Score (72)

THe NYS Dept. of Health is staff to two Councils: the State Hospital Review and Planning Council and the Public Health Council.Both are populated only by providers or consultants affiliated with hospitals or nursing homes. Neither in the past 10 years has had a black member and neither has a member who is a true consumer of services.I am recommending that these Councils become more representative of the people it serves and that there be an African-American representative as well as a Hispanic representative on those Councils. The lack of such representation has led to misunderstanding of the needs of such groups. Thank you for allowing common citizens to have a say .

Score (-10)

Preserve a health care system that provides comprehensive services for people with emergency, acute, catastrophic, chronic, disabling or rare health problems. Reject the propagandistic demands of the managed primary care lobby. Break its ideological stranglehold on state government, and control HMO budgetary greed.
- Submitted by Arthur Springer on 12.21.06

Score (88)

Introduce a new set of laws focusing on government ethics. Use the power of your office to prevent non-elected members of the executive branch from starting and fundraising for a PAC.
- Submitted by Kara Bonney on 12.20.06

Score (57)

We need to treat every working New Yorker with the same oppertunities and treatment that they deserve. Low end jobs should be ne exception to little or no health care, no overtime and lousy pay. Our ancestors started here as immigrants and we would never expect them to agree to work under these unequal oppertunities. Lets stand up for those who don't have anyone else. Let's treat everyone equal under the same laws. Farm workers help make a difference in all of NY state lives, Let's make a difference in theirs.
Thank you,
Cheri Dressel
- Submitted by Cheri Dressel on 12.20.06

Score (49)

Amend executive law 259j to allow all persons on parole to be eligible for discharge from supervison after three years of parole supervison. This would allow many worthy people with felony convictions to vote and also help to ensure that they can find employment without the burden of parole.
It was done this way for years, without detrimental results. Ask Eddie Ellis, of your transition team. He is a perfect example of how it can, and would, work.
- Submitted by Amy James-Oliveras on 12.20.06

Score (43)

Michael Monaghan stated:
"Decency
These workers are just as deserving of the protection of NYS Labor laws the same as everyone else. To allow the status quo of having discriminatory protection for them is indecent! They are taken advantage of and are getting sick from chemicals, which they must tolerate just to make a living."
1. What about the people that work for religious organizations? Are they not "deserving" too? What about them?
2. Farmworkers are not being taken advantage of and are not routinely getting sick from pesticides. That claim is outrageous and offensive.
The EPA and the NYSDEC have specific laws/regulations regarding pesticides and ag workers. Why don't you provide some credible evidence, data, to back this smear?

Score (-18)

The legislature should pass, and Gov. Spitzer should sign, Sandy Galef's Scan and Be Sure legislation which would mandate paper ballots counted on optical scanners (and marked by ballot markers for disabled.) A uniform, cost effective and, given good procedures and safeguards, secure choice for New York.
- Submitted by Margaret Yonco-Haines on 12.20.06

Score (198)

Please actively pursue legislation and leadership aimed at granting equal workers' rights to all farmworkers.
Additionally, terminate the practice of requiring a SS number for those applying for a driver's license.
- Submitted by Jack Banning on 12.20.06

Score (-36)

What part of "NO" don't you people in N.Y.government understand about the people in Steuben County not wanting our beautiful scenic area destoyed with windfarms. Trying to ram them down our throats with Empire Zones is not going to work either. We know that these are inefficient, ineffective scams promoted by the rich corporations and financial outfits like Goldman Sachs. The average person is trying to survive by scrimping and sacrificing and many burn wood for heat. Why should we support the gluttony of cities. If wind turbines are so great- put them there where they are needed- in the cities. The technology is available. Spend the money and put pollution controls on coal burning plants. Promote tourism in our area by designing backroad trails to state lands etc. Don't ruin one of the only assests we have. If you proceed to stick these 400 foot monstosities everywhere there will be no where to go in New York State to have a natural view and peace and quiet. The human body needs respit. Some of us need it more of it than others. Is it fair to deprive us of our basic needs because of greed? My family settled in this area over 200 years ago. I love it here. Are you forcing me to leave? Where am I going to go in this state or this country to meet my needs? Theodore Roosevelt seemed to understand this. Do you? We are paying taxes to destoy our own environment(Empire zones pilot agreements). When you say New York State will reimburse the wind power companies you are saying that we the taxpayers will. Give with one hand take away with the other.

Score (262)

These workers are just as deserving of the protection of NYS Labor laws the same as everyone else. To allow the status quo of having discriminatory protection for them is indecent! They are taken advantage of and are getting sick from chemicals, which they must tolerate just to make a living.
- Submitted by Michael Monaghan on 12.20.06

Score (18)

-Employment: People with more than one felony conviction should be
eligible for Certificates of Relief from Disabilities, documents that
remove barriers to reentry. After a period of time, most people should
be able to seal their convictions, so that they can truly move on with
their lives.
-Higher Education: People in prison should be eligible for Tuition
Assistance Program (TAP) grants, and have the appropriate space,
technology, and other measures of support to operate post-secondary
programs while incarcerated.*
Furthermore, they should be able to apply to all institutions of
higher education upon their release from prison, regardless of whether

Score (311)

-Employment: People with more than one felony conviction should be
eligible for Certificates of Relief from Disabilities, documents that remove barriers to reentry. After a period of time, most people should be able to seal their convictions, so that they can truly move on with their lives.
Higher Education: People in prison should be eligible for Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) grants, and have the appropriate space,
technology, and other measures of support to operate post-secondary programs while incarcerated.
Furthermore, they should be able to apply to all institutions of
higher education upon their release from prison, regardless of whether

Score (203)

Well, a couple of more people have posted regarding farmworkers. Take note that for the most part these people can't address my counter-points and can't deviate from the script/talking points they were provided. And that's because for the most part the people that were prodded into posting on this website:
* Have never met an actual farmworker (apart from maybe a prop provided once by Witt when he has popped into their church shilling for donations), thereby not knowing what genuine concerns of genuine farmwokers are
* Have never met a farmer
* Have never stepped on a farm
* Have no clue as to what the hsitorical or current production and marketing realities of agriculture are

Score (-106)

December 12, 2006
Dear Governor-Elect Spitzer,
I have some suggestions for your new administration. To aid in keeping them separate I will forward them in separate emails.
As an out transsexual man, I am concerned that the needs of LGBT people have not been a priority for the current outgoing administration. That administration abolished Gov. Cuomo’s office for Gay and Lesbian Affairs when they took power twelve years ago.
I would like to strongly recommend reviving that office, but in keeping with the current times that it be correctly titled: Office for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Affairs.

Score (253)

December 12, 2006
Dear Governor-Elect Spitzer,
The is the second in a trio of suggestions I have for your new administration. Although, I am most well known and recognized for being
an activist for transgender civil and human rights, I also concerns in other arenas of daily life.
When I was child and adolescent (in the 50’s & 60’s), I recall there being a lot of pervasive public service advertising regarding safe driving. It seems that is not the case these days. I have had for years ongoing concerns about the increasing violence and lawlessness on our roads and highways. Drivers are more aggressive, discourteous and careless in obeying the rules of the road creating a dangerous situation for all. With the goal of making our roads safer for everyone, I have a few suggestions based upon my personal observations.