New York Ballot Questions 2017: Our Recommendations
Proposed amendments to the state consitution
The general election will be held on Tuesday, November 7, 2017. There are three ballot questions.
Proposal #1 Shall there be a convention to revise the Constitution and amend the same?
We recommend NO. The concern is that specials interests will push for an agenda that is beneficial for the few and that will do nothing to help the middle class. One particular proposal is to make abortion a constitutional right. Considering New York is and continues to be the abortion capital of America, who will that benefit?
Proposal #2 The proposed amendment to section 7 of Article 2 of the State Constitution would allow a court to reduce or revoke the public pension of a public officer who is convicted of a felony that has a direct and actual relationship to the performance of the public officer’s existing duties. Shall the proposed amendment be approved?
We recommend YES. This proposal is common sense and is limited to those that engage in corruption related to their employment. Thus it is narrowly tailored to meet the growing problem with public corruption.
Proposal #3
The proposed amendment will create a land account with up to 250 acres of forest preserve land eligible for use by towns, villages, and counties that have no viable alternative to using forest preserve land to address specific public health and safety concerns; as a substitute for the land removed from the forest preserve, another 250 acres of land, will be added to the forest preserve, subject to legislative approval. The proposed amendment also will allow bicycle trails and certain public utility lines to be located within the width of specified highways that cross the forest preserve while minimizing removal of trees and vegetation. Shall the proposed amendment be approved?We recommend YES. This is essentially a land swap. It allows for reasonable development but continues to preserve New York's forests.