Rick Karlin is reporting at Capitol Confidential 30 professors of government and constitutional law have released a letter explaining why they intend to vote "yes" in November on the statewide Constitutional Convention question. The first signer of the letter is SUNY's New Paltz's Gerald Benjamin, an expert on the state constitution. The academics argue a convention would restore democratic accountability, impose political ethics, reform the state judiciary and bring opportunities for positive change, including strengthening environmental protections, improving the quality of the state education system and ensuring that the rights threatened by the federal government be protected in New York. Read the full letter at Capitol Confidential, a Times Union blog.