stop the decline of New York, today we are here to demand 4 specific legislative rules changes as recommended by the Brennan Center of NYU Law School. These changes are:

1) Strengthen the committee process by creating mechanisms for rank-and-file members to force hearings and vote on bills.
2) End leadership control over bills getting to the floor by creating a mechanism for rank-and-file members to force floor votes.
3) Institutionalize conference committees and,
4) Codify fair, objective criteria for allotting resources and staff to members and committees.

“Voters have spoken by electing a reform-minded governor. Now the citizens are called to pressure representatives to reclaim from a dictatorial legislative leadership the power to finally solve the real problems facing our state and represent us instead of special interests,” said Rome Celli of Brighton, Vice President of CBGNY. “We want the legislature to know that people are expressing their demands for changes that will empower individual legislators and end “Three Men in a Room” as New York’s form of government.”, said Celli.

“Article One of the NY State Constitution guarantees citizens the right to petition the government,” said Reginald Neale of Farmington, CBGNY’s Secretary. The petition covers 3 major reforms and our call today is for the 4 specific legislative rules changes recommended by the Brennan Center,” said Neale.

“This petition is the first presentation of our demands”, said Bob Volpe of Rochester. “The E-march is an on-going effort to gain citizen support for change. This activity is citizen-driven so the more people sign on, the more pressure we will exert and the sooner we will get the reforms we deserve. Our goal is to tell legislators that the voices of voting citizens in their districts are louder than the voices of special interests” said Volpe.

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CONTACTS:
Rome Celli 585.732.1767 or by email:

Reginald Neale 585.315.0962

Citizens for Better Government in New York

November 3, 2006

Contact: Rome Celli FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Voice: 585.732.1767

Write-In "Reform" on Election Day

"Citizens for Better Government in New York (CBGNY) urges voters to write-in the word 'REFORM' when they go into the voting booth on Election Day. Tell those running for office what we really think," said Stu Berger, President of CBGNY. "If you're tired of hearing about all the corruption in Albany, and our state government's failure to address the big issues such as jobs, health care and education, you've got a chance to express yourself more directly & effectively on Election Day," said Berger.

Whether an incumbent or challenger wins, elected state legislators need to know voters want changes in Albany. Voters have an opportunity to send a clear message by casting a write-in vote for REFORM for every state office. "Instead of voting for a person, vote for a change", said Rome Celli, Communications officer of CBGNY.

The process is easy. Every voting machine has a place to write in the name of someone other than those on the printed ballot. This place is usually at the top of the ballot, above the line identifying the office. "We urge voters in New York to send a powerful message to Albany by writing in the word 'REFORM' instead of voting for a candidate listed on the ballot in state legislative races," said David Lum, another leader of CBGNY. "A write-in vote for REFORM will help turn the heat up in Albany," said Lum.

Voters can ask for help if needed. Those who staff polling places for the Board of Elections on Election Day can help voters with the process. You can also get more information about how to write-in REFORM at the CBGNY website at www.cbgny.org.

If you don't plan to vote because you don't think your vote won't count, think again. A write in vote for REFORM! will send a strong message that voters do want a better government. On Election Day, write-in REFORM for a change.

Rome Celli from Citizens for Better Government in New York State can be reached by phone at 585.732.1767 or by email:

Citizens for Better Government in NY
Media Release

For Immediate Release: July 10, 2006

Citizen’s Group Launches E-March on Albany

Rochester NY,—Citizens for Better Government in New York, (CBGNY), a statewide citizen’s group, today launched the “E-march on Albany”, a state-wide Internet-based campaign to make the state legislature more democratic. We must end over 20 years of gross dysfunction and reform charades. The group’s platform is the “3R’s" of legislative reform aimed at shifting legislative power to voters through fully-empowered and accountable legislators.

“We ask citizens to take 2 simple but important actions, said David Spence, President of CBGNY. “One is to join the “E-march” by “signing” our on-line petition here supporting the 3R’s and the other is to ask New York relatives, friends and colleagues to sign the petition and join the “E-march too.”

“The 3R’s of Real Reform call for legislative Rules changes, objective independent third party Redistricting, and Referendum and Initiative that allows citizens to place legislation directly on the ballot to circumvent the legislature. “We think these changes will bring accountability, objectivity, and transparency,” said Stuart Berger of Brighton, CBGNY’s Vice President.

“The dysfunctional state legislature is obsessed with staying in office. Meanwhile, important issues like jobs, property taxes, education, and health care are unresolved. Given the state-wide elections this fall, the time is right for citizens to take action,” said Spence

A tally of those who join the E-march and the declaration of our platform will be presented to legislators and the public. “We believe this grass roots campaign will be compelling and we expect legislators to respond,” said David Lum of Pittsford, one of the e-marches key developers.

We are asking other organizations across the state to join CBGNY to urge citizens to join the “E-march.” Our immediate goal is to have 2,000 petition signers by the end of July.

“Citizens are demanding change. We’re taking action. Young people and our businesses are voting with their feet and leaving New York,” said Richard Barone, CBGNY’s Treasurer who lives in Irondequoit. We want to help citizens demand change.”

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Citizens for Better Government in NY
Media Release

Citizen’s Group Will Press for Albany Changes

Rochester NY, December 7, 2005—Citizens for Better Government in New York, (CBGNY) formerly Citizens for Legislative Reform, a state-wide grassroots group seeking reform in New York State government announced a 3-point government reform platform today. The group will launch a statewide campaign to gain citizen and legislator support for adoption of:

· Objective independent third party redistricting. Currently, each house of the legislature appoints a committee of its own members to establish new district boundaries every 10 years after each federal census.

· Additional legislative rules changes. Open up the legislative process. Currently, rules are in place that limits the open debate of legislation and the flow of bills through the process of consideration, debate, amendment, and passage.

· Initiative and Referendum (I&R). Currently, New York does not have these processes. These features allow citizens to place proposed laws directly on the ballot without the approval of the legislature. Referendum allows citizens to place on the ballot laws that have been enacted by the legislature for reconsideration by the voters.

“The changes we seek are needed to help New York State regain its place of economic leadership and quality of life,” said David Spence of Victor, one of the co-leaders of CBGNY. “Too many of our young people and our businesses are voting with their feet and leaving New York to live and conduct their business elsewhere”, said Spence.

“Changes in the way the state is governed are long overdue,” said David Lum of Pittsford, another of the group’s leaders. “Our state legislature is bogged down with the battle of incumbency while the important issues are caught in legislative delays controlled by a few leaders,” said Lum.

“Last year, the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law issued a report entitled “The New York State Legislative Process: An Evaluation and Blueprint for Reform”. "It's been almost 1 1/2 years since this report was published and virtually no changes have been made to make the legislative process more transparent, deliberative, accountable, and effective", said John Boroski of Fairport, another of the group’s leaders.

During the last 3-4 months, teams of members of CBGNY studied various options that could improve the way New York is governed, and recommended the three proposals outlined here as the most effective ways to reform New York.

“These vital changes will tip the balance back to a point where all our legislators and citizens are enabled to address the important issues facing our state.” said Bill Nealon, one of CBGNY’s founders. “In a new environment, our government will be better able to deal with the tough issues in a more timely way,” said Nealon.

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Citizens for Better Government in NY
Media Release

The key features of the changes sought are as follows:

Legislative Redistricting: Common sense redistricting

· Having election districts that make sense: Compact, contiguous, and respecting communities of interest.
· Boundaries established by an independent non-partisan group, such as former judges.
· Districts defined by population, not voter registration.

Initiative and Referendum: Direct citizen participation in making laws.

· Citizen petitions of a reasonable number of voters from a variety of districts would be required to get an issue on the ballot for a new initiative or to deal with a law passed by the legislature.

Legislative Rules Changes: Create an efficient and effective legislature

· Eliminate the power of the Assembly Speaker and the Senate Majority Leader to control the flow of legislation
· Common use of conference committees to reconcile differences in similar legislation passed by the two houses.
· Equal status and stature among minority and majority legislators so they can adequately represent their districts.

“We need a more nimble government in New York, said John Schmeelk, another member of the group’s leadership. We’ve researched these issues and know that other states have significantly better processes for redistricting, legislative process, and Initiative and Referendum that clearly better empower their legislators and citizens. We deserve the same in New York.”

“This announcement begins a statewide campaign to gain citizen support to influence our legislators to make the changes we propose.” said Neil Jaschik of Brighton. We have had consistent citizen interest and participation for the last year, and this interest is increasing around the state. Reform is truly a grassroots concern because people want things to work better in Albany,” said Jaschik.

For more about Citizens for Better Government in New York, visit our website at www.cbgny.org.