Albany

A group of progressive organizations on Monday gathered to voice their opposition to holding a constitutional convention, which voters will decide on Nov. 7.

“We have far more to lose than we have to gain,” said Ron Deutsch, executive director of the labor-backed Fiscal Policy Institute. “We think this is a recipe for disaster.”

While supportive of ideas such as a constitutional amendment ensuring a right to clean air and water, Peter Iwanowicz, executive director of Environmental Advocates of New York, said he believes a convention could endanger existing environmental protections.

“It places them on a chopping block where they are subject to political trades,” Iwanowicz said.

Charles Khan, organizing director at Strong Economy for All Coalition, another labor-backed group, said he feared a constitutional convention could turn out to be a “Trojan Horse,” during which billionaire activists could use their money and influence to help choose the delegates and create policies.

Every 20 years New Yorkers can choose whether to have a constitutional convention. If they do, delegates would then be selected to develop a slate of potential amendments to the state constitution. Voters in 2019 would decide whether to approve any amendments.

Supporters including the New York Bar Association and the New York People’s Convention, backed by activist Bill Samuels, say a convention could fix the state’s partisan redistricting process, as well as create more environmental protections and measures to close campaign finance loopholes. Amendments could also simplify the state’s voting process and court system, advocates say.

Opponents such as Fiscal Policy Institute and New Yorkers Against Corruption, fear it could set the stage for rolling back protections and rights such as public-sector pension guarantees and legal protections for immigrants and the poor.

Monday's conference comes as opponents have been pouring money into ad campaigns for a "No" vote.

Opposition forces have already shelled out more than $1 million on their efforts in the run up to the final month, some bigger money is flowing as the Nov. 7 vote draws near.

Convention opponents went up on the airwaves last week with two ads slamming the process and urging New Yorkers to vote no on convening a convention this November.

According to filings with the Board of Elections on Friday, New Yorkers Against Corruption — backed by labor unions, environmental groups, women's groups and others — dropped nearly $600,000 on the TV ads.

The group spent more than $1 million total, raising $1.8 million (bolstered by $500,000 from NYSUT, $350,000 from AFSCME and $250,000 from CSEA).

It's that kind of money that convention supporters have known they'd have trouble competing with.

New York People's Convention reported $55,000 in spending since Oct. 6 in their latest financial filings released on Friday. That included nearly $22,000 for radio ads, digital ads, ad production and campaign literature, but no television spots.

Another group, the Committee for a Constitutional Convention, reported no advertising or literature spending part of about $5,500 in expenditures.

Matthew Hamilton contributed.

rkarlin@timesunion.com 518 454 5758 @RickKarlinTU