The environment - New York State's constitution has the nation's strongest protections for forever wild areas like the Adirondacks and the Catskills. Greedy developers could push to undo these safeguards;
Public education - The state constitution guarantees our students the right to a free public education;
The social safety net - The state constitution ensures the state provides for citizens in need;
Our voting rights - The constitution provides valuable protections; and
Don't risk losing these vital safeguards.
It's A Politician's Convention!
During the last convention, four out of five delegates were career politicians and Albany insiders;
And every politician who ran for a delegate seat that year, won a delegate seat;
And who ran the show? All of the convention leaders were sitting legislators;
Most troubling? Thanks to Citizens United, corporate special interests can spend unlimited money getting their cronies elected; and
Do you trust Albany insiders to do what's right? Don't risk it.
It's just not necessary!
A process already exists to amend the state constitution, and it doesn't cost a thing;
For example, the state Legislature passed an amendment in 2013 expanding casino gambling. The same process could be used for new amendments;
Opening the state constitution is like opening Pandora's Box; You can't predict what changes delegates will make;
The last time a convention took place it was a complete failure; voters rejected every proposed constitutional change; and
Don't add to Albany waste.
A waste of tax dollars!
Experts estimate a constitutional convention will cost hundreds of millions in taxpayer dollars;
Lawmakers can collect salaries and pension credits as elected officials and as delegates simultaneously;
The last time a constitutional convention took place, it cost taxpayers millions and accomplished nothing;
Constitutional conventions don't have mandatory end dates -delegates keep meeting and taxpayers keep paying; and
Should taxpayers fund a party for Albany insiders? No!
Labor rights at risk!
At risk: The right to unionize and bargain collectively. Your union's strength could be jeopardized;
At risk: Workers' compensation. Safeguard your rights if you're injured on the job;
At risk: Public pension protections. The constitution guarantees your pension will be there;
Other states have made drastic pension changes with disastrous results for active members and retirees. Don't let it happen here; and
