Voters in New York State will have their say on six propositions on the November 5 ballot. The ballot is two-sided, with the Proposals on the reverse side.
Proposal Number One to authorize casino gaming has received much attention for its wording which casts a very positive light on passage of the proposal – as well as the process that led to the wording being added. Governor Cuomo supports the proposal and promises passage will benefit local economies, tourism industries and support education and property tax relief. Others say expanding gaming in the state will only result in producing new issues related to problem gambling.
Proposal Number One states:
The proposed amendment to section 9 of article 1 of the Constitution would allow the Legislature to authorize up to seven casinos in New York State for the legislated purposes of promoting job growth, increasing aid to schools, and permitting local governments to lower property taxes through revenues generated. Shall the amendment be approved?
Proposal Number Two would create additional civil service credit for veterans with disabilities certified post-appointment.
Proposal Number Two states:
The proposed amendment to section 6 of article 5 of the Constitution would entitle a veteran who has received civil service credit for a civil service appointment or promotion and subsequently is certified as disabled to additional civil service credit at a subsequent appointment or promotion. Shall the proposed amendment be passed?
Proposal Number Three regards the exclusion of indebtedness contracted for sewage facilities. The New York State Conference of Mayors and Municipal Officials supports the amendment, stating that without approval, municipalities would lose the ability to exclude sewer debt from their debt limits, affecting their ability to finance municipal operations. In a statement NYCOM said, “The original reason for the sewer debut exclusion – to encourage municipalities to invest in necessary improvements to their sewer systems – remains valid today.” The New York Conservative Party is against the proposal stating that it does not approve of government entities separating out certain debts from the constitutional debt limit because it does not give a true picture to its citizens of the total indebtedness of the locality.
Proposal Number Three states:
The proposed amendment to Article 8, section 5 of the Constitution would extend for ten years, until January 1, 2024, the authority of counties, cities, towns, and villages to exclude from their constitutional debt limits indebtedness contracted for the construction or reconstruction of sewage facilities. Shall the proposed amendment be approved?
Proposals Number Four and Five have sparked some debate in the Adirondack region of the state as they relate to land exchanges in that area – settling disputed titles in the Forest Preserve and a land exchange in the State Forest Preserve with NYCO Minerals, Inc.
Business leaders in the region say the propositions are “win-wins” for community and economic sustainability in the Adirondacks and for the environment.
Proposition Four would allow the state legislature to settle a century-old problem of disputed property titles in the Town of Long Lake, Hamilton County and permit the State to clear these titles in exchange for funding to purchase lands that the state has long wanted to add to the Adirondack Forest Preserve for public recreation. The land exchange would occur only if the Legislature determines the land to be conveyed to the State would benefit the forest preserve more than the disputed parcels do.
Proposal Number Four states:
The proposed amendment to section 1 of article 14 of the Constitution would authorize the Legislature to settle longstanding disputes between the State and private entities over ownership of certain parcels of land in the Town of Long Lake, Hamilton, County. In exchange for giving up its claim to disputed parcels, the State would get land to be incorporated into the forest preserve that would benefit the forest preserve more than the disputed parcels currently do. Shall the proposed amendment be approved?
Proposition Five would permit the state to provide longtime Adirondack business NYCO Minerals, Inc. with temporary use of 200 acres of Forest Preserve land that immediately adjoins NYCO’s mine in the Town of Lewis, Essex County. Those in favor of the proposition say it would allow NYCO to continue its operations at the site for 8-10 years and help protect 100 jobs. In exchange, NYCO would donate to the Forest Preserve 1500 acres of land that are rich in fishing and hiking opportunities and that provide greater public access to the Jay Mountain Wilderness, Hurricane Mountain Wilderness and Taylor Pond Wild Forest. Once NYCO completes its project, the original 200 acres would be reclaimed and returned to the Forest Preserve while the 1500 acres will remain under state ownership. Those critical of the proposition say it removes land from the Forest Preserve solely for private commercial gain and that the public doesn’t know exactly what it is giving up and what will be received in return.
Proposition Number Five states:
The proposed amendment to section 1 of article 14 of the Constitution would authorize the Legislature to convey forest preserve land located in the town of Lewis, Essex County, to NYCO Minerals, a private company that plans on expanding an existing mine that adjoins the forest preserve land. In exchange, NYCO Minerals would give the State at least the same amount of land of at least the same value, with a minimum assessed value of $1 million, to be added to the forest preserve. When NYCO Minerals finishes mining, it would restore the condition of the land and restore it to the forest preserve. Shall the proposed amendment be approved?
Proposal Number Six increases the age until which certain state judges can serve. The proposal would allow judges on the state’s highest court to serve until they turn 80 years old. Currently, the seven Court of Appeals judges – who are appointed to 14 year terms, must retire when they turn 70. The amendment would also extend the mandatory retirement age for New York’s main trial court to 80. Currently state Supreme Court justices can get three, two-year extensions past the mandatory retirement age of 70. The proposal would authorize up to five extensions.
Proposal Number Six states: The proposed amendment to the Constitution, amending sections 2 and 25 of article 6, would increase the maximum age until which certain state judges may serve as follows: (a) a Justice of the Supreme Court would be eligible for five additional two-year terms after the present retirement age of 70, instead of the three such terms currently authorized; (b) a Judge of the Court of Appeals who reaches the age of 70 while in office would be permitted to remain in service on the Court for up to 10 years beyond the present retirement age of 70 in order to complete the term to which that judge was appointed. Shall the proposed amendment be passed?
11/3/13
