Pledging to Reform New York State
"I applaud Assemblymember Joe Morelle as a "Hero of Reform" for signing the three New York Uprising pledges. This year voters are counting on candidates to commit to specific reforms in advance, as Joe has done. I look forward to working with him to see them swiftly implemented should he be reelected."
-Ed Koch
Former NYC Mayor
In 2005, the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University issued a report that infamously branded New York State government as "dysfunctional". The same report included several recommendations to reform the legislative process. I was one of the first and only Democrats in the New York State Legislature to cosponsor those reforms, many of which were adopted and modified the rules we use today.
Earlier this year I cosponsored a bill to create an independent redistricting commission to draw the legislative district boundaries following the 2010 census to minimize gerrymandering and maximize accountability through fair, competitive elections.
Still, much more needs to be done to restore trust in government. For that reason, I am pleased to sign the NY Uprising reform pledge, which includes three components: independent redistricting, responsible budgeting, and ethics reform.
Anyone can sign a pledge, but I have a record of standing up to special interests and demanding real reform in Albany. I am proud to receive the 'seal of approval' from NY Uprising and look forward to fulfilling the promises of the pledge. NY Uprising was founded by Former New York City Mayor Ed Koch with the goal of reforming how Albany works. The group is governed by a non-partisan board of trustees, made up of former elected officials from both the Democratic and Republican parties.
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