The Green Party today blasted the reported plan of Gov. Andrew Cuomo to put higher ballot access thresholds for third parties into the state budget.

“Cuomo wants to rule without challenge from his left by the Green Party. He wants to sneak higher ballot access requirements designed to kill third parties in New York while the public is preoccupied with the coronavirus crisis,” said Howie Hawkins, who received 4.8% of the vote as the Green candidate for governor in 2014.

The world faces an unprecedented crisis in the form of the coronavirus pandemic. New York has become the epicenter of the outbreak in the United States, and the actions taken here will have an outsized impact on the course of the crisis. 

It is imperative that New York’s elected officials choose a path that empowers the working class, people of color, and low-income families, rather than the wealthy. During this crisis acts that were considered extraordinary yesterday will be enacted tomorrow. It is up to those of us in the Green Party and on the Left to ensure that those measures benefit working New Yorkers, and that we push for the most comprehensive, democratic, and ecosocialist version of those measures.

The New York State Green and Libertarian Parties applaud the State Supreme Court ruling that stopped the Democratic Party's attempt to assassinate smaller political parties.

Justice Ralph Boniello Thursday tossed out the law establishing a commission purportedly set up to create a system of publicly financed campaigns, but instead deviated into attacks on third party and independent candidates. The Judge ruled that the measure creating the panel was "an improper and unconstitutional delegation of legislative authority."

Green Party officials said Gov. Cuomo had proposed an austerity budget and that his refusal to adopt truly progressive policies meant working class New Yorkers would continue to suffer. Green officers said now was the time for single-payer, universal health care (New York Health Act) to be passed as it would cover all New Yorkers besides reducing state and local budget expenses, and help permanently close the Medicaid budget gap.

The Climate Crisis. Single-Payer Healthcare. Marijuana Legalization. Ecosocialism.

As a party we organize for building a world where people and the planet matter. You’ve helped us: by voting Green, donating to our campaigns, and supporting us as a Green enrollee, and we salute you for that.

This year we’re looking for a few good Greens to step up and carry the Green flag just a little further. We’d like you to consider being a Green candidate for office in 2020!

The Governor of the State of New York has yet again completely ignored the planetary climate emergency at a time when strong leadership is desperately needed. Not one of his 30+ proposals directly addressed the climate crisis, and they barely touched on other pressing issues facing New Yorkers (like the need for single-payer healthcare or progressive taxation to close the $6 billion budget gap). Governor Cuomo prefers small-bore, low-stakes reforms because they pose no threat to his wealthy donors.

December 19, 2019 - Albany - The Green Party of New York announced its four top state legislative priorities for 2019: enact Single-Payer Universal Healthcare through passage of the NY Health Act; move towards a Green New Deal with an initial $10 billion annual investment, a halt to new fossil fuel infrastructure including in homes and buildings, and a declaration of a climate emergency; Marijuana Legalization and Criminal Justice Reform and Electoral Reform, starting with overturning the Public Campaign Finance Reform Commission's ballot access thresholds, reform of the campaign finance system they constructed, alongside ranked-choice voting and proportional representation to ensure democratic elections in New York State. 

Listen to the Green's December 19, 2019 press conference (Thanks to The Sanctuary for Independent Media).

(Albany NY) Green and Libertarian Party officials announced they will pursue litigation against the anti-democratic changes in ballot access recommended by the Public Campaign Finance Reform Commission.

12/3/19 - Green Party officers today said they will have no choice but to pursue litigation against the draconian ballot access thresholds threatened by the Public Campaign Finance Reform Commission if the Legislature fails to remove them. 

Albany, NY November 26, 2019 - Green Party leaders said Gov. Cuomo's comments at a press conference today, in which he stated third parties needed to prove their viability before receiving public funding, are not just wrongheaded, but dangerously undemocratic. Officers said that the exact opposite should be true: public campaign financing should aid third parties and candidates in becoming viable. By placing nearly insurmountable barriers to entry to the ballot and public campaign financing Cuomo and the Commissioners expect third parties to run a marathon with a weight attached to their legs, while Democrats and Republicans are driven to the finish line in limos.