Galef to Host Town Meetings and Campaign Finance Reform Forum
New York State Assemblywoman Sandy Galef will host a series of town meetings throughout her district starting Thursday, January 31. These annual meetings provide an opportunity for Galef to share information about the state with her constituents as well as hear their thoughts on state and local issues.
The first town meeting of the series will be held at Ossining Public Library on Thursday, January 31 from 7 -9 p.m. on the second floor.
On Saturday, February 2nd, Galef will host an abbreviated town meeting, starting at 11:00am at the Desmond-Fish Library in Garrison. Immediately following, from 12:15-2:15 p.m., panelists from good government groups will join the assemblywoman to discuss how financing of campaigns needs to change to make elections fairer, allow more people to enter a political race, and ensure fair government that is focused on issues. The model currently in place in New York City will be discussed as a useful example. The featured panelists are: Dick Dadey, Executive Director, Citizens Union of the City of New York; Jesse Laymon, Downstate Campaigns Manager, Citizen Action of New York; and, Susan Lerner, Executive Director, Common Cause/NY. [Sunday, February 3 has been designated as a snow date for the combined Town Meeting/Campaign Finance Reform Forum at Desmond-Fish, at the same times as is scheduled for Saturday.]
The following week, Galef will host a town meeting on Thursday, February 7 at The Field Library in Peekskill. On Saturday, February 9th, she will appear at the Kent Public Library in Kent Lakes from 1-3 p.m., and on Sunday February 10at Croton Village Hall, second floor, from 2-4p.m..
“I really enjoy the opportunity to speak with my constituents at my annual town meetings,” Galef said. “As always, I anticipate a lively discussion on areas in which we can improve so that our communities and New York State can thrive. This year, I am trying something new, adding on a special forum to discuss campaign finance reform. As we are just coming off another year of extremely high spending on elections, I think this conversation is timely and will really help identify how we need to change to make the process of running for an elected seat fairer and more open.” Galef added.
At the town meetings, Galef will discuss such issues as the state budget, hydrofracking for natural gas, storm feedback, mandate relief, shared services, and other concerns or suggestions which her constituents would like to discuss.
If a town meeting is cancelled in one municipality due to weather, community members are encouraged to attend another meeting on a different date, as only one snow date has been planned for the one location. If the weather is inclement, please call Galef’s district office at (914) 941-1111 or the location itself for an update on whether or not the meeting will proceed as scheduled:
The Town Meeting schedule for 2012 is as follows:
Thursday, January 31, 2012
7-9 pm, Ossining Public Library, 53 Croton Avenue, Ossining
Saturday, February 2, 2012
11 am- 12 pm, Desmond-Fish Library, 472 Route 403, Garrison
followed by
12:15-2:15pm, Campaign Finance Reform Forum
Thursday, February 7,
7-9 pm, The Field Library, 4 Nelson Avenue, Peekskill
Saturday, February 9,
1-3 p.m., Kent Public Library, 17 Sybil’s Crossing, Kent Lakes
and
Sunday, February 10,
2-4 p.m., Croton Village Hall, One Van Wyck Street, Croton-on-Hudson
For more information and/or directions please contact the Assemblywoman’s office by e-mail at galefs@assembly.state.ny.us or by phone at 914-941-1111.
Adam has worked in the local news industry for the past two decades in Westchester County and the broader Hudson Valley. Read more from Adam’s author bio here.
