Common Cause/NY is the citizen's lobbyist and we speak up for clean elections and ethical standards for our elected officials. We stand up for responsive government. For years, we've provided a clear, strong voice for you and the citizens of New York.
Common Cause/NY is a non-partisan, non-profit citizens' lobby and a leading force in the battle for honest and accountable government. In the past three decades, by fighting together we have enacted real change and will continue to do so in New York and nationally.
CC/NY Guest Essay on Publicly-Financed Campaigns for Rochester D&C's "Friday Faceoff"
Susan Lerner, Guest essayist
Clearly, Tom Golisano can use $5 million of his money to make independent expenditures supporting or opposing any candidate for the Legislature. U.S. Supreme Court rulings bar limits on the amounts contributed to or spent on independent expenditures (money spent in an election by individuals or groups who don't coordinate with candidates).
So, the question isn't "Can he?" The question is, "Should he and what does it say about our campaign finance system that he does?"
Rent and the Politicians (Letter to the Editor of the NY Times)
An excerpt from Susan Lerner's letter to the editor of the New York Times, which ran on July 22:
While it is not possible to defend Representative Charles B. Rangel’s rental of multiple rent-stabilized apartments, the fact that an elected official, like Gov. David A. Paterson, occupies a rent-stabilized apartment as his primary residence is not, in and of itself, cause for condemnation.
Consumer, Reform and Media Justice Groups React to NYS Public Service Commission Approval of Verizon-NYC Cable Franchise
Hasty Process Leads to Mixed Results for Consumer Protections
Groups Remain Hopeful Competition Can Benefit Consumers
NYC, July 16, 2008 – The Commissioners of the New York State Public Service Commission approved the cable franchise agreement between New York City and Verizon this afternoon in a four to one vote. The agreement will give Verizon the ability to offer cable television, high-speed Internet, and telephone service in New York City for 12 years. Verizon will join Cablevision and TimeWarner in the New York City cable marketplace.
Common Cause/NY, Consumers Union, NYPIRG, and People’s Production House welcome cable competition in New York City, but are deeply disturbed by the lack of meaningful public input throughout this process and are disappointed by the agreement’s numerous consumer protection rollbacks.
Recapture the Flag, Sunday on We The People Radio Network
Susan Lerner will be discussing the new Common Cause campaign, "Recapture the Flag," on Sunday night (7/13) from 10pm through 11pm, on We The People Radio Network's I.N.N. Weekend Report with Tom Kiley. Join Susan by listening live to the interview.
Susan Lerner to Discuss Common Cause's New "Recapture the Flag" Campaign
Common Cause unveiled its new Recapture the Flag campaign with a full-page ad in the July 9, 2008 NYTimes. The Recapture the Flag campaign asks individuals to sign our Citizen's Petitionto demand a President and Congress that believe in the Constitution, the rule of law and justice for all. After you sign the Citizen's Petition, be sure to find out if your legislator also signed the pledge!
CC/NY's Susan Lerner will discuss this new campaign on tomorrow's (July 10) WWRL Morning Show on New York's Air America partner station, AM 1600 WWRL.
