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This is the second in a series of weekly bulletins that will help you
prepare for NYSACRA's Legislative Day
on
Tuesday, January 31, 2006. 1. KNOWING YOUR LEGISLATORS
Why do you care? Because you receive nearly 100% of your
funding from both the Federal and State government, and the people
elected to represent you in Congress or in Albany make those
decisions.
The bottom line is, you may not know who really represents you.
So,
Click Here or visit:
http://capwiz.com/nysacra/state/main/?state=NY&view=myofficials#0
and enter ALL your site addresses to verify who your
representatives are. (Just click
"Change
My Location", and enter your next address).
Remember to check ALL of your sites, since District lines are often
wacky and 2 houses on the same block may in fact be in different
Districts. Due to a reduction in the State’s overall population and certain shifts within the state, the “gerrymandering” is the
worst ever. Gerrymandering refers to the loosely drawn districts that are crafted every ten years. Also, in the Senate, they added a new seat, while consolidating some others. So, in the end, you may find that the cozy relationship you have spent years cultivating with your State Legislator has suddenly ended, only to be replaced by someone who
may be unknown to you and/or unaware of our issues. So, either
Click Here or log on to:
http://capwiz.com/nysacra/state/main/?state=NY&view=myofficials#0
This information helps us help you. 2. HOW DOES LEGISLATIVE GRASSROOTS ADVOCACY WORK?
NYSACRA’s legislative advocacy has been an effort of our
Association for many years now. Our Legislative Day each year is just one component of our legislative grassroots advocacy strategy,
and it's the one time that we gather as a large group with a unified message. Our
strategies are developed by our Legislative Committee and Board of Directors to encourage our members to bring the full force of our perspective to bear on state government and to educate about and advocate for community and residential
services and supports for people with mental retardation and developmental disabilities. Some of the strategies we have developed are:
DSP Profiles, voter registration, letter writing campaigns, meetings with editorial boards of newspapers,
letters to the editor/articles about our issues, legislative breakfasts, ad campaigns, rallies, etc. The Legislative Day each year, as stated above is just one piece of an entire campaign to educate about our issues.
Click Here for a PDF copy of the Legislative Guide 2005,
NYSACRA's guide to grassroots advocacy. 3. WHY IS GRASSROOTS ADVOCACY IMPORTANT? It is
extremely important that legislators hear from the people closest to the services in New York State. People with disabilities, families, providers and board members are unique partners and leaders in educating about
our services and the issues. We know that families and people
with disabilities have been incredible advocates and accomplished so
much in this field in the history of this community service system.
We must continue this powerful advocacy to make progress on our
issues. Advocates must engage their legislators and clearly
educate them about our issues. It is very powerful to be united
and presenting one voice. The Legislature exists to represent
our views and our interests. They can’t do that if they don’t
know what our issues are.
Don't ever forget that you and your lawmaker need each other.
Getting elected is a lawmaker's primary concern. They need
us to be elected and reelected. We need our lawmakers to
achieve our legislative and regulatory agenda. Successful
citizen legislative advocacy is possible when the reciprocal nature
of this relationship is fully understood. Many
NYSACRA Member Agencies have established a Legislative Committee with representation
from each department, from the board and from parent and self advocacy groups. It helps to have an agency plan. Here are some useful ideas to consider:
Find out through a simple survey who knows your legislator(s)
personally in your agency. Staff, their families, people with disabilities, their families, etc. Use those connections to get to know your legislator. Set up an agency committee to accomplish a few things. Keep
it simple to start with. At staff meetings you can each write a letter to a legislator or call them. Use the meeting time to rehearse how the call might go. Some people are not comfortable in the
beginning. Use the NYSACRA Online Action Center to
send your messages. Use NYSACRA’s Legislative Guide that contains certain suggestions
to help you in your interactions with legislators. For example, be courteous and don’t demand and argue. Invite your legislator to more informal events (they are always
invited to the formal ones). Remember that you are always helping the legislator understand our
issues, by personalizing them. Become a resource for them. When they need information on a disability issue, they will start to call you. Point out how many VOTES your agency represents to them.
That's what they count when the chips are down.
4. Why Has My Representative Changed?
Every ten years, following the Census, Legislative Redistricting
occurs. Every decade the State Legislature is required to
re-draw the District lines for all State Senate, State Assembly, and
US Congressional Districts. Basically, population shifts
determine the process, but, like most things in Government, politics
is involved.
Take the following action to be sure you are properly represented in
Albany and Washington. This information helps us help you.
Either send us your Agency program sites (house/apartment) address
list or
Click Here or log on to:
http://capwiz.com/nysacra/state/main/?state=NY&view=myofficials#0
5. POLITICS 101. WHO REPRESENTS WHAT?
OK, here's the scoop. In New York
we have a NY State Legislature with 2 houses, the State Senate and
State Assembly. The Senate is considered the "upper" house and
so they represent more than twice as many people per District.
The State is divided into 62 Senate Districts and 150 Assembly
Districts, each represented by a different person, giving us a total
of 212 NYS Legislators, counting all Senators and Assemblypersons.
That's it for your representation at the State level, unless you know
the Governor real well.
On the Federal level, you are
represented by 2 statewide United States Senators and 1 Congressional
Representative. Your U.S. Senator is NOT the same thing as your
State Senator who represents only your local area. Our U.S.
Senators, Schumer and Clinton in NY, represent the whole State.
There are 29 Congressional Districts in
NY, and thus 29 Congresspersons. Your Congressional Rep covers
an area just over twice the size of a State Senate District.
For a rough numerical comparison, a State Assembly District is about
130,000 people, a State Senate District is about 300,000, and a
Congressional District is about 650,000 people.
By working together, agencies, staff, parents, and individuals with disabilities can truly accomplish the impossible. Although we all play different roles, each of
us is striving for the same goal; supporting the existing quality services provided and improving the quality of service system in New York.
If you don’t do it, who will?
Note: For
those of you who were used to the old Board of Elections Address
Search tool, alas, it has gone the way of the dodo. But fear not,
NYSACRA has invested in a search tool that is just as good and
better, in that it is integrated with the NYSACRA Action Center, our
Alerts, the
www.nysacra.org website, key votes, legislative bill tracking,
and more! To see more of what the Action Center has to offer,
Click Here.
If you are submitting your lists, please submit
agency site address lists to NYSACRA at:
Fax: 518-449-1509
Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
99 Pine Street, Suite C110
Albany, New York 12207
NYSACRA is a catalyst and leading
advocate
for public policies, practices and organizations
that benefit people with developmental disabilities. 99 Pine Street Suite C110, Albany,
NY 12207 518-449-7551 518-449-1509
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
www.nysacra.org
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