Becoming an Engaged Citizen: Government Links and Resources

You can find out a lot about your state government and how to get involved in the electoral and legislative processes online.

We have provided some links below to get you started.

Open.NY.gov was launched in March 2013 to provide “user-friendly, one-stop access to data from New York State agencies, localities, and the federal government.” The website features economic development, health, recreation, and public services information and is being updated as more agencies catalogue their data digitally.  It has the potential to be a great citizen resource.

New York State law gives local governments the power to elect a legislative body and adopt local laws and ordinances.  These two links will help you find out more information about your town and county governments:
Find your town/city/village here.
Find your county here.

New York City has its own website, accessible here. All of the city environmental agency portals are accessible from a drop-down list on the top left of the home page.
The New York City Green Book, which keeps New Yorkers informed about the agencies, offices, boards, and commissions that keep the city running, is now being published online in searchable format.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation provides citizens with resources to get involved in the environmental decision making process here.

State Legislature
To search for specific bills in the senate, click here.
To find and contact your senator, search here.
To search for specific bills in the assembly, click here.
To find and contact your assembly member, search here.
For NYLCVEF’s primer on how to contact your elected representatives, click here.

Statewide Elected Officials
Assembly members and Senators are elected by and represent particular districts, but some officials are elected by all New York State citizens. These offices are listed below:
Governor and Lieutenant Governor
Attorney General
New York State Comptroller