News Clips

Councilors Wednesday received a presentation from Susan Lerner, executive director of Common Cause New York, a statewide advocacy group that lobbies for better government processes. Lerner said the council’s current policy of letting its members draw the districts is a blatant conflict of interest.

"It’s a mixed bag,” said Susan Lerner, the executive director of Common Cause New York, a government reform group. “A more open, lengthier process probably would have given us a stronger result. “But I don’t want to undercut the fact that we’re at least talking about these things and at least moving some reforms.”

"They are picking a piece of voting technology that has been roundly criticized across the country and that is insecure," said Susan Lerner of Common Cause.

Advocates for early voting, including Common Cause-NY, said Wednesday the state needs to provide $25 million to $30 million in the $175 billion budget to implement early voting and avoid having the full cost paid by local property taxpayers. The New York State Association of Counties estimates that cost for implementing the system at $7 million to $10 million, and electronic poll books will cost another $27 million to $30 million.

“Ideally there shouldn’t be fundraisers during budget negotiations or during the time the Legislature is in session,” said Susan Lerner, director of NY Common Cause.

Common Cause New York Executive Director Susan Lerner said the lobbying threshold proposal “makes no sense” and that New York needs “a governor who is willing to be a leader in encouraging civic engagement instead of discouraging” it.