Latest Poll shows strong 3rd Party Field

Gravis Marketing released it’s latest survey of likely voters with Cuomo at 48%, Molinaro at 25%, Sharpe at 13%, Miner at 8%, Hawkins at 6%.

New York, NY – Gravis Marketing released a new survey of 783 Likely Voters this morning, asking voters how they planned to vote in the upcoming gubernatorial election. Among the voters surveyed Democratic Candidate Andrew Cuomo polled at 48%, Republican Candidate Marc Molinaro polled at 25%, Libertarian Candidate Larry Sharpe polled at 13%, Serve America Movement Candidate Stephanie Miner polled at 8%, and Green Party candidate Howie Hawkins polled at 6%. The poll has a +/-3.5% margin of error.

“This poll shows that we’re continuing to gain momentum with New York voters.” says Libertarian Candidate Larry Sharpe.  “When people know who I am, when people hear our message, my campaign polls even better. We’re seeing the results of our efforts at events throughout New York State.” Follow up questions within the poll asked respondents about various policy issues and whether they were aware of candidate issue positions. After these questions, the respondents were asked again about their preferences for governor with Andrew Cuomo at 38%, Larry Sharpe at 25%, Marc Molinaro at 19%, Stephanie Miner at 9%, and Howie Hawkins at 10%.

“This poll really underscores the need for debate that includes all candidates for Governor. Millions of New York voters are looking for alternatives to the major party candidates” says Brian Waddell, Larry Sharpe’s campaign manager. “Governor Cuomo needs to come out of hiding and agree to a debate immediately.”

At present time, Governor Andrew Cuomo has not agreed to debate any candidates for Governor.

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Poll Highlights

Full Poll Results can be viewed here

Full Cross Tabs can be viewed here

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NY SAFE Act, Drug Laws: Stop punishing people for pretend “crimes.” Pardon those already in jail.

by Dan Smith

It used to be common sense that you needed a victim in order for a crime to have been committed. No one would argue that if you steal, commit fraud or physically hurt someone—i.e., there’s a victim, a crime had been committed. And in that case, the law needed to step in to protect the victim and punish the perpetrator.

In almost all other cases, where there is no victim, no one would think law enforcement had a role. Culturally, we may frown upon some behaviors, but we didn’t expect anyone to be prosecuted when consenting adults hurt no one else other than possibly themselves.

But today you can be jailed or fined for any number of infractions. If you hurt no one, but put the wrong substance in your body, if you have the wrong piece of equipment in your home, if you sell a prohibited item to a willing buyer without a state license, you may face fines or even jail time.

On the more ridiculous side, cities and towns across the nation have been shutting down children’s lemonade stands. It’s gotten so bad that Country Time Lemonade has offered to pay for fines and fees of children who commit the heinous act of selling the cool beverage on a hot day.

Turning our attention elsewhere, some people think we need laws which prohibit behaviors which in some rare cases lead to someone getting hurt. Prohibitions of all sorts suffer from this failure of logic. Just because someone commits an actual act of violence with a certain type of weapon or dies after ingesting a drug, that doesn’t mean that the millions of others who own that same weapon or drug are guilty of a crime. That’s fear-based ‘guilty until proven innocent’ backward logic. This is where our nanny government has gone too far in trying to run our lives.

We’re Adults, leave us alone!

This same logic applies to things like prostitution. We can think it unseemly and even immoral for someone to trade sex for money, but why should consenting adults be punished for such behaviors? Some say prostitution should be illegal because of the violence prostitutes face. But, in fact, making prostitution illegal creates the violence, as it does under other prohibitions—because the violence is the only method to resolve disputes and because johns know sex workers are not willing to go to police. Studies of legal prostitution back this assertion—the lack of prohibition erases almost all the violence. Attacking it from another angle, a New York Times opinion piece claims that prostitution is not a victimless crime because the prostitute has no choice—that it’s often human trafficking. But that’s then not consensual. The New York Times conflates prostitution with the real crime of slavery, and their misdirection destroys their argument. Safe, legal prostitution in places like Nevada refute this claim, as well.

The growth in prosecution of victimless crimes has also somehow made it proper for your property to be guilty, even if you’ve committed no crime. Your money or assets can be taken from you under what is known as civil asset forfeiture. Under the false guise of reducing narcotics sales, police can show up and take and keep your money, car or home and never charge you with a crime. Police are no more than thieves in such instances. And there’s nothing you can do—you’re presumed to be in the wrong while the state is given all the power and presumed to be in the right. And it’s a direct consequence of our victimless crime regime under which we live.

Some people claim that laws against drug use helps protect people from substance abuse. That fails on almost every front. Substance abuse has not gone away because laws—it’s gotten worse. Places like Portugal show drug abuse declines when you legalize. And, like prostitution, violence actually increases when you prohibit drugs—whether it be alcohol Prohibition of the 1920’s or today’s War on Drugs. The only explanation for why our backwards victimless crimes laws persist is the sad realization that the War on Drugs makes drug warriors wealthy. It’s just another form of cronyism and it needs to stop.

Victimless crime mentality undermines the legitimacy of our proper laws and those tasked with enforcing them. It leads to police brutality in situations like the famous case of Eric Garner who was choked to death by police for the “crime” of selling untaxed cigarettes because of New York’s nation’s highest cigarette taxes which causes most cigarettes to be smuggled into the state.

Beyond wasting police time and resources, we are wasting lives and taxpayer dollars.  300,000 Americans are sitting in prisons for non-violent drug offenses. With incarceration costs of $9.3 billion per year and lost income taxes of $3.1 billion which prisoner would otherwise be earning, America loses $12.4 billion per year even before we count the wages lost to the economy. [H/T: Libertarian-In-Chief, @ToddHagopian for the stats]

Recently President Donald Trump has started pardoning non-violent felons. He pardoned non-violent drug “criminal” Alice Marie Johnson, for whom celebrity Kim Kardashian had requested be pardoned. Trump says he’s looking to set more such victimless criminals free. Whether or not you like Donald Trump, this is a good thing.

Perhaps he got this great idea from Larry Sharpe, who weeks ago made it a campaign promise to pardon those convicted of non-violent “crimes” when he becomes governor of New York. To start, Sharpe plans to pardon those who are convicted of non-violent violations of the NY SAFE Act. The NY SAFE Act makes it a “crime” to own certain pieces of equipment New York deems to be an “assault weapon”. The Act makes certain types of pistols “assault weapons”, while others are not.  Certain features, like detachable magazines, pistol grips and folding stocks somehow turn a weapon into an “assault weapon,” while other features do not. Prison sentences for owning such pieces of equipment are draconian, to say the least.

It’s all very confusing. But your confusion could earn you serious jail time for doing nothing more than owning an innocuous piece of equipment which is legal in almost the entire rest of the country. It’s completely ridiculous, which is why Sharpe wants to bring some common sense back to New York.

And that’s what we need, across the board: common sense, and justice. If there’s no victim, there almost certainly is no crime.

Let common sense justice be served.

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NEW YORK, New York, June 11, 2018 – A new scientific poll conducted by Gravis Marketing, a non-partisan research firm, shows that 24 percent of voters in New York who know of Larry Sharpe will vote for him. The results of the poll showed that once voters were informed of Sharpe’s positions, he quickly rose to be the top contender against the incumbent.

The poll asked voters about the current candidates for governor in New York and included questions about specific issues as well as run-offs between the candidates.

Sharpe is slated to be the strongest competitor in a race against Cuomo, polling at 49 percent in a head to head against the incumbent compared to Molinaro’s 45 percent. Sharpe also beat Nixon by six percentage points in a runoff between the two. Scoring 10 to 15 points higher than Molinaro on issues such as economic opportunity, second amendment rights, and reducing the tax burden, Sharpe has proven his positions appeal to both the left and the right.

“I am very happy with the results of the poll,” said Sharpe. “It shows that while we have a way to go in getting our name out, If we do that, we are the only ones that can take down Cuomo. This proves I am the only real contender.”

Sharpe said he will use this encouragement to continue on the campaign trail and boost outreach and advertising, so that the results will inspire people to vote differently this year. and create real change in New York State.

Larry Sharpe (L) is a Bronx native, a Marine Corps veteran, an entrepreneur, and a management consultant with 15 years of experience mentoring international executives, entrepreneurs & sales people. He is also a teacher, previously serving as a guest instructor for business management and leadership at institutions such as Yale University, Columbia University, Baruch College and John Jay College. He is now running for Governor of New York in order to make education more effective through innovation, reform the criminal justice system to focus on rehabilitation, and build an economy that works for all of New York State.

Gravis Marketing, a nonpartisan research firm, conducted a random survey of 654 likely voters in New York.  The poll was conducted from June 4th through the 7th and has a margin of error of ±3.8 percent. The survey was conducted using interactive voice response technology, live agents, and an online panel of cell phone users, with the results weighted by voting demographics. The poll was paid for by Larry Sharpe for Governor.

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“With the poorly named SAFE Act, His Majesty, King Andrew created thousands of criminals from innocent New Yorkers overnight with the stroke of a pen and now he is trying to go one step closer to a total police state by turning teachers and children into state informants,” said Sharpe. “They will be the eyes and ears of ‘Big Brother.’ We will have an environment where teachers will be held criminally, civilly, and/or socially liable for violence committed by their students. We are involuntarily making teachers part of a secret police force they didn’t sign on for. They will have no choice to join Cuomo’s Gestapo and ensure they grab as many guns as possible to protect their positions.”

Larry Sharpe (L) is a Bronx native, Marine Corps veteran, entrepreneur, and management consultant with 15 years of experience mentoring international executives, entrepreneurs & sales people. He is also a teacher, previously serving as a guest instructor for business management and leadership at institutions such as Yale University, Columbia University, Baruch College and John Jay College. He is now running for Governor of New York in order to make education more effective through innovation, reform the criminal justice system to focus on rehabilitation, and build an economy that works for all of New York State.

The post Larry Sharpe responds to Cuomo’s latest gun confiscation proposal appeared first on Larry Sharpe, Libertarian.

Some legislators in Albany think so.

I recently learned of Bill A10428 which would ban archery, rifle and all other shooting sports from New York public schools statewide. Assemblywoman Rosenthall (D-Manhattan) believes this will make children safer by never teaching them anything about shooting sports and will reduce school violence. This is horrible policy and this bill should be tabled immediately.

People fear what they do not know. If children are never introduced to shooting sports such as archery or trap shooting, they will instinctively fear bows, arrows, guns and bullets. All existing school curriculums focus on teaching respect for these things and how to use them properly such as “Never point a weapon at a person.” Isn’t this something that should be taught in schools? Banning this educational moment from PE classes is a missed opportunity. Shooting sports also provide a way for children to see mathematics and physics in action. An arrow shot into the air is going to land somewhere. Kids’ can use math to figure this out and dispel the notion that they always hit their intended target. We need to find ways for children to see why math and science are so important to everyday lives. This bill takes yet another avenue away from educators trying to reach students.

The biggest reason of all to table this bill is it is yet another mandate from Albany telling local schools and communities what they cannot teach. If NYC public schools don’t want to teach children shooting sports or have competitive teams, that’s fine. I will not force them to. However, some Upstate districts do and have competitive teams at the middle school and high school level. This legislation takes away their opportunity to compete. Lower income students may not have other ways to participate in sports outside of school so these competitions provide another outlet for them. Shooting sports such as archery and air rifle are Olympic events and some colleges even offer scholarships in these sports. Mandating a ban from Manhattan and Albany will deprive kids of the opportunity to improve their skills, learn teamwork and possibly a route to a collegiate scholarship and the Olympics.

New York State needs to provide students with more opportunities, not less. Students need the opportunity to learn, hands on, that bows and guns must be properly handled and treated with respect. Let’s let local communities and school districts decide how students learn best, not yet another bad decision made in Albany. Bill A10428 asserts a false truth that not teaching children about bows and guns in school means they won’t be able to use them. It actually ensures that mass media, video games and YouTube videos will. Who do you want your children learning from?

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In announcing his candidacy for the New York Governorship, Howie Hawkins mentioned that he would ban all new natural gas pipelines and facilities in New York. Not only is this bad policy for New York, it is bad policy for all of New England.

Under the Natural Gas Act, signed into law by Jimmy Carter in 1978, interstate gas transmission pipelines have the right of eminent domain under Federal law and are regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). FERC exists to regulate the national market for natural gas, in order to ensure pricing is timely and accurate. But it also approves routes for pipelines. Pipeline companies are allowed to sue in Federal court, which determines how much property owners are to be paid for allowing a pipeline to cross their land. Pipeline companies rarely use this power though, because it is costly and sours relationships with landowners, communities and state utility commissions.

New England has no natural gas supplies of its own so almost every natural gas heated home and business relies on pipelines crossing New York to safely transport gas to those states. Without access through New York, New England will be forced to rely on a single import terminal in Boston and a single pipeline in from Canada for natural gas. Two sources would struggle to supply a growing region of 14.8 million people, and a dozen Senators would face the wrath of angry New England residents who don’t have heat. This is the exact situation FERC was established to prevent.

Hawkins wants to move to 100% renewable energy and ban New Yorkers from using natural gas to heat their homes in 15 years.  Electric home heating is the most expensive way to heat a home, consuming 30% more energy than homes using natural gas. Last summer, New York generated 12,152 megawatts per hour from fossil fuels alone to meet demand. Hawkins claims he would replace this with 10,000 megawatts of new, renewable energy sources. Not only does his plan not match the demand in New York, it adds to the financial burden of New Yorkers who are already struggling. And what will happen if the wind doesn’t blow on Christmas to generate Hawkins’ new energy? Like Jimmy Carter said, you’ll just have to get another sweater.

Residents of New York and New England should be allowed to choose how their homes are heated and cooled. And they should be allowed to keep their homes outright.Banning new natural gas pipelines puts New Yorkers at the mercy of the Federal Government. Gas pipelines will tender an offer to landowners along a route through New England, apply to FERC and seize the properties they need in Federal court. All because New York State refuses to work with them or acknowledge the market need for natural gas. Banning new, natural gas also forces new homes and businesses to use more expensive options. Once again, adding to the burden of the average New Yorker.  If New Yorkers aren’t at the table when pipeline routes are being selected, they will be on the table when it’s seizure time.

I’d prefer a Governor whose top priority is New Yorkers. Someone who understands the financial burden we face, and will defend our property rights. I prefer Larry Sharpe for Governor of New York.

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March 13, 2018

NEW YORK, New York – Larry Sharpe (L), candidate for Governor of New York and Cuomo’s main opponent, responded today to the news of ex-Cuomo aide Joseph Percoco’s conviction on corruption charges.

“Sadly, the corruption in New York has become so common that the conviction of another one of King Andrew’s henchmen has gone mostly unnoticed. We’ve been immune to the stench of the swamp, and for good reason,” said Sharpe. “There doesn’t seem to be another option, no obvious hope. This conviction is a feel-good Band-Aid on a diseased culture of corruption and bribery. We need a real change. A break from the old parties, the old ways. We need a new vision, under new leadership, for a new, New York.”

Larry Sharpe is a Bronx native, a Marine Corps veteran, an entrepreneur, and a management consultant with 15 years of experience mentoring international executives, entrepreneurs & salespeople. He is also a teacher, previously serving as a guest instructor for business management and leadership at institutions such as Yale University, Columbia University, Baruch College and John Jay College. He is now running for Governor of New York in order to make education more effective through innovation, reform the criminal justice system to focus on rehabilitation, and build an economy that works for all of New York State.

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“To fight this kind of corruption, for Pay to Play to end, the Play part needs to end,” says Sharpe, a Marine Corps veteran and New York native. “As long as policy makers wield large power over lucrative contracts, licensing, and other opportunities, there will be people with an interest to either influence them or replace them with someone who can.”

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January 2018 Filing period shows Sharpe outraising GOP candidates more than 5-to-1.

NEW YORK, New York, January 18th, 2018 – The New York Gubernatorial Campaign of Larry Sharpe (L) outraised all Republican candidates combined by over five times, according to the New York State Board of Elections. The GOP candidate who filed with the Board of Elections barely surpassed $16,000 for the January 2018 filing period. The other declared GOP candidate did not report any contributions for this period. Meanwhile, Larry Sharpe’s campaign broke $100,000 in funds raised, with most of the money coming from small donors.

“Here’s more proof that we are the real challenger in this Gubernatorial race,” Sharpe commented. “Our campaign has raised over $100,000 and that is over five times what the sacrificial lambs have raised. We are the only viable choice. We don’t need to raise more than Cuomo; just enough to cross the state and get our message out. And we are on our way to doing exactly that.”

Larry Sharpe’s campaign will continue to gain momentum through grassroots support, unprecedented small-donor fundraising, and tours across the state to hear the plights of suffering New Yorkers. The GOP is failing to stand up for the people of New York. Larry Sharpe will fight to save the future for everyone in the Empire State.

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