WWW.QNS.COM RIDGEWOOD TIMES OCTOBER 21, 2021 7
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Queens senator urges education on fi ve ballot proposals
BY STEPHEN WITT
EDITORIAL@QNS.COM
@QNS
State Sen. Joseph Addabbo is
urging voters to get educated
about five ballot proposals
they are being asked to weigh in
on for the Nov. 2 citywide general
election.
Meanwhile, the good-government
watchdog group Citizens Union
endorsed four of the fi ve measures,
giving a thumbs down to the fi rst proposal
on the ballot, which they argue
could create a partisan redistricting
commission.
“These ballot proposals are very
important as they will shape the way
we vote, the district lines, how the City
Civil Court operates, and our relationship
to the environment,” Addabbo
said. “I’ve had some constituents who
received their absentee ballots come
to my offi ce asking about these proposals
and what they mean. I believe it is
vital that voters know and understand
what they are being asked to vote on.”
The fi rst ballot proposal relates to
redistricting. This proposal is a constitutional
amendment that would freeze
the number of state senators at 63. It
also looks to amend the process for the
counting of New York state’s population,
delete certain provisions that
violate the United States Constitution,
amend the procedures for appointing
co-directors of redistricting commission,
and amend the procedure for
determining congressional and state
legislative lines.
This means that incarcerated
individuals would be counted at the
residence where they last resided, for
the purpose of redistricting. Native
Americans and non-citizens would
be counted for the NY Census if the
Federal Census does not count them.
Citizens Union recommends a no
vote on Question 1, noting it would
make changes to the redistricting
process in New York state, just weeks
before the constitutional deadline for
drawing new legislative boundaries.
This amendment contains a number
of provisions, but Citizens Union is
most concerned that it would remove
the protections that ensure no one
political party could dominate the
redistricting process.
By lowering the needed majority
and changing voting procedures to
approve new maps, the amendment
eff ectively cuts off the minority party
from having any infl uence on the
redistricting process, Citizens Union
argues.
“For generations, New York’s redistricting
process had been controlled
by the party in power. Voters rejected
this brazen partisanship in 2014 when
they voted to create an Independent
Redistricting Commission. While
Question 1 contains some positive provisions,
we feel as though it clears a
pathway for the legislature to reclaim
infl uence over redistricting so they
can draw lines to protect incumbents
and strip the minority party’s power.
Voters should vote no on Question 1,”
said Betsy Gotbaum, executive director
of Citizens Union.
The second proposal would establish
a person’s right to clean air and
water, and a healthful environment.
It would require that state and local
governments and businesses consider
the environmental impacts of
decision-making policies. Currently,
43 states have some form of environmental
consideration in their state
constitutions, but New York would
become the third state to consider a
clean environment a civil right.
Citizens Union recommends a yes
vote on this proposal.
Questions 3 and 4 deal with current
voting laws. The third proposal looks
to allow the state Legislature to enact
laws allowing a citizen to register to
vote less than 10 days before an election.
As of right now, 20 other states
allow for same-day voter registration.
The fourth ballot proposal would
delete the absentee ballot requirement
that a voter is unable to appear
at the polls if absent from the country,
or due to an illness or disability. This
means that any qualifi ed voter could
request an absentee ballot for a
primary or general election with no
reason required. Currently, 34 states
and Washington, D.C., do not require
reasons to request an absentee ballot.
“For too long, New York state had
regressive voting laws that depressed
voter participation. Citizens Union
believes that our democracy is at its
strongest when more of us are participating.
That is why we have long
advocated for reforms like same-day
voter registration and no-excuse
absentee voting which make it easier
for more New Yorkers to vote. These
reforms will be a boon to democracy
in New York, and we encourage voters
to vote yes on Questions 3 and 4,”
Gotbaum said.
The fi nal proposal looks to increase
the New York City Civil Court’s jurisdiction
by allowing it to hear and
decide claims for up to $50,000. The
current limit for the NYC Civil Court
is $25,000, and it was last changed in
1983.
Citizens Union recommends a
yes vote on this question, noting the
increase is reasonable, amounting to
less than the rate of infl ation over the
past four decades. It will also reduce
the backlog of cases before the state
Supreme Court.
As for Addabbo’s view on the proposals,
the lawmaker thinks what’s
more important than his opinion
is that voters be educated on them
before entering the voting booth and
being blindsided by them.
“If you need more information about
these proposals, or want to know my
stance on any of them as a state senator,
please call my offi ce at 718-738-1111.
Be sure to do your research, consider
each ballot proposal and vote on these
important issues this November,”
Addabbo said.
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