Strangest of bedfellows form alliance to stop state constitutional convention
Just look at the jockeying over whether
The lineup of opposition groups includes: environmental groups, gay rights organizations,
No matter their differences, these organizations agree on one thing: Proposal One presents too much risk to their individual causes.
"Groups that on 364 days a year can't agree on anything on this one day are coming together to say 'No,''' said
Supporters of Proposal One say it's not surprising that special interests with deep ties in
"
"The people who have invested heavily in the Legislature and who depend on the Legislature are also scared,'' added Davis, manager of the Committee for a Constitutional Convention and a former chief counsel during the administration of the late Gov.
A rare alliance
Consider two groups: Planned Parenthood Empire State Acts and the New York Right to Life Committee. The longtime opponents have been in an especially nasty battle the past several years over whether
The issue has been at a stalemate in the Legislature, and a constitutional convention offers the opportunity to settle the dispute in a much stronger legal format -- the state's
The uncertainty about what might happen in a convention -- and who might be elected delegates next year if Proposal One passes in November -- has pushed both abortion rights opponents and supporters into an opposition alliance.
"Abandoning our legislative process for a constitutional convention risks our rights,'' said
A convention would not be inclusive -- "making it vulnerable to powerful special interests that do not stand for New Yorkers," she added.
But anti-abortion activists fear that an expansion of abortion laws -- presently just proposed legislation that
"This legislation has not passed because the majority of the people of
Those two groups are part of a Proposal One opposition campaign called New Yorkers Against Corruption. Its members include leaders from the
This opposition group also includes unions representing health care workers, teachers, state and local public employees and various trades. Those are the kinds of labor groups that boast some of
Opposition -- for varied reasons
Members of this colorful tapestry of opposition have individual reasons for getting involved.
"I think we have more of a chance of losing rights than gaining anything,'' King said of a convention.
He and other opposition leaders worry who would control a state convention.
"The delegates are going to come from
"The structure of the constitutional convention in
Environmentalists also fear the delegate make-up.
"Approval of a convention places every safeguard we've fought for and cherish, like (the) Forever Wild clause, on the chopping block or subject to a political trade,'' said
The Forever Wild clause, protecting millions of acres in the Adirondacks and Catskills, was approved in a state constitutional convention in 1894. But groups like Environmental Advocates and the
The focus should be on an "environmental bill of rights" amendment pending in the Legislature and not "on a convention where dark money and polluters win the day,'' Iwanowicz said.
Staying the course
"All of those things could possibly be attacked,'' said Cilento, head of the state
Unions are among the most potent political forces at the
Why, then, would unions not be well-positioned in a constitutional convention to drive through even more gains for unionized workers in a state with the nation's largest percentage of organized workers in its labor force?
It's about risk.
"When you have some of the strongest labor protections in the country, it is very difficult to gamble on all that. It is much easier to stay the course,'' Cilento said.
A
But respondents were receptive to issues that could come up in a convention, such as term limits for state officeholders. For unions, one question in the poll sent worry signals: 41 percent of voters say collective bargaining rights of public employees should have limits.
One member of the opposition group said his stance is not based on what might, or might not, happen at a convention.
"I very, simplistically, don't see a need for it,'' said
He noted voters on the same ballot next month will have an opportunity to approve changes to the constitution -- including stripping pensions from government officials convicted in felony corruption cases connected to their public jobs. He dismisses claims that a convention is needed to address
"I see it as a boondoggle and a waste of taxpayer money,'' Long said.
Chance for change
The basic message of Proposal One supporters is change. A constitutional convention has not been held in
"You see no establishment people for it,'' said Samuels, a former advisor to
There are groups -- such as
But Davis, a leader in the "yes" votge campaign, acknowledged serious opposition.
"We're going to be seriously outspent," he said.
To make up for that, backers are focusing heavily on social media, statewide forums and free media via newspaper stories and editorials.
Both sides do agree on one thing: the electorate, especially after the 2016 presidential election, can be unpredictable. That's making opponents work far harder than they did 20 years ago when they last defeated a convention ballot question.
"We are at a time in this country when you cannot take anything for granted,'' said the
Supporters are hoping Proposal One will attract voters who might not know much about the issue but will read the ballot question and see a "yes" vote as an opportunity to fix problems in
"The biggest difference from 20 years ago is that there are a couple of issues that have led people to say 'enough is enough and we've got to fix
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