A Broken System

In just the last decade, the pursuit and maintenance of power in New York has resulted in a long list of corruption and criminal scandals involving elected officials.  Had enough yet?

For far too long, New York’s political system has been a clear example of all that’s wrong with politics. Too few voters think their voice matters, so party bosses, special interests, dirty money, and lobbyists call the shots.  

This system stifles competition, whether through unfair ballot access standards, limitless terms in office, restrictions on what issues require public referendums, a closed primary process or through a winner-take-all approach to elections that empowers fringe elements. The result of this broken system is generations of corruption and shameful behavior by a litany of bad actors — from back bench legislators and staffers to every constitutional officer in recent history.

This system rewards the bad guy and needs to be changed.  Let’s fix this broken system to allow more voice and more choices!

Resources on New York Public Corruption

NY Times special section on Albany Corruption: Albany on Trial

Museum of Public Corruption in Albany

Empire Center for Public Policy

Common Cause NY

Unite NY Seeks to Resolve these Problems with Real Solutions!

Learn more about our solutions, such as More Candidates, Ranked Choice Voting, Open Primaries, and more by visiting our Solutions page!

Timeline of Corruption & Shame

2022
April

Lieutenant Governor Brian Benjamin

Lieutenant Governor Brian Benjamin

Lieutenant Governor Brian Benjamin resigns amid charges of campaign finance crimes (Image courtesy Syracuse.com)

2021
August

Governor Andrew Cuomo

Andrew Cuomo

Resigned as Governor due to Sexual Harassment and corruption charges)

2019
October

Congressman Chris Collins

Resigns from Congress as he pleads guilty to insider trading charges

March

Joe Percoco

Joe Percoco

Senior Cuomo aide resigns and is convicted of bribery

2018
July

Alain Kaloyeros

Alain Kaloyeros

Senior Cuomo Appointee convicted of bid-rigging

May

Attorney General Eric Schneiderman

Eric Schneiderman

Resigned as Attorney General amid sex scandals and assault charges

April

Assemblywoman Pamela Harris

Resigned as part of conviction for wire fraud involving misappropriated FEMA aid

2016
March

Assemblyman Marc Panepinto

Did not seek re-election; convicted of corruption in trading political favors for sex

2015
December

Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos

Dean Skelos

Expelled from Senate following conviction on corruption charges

November

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver

Expelled from Assembly following conviction on corruption and kickback scheme

July

Senator John Sampson

Convicted in July 2015 for obstruction of justice and other crimes

May

Assemblyman William Scarborough

Plead guilty in May of 2015 to using campaign funds for personal benefit

2014
June

Assemblywoman Gabriela Rosa

Plead guilty in June 2014 to lying to immigration authorities and for making false statements in a bankruptcy petition

March

Assemblyman William Boyland

Convicted in March 2014 on 21 federal charges, including bribery, mail fraud and extortion

February

Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith

Found guilty in February of 2014 of scheming to bribe his way onto the ballot in the 2013 New York City mayoral election

January

Assemblyman Eric Stevenson

Convicted in January of 2014 of bribery and extortion

2013
May

Assemblyman Vito Lopez

Resigned in May of 2013 for sexually harassing female staff members

January

Senator Shirley Huntley

Plead guilty in January of 2013 to embezzling state funds

2012
June

Senator Nick Spano

Plead guilty in June 2012 to tax evasion

April

Senator Carl Kruger

In April of 2012 he was sentenced to seven years in prison for accepting half a million dollars in bribes

Paid for by Unite NY | Not Authorized by any Candidate or Any Candidate's Committee | Copyright © 2023 by Unite NY | All rights reserved.