Opening up the state constitution for revisions during a constitutional convention is not a risk New Yorkers should take, a coalition of progressive groups said Monday morning in Albany.

The groups—which included the Legal Aid Society, the New York Civil Liberties Union, the Fiscal Policy Institute, a nonpartisan think tank, and Environmental Advocates of New York—argued that a constitutional convention could jeopardize existing provisions in the state constitution and become a magnet for outside “dark money.”

“We're very concerned that there is far more to lose than there is to gain,” said Ron Deutsch, the executive director of the Fiscal Policy Institute.” We're concerned about what we believe is a rigged delegate selection process. Three delegates are selected from heavily gerrymandered Senate districts all across New York state and independent people not affiliated with parties have much higher hurdles to clear to become engaged and involved in this process and to become delegates.”