Ending Prison-Based Gerrymandering
Come to Albany!
On Wednesday, June 2nd, we’re converging on the Capitol to tell our legislations to end prison-based gerrymandering now! Join coalition organizations, community members, and New Yorkers who want their democracy back in the Well of the Legislative Office Building on Wednesday, June 2nd from 11 am to 4 pm.
From Momentum to A Movement
This past weekend, Citizen Action leaders from all across the state gathered in Kerhonkson, NY for our Annual Leadership Conference. The time together is meant for discussion, planning, and –yes–simply enjoying each others company. Shanna Goldman, our Organizing Director, and Chris Scoville, our Capital District Organizer, opened the conference with a dynamic discussion on far [...]
New York’s Soul at Stake
by Shanna Goldman, Organizing Director
Right now, we’re working to pass legislation that would change New York’s antiquated practice of adding the count of people in prison to the population of the district where they are incarcerated – as opposed to their home community. Folks keep asking me how “upstate” benefits from the change in legislation.
My first problem: the term “upstate.” Can you please tell me which of these communities best represents upstate?
Is it Elsmere Street in Buffalo, a hip strip of shops and restaurants and single and double family homes?
One Person, One Vote
The principle of ‘one person, one vote,’ is a sacred component of our democracy in the United States. But, here in New York, when it comes to counting people in prison, representation is anything but equal. Last Thursday (January 28th), we kicked-off a new campaign to end prison-based gerrymandering, the undemocratic system for using people [...]
