Score (60)

I suggest a review of current employment practices and perhaps new regulations in state employment to eliminate such questionable practices as permitting relatives to supervise one another (either directly or indirectly), the hiring of relatives,and also hiring those with whom one has close personal relationships (such as domestic partners) in positions with direct supervisory or potentially collusionary responsibilities.
- Submitted by Carol Bradwell on 12.27.06

Score (121)

The job of Chairman of the Board should not be merged with Executive Director. The Executive Director should report to and be held accountable by the MTA Board. This relationship would be undermined if the MTA Executive Director would also be the MTA Chairman of the Board.
- Submitted by Marc Boucher on 12.27.06

Score (63)

Please implement change so that people who work in agriculture, namely migrant farmworkers, are protected by just labor laws. They are essential to our local economy (Brockport) and deserve the same protections that an honorable society provides its people.
- Submitted by Monica Anderson on 12.27.06

Score (84)

Dear Governor-elect Spitzer:
It would be great if someone would investigate and provide much needed and long-awaited support to the village of Hastings-on-Hudson, specifically with respect to the (Hudson River) waterfront. It has been close to, if not officially, a superfund cite, and caught up in corporate wrangling in courtrooms over the years. In addition to the environment, the residents of this village have really suffered, and have had to look at neighboring towns where there are beautiful vistas, usable parks, and so on.
Unfortunately Governor Pataki, despite visits to Hastings, was totally ineffective.

Score (162)

Ideas for New York, Fantastic.
It should be mandatory that every state legislator read the enthusiastic and emotional “Ideas for New York”. Legislators might get some insight on how New Yorkers feel about government; maybe we could put an end to lobbyist.
Thanks!
- Submitted by peter sheridan on 12.27.06

Score (154)

We estimate that there are between 120,000 and 150,000 NYS children who have parents in NYS, local, federal or immigration prisons, and no state ownership of this issue or planned process of any kind designed to address the needs of these children and prevent them from going into prison or having other serious life problems themselves.
I cannot locate a college that offers a course on the effects of parental incarceration on children and their caregivers. The professionals who work with children and families of prisoners often create irreparable harm by not knowing how to work effectively with them.

Score (30)

Please support the rights of people to die with dignity and in a manner and time of their choosing.
- Submitted by Sarah King on 12.27.06

Score (132)

Thanks for offering citizens the opportunity to submit feedback and ideas about how the State runs. While this is clearly a "transitional" web site, I suggest you continue to provide the opportunity for citizen input through the official NYS web site. While the current site offers a great deal of information, it is challenging to find ways for citizens to provide input or feedback to the Executive or Legislative branches of government. The Senate and (especially) the Assembly web sites have helpful pages, but links to them are buried among all the state agencies, which themselves require some search. A good step in making NY State government more representative and responsive would be to make it more accessible through its web site.

Score (135)

Dear Gov. Elect Spitzer:
Among your many responsibilities as our new Gov. will be your decisions on casino gambling for the Catskills. This is no simple matter, and there are important layers to the issue.
As you are aware, you will be called upon to finalize the fee to trust transaction whose environmental assessment was recently approved by the BIA on behalf of the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe. As you’re also aware, your approval here is needed in for the Tribe’s casino proposal at the Monticello Raceway to proceed. What you may or may not be aware of is that creating federal territories – to be sanctioned, should you decide to approve this fee to trust request – would be precedent setting for our state. This important consideration has only recently begun to receive local attention here in Sullivan County.

Score (168)

The key to repairing a failed educational system at the primary and secondary levels lies in moving away from the current "factory" model in which literally thousands of students cram the hallways and very few are known personally by their administrators. Instead we need to develop smaller, more flexible and accountable environments.
Creating smaller units can be accomplished even within larger physical complexes by dividing the student body into more intimate "schools" where teachers and adminsitrators can know the names of their students and can respond to the intellectual, physical and emotional needs of individuals.

Score (130)

I have two ideas:
1.) Follow NY law and shut down Turning Stone until it's legal
2.) Follow State law section 10 and say "no" to any land into trust proposals.
"Everything changes on day one." We'll see, won't we.
- Submitted by David Vickers on 12.27.06

Score (97)

Reservation shopping by the gaming industry has been found by Senator McCain's commission to be a detriment to communities and may soon be called illegal. Let's stop casinos now. Sullivan County is seeing an economic upturn. Casinos would bring a halt to that and the tourist industry.
- Submitted by Astrid Fitzgerald on 12.27.06

Score (37)

Why not give $100 in lottery tickets for the 100 best ideas on this site as judged by your transition team? List the top five or ten in each category in a press release.
- Submitted by Art Nudell on 11.18.06

Score (74)

We do not need casinos in the catskills, and the crime and bankruptcy they will bring. The era of off-reservation casinos is coming to an end. There are much better ways to improve the upstate economy and casinos are not the way.
- Submitted by Don Weber on 12.27.06

Score (117)

COMMENT: Michael A. L. Balboni - great choice for Homeland Security.
REQUEST: I request that the transition team review my letter to him dated On March 11, 2005, and the Port Authority Task Force report (PANYNJ Press Release 112-2006 Dec 18 2006) recently published. Reference my previous post and submission, making a difference is what counts. My offer still stands.
JM
- Submitted by John Moakley on 12.03.06