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Sleepy Town, Sleepy Election
November 5th, 2007

Everybody is fond of referring to this election as “sleepy,” but nothing, perhaps, is as sleepy as the hamlet of Raquette Lake in upstate New York, which this year’s statewide ballot proposal revolves around. Voters here in New York City have a say in where that little town, some 225 miles north of here, gets its drinking water from.

The town’s source of drinking water has become contaminated, but to open up a new well, they need a constitutional amendment since the area is in the constitutionally protected Adirondack Park. The amendment would allow for the use of one acre of land for a well, which would be replaced by at least twelve new acres of protected parkland.

It seems that anybody who has an opinion on the matter supports the amendment. But the Albany Times-Union is worried downstate residents might vote against the measure since it concerns upstate: “Because the amendment benefits an upstate community, it is more than possible that many downstaters might pull the ‘no’ lever by reflex, in the mistaken notion that approval will drive up taxes.”

“This is a municipality, this is a community in the state of New York … We should have the same rights that any other community in the state has to provide clean drinking water,” Republican Assemblywoman Teresa Sayward, who represents the area, told Newsday.


But while every editorial board that mentioned it supported the measure, it doesn’t mean they’re happy about the their ballot proposal choices this year.

The Journal News offers up some more exciting constitutional amendments that they’d like to see on the ballot: “How about an amendment to create a nonpartisan system for setting boundaries for Assembly and Senate districts? That would help break the stranglehold powerful legislative leaders use to keep members in line. How about changes in budgeting, borrowing and campaign-financing? Lots of good-government changes could be made there. How about a change to allow citizen initiatives at the ballot box? What about new constraints on unfunded state mandates? How about an amendment to limit lawmakers’ terms?”

But the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle thinks the State Board of Elections could simply do a better job educating voters about the propositions they vote for: “But why not use state and local Web sites to throw a spotlight on propositions? Employ sample ballots, apply a little history in short, sell the importance of the ballot measure vote. Vote ‘yes’ on Tuesday’s ballot proposition. It should be the last that flies under the radar. “

By Mike Muller on November 5, 2007, 10:18 am
In category: Albany, Environment, Voting
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3 Responses to “Sleepy Town, Sleepy Election”

  1. Today is the day : NYCO’s Blog Says:
    November 6th, 2007 at 4:36 am

    […] (If you don’t think it’s important to pull the lever on this proposition, please read this post from Gotham Gazette, which notes a scenario where the proposition might face knee-jerk opposition.) […]

  2. Larry Craig Says:
    November 6th, 2007 at 7:51 pm

    What are you talking about, sleepy? I’ve been up for two days. And then I’m waiting in line ready to go in and vote and someone had spilled something and my foot slipped slightly and tapped the foot of the person voting. Little did I know that the 10th election district voting booths are known as “prime cruising” in New York City. Next thing I know I didn’t get to vote and I had to confess to a misdemeanor. I hope the people of Long Lake get the clean water they so desperately need. Larry

  3. NYC voter Says:
    November 8th, 2007 at 11:29 am

    I did not vote NO because I believed that it would drive up my taxes. I did so because:
    1) no one had cared to inform me of the issues
    2) I’m fed up with showing up to simply agree to choose 4 of 4 etc.
    3) unless we start acting out, this will NOT be the last ballot prop that flies under the radar.
    BTW — at 8PM I was the 16th person to vote in my district.

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