Pursuing Fair and Equal in Hudson
Last evening, the organizers of the Fair & Equal initiative held a press conference to kick off their campaign. Interestingly, although the initiative impacts the Common Council and the voting power of the individual members, only four aldermen were present: Rick Rector (First Ward), Tiffany Garriga (Second Ward), John Friedman (Third Ward), and Lauren Scalera (Fourth Ward).
During the press conference, it was explained that there are three ways to achieve the goal of altering ward boundaries, to replace Hudson's current wards, which have dramatically different population figures, with legislative districts of equal population. Those three methods are:
- Charter revision commission
- Direct legislative action
- Initiative and referendum
The campaign now underway pursues the third path. Between now and July 1, volunteers will be collecting petition signatures to get a proposition on the ballot in November. You can review the proposed language of the proposition here. This weekend and next week, there will be several opportunities to sign the petition:
- Saturday, June 18, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Hudson Farmers' Market
- Sunday, June 19, 12 noon to 4 p.m., 346 Union Street
- Thursday, June 23, 6 p.m. Town Hall meeting, Hudson Area Library
- Saturday, June 25, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 346 Union Street
You can also send an email to contact@weightedvote.com to request that someone come to your home or workplace to get your signature.
Once the signatures have been collected, the petitions will be presented to the Common Council, which has 60 days to act. If the Council fails to act or if a resolution to hold a referendum does not pass, more signatures will enable the referendum to go forward without the Council's approval.
COPYRIGHT 2016 CAROLE OSTERINK
The Common Council may also approve place alternative proposals on the ballot.
ReplyDeleteI'm confused (not the first time), but is Initiative & Referendum procedure based in state law or city law? And where might we read that law? Thanks.
ReplyDeleteI expect it is New York State General Municipal Law. Perhaps one of the organizers can cite chapter and verse.
DeleteIt's section 37 of the New York Home Rule Law. Thanks for your interest Peter. Feel free to contact me, if you have any questions.
DeleteOh, by the way, at the risk of seeming a pedantic and annoying nit picker, it's two months that the Council has to ponder, not 60 days. Our slide should correct that minor little error at some point. I think that is where Carole picked it up, so that is our fault rather than hers.
Actually, 60 days was the statement made in the presentation on Wednesday.
DeleteHow is the term "two months" interpreted under New York law?
ReplyDeleteSection 37 also used "60 days" to describe a different period.
It did, and I don't know why the discrepancy. NY law in this area, to use a word now getting some currency around here, is anything but "elegant." But when it doubt, two months is two months, and in this context, means 61 days. And that is what I calendared.
ReplyDeleteHere is a link to the Department of State (NY) Changing City Charters. This type of referendum is explained on page 5. https://www.dos.ny.gov/lg/publications/Revising_City_Charters.pdf
ReplyDelete