The New York Public Interest Research Group is the state’s largest student-directed activist organization, focusing on issues of voter rights, higher education, hunger and homelessness, environmental protection and government reform. We teach students to become more politically aware by working on local and statewide campaigns.

This semester, NYPIRG members realize student activism is more important than ever. The new body politic in Albany is planning to implement 20 percent budget cuts, which means likely slashes in funding for the State University of New York and the Tuition Assistance Program. The gubernatorial budget is expected from Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s desk Tuesday. We want to make sure our voices are heard before he submits his request to the legislature right on through until the state budget is passed mid-semester.

With that said, the change of the guard in the state government offers the opportunity for unprecedented progress in the area of government reform. Every 10 years, the state legislature must redraw the district lines. Historically, through the process of gerrymandering, the legislature guarantees uncompetitive elections — New York has the highest incumbency rate in the nation.

This year, Cuomo said if the legislature redraws lines that are unfair, he would veto them and give the task of redistricting to the courts. He has suggested the legislature create an independent redistricting commission to ensure fair elections in 2012. We will battle to make sure New York has a more honest and competitive election process.

This semester also looks promising for two of NYPIRG’s major environmental campaigns. In 2009 Gov. David Paterson signed Executive Order 24, mandating an 80 percent reduction in greenhouse gasses by the year 2050. The Department of Environmental Conservation is in the process of drafting a Climate Action Plan to reach those goals.

Right now, the DEC is taking suggestions from the public for how to make the plan successful. We have a duty to make sure the plan includes clean, safe and proven ways to limit emissions. At NYPIRG, we are also continuing our campaign to protect drinking water from irreversible contamination by preventing hydraulic fracturing in our watersheds.

Currently, we are working with the DEC to create a comprehensive General Environmental Impact Statement, which includes plans for wastewater disposal, surface impact, air pollution, quality of life concerns and other environmental and safety regulations.

We are also working on campus to provide young consumers the information they need to protect themselves from the complicated world of finance and, in general, make them more conscious consumers. This semester, we will also work to set up a Small Claims Court Action Center to guide students and community members through all of the red tape of justice. Likewise, we will reach out to the community on our Hunger and Homelessness campaign to make sure we are providing the services more urgently desired.

As you can see, this semester is going to be a very active one for NYPIRG on campus, but none of it can happen without the involvement of the student body. As we move forward with the semester, look for NYPIRG action on all the campaigns above and get involved.

Our student action meeting is scheduled for Feb. 15 at the Hall of Languages in Room 500 at 7 p.m. But if you want to get involved earlier, we have chapter meetings every Thursday at 7 p.m. in our office at 732 S. Crouse Ave. 

Ted Traver

NYPIRG Project Coordinator

 

Published on January 25, 2011 at 12:00 pm