Common Cause/New York

Susan Lerner

Executive Director

(800) 300-8707

www.commoncause.org/ny

Common Cause/New York is a nonpartisan, nonprofit advocacy organization founded in 1970 in New York by John Gardner. Now with nearly 400,000 members and supporters and 36 state organizations, Common Cause remains committed to honest, open and accountable government, as well as encouraging citizen participation in democracy. Common Cause furthers its mission by working in the following areas for real reform:

election reform
limiting the role of money in politics
government accountability
preserving the diversity of media ownership

Common Cause/New York is committed to furthering the national organization’s mission on both a state and municipal level here in New York. Common Cause/New York has a proven track record of three decades of good government victories in New York City and State, fighting to allow New Yorkers of all ages and backgrounds to make their voices heard in the political process and to hold their elected leaders accountable to the public interest. As one of Common Cause’s most active state organizations, Common Cause/New York is at the forefront of these issues by using the grassroots strength of its 20,000 members statewide to change “politics as usual.”

League of Women Voters of New York State

Barbara Bartoletti

Legislative Director

(518) 465-4162

www.lwvny.org

The League of Women Voters (LWV) is a strictly nonpartisan citizen activist organization that operates at the local, state, and national levels. There are LWVs in every state; Washington, D.C.; Puerto Rico; and the Virgin Islands. In New York State, there are 60 local Leagues throughout the state.

The LWVNYS believes:

In representative government and in the individual liberties established in the Constitution of the United States;
That democratic government depends upon the informed and active participation of its citizens and requires that governmental bodies protect the citizen’s right to know by giving adequate notice of proposed actions, holding open meetings and making public records accessible;
That every citizen should be protected in the right to vote; that every person should have access to free public education that provides equal opportunity for all; and that no person or group should suffer legal, economic or administrative discrimination;
That efficient and economical government requires competent personnel, the clear assignment of responsibility, adequate financing, and coordination among the different agencies and levels of government;
That responsible government should be responsive to the will of the people; that government should maintain an equitable and flexible system of taxation, promote the conservation and development of natural resources in the public interest, share in the solution of economic and social problems that affect the general welfare, promote a sound economy, and adopt domestic policies that facilitate the solution of international problems;
That cooperation with other nations is essential in the search for solutions to world problems, and that the development of an international organization and international law is imperative in the promotion of world peace.

New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG)

Blair Horner

Legislative Director

(518) 436-0876

www.nypirg.org

The New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG) is New York State's largest student-directed consumer, environmental and government reform organization. We are a nonpartisan, not-for-profit group established to effect policy reforms while training students and other New Yorkers to be advocates. Since 1973, NYPIRG has played the key role in fighting for more than 120 public interest laws and executive orders.

NYPIRG's 21 college campus chapters provide much of NYPIRG's energy, resources, and activism. Each campus chapter consists of full-time staff organizers and a large core of student volunteers. Students at NYPIRG chapters work on projects that both support NYPIRG's statewide agenda and focus on local issues. NYPIRG's full-time staff produces studies on a wide array of topics, coordinates state campaigns, lobbies public officials and works with students.

In addition, NYPIRG's outreach program travels to communities across the state to educate and activate local residents on vital issues. NYPIRG's citizen membership exceeds 85,000 people from all parts of the state. These members give NYPIRG political clout and make our lobbying efforts successful.

The Interfaith Alliance of Rochester

Nathan Jaschik

Executive Committee

(585) 442-6065

www.tia-roch.org

The Interfaith Alliance of Rochester is committed to an inclusive democratic process based upon the mutual responsibility of public officials, public institutions, and the general public. It requires honest and civility through open discussion of issues and full participation open to all citizens. We work towards a public good that offers dignity and wholeness to all people. This includes a quality public education, a sustainable environment, a living wage, comprehensive health care, adequate housing, and a voice for people of faith in the political arena that respects the First Amendment.

As a growing and diverse interfaith community, we bring a constructive and healing witness to public and political life in the Greater Rochester community. The Interfaith Alliance of Rochester is one of many local alliances in a national coalition of people of faith.

We believe that people running for or serving in public office should express their views in a way that encourages civil discussion of issues.
We educate our members about public policy issues. We strive to promote the Golden Rule as the core value to bring about economic justice.
We provide an enlightened faith-based voice in an evolving community that understands the relevance and value of religious diversity.
We strive to encourage all people to "do justice, to love mercy and to walk humbly with our God." Micah 6:8
We believe that democracy works best when politics becomes the work of the people, when informed participation and respectful listening are allowed to contribute to the resolution of social problems, and when the "common will" seeks liberty and justice for all.

Citizens for Better Government in New York State, Inc.

Stuart Berger

President

(585) 473-3603

www.cbgny.org

Citizens for Better Government in New York State is sharply focused on the solutions that will make our state functional. CBGNY along with more than 30 other state groups, has joined forces for a common push.

The focus of these crucial reforms:

Reform the way electoral campaigns are funded and conducted
Change the way legislative district lines are drawn
Improve the transparency, accountability and rules of the legislature.

CBGNY is a non-partisan, grassroots, all-volunteer group of activists who have organized to publicly and aggressively support reform of New York State government.

CBGNY members are volunteers, but that doesn't mean we're all amateurs.

Our members come from varied walks of life. Many are just ordinary citizens who recognize that Albany is still not serious about reform. All of us realize that until we can confront politicians with an organized, informed and assertive group of citizens, who are willing to speak out about how these issues affect their quality of life and their pocketbook, reform will remain stalled.