This is a SPECIAL EVENT ALERT from SaveNewYork.org, a new organization of concerned New Yorkers dedicated to open, honest and effective government.

Dear Fellow New Yorker,

SaveNew York.org is joining together with The Brennan Center for Justice and a statewide coalition of reform organizations to conduct a rally and press conference at the State Legislature in Albany on January 6, 2005.

The purpose of this rally is to demonstrate how strong and widespread the desire is to reform the legislative process in New York and make 2005 a watershed year in the fight for open, honest and effective government.

Your participation in this event is welcome and important. Please join us!

Note the details below and respond to this e-mail if you want to attend. Transportation will be available.

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Reforming the Most "Dysfunctional" State Legislature in America

Rally & Press Conference

Thursday, January 6, 2005

11:00 am - 1:00 pm

Legislative Office Building, Albany

Join us for an important morning of activism in Albany and a chance to witness the statewide coalition for reform in action. Respond to this e-mail if you would like to attend and for more details. Please RSVP as soon as possible.

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JUST THE FACTS:

A RECENT STUDY found that New York ranks dead last in a ranking of states by their level of economic opportunity. The U.S. Economic Freedom Index found New York to have the most punitive combination of heavy regulations and high taxes, thus naming it the "least free" state in the Union.
Source: Pacific Research Institute for Public Policy

NEW YORKERS pay 72% above the national average in local taxes, the highest in the nation.
(The second highest local tax burden - in New Jersey - is 20% above the national average.)
Source: Citizens Budget Commission

IN THE 1980s, New York was home to over 100 Fortune 500 companies. Today that number is 51. Source: Fortune Magazine

NEW YORK has suffered a net loss in citizen migration every year since 1990. In every year since 1995, this population loss has been the largest of all 50 states. Source: U.S. Census Bureau

This exodus of families and jobs has weakened New York's economy and influence in Congress.

STUDIES HAVE FOUND the New York State Legislature to be a "relentless business-crushing, job-killing, tax-and-spend machine" and "the most dysfunctional in the nation."
Source: City Journal & Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law

Yet, in the 2004 elections, with a system designed by political insiders themselves, the re-election rate in the state Legislature was 98%. (The re-election rate for New York's congressional delegation was a clean sweep: 100%.) These numbers are nearly identical every election cycle.

The most dysfunctional legislative body in the nation consistently manages the highest re-election rate in the nation!

IN OUR VIEW, New York is not heading in the right direction. Help us reverse this trend. Help us save New York!

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OUR MISSION

SaveNewYork.org is an organization of concerned New Yorkers dedicated to open, honest and effective government.

Our goal is to help increase public awareness of the fundamental flaws in public policy in New York and build pressure for reform. Through statewide events and activities we advance our legislative goals and persuade our elected officials to sign on. Through our state and federal political action committees (PACs) we help elect candidates who support, and defeat candidates who oppose, our legislative priorities.

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OUR LEGISLATIVE GOALS

SaveNewYork.org has four specific legislative priorities:

Fix Medicaid
Improve the Redistricting Process
Increase Education Options for Poor Families
Cut Taxes and Simplify the Tax Code
Read our specific proposals under "Key Issues" on our website at SaveNewYork.org.

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WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP

We are currently organizing events and activities throughout New York in our effort to achieve our goals. Please visit our website today and:

Sign up for email alerts
Fill out our volunteer form
Make a contribution
Thank you for taking the time to read this note. Please visit our website and join this important effort.

Sincerely,

Michael Benjamin, Chairman

Save New York Inc.

Email: michael@savenewyork.org
Phone: (212) 332-9090
Web: http://www.savenewyork.org/