NO TO FAKE REDISTRICTING REFORM

NEW YORK, NY (07/31/2014)(readMedia)-- Concerned citizens and Common Cause/NY have formed a campaign committee, registered with the New York State Board of Elections, to educate voters about their position on the redistricting ballot initiative. In November, New Yorkers will vote on an amendment to the state constitution, which would establish a sham "independent commission" to draw redistricting maps in the decennial process. Although the amendment has been touted as "reform", it is a far cry from impartial redistricting, with final approval of the maps squarely in the hands of the Legislature.

Common Cause/NY Executive Director, Susan Lerner, is the Chair of the Committee:

"The proposed ballot initiative does not represent reform let alone even an improvement. In the end, this is an attempt to constitutionally memorialize a system where both parties run roughshod over the voters. This is the system we currently have which the public has repeatedly rejected. New Yorkers deserve a constitutional amendment that will establish a fair and impartial redistricting process, independent of members of the legislature who will object to any plan that threatens their incumbency."

Common Cause/NY has consistently opposed the measure. The committee will publish literature and conduct grassroots outreach to encourage voters not to support it.

The committee includes the following:

Sean Coffey, Esq.

Richard Emery, Esq.

Craig Kaplan, Esq.

Victor Kovner, Esq.

Tanya Melich

Robert M. Pennoyer, Esq.

Susan Rubinstein

Bill Samuels

Background

In 2011, Common Cause/NY released the only set of non-partisan redistricting maps for state and federal office. In so doing, Common Cause/NY proved that there is no practical impediment to a fair process, only a political one. The Special Master charged with drawing federal lines used the Common Cause/NY maps as a template for his proposal. Unfortunately, the Legislature approved LATFOR's egregiously gerrymandered maps, vowing to create an independent process for the next cycle. However, the proposed "independent commission" does nothing of the sort. In June, Common Cause/NY, NYPIRG, and Effective NY released a report outlining the problematic amendment and explaining their criticism.