Also on tomorrow's ballot--two amendments to the NYS Constitution
Two proposed amendments to the New York State constitution will appear on the special election ballot tomorrow. You can find some background on the proposals from the NYS League of Women Voters here.
In many areas, the ballot proposals are on the back of the printed ballot. Be sure to check.
Proposal #1Chris Knight reported on the details of the proposed land swap for NCPR.
Amendment to section 1 of article 14 of the Constitution, in relation to the use of certain forest preserve lands by National Grid to construct a 46 kV power line along State Route 56 in St. Lawrence County. The proposed amendment would authorize the Legislature to convey up to six acres of forest preserve land along State Route 56 in St. Lawrence County to National Grid for construction of a power line. In exchange, National Grid would convey to the State at least 10 acres of forest land in St. Lawrence County, to be incorporated into the forest preserve. The land to be conveyed by National Grid to the State must be at least equal in value to the land conveyed to National Grid by the State. Should the amendment be approved?
Proposal #2:
Amendment to article 3 of the Constitution, in relation to authorizing the Legislature to allow prisoners to voluntarily perform work for nonprofit organizations. The proposed amendment would authorize the Legislature to pass legislation to permit inmates in state and local correctional facilities to perform work for nonprofit organizations. Shall the proposed amendment be approved?
Labels: election09
posted by Dale Hobson @ 11/02/2009 10:36:00 AM
18 Comments
18 Comments:
I would be against the use of any type of forest land for the construction of a transmission line. The forest is one of the few natural assets that we have left.
Prisoners volunteering for non-profits? This would be acceptable as long as the non-profits are from a list approved by Pres. Obama. That way, we would be ensured that they are working for the right groups.
Proposal #1 if passed will make the construction of a new transmission line to Tupper Lake legal. It's already built on forest preserve. Don't know what will happen if the proposal fails.
Anon 10:44AM- That's just the type of clear headed, non-partisan thinking this country needs! Screw those people in Tupper! We should demolish the town anyway, it's an eyesore.
And you're sooooo right about making sure the prisoners work for the "right" groups. Once we get them working for the "right" groups it will be that much easier to make sure they vote "right" once we get them voting rights!!! I know ACORN needs some more volunteers to advise people on how to dodge taxes on crack houses and on their 14 year old prostitutes.
Bret4207--How did this get to be about ACORN? If you've walked the trails at the Paul Smiths VIC, you've walked trails and boardwalks built in part by inmate volunteers.
Both houses, at the urging of sponsors Sen. Betty Little and Assemblyman Sweeney, agreed to put on this fall’s ballot a Constitutional Amendment that would allow a land swap along State Route 56 in Colton so the NY Power Authority and National Grid can avoid an environmentally disastrous six-mile detour through the woods in bringing a new power line to Tupper Lake. The detour would involve road construction through an old-growth forest, 95 streams and wetlands, and habitat for the endangered spruce grouse. It would also erect a permanent barrier to expansion of that section of Forest Preserve. In contrast, the roadside of Route 56 contains no unique resources.
Tupper has suffered for more than a decade with a single power supply line, which often fails in storms and in the winter. The second line would bring hydro power from Stark Falls Reservoir on the Raquette River, north of Tupper Lake. If approved by the voters on November 3, the amendment would allow a swap of six acres of Forest Preserve lands adjacent to the road for a larger tract of intact forest nearby, which would be added to the Forest Preserve after the vote. Look for Ballot Proposal One in this year’s general election.
Think about this: to what degree do you believe prisoners will actually have the free choice to volunteer?
Prisons are coercive by design (& for good reason) and it's highly likely that prisoners will be coerced further into "volunteering" for projects. Let see...what one could volunteer for: road-side garbage pickup or asbestos removal (sponsored by an "environmental group"); how about receiving vaccinations (from a non-profit public health group. hmmm...ever here of the Tuskegee study?)
I suggest there will be little if any volunteering going on if this measure amends our already 50,000 word monstrosity of a constitution.
JPM
Dale- read the post I referenced. We have to have the inmates work for the RIGHT people- the ones OBAMA selects. I'm no genius, but even I can read between those lines.
Bret
I think you got punk'd by anon 10:44.
The " November 2, 2009 1:35 PM" is the only post about the line that makes sense. Hopefully that clears it up for the uninformed but needy to opine regardless.
As far as the Acorn business. What? How do some of you people sleep at night, is there anything you are not afraid of? Is paranoia now a social disease? Or is it simply a case of no matter what the question some think all you have to say is " Acorn" and " Pelosi" and you have to think no more. It is childish and beneath adult discussion.
During World War 2 German prisoners were stationed outside of Harrisville. They did a lot of local work. In 1970 I worked on roads, there was a terrible flood in Western New York, I worked alongside Attica State prisoners cleaning up and helping people. The stonework at Letchworth State Park was built by prisoners. It seems to me it is a very good thing for everybody. It has nothing to do with left or right or President Obama. Our Parks and Roads belong to everybody . I think some people need to lighten up just a little bit.
On prop #1, I believe the legislature gave permission, the line was constructed and after the fact it was found that it violates the existing Constitution. I've seen the line and it does NO harm to the environment, aside from giving drivers a clearer view of scampering deer heading toward them. It's right beside Rt. 56, not in the middle of the forest.
As to prop #2, my concerns are that this takes away jobs that should be given to law-abiding citizens, not to convicts at a low-pay-scale. There are plenty of clean-up jobs for the State or local communities that the prisoners could be doing such as roadside debris removal, landfill work, park projects and so forth.
The forest land swap is supported by environmental groups and virtually everyone else. The alternative route across private lands would destroy much more forest. Vote for prop one, its a nobrainer.
"Anonymous said...
The " November 2, 2009 1:35 PM" is the only post about the line that makes sense. Hopefully that clears it up for the uninformed but needy to opine regardless.
As far as the Acorn business. What? How do some of you people sleep at night, is there anything you are not afraid of? Is paranoia now a social disease? Or is it simply a case of no matter what the question some think all you have to say is " Acorn" and " Pelosi" and you have to think no more. It is childish and beneath adult discussion.
November 2, 2009 6:00 PM"
Okay, I'll change it read it so you can sympathize-
HALIBURTON!!! CHENEY!!! RUMSFELD!!! ABU GRAV!!! TORUTRE!!!
There, feel better? 2 sides of the same coin.
Bret4207 said. The peoples negative feelings of men like Cheney have been polled and well documented and speaks for itself, nothing needs to be said
President G.W. Bush should always be referred as that, then say what you like.
President Obama should be referred to the same way, then say what you like. You either respect the Office and the people and process that elected them, or you don't. That is the part that makes the Right seem petty and mean spirited. All the Nazi signs and swastikas and silly slogans give the appearance of some sophomoric fraternity instead of a Party that is to be respected. It works short term, but long term-not so much, as witnessed by the last election
cycle.
I expect Hoffman to win a District that has not had a Democrat since the 1800s. Why would he not? But I do not see a platform, just anger and fear with no answers, just the same old worn slogans.
You can only cry "wolf" so long and then someday no one believes it anymore.
I do not understand some people. Some of these comments make me realize why there are so many problems in this world. The State yet wins again, they get 10 acres for 6 acres and it provides a very nice community with much needed power. That to me is a no brainer!
Prisoners should be out there wokring instead of living a life of laziness that i pay for and they should not get paid at all!! And why the heck would Oboma have to pick what they do!
We have enough power lines now.
The winds of the mountains will just bolw them down most of the time and be an eye sore. so no more giving up our beautiful forest
land to a power company that will give NY state crap land. NO WAY.
And what right has the President got to say what we do with NY State inmates??????? They are NEW YORK STATE INMATES NOT FEDERAL INMATES.
Do you people know that the inmates get paid to work while in prison? So if the inmates are out working for non- profits who's going to pay them??? What do think community service is for?? NO, NY State inmates should stay in the prison. If non-profits need help, let the courts put the kids that get probation, do community service hours do the work, it's free labor.
A downstate "thanks" to you guys for the only coverage of today's ballot proposals that I could find. #2 is a headscratcher to me - cui bono?
Peter Kay: this from the League of Women Voters backgrounder on Prop #2:
The sponsors for the legislation proposing this constitutional
amendment argue that prohibiting prisoners from voluntarily performing work for nonprofit organizations denies these often under-funded organizations access to a willing labor force for tasks such as grounds-keeping.
They say that many localities have requested that the prohibition be removed. They also say that allowing inmate work crews to provide labor to these organizations will help fill the gaps in funding them, and will give the inmates a sense of “giving back” to the community.
The sponsors also make the point that passing this amendment would only give the Legislature authority
to pass a law allowing inmates to do such work. This “enacting legislation” could include restrictions, in the interest of public safety, on which inmates would be eligible to perform this work. Two separately elected
Legislatures passed this constitutional amendment with near unanimous votes in favor.
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