Like many of you, I have been very dissatisfied with the way our State Legislature is operating (or, more accurately, not operating), and, like many of you, I think it is time for some major changes. I recently received a mailing from the office of Assemblyman Jim Bacalles asking his constituents to support a “People’s Convention to Reform New York.” The goals of such a convention would be to consider, among other things, real property tax relief, spending cap, debt reform, and term limits for legislators. So far, I am in complete agreement with this idea. However, he is proposing that each of New York’s 62 counties be represented by three delegates, and here is where the disagreement arises. New York City, consisting of the Bronx, Kings, Queens, Brooklyn and Staten Island would be represented by 15 delegates – the same numbers that would represent Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Allegany, Steuben and Yates Counties.
That means that five counties in western New York, with a population of 361, 366 (1.9 percent of the state’s population) would have the same representation as New York City, with a population of 8,214,426 (42.5 percent of the state’s population). I know that as much as many of us dislike the treatment accorded to New York City, it is undeniable that the 42.5 percent of the population in New York City should be represented by more delegates than the 1.8 percent of the population representing the five counties listed from Western New York. Let’s move toward a more equitable distribution of representatives to ensure that everyone’s interests are met.
Barbara Crumb
Branchport
