Silver Lake Daily Newsletter.com

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Unsure of How to Vote on the Propositions Tuesday?
Local Wyoming County Leaders Advise Voting 'No' on 4 Propositions

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In a meeting of the Silver Lake Watershed Commission (SLWC) on Thursday, October 21, 2021 in the courtroom of Perry Village Hall, Castile Supervisor Stan Klein, Perry Supervisor Jim Brick, and Wyoming County Soil and Water Conservation District (WCSWCD) Technician Jacob Kelly addressed propositions that will be on the Nov. 2 General Election ballots to amend the State Constitution. They recommend voters oppose 1, 2, 3, and 4 citing vague language and the potential for civil litigation over environmental issues already properly regulated through the State Environmental Quality Review Act.

NY Farm Bureau President David Fisher in a Prop. 2 opposition statement wrote the following:

"A clean environment should be a priority for every New Yorker, but the vague Green Amendment would muddy the waters around good environmental policy. Voting yes will give the courts greater control to decide what is a 'healthful environment,' and in turn, diminish the public's voice and the traditional legislative and regulatory processes that set public policy. This has potential implications for farmers who may face new legal challenges from anyone who disagrees with their farm practices, undermining strict, science-based environmental regulations already in place in New York State, and it could put right-to-farm laws in jeopardy that aim to protect family farms from nuisance lawsuits."

Officials advised voters to read fully all 5 propositions presented only in brief form here by summarizer Lorraine Sturm, publisher of the Perry Herald:

#1. Amending the Apportionment and Redistricting Process. This proposed constitutional amendment would freeze the number of state senators at 63, amend the process for the counting of the state's population, delete certain provisions that violate the United States Constitution, repeal and amend certain requirements for the appointment of the co-executive directors of the redistricting commission and amend the manner of drawing district lines for congressional and state legislative offices.

#2. The Right to Clean Air, Clean Water, and a Healthful Environment. The proposed amendment to Article 1 of the New York Constitution would establish the right of each person to clean air and water and a healthful environment.

#3. Eliminating 10-Day-Advance Voter Registration Requirement would allow the Legislators to permit a citizen to register to vote less than ten days before the election.

#4. Authorizing No-Excuse Absentee Ballot Voting. The proposed amendment would delete from the current provision on absentee ballots the requirement that an absentee voter must be unable to appear at the polls by reason of absence from the county or illness or physical disability.

#5. Increasing the jurisdiction of the NY City Civil Court by allowing it to hear and decide claims for up to $50,000 instead of the current jurisdictional limit of $25,000.