Editorial

Plenty of choices on Election Day

Posted

Most of the statewide and local races in this year’s election cycle appear to be foregone conclusions. 

Not many people give Rob Astorino a chance of ousting Andrew Cuomo from the Governor’s mansion. 

Rep. Eliot Engel, state Sen. Jeff Klein and Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz are all running virtually unopposed.

So why take the time to go to the polls on Tuesday? 

Well, if you’re lucky enough to have a polling place in a school, you’re likely to be greeted with a bit of Americana — the Election Day bake sale where parents have what may be the only chance they have of raising funds from people who don’t have kids at their school.

If that’s not enough there are serious issues to be decided by referenda.

One is a proposal to amend the state’s constitution to reform the redistricting process, supposedly taking it out of the hands of the legislature and giving it to a new commission. Good government groups are split on whether this is actually going to be an improvement on the Gerrymandering we currently endure every ten years. 

In any case, it won’t go into effect until after the 2020 census.

Another proposal asks to amend the constitution to bring the legislature into the modern age. It establishes a methodology by which drafts of bills are distributed to legislators electronically and gives them the opportunity to mark them up so their colleagues can get an idea of where they stand on the bill.

A third proposal asks voters to approve a bond act giving the state the right to borrow $2 billion to provide classrooms with “classroom technology” and “high-speed internet connectivity to equalize opportunities for children to learn.

It would also provide funds to add classroom space, eliminate classroom trailers and install high-tech security features in schools.

You might be surprised, although it was mentioned in The Press, to learn that Mr. Dinowitz has an opponent, Conservative Alan H. Reed. Neither candidate has hit the hustings.

Mr. Klein faces three challengers, Republican Aleksander Mici, Conservative Frank Dellavalle and the Green Party’s Carl Lundgren. 

Editorial, Election, Jeffrey Dinowitz, Eliot Engel, Jeff Klein, Andrew Cuomo, Rob Astorino
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