Platform of the Democratic Reform Coalition

1)

Amend the County Charter to create a Non-Partisan and Independent

Redistricting Committee

While the current proposed Charter Amendments include an improved Redistricting

Committee, the proposal stops well short of a truly objective non-partisan committee as
recommended by the Charter Review Commission and endorsed by the League of Women
Voters of Albany County.
Redistricting encourages manipulation of our elections by allowing incumbent
politicians to help partisan allies, hurt political enemies and choose their voters before the
voters choose them. The current process is used as a means to further political goals by
drawing boundaries to protect incumbents and reduce competition, rather than to ensure
equal voting power and fair representation. As a result, the last three times the legislature
has redistricted it has violated the federal Voting Rights Act.
A non-partisan independent redistricting committee would take the politics out of
drawing legislative district boundary lines and help insure fairer, more representative
districts.
2)

Provide for Open County Government by Requiring Broadcasting and Web

Live Streaming of all County Meetings

Public access to legislative meetings is troublingly limited. Committee meetings are

never broadcast and public access broadcasting of full legislative meetings is hit-and-miss
throughout the County. Further, neither full legislative meetings nor committee meetings
are webcasted on the County web page. Information, when available is also uploaded at an
alarmingly slow pace.
Every County legislative meeting should be publically broadcast on public access
channels and live streamed on the County website. This applies to not just the full
Legislative meetings but also to every committee, special committee, and commission.
Further, every meeting should be archived and accessible on the County website.
3)

Amend The Legislative Rules to Provide for Term Limits for Leadership
Positions and Committee Chairs

Term limits for leadership positions and committee chairs is good for effective,
progressive government.
Indefinite terms of leadership and chairs give too few individuals too much power
and influence over the entire legislative process. Term limits for leaders and committee
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chairs will help ensure regular change in the highest policy-making levels of County
government and will help make sure that new ideas are heard.
4)

Amend the Legislative Rules to Provide Greater Influence to Individual

Legislators and Less to Leadership

The Legislatures rules are designed to consolidate power in the hands of the
leadership which deprives most legislators and thus their constituents of equal
representation. The rules should be changed to provide greater ability of individual
legislators to bring legislation to the floor for a vote. Each legislator should be able to
bring important legislation to the floor for a vote, and the Legislature as a whole should be
able to override actions of the Chair with a majority vote.
5)

Move Forward with Comprehensive Ethics in Government Reform

In 2011, the County Legislature passed comprehensive ethics reform legislation.

However, the Ethics Commission created by that law to monitor the actions of local public
officials and ensure that the rules are being followed was never appointed. The Legislature
should move forward immediately with creating and empowering an Ethics Commission
to begin the essential work of making Albany County government the most ethical in the
State.
6)

Create an Administrative Code to Organize/Professionalize the Administration

of County Government and Codify Legislation, Rules, and Regulations

Unlike most well-run counties in New York State, Albany County does not collect,
codify, and publish all local laws and ordinances in an easily accessible administrative
code. It is thus difficult to determine what laws have been enacted by the County
Legislature, both recently and in the past. This is no way for a modern and professional
county government to be operated. Not only is the absence of an accessible administrative
code antithetical to open government but it also puts Albany County at a competitive
disadvantage in terms of economic development. Businesses demand certainty regarding
the laws they are subject to, and the inability to easily determine the laws in Albany
County discourages businesses from opening in or relocating here.
Issue Agendas: Candidates are committed to the following broad based policy goals:
a)

a green, environmentally responsible agenda for our government and county;

b)

an agenda dedicated to protecting and defending civil rights;

c)

an agenda dedicated to Women's Rights and Gender Equality; and

d)

an agenda committed to fighting for equality of economic opportunity.

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