First, I would like to thank you for giving me the opportunity to represent you in Albany for the next two years. I look forward to continuing to work hard for our shared interests: to keep the Hudson Valley affordable, economically stable, and beautiful, with all its diverse communities and topography.
Over the past two and a half years, we have been faced with tremendous challenges, characterized specifically by a $30 billion dollar budget deficit. Projections for 2011 suggest we will face an additional $9.2 billion deficit. Once again we will need to buckle down and make some difficult decisions.
The public is calling for making government more efficient through better use of technology, and downsizing where it makes sense to do so. To that end, I am looking forward to working hand in hand with our new governor on reforming outdated government mandates and structures, cleaning up ethics violations, and consolidating services. I am hopeful that at the local level we can evaluate what works well, and where improvements can be made that will result in greater efficiencies and savings.
Our state dollars should be directed to where they are needed most. I continue to request your input and involvement which is vital to this process. I have a number of upcoming meetings which I invite you to attend so you can not only hear about such topics as alternate ways to fund schools, but also you can react to information and contribute your ideas. As always, I will be hosting town meetings around the 90th Assembly District to have an opportunity to meet and discuss a host of issues with you which I will be addressing through budgeting and legislation in Albany.
Finally, I hope you will take a few minutes to answer the questions on the back of this newsletter to let me know your thoughts on a couple of key topics. This is another way I can understand where you stand on issues. In advance, I thank you for your participation and look forward to seeing you in the weeks ahead at my town meetings and forum on financing education.
Sincerely,
Sandy Galef
Member of the Assembly
There has been a significant transformation in the way we vote. For many voters in my District, November was the first general election in which you voted with paper ballots and optical scan machines rather than the mechanical lever machines. Some complaints have arisen regarding the roll-out of voting by paper ballot, followed by calls to return to the lever machines. There is no turning back, however, and for good reason.
The mechanical lever machines are not a voting option since they do not comply with federal voting system requirements. In 2002, the federal Help America Vote Act (HAVA) was passed as a result of Florida’s voting troubles in the 2000 Bush-Gore Presidential Election. One of the HAVA mandates was that all states develop voting systems whereby individuals with disabilities could participate in elections as other voters do, with the ability to cast a private and independent vote. Lever machines were not accessible to voters with disabilities so these machines had to be replaced.
The New York State Legislature created a process to select a voting system and technology to satisfy HAVA requirements and ensure election integrity and legitimacy. Even aside from satisfying disabled voter needs, lever and paperless electronic touch screen machines are problematic since there is no paper record. The need for a paper trail has become critical as more and more election results are determined by single and double digits. The voting system incorporating a paper ballot and optical scanner coupled with an electronic paper ballot marker for those voters with special needs is a system that complies with HAVA and guarantees confidence in election results.
There are other new election laws as well. I am gratified that two of my election reform bills have recently become law. One makes it easier for voters to request an absentee ballot by adding more ways to request one, like a fax machine (A5276B/S2868B, Chapter 63 of 2010). The second allows voters to complete a shorter and less intrusive absentee ballot application (A7347B/S4960B, Chapter 97 of 2010). Also, people can now work on Election Day in half-day shifts providing more registered voters with the opportunity to work that day. Furthermore, students 17 or older are now able to work on Election Day as election inspectors or poll clerks.
As a result of the recent guilty plea of former New York State Senator, Vinnie Leibell, I am taking this opportunity to push hard with my colleagues in the Assembly and Senate for comprehensive member item reform. Member items, also known as legislative discretionary funds (or pork barrel monies), were at the center of the charges against him. Specifically, I have introduced a new bill that would preclude legislators and the governor from using member item money to set up private not-for-profit organizations. I encourage you to reach out to other elected officials to encourage their support of my entire member item reform package.
I was so proud to join in the celebration with the Garrison School District as they received
the highest recognition possible from the U.S. Government as one of only 300 Blue Ribbon
Schools nationwide.
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Become a Facebook Fan of mine. Visit my fan page by searching for Sandy Galef on Facebook. I also encourage you to visit my webpage on the NYS Assembly website. To see all the bills I sponsor, archives of press releases and publications such as newsletters, links to my committees, and more about issues on which I am working.
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The New York State Consumer Protection Board (CPB) has just launched its new website to keep you up-to-date with the latest issues, product recalls, household and product safety information, new content in the areas of credit and finance, and more consumer friendly resources. Visit the site at www.nysconsumer.gov and feel free to give feedback to help the CPB make the site even better.
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The New York State Comptroller’s office has released a document called “Citizens’ Guide to Local Budgets,” to help you understand how your tax dollars are working for you and your community, and to understand the challenges facing local governments who manage those dollars and the accompanying services. Go to: http://www.osc.state.ny.us/localgov/pubs/releases/LocalBudgetGuide2010.pdf.
In addition, NYSDOT has completed a safety study for Route 9 from Annsville Circle in Cortlandt Manor to Route 403 in Philipstown. There have been many tragic accidents along this narrow, curvy section of Route 9 which community residents had brought to my attention last year. As a result, the DOT initiated this study of the road in that area. The study found an increased likelihood of drivers crossing the centerline on the road. One part of DOT’s response to this study has been completed. They have put in an innovative safeguard: rumble strips on the centerline to alert drivers if they start to cross it. In addition, speed zones and additional signage will be installed to help prevent further accidents.
