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LWVW Statement on the Current Tappan Zee Bridge Proposal

In its fall 2011 statement on the current Tappan Zee Bridge proposal, the League of Women Voters of Westchester commended the transparency of the process. We were pleased to see the amount and quality of the information offered and the number of venues provided for public comment on the project. We are still of this view.

The LWVW recognizes the importance of getting a new bridge built. A new bridge will be safer, and it will meet higher environmental standards, provide much-needed employment opportunities and take advantage of the fast track being offered by the Federal Government.

However, we are disappointed that the authorities have thus far been unresponsive to the reactions of critics of the proposal. Despite numerous thoughtful and well-fashioned comments delivered throughout the process by local dignitaries, the League and other good-governance groups and concerned citizens, the New York State Department of Transportation and its partners have still not included a mass transit component in the proposed final project design. We believe it is crucial that rapid bus transit (BRT) in the form of a dedicated eastbound and westbound lane be a part of any new bridge from the start-up. Only by providing such an alternative to automobile traffic can we hope to avoid the traffic congestion, air pollution and double disruption that will otherwise occur if and when mass transit is put into place at a later time. BRT lanes could also provide auxiliary repair or parking lanes in the event of an emergency. The authorities should cost out such a component, complete with the necessary infrastructure on both sides of the bridge, and build it into the proposal now.

The League understands the short-term appeal of jobs and an early infusion of capital. But we believe we must look to the long-term residential, environmental and economic development of the entire region. Let us structure a bridge that will work and that we can be proud of in the long term.

March 15, 2012

State League Submits Comments on Hydrofracking

State League President Betsey Swan submitted comments to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation on its draft GEIS, regarding proposed high volume hydraulic fracturing regulations and the proposed amendment of the State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System. The 22-page report was prepared under the auspices of Elizabeth Radow, chair of the State League’s study of the issue and President of the Larchmont-Mamaroneck League, and Sally Robinson, State Issues Chair.
The League’s comments specifically highlighted three issues: failure to consider public health impacts; failure to develop adequate avenues for disposal of flowback water and other waste generated by drilling; and failure to understand what happens to the fluid that does not immediately return to the surface as flowback fluid.

The League opposes closing of the regulatory comment period and/or promulgation of final regulations until finalization of the draft SGEIS. Similarly, the League supports a moratorium on closing the comment period for the SGEIS until at least 120 days after the EPA has issued the final report of its study of the impact of high volume hydraulic fracturing on the water quality and public health. Click here for the complete report.
Testimony from the Leagues of Women Voters of Delaware, Pennsylvania and New Jersey (2pgs) accompanied the submission.

The State League’s comments are based on the LWVUS position: that “natural resources should be managed as interrelated parts of life-supporting eco-systems. Resources should be conserved and protected to assure their future availability. Pollution of these resources should be controlled in order to preserve the physical, chemical and biological integrity of ecosystems and to protect human health.”

PDF of this article (1 pg)

If You Missed the Fair and Affordable Housing Forum Feb. 29 See the Video

Everything you want to know about fair and affordable housing was discussed at a community forum in Bedford Hills with introductory remarks by Town of Bedford Supervisor Lee V. A. Roberts. Panelists included James E. Johnson, Federal Housing Monitor; Janet Hostetler, US Department of Housing & Urban Development; Mary Mahon, Special Assistant to County Executive Astorino;
Norma Drummond, Deputy Commissioner of Planning Department; Thomas McGrath, Chairman, Blue Mountain Housing Development Corporation; William G. Balter, Wilder Balter Partners Inc.; and Moderator: Peter B. Harckham, Legislator, 2nd District.

Click here to see the video.

LWVW Comments on 2012 County Budget

On November 28th Larry Soule, County Budget Director, presented the proposed 2012 County Budget at a public meeting sponsored by the LWV Westchester. Following are the League's comments:

The League of Women Voters of Westchester thanks the Board of Legislators (BOL) for this opportunity to present its views on the proposed budget.  A copy of this statement will also be given to the County Executive.

The League appreciates efforts made thus far to make budget information more accessible to the public through the County and BOL websites and to bring greater transparency to the Board of Acquisition and Contract, a matter of long-term concern to the League.  The online Media Center, where the public can view both live and on-demand video of the public Budget and Appropriations Committee meetings with Commissioners, is very helpful.  However, we ask that the BOL hold public budget discussions to allow more scrutiny of its own budget.

The League recognizes that the budget process is dynamic; our statement is based on the information available to us when we developed our positions by consensus on November 28, 2011.  In this context, we offer the following comments and suggestions.

There is much to like in this budget proposal… much that is not likable but necessary… and much yet to be addressed.

 First, what we like.

We applaud holding the county tax levy flat.  This is an appropriate measure in light of our residents’ and businesses’ current economic stress.

The League particularly commends the County for not invading the undesignated fund balance.  This sound financial policy should help preserve our AAA Bond rating.  The ability to borrow, at low cost, could finance much needed infrastructure projects.

Next, what is not likeable, but necessary.

The proposed layoff of 210 County employees, while regrettable, is a consequence of the failure to negotiate new contracts, especially involving shared costs of health benefits.   It appears to us this leaves the County with no other alternative.

We understand the program and agency cuts were made to achieve the flat tax goal.  But there is the assumption built into the budget that as the County steps back, the cuts will be replaced by Federal and State support, other non-County-government service providers, and private (personal or business) contributions.  The League is concerned that the County remain aware that many of these programs and agencies provide services and aid to our residents most in need. Therefore, the League recommends that the County establish a system to carefully monitor and analyze the impacts of these cuts throughout the next year.  “Safety nets” for the most in need must continue, even if not paid for by the County.   
Finally, we believe there are three major problems not addressed in the proposed budget. 

The first, obvious and unrelenting unfunded State mandates.  The League recommends that the County develop a strategy and assume a leadership role in lobbying for mandate reform, even if it requires additional resources, and focus on mandate relief in its 2012 County Legislative Agenda for the State.

The second area we urge you to address is county-wide reassessment (“reval”).  No matter how much you decrease property taxes, if they are unfairly assessed meaningful tax relief has not been accomplished.   There is no allocation in the budget to support “reval”, which is widely acknowledged to be long overdue. The Collaborative Assessment Commission, created by BOL resolution, recommended that the County provide support to local municipalities for reassessment.  Those recommendations, supported by the League, have seemingly been ignored in this budget.  We are cognizant of the need to restrict expenditures, but the County has presumably budgeted in 2012 for at least the $12 million it expended this year on tax certiorari proceedings and must recognize that each local municipality bears similar substantial costs.  If the County is serious about tackling taxation in Westchester, we urge you support and encourage reassessment efforts.

The third, and we believe most important omission in the proposed budget, is flood mitigation.  It has been almost five years since the 2007 100-year storm, where the six major watersheds in the County flooded and caused not only disruption of public and emergency services, but also caused substantial property damage for our residents.  This is a local, a County, and a regional issue.  Floodwaters do not respect municipal boundaries.  By not continuing to appropriate funds to support mitigation programs, by not coordinating and bringing pressure to bear on State and federal authorities to deal with this problem, the County is abandoning an appropriate leadership role.  Once again, we are aware of the need to conservatively spend County revenues but, in a climate of historically low interest rates and given the County’s AAA rating and low debt, the funds necessary to accomplish this could be raised by debt issuance and appropriately so, since flood mitigation projects will convey benefits to our residents over decades to come.

The League of Women Voters of Westchester thanks Mr. Lawrence Soule, Budget Director, for his availability and the information he provided to us and to the public at the League-sponsored informational meeting on the budget.  We also thank the Board of Legislators and the County Executive for their consideration of our concerns and suggestions.

LWVW Comments on Tappan Zee Bridge Project

The League of Women Voters of Westchester (LWVW) commends the process pursued by the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT), the New York State Thruway Authority (NYSTA) and MTA Metro North Railroad (MNR) during consideration of the Tappan Zee Bridge-I-287 Corridor Project in the past few years. Discussions with the stakeholders advisory groups (SAWGs), on which League members served, were thorough, open and inclusive, and those in charge were responsive to suggestions made. We hope this process will continue under the Federal Highway Administration and the NYSDOT with the Tappan Zee Hudson River Crossing Project unveiled locally on October 25, 2011.

As to the substance of the new project, the League has strong reservations about it as it now stands. A Tappan Zee Bridge that improves and expands car traffic without encouraging mass transit and making related east- and west-bound highway improvements is inconsistent with our needs. As many have already said, it is backward looking at a time when we are increasingly aware of the problems of urban sprawl, new environmental considerations and growing economic inequalities. We appreciate the fact that a bird in the hand — with the prospect of quicker federal approval and the creation of jobs — is inviting. But such effects are short-term, while the limitations of this particular project would be with us for the foreseeable future. We must and can do better.

Accordingly, the LWVW urges the Federal Highway Administration and NYS authorities to rethink and revise the proposal to accommodate a mass-transit component. Then, we could proceed to build a bridge we can live with for the long term. Hopefully, sufficient engineering and planning has already been completed to permit prompt modification to the current proposed structure and enable us to take advantage of the accelerated federal process.

Download pdf of this statement

See October 2011 Health Care Forums

The forums held on October 13 and 20 were televised.  See the video of the first until Oct. 27; the second until Nov. 3 at White Plains Community Media.   

Health Care is a Human Right, featuring speak- ers Assemblyman Richard Gottfried and Dr. Elisabeth Rosenthal, was the first of two forums sponsored by the Westchester LWV related to Health Care Reform, which took place at the Lubin Graduate School of Pace University. Madeline Zevon, President of the WP LWV and Healthcare Chair for Westchester LWV, acted as moderator of the session, and pointed out that LWV had first endorsed the Single Payer policy in 1993.

NYS Assemblyman Gottfried, sponsor of the NYS As- sembly Single Payer bill, spoke first and emphasized that UNIVERSAL is the strong point. The State plan, New York Health for All, allows for thoroughly compre- hensive coverage for every resident of the state; and would be run by a broadly appointed Board accountable to all New Yorkers. It would be funded by broadbased taxes based on the ability to pay. The health system today is driven by insurance companies and is very regressive. The New York Health bill would call on the Board to expand and develop long term care. Assemblyman Gottfried feels that on a state level this is doable and can be accomplished. He pointed out that Canada, as an example, had started universal care in the provinces. And in the USA, Vermont has passed a Single Payer bill that will go into effect in 2017.

Dr. Rosenthal, a physician in private practice (asso- ciated with Physicians for a National Health Program) emphasized that the health care system in the US, which keeps private for-profit health insurance com- panies front and center, are able to increase prices at will, is morally reprehensible, often causing health costs to rise to a level of bankruptcy for many families. In fact, 50% of the bankruptcies in this country are due to medical debt. She emphasized the solidarity principle, pointing out the growing struggle by nurses and physicians groups to gain a national health pro- gram and emphatically stated that the US govern- ment has a responsibility for each of its citizen’s lives.

The second Forum on health care reform, Understanding the Affordable Care Act, took place on October 20th and featured Charles Bell of Consumers Union and Assemblyman George Latimer, both of whom discussed the need for a health care system that afforded coverage for all New Yorkers.

Charles Bell addressed the problems that have given rise to a new direction for health care: 1) lack of access, with over 50 million Americans who presently have no health care 2) growth in the cost of health care premiums 3) high out-of-pocket costs for preventive care 4) hikes of costs for insurance contracts 5) outside of New York, if you lose your job, you may become uninsurable. He gave specific examples of sick children who were denied coverage for pre-existing medical conditions, the need for extending health coverage to teenagers and young adults, the need for small business owners to be able to give affordable health care benefits to employ- ees, etc. He stated that it is a barrier to individual liberty if someone cannot get insurance, and this is unacceptable.

Assemblyman Latimer, speaking of the New York State health care law which has not as yet been imple- mented, primarily because of political differences, asked the fundamental question: Is health care a social need or an individual service based on the ability to buy care. This, he said, has been the philosophical gap towards implementation of the bill. The deadline for implementa- tion is 2013 or the Federal Government will set up a plan, and the State will miss getting federal reimbursement for its State plan. This means that New Yorkers must make their voices heard, loud and clear, by notifying their leg- islators in E-mails, letters, phone calls to vote for the bill.
In answering questions from the audience, both speakers felt that the New York State plan would pass, and would still be viable, even if changes in the Federal Health Plan were to come about as a result of a Supreme Court decision.

For re-broadcast, tune into Cablevision channel 76 or Verizon channel 45 at 3pm every day thru Nov. 3;
or internet access at www.lwvwp.org
wwww.lwvwestchester.org or

Harriet Slivka, Health Care Chair for White Plains LWV

Dear Westchester County Voter,

Since 1920, the League has encouraged citizens to become informed and to actively participate in government.  Local candidates have come to rely on us for unbiased conduct of candidates' debates, and our constituents, for monitoring the legislative
process and for formulating recommendations, and programs on issues including, but
by no means limited to, the environment, election reform, the county budget and healthcare.

We register citizens to vote, defend voting rights, educate and inform our electorate.

The League of Women Voters is a grassroots, non partisan organization, open to men and women, and conducts all its policy formulation and decision-making by consensus amongst our members.

Please consider joining us in our endeavors and thank you for your attention and your support. This is YOUR government!

Sharon Lindsay

League of Women Voters of Westchester County Proudly announces our online Voters Guide:

www.Vote411.org

You can build your own personal ballot. Just go to http://www.Vote411.org, select “Build your Ballot” on the home page, then enter your address. You will be able to view all of the races and compare all of the candidates, plus view any initiatives or proposals on your ballot in the General Election on November 8, 2011. Candidates may provide a picture, a link to their website, and write up to 200 words so you may get to know them. The site is private and secure. You may write notes, check your selected candidate, and print or email your personal ballot so you may take it with you to the polls.

VOTE411 Replaces SmartVoter

Following the lead of the LVWUS, the LWVNY selected VOTE411 to be the official website for election information.  Similar to SmartVoter, the VOTE411 website provides the ability to look-up your personal ballot based on your address.

With the launch of this new website, the LWVW will no longer be using SmartVoter and will switch to VOTE411.  As with all new technology, there is a start-up period, so information provided for the November 8, 2011 General Election will brief.  As the Voters Service committee members go through the learning-curve and build the full structure of the Westchester County voting jurisdictions within VOTE411 more information will be available. 

The ultimate goal of the switch to VOTE411 will be the elimination of paper questionnaires to candidates, thus providing all candidates with the ability to enter their own information directly into the VOTE411 website.  To produce the traditional paper Voters Guide, information will be extracted from VOTE411 and formatted, printed and distributed in the old-fashioned way.  However, this goal is a few years off as the learning-curve by the committee and the functionality of technology provided by the VOTE411 service are fully developed.

Marianna Stout
2nd Vice President, Voter Service Chair
July 2011

Community Forums Tackled Questions of Health Care Reforms, Oct. 13 and 20

Two community forums with a theme of “Health Care is a Human Right, “coordinated by the League of Women Voters Westchester with several cosponsoring groups, will be held on Thursday nights, October 13 and 20, at 7 p.m. at the Lubin Graduate School of Pace University, 1 Martine Ave. (at Bank Street) in White Plains. Both events are free and do not require preregistration.
The October 13 program, entitled “Everybody In; Nobody Out/Medicare for All” features Assemblyman Richard Gottfried, sponsor of the New York State Assembly single payer bill, and Dr. Elisabeth Rosenthal, from Physicians for a National Health Program, and will focus on the benefits and possibilities of single payer care.

The October 20 program, “Understanding the Federal Affordable Care Act,” features Assemblyman George Latimer, and Charles Bell, from Consumers Union, who will discuss portions of the act which have taken effect and what needs to be established, particularly the state level exchanges. Both forums will encourage audience questions.

Cosponsors of the program are the National Association of Social Workers; Physicians for a National Health Program, NY Metro Chapter; Access to Health Care Coalition, Westchester for Change; NYS Nurses Association; and Pace University Office of Government and Community Relations, Department of Public of Administration. For more information call 914-761-4382.
“When health care costs pose such a huge challenge to both public and private budgets, it is essential that the public has information about options for effectively controling costs while providing coverage to all,” explains Madeline Zevon, chair of the League of Women Voters of Westchester Committee on Health.

The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.

LWVW Commented to County Redistricting Committee in May, 2011

Adelaide DiGiorgi and Janet Zagoria were LWV representatives on the Westchester County Redistricting Committee. At the public hearing on May 9, 2011, Adelaide read a statement explaining the League's position. Following is the summary statement. Download this summary statement or Download the complete statement

Because both sides in the county redistricting debate have invoked the League of Women Voters name, we think we need to explain our position on this matter. Quite simply, we do not take any responsibility for the process or the results as they currently stand. The process has been extremely messy, and aspects of it have been very questionable.

Following the 2010 census, the League would have liked to see an independent commission reallocate county seats starting from scratch. Instead, very quickly, the Board of Legislators (BOL) took charge of the process. The consultant, Dr. Andrew Beveridge, proposed to just “tweak” the few districts that departed by five percent or more from the new population norm of 55,830; the BOL’s Legislation Committee agreed.

Almost immediately, legislators were privately in touch with Dr. Beveridge to request changes in his proposed maps. He accommodated them. Over several meetings successive adjustments gave rise to new maps that made for a pile of paper we all struggled to keep up with. Dr. Beveridge was not always physically present. Some legislators came and went. No clear guidelines were evident except for the looming deadline in June. A particular issue in District 4 spurred discussion: a Republican contender for a Democratic legislator’s seat was being redistricted into adjoining District 1. Dr. Beveridge said that it was simply a matter of pushing District 1 to the town border, but a result was to split the City of Peekskill.

The general approach continued into the afternoon of Monday, May 2nd, when — in the absence of the League, which had not been notified of the meeting — Dr. Beveridge and the committee agreed on further changes to address an oversight: taking account of the fact that prisoners at the Bedford Correctional Institute and Sing Sing, in Ossining, should be counted in their home districts. Only after the public hearing that evening did a committee staff member pass one of the two League representatives a report of those changes.

The LWVW appreciates the BOL Chairman’s invitation to us to participate in the project. We found the committee members cordial; one even solicited our view of the process. When we criticized it for not being open enough, the committee chair immediately responded by reviewing changes district by district. But we think the process remained flawed.

Under these circumstances, the LWVW believes it cannot endorse the county redistricting process, and we wish to distance ourselves from the resulting product.

Download the complete statement

Redistricting

During the election last fall, many legislators campaigned on reforming the flawed process of drawing congressional and state legislative district boundaries, known as redistricting. Unfortunately, some Senators have broken their promises to change the redistricting process in time for the 2012 elections and are trying to block legislation from moving forward. We need your help to make sure that they bring Governor Cuomo's Redistricting Reform Act of 2011 to a vote this session. Take action now to let them know that redistricting reform is a priority.

Click here to send an Action Alert to your Senator!

2011 Directory of Government Officials Has Arrived

The new 2011 League of Women Voters® Directory of Officials is now available. This popular guide contains names, addresses and phone numbers of all elected officials and many appointed officials who represent Westchester residents at the federal, state, county and local levels in convenient print form. Also included are web sites, e-mail addresses, maps and other useful information.

Individual copies of the Directory of Officials can be purchased for $7 each, which includes postage and handling, by sending a check to The League of Women Voters® of Westchester, 200 Hamilton Avenue, White Plains 10601; or they may be picked up at the office for $6 each between the hours on 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.. For further information, including rates for orders of 50 or more, call 949-0507 or email LWVwestchester@verizon.net.

The Directory is a valuable resource for people in government, business, library reference departments, nonprofit organizations, the media, and civic and advocacy groups or anyone who needs information on local governments and officials.

Want to Know What's Going on in Albany? Read the State League's revived blog, Capitol Beat

As the 2011 legislative session gets under way, the State League is going to bring back to life an old friend called "Capitol Beat." Updates will contain legislative information about League issues, as well as political gossip. It will also outline the budget and of course, will chronicle the always-lively end of session.

Click here to read.

League of Women Voters Calls for Containing Government Spending

In a prepared statement for the public hearing December 9th on the 2011 Westchester County Budget, the League of Women Voters of Westchester praised county officials for making budget deliberations more accessible to the public via the internet, calling it a “major improvement in transparency.”

The League also supported the proposed 1% tax rate decrease, but noted that decision- makers would have to “make some tough choices,” and county residents would have to “accept some service cuts.” The League criticized the proposed use of borrowing to fund tax certioraris and recognized that these funds would have to be found through further expense reductions if the tax rate decrease is to be maintained.

The League continued to criticize the December 13th budget vote as “allowing little time for analysis and study” of this complex document or thoughtful analysis of the substantive changes in county departments and services. The legal deadline for approving the budget is December 27th.

The League commended the County for moving forward on the consolidation of the Transportation Department and the Department of Public Works and called for further department and service consolidations in the next fiscal year both within county government and through working with local governments on combined efficiencies. “The League continues to question whether the County operates as efficiently as possible,” the statement, formed by consensus at a meeting of members, pointed out.

The League also urged government officials to “put aside their party affiliations and work together and do what government was intended to do: to provide for our health, safety and general welfare, and to find practical and cost-effective solutions to our problems.”

Other specific recommendations are:

? Explore the adequacy of current funding of the Board of Elections, given its operational problems in the last election.

? Direct the County and its unions to reconsider contractual salary increases and benefits to find savings and retain county jobs.

? Form a specialized volunteer citizen task force with expertise in healthcare insurance to evaluate the County’s healthcare costs and to recommend alternative approaches. At a minimum, require all employees to contribute to premiums.

? Open discussions with state government to restructure pension plans for new employees and examine the need to provide pensions for part-time employees.

? Maintain funding for fair and affordable housing in those municipalities not designated as “eligible” communities, in addition to providing new funds to those communities cited in the Housing Settlement Agreement. In awarding contracts, to the extent allowable, promote Westchester businesses to increase jobs and create “new centers of economic development and sustainability.”

? Evaluate social service program reductions to ensure that all clients of these services, the county’s most vulnerable residents, are carefully transitioned to new providers with no reduction in service.

Read/download the full statement (pdf 3 pgs.)

The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan grassroots organization open to all citizens of voting age. The League promotes informed and active citizen participation in government.

My name is Mary Beth Gose, and together with Marianna Stout, I am Co-President of the League of Women Voters of Westchester, which coordinates the activities of the 11 local Leagues within the County. On behalf of the Executive Committee of the League of Women Voters of Westchester, I thank the Legislation Committee for inviting the League to comment on the possible restructuring or elimination of the Board of Acquisition & Contract (BAC).

Although the League does not have a consensus position on the current proposals to restructure or eliminate the BAC, the League has, in its past annual letters to the Board of Legislators and Administration regarding the County Budget, expressed continuing concern about the BAC’s lack of transparency in its deliberations and decision-making. In addition, members of the League’s Executive Committee have attended all of the recent meetings of the Legislation Committee, and have closely followed the statements provided to this Committee by those involved in the process leading up to the BAC’s abbreviated meetings of approval. Consequently, the following remarks are the result of our long-time, closely-watched observations of both the BAC and of the current examination of its operations by the Board of Legislators and the County Executive’s office.

It would appear that the BAC – or some other “mechanism” – is needed to provide a more timely and expeditious process than that which can be provided through normal budgetary proceedings under the Board of Legislators’ current part-time schedule. Nevertheless, the formal, established process described to this Committee by participants in that preliminary process does not provide public access to the meetings prior to the BAC’s final votes on acquisitions and contracts, preventing the public and/or media from examining those proposed acquisitions and contracts before a vote is taken.

While also recognizing the need for confidentiality in matters of personnel contracts, the League questions why preliminary meetings leading to the BAC’s votes could not be opened to the public and provide for “Executive Sessions” on such matters regarding personnel contracts, allowing for transparency in this important area of budget and management.

§100 of the Open Meetings Law provides that: “the citizens of this state be fully aware of and able to observe the performance of public officials and attend and listen to the deliberations and decisions that go into the making of public policy.” Although the final decisions on contracts are listed in the BAC’s minutes, the deliberations conducted by the BAC are not open to the public, leading a reasonable person to conclude that the BAC is not in compliance with the Open Meetings Law.

It is the League’s position that if true transparency is desired at all levels of government, every effort should be made to open the proceedings of the Board of Acquisition and Contract to examination by the public, whether the public affords itself of that opportunity or not. Again, on behalf of the Executive Committee of the League of Women Voters of Westchester, I thank you for the opportunity to speak to this issue.

It is easy to get cynical or discouraged about the slow progress on issues like health care, education or economics. But a historic health care law eventually passed. Even more contentious has been the long struggle for women's rights. This year is the 90th anniversary of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution giving women the right to vote. That simple step took 72 years from the day that Elizabeth Cady Stanton stood before the first women's convention in Seneca Falls in 1848 and shocked many people by suggesting that women should have that right.

At the Seneca Falls gathering, Mrs. Stanton, speaking publicly for the first time, read her Declaration and Resolutions supporting basic women's rights. All were adopted unanimously except the final one calling for women's right to vote. Many thought it was too extreme and would endanger the success of achieving other rights.

Editors writing of the convention used terms such as "the most shocking and unnatural incident ever recorded in the history of womankind" and attacked women's rights as a "monstrous injury to all mankind" that would "demoralize and degrade" women. Women's rights would end in the destruction of home and family, some argued.

In the 1850s, Cady was joined by Susan B. Anthony, a Quaker, one of the few religious groups that supported women's rights. Anthony had cut her teeth in the temperance movement, aware of how drinking and gambling left mothers and children defenseless. Cady and Anthony effectively shared leadership of the women's movement for decades and complemented each other's skills.

Their immediate goal was to persuade the New York State Legislature to extend the Married Women's Property Act of 1848 so that women would have the right to keep their own earnings, to use or invest them in her own name, and to bargain, sell, and carry on any trade or perform any services on her own account. They argued that women should be able to enter into contracts, sue and have joint guardianship over their children. As a widow, she should have the same property rights as the husband would have at her death.

Against much opposition, these rights were extended in 1866, but suffrage, the right to vote, was still beyond reach. Cady proposed what was then considered radical steps to make it easier for women to dissolve unhappy marriages. This came from her broad vision of all the ways women's lives were hampered. Under the law of that time, she said, a wife who divorced would lose her home and children even if her husband had caused the breakup.

During the years that followed, women supported other causes, too. The 13th Amendment abolishing slavery was passed in 1865. The 14 Amendment in 1868 gave all men born or naturalized in the United States the right to vote. Women, who trusted the promises that they would be next, were bitterly disappointed as the male reformers became reluctant to press for women's right to vote.

Stanton and Anthony continued to give hundreds of speeches across the country. Anthony focusing on the suffrage movement — the right to vote — and Stanton on a broader vision that encompassed "the complete development of every individual."

Stanton died in 1902; Anthony in 1906. Carrie Chapman Catt took over the leadership, following a conservative path supporting women's suffrage state by state, and helping elect sympathetic representatives and senators.

But a younger generation led by Alice Paul started the more aggressive National Women's Party and wanted a constitutional amendment. When Paul and her organization picketed the White House, they were jailed for obstructing traffic and some were manhandled and force fed when they refused to eat (They were dramatized in the HBO movie "Iron Jawed Angels").

Both groups worked toward progress in their different ways. Women argued that several states had already granted women's suffrage. Both Houses of Congress passed the amendment in 1919. The final hurdle was getting 36 states to ratify the amendment. This was achieved on Aug. 18, 1920, when the Tennessee legislature, by one vote, became the 36th state to ratify the 19th Amendment.

Getting the word "male" out of the Constitution took generations. Stanton had written, decades before, that "We little dreamed when we began this contest, optimistic with the hope and buoyancy of youth, that half a century later we would be compelled to leave the finish of the battle to another generation of women. ... There is an army of them where we were but a handful."

Catt, a New Rochelle resident at the time, founded the League of Women Voters in 1920 to help women become educated voters and to fight for equal rights. Many groups now share that goal.

The battle for equal rights is not over yet. While we measure the headlines in days, real change can take generations.

The writer, who lives in New Rochelle, is communications director of the League of Women Voters of Westchester. It was written with research assistance from Sydelle Herzberg, New Rochelle, LWV historian, and with assistance and support of Adelaide DiGiorgi, Tuckahoe, president of LWV of Westchester. For further information, a recommended resource is: "The Ladies of Seneca Falls. The Birth of the Women's Rights Movement," by Miriam Gurko.

Calendar

May 16 Wed. LWV New Castle Annual Lunch with speaker Lauren Pesso on Human Trafficking. Info at www.lvwnewcastle.org.

May 31 Thur. LWV of New Castle and Temple Beth El of Northern Westchester sponsor a showing of the documentary film "Miss Representation" on the main stream media's underrepresentation of women in positions of power and influence in America. More info www.lvwnewcastle.org

June 7 Thurs. LWVW Annual Convention with speaker Reina Schiffren of Planned Parenthood. Details below. Download flyer.

LWVW Calendar for 2011-2012

LWVW Annual Convention June 7 with Speaker Reina Schiffren on the Politicization of Women's Health Care

Registration at 9:45am for the 10am meeting. Lunch at 12 noon with speaker and honored guest Raina Schiffren, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Hudson Valley/Peconic, who will address the subject of the recent politicization of Womens Health Care. Members and friends welcome. Luncheon fee $40pp. Send check payable to LWVW to Kitt Rosenthal, 61 Birchall Drive, Scarsdale, NY 10583. (Tel 723-5126 or email Kittrosenthal@gmail.com to arrange to pay at door). Location: Scarsdale Woman's Club, 37 Drake Road, Scarsdale.

New 2012 Directory of Government Officials Has Arrived

The new 2012 League of Women Voters® Directory of Officials is now available. This popular guide contains names, addresses and phone numbers of all elected officials and many appointed officials who represent Westchester residents at the federal, state, county and local levels in convenient print form. Also included are web sites, e-mail addresses, maps and other useful information.
Individual copies of the Directory of Officials can be purchased for $7 each, which includes postage and handling, by sending a check to The League of Women Voters® of Westchester, 200 Hamilton Avenue, White Plains 10601; or they may be picked up at the office for $6 each between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.. For further information, including rates for orders of 50 or more, call 949-0507 or email. LWVwestchester@verizon.net.
The Directory is a valuable resource for people in government, business, library reference departments, nonprofit organizations, the media, and civic and advocacy groups or anyone who needs information on local governments and officials.
Printing of the Directory was made possible by the sponsorship of ConEdison.

Westchester Teen Girls Inspired to Run for Public Office by Women in Politics

High school girls from 17 Westchester schools heard Madeleine M. Kunin, the first woman governor of Vermont, and a dozen local elected women officials encourage them to run for public office some day. The officials argued that a woman’s perspective was essential and that running for office locally was the most effective way to make changes to improve their community. The 28 teens then broke into groups to plan their own political campaigns.

The students were chosen by their teachers as potential leaders who would benefit from the day long program, “Running and Winning,” sponsored recently (April 17, 2012) by the League of Women Voters of Westchester, the American Association of University Women, and the White Plains YWCA, with generous funding from the Westchester Community Foundation and the Kalyan Sundaram Foundation.

Maria Imperial, CEO of the YWCA, opened the morning with statistics that placed the United States 73rd in the world in the percentage of women in elected office, behind Afghanistan and Iraq among others. Officials during the day repeatedly made the point that women bring unique qualities to elective office, such as being more issue oriented or having a preference for working collaboratively.

But Gov. Kunin noted during her luncheon speech that many of the officials, in their opening statements, said they were “asked” by others to run for office, rather than “deciding” on their own. “Once a woman decides to run, it is a pretty level playing field,” she said.

Several women said that they found that as a town supervisor, a mayor, or county legislator they could have a larger impact on such issues as the finances, environment, and development in their communities than they had as community volunteers. “Being supervisor is probably the best way to get things done in my community,” said Susan Carpenter, New Castle Town Supervisor.

Mary Foster ran successfully for mayor of Peekskill after she realized, through volunteer work, that she had the professional financial skills needed by her community. “It got to the point where if you really want things to happen you’ve got to make it happen.”

District Attorney Janet DiFiore said she became interested in criminal justice as a teenager when she observed a criminal trial and was impressed with the process. “Watching the criminal justice system unfold, I decided to become an attorney,” she said. She served as an assistant district attorney for many years, then ran successfully for judgeships before her election as district attorney. “Our work affects the health and safety of everyone in the county,” she said.

Several cited mentors. County Legislator Catherine Borgia cited Assemblywoman Sandy Galef, for whom she worked. Gov. Kunin cited the first female U.S Senator, the late Margaret Chase Smith of Maine, as her role model.

“When I was your age, I did not consider myself a political person,” Gov Kunin told the teens, but “I was interested in what was going on in the world, and I wanted to have an impact on the world around me.” She credited the League of Women Voters for educating her politically and “getting me over the terror of speaking in public.”

She said that being effective involved three steps: “controlled anger” over a problem, the imagination and empathy to visualize a solution, and optimism. “Any time you speak out you take a risk. Optimists change the world,” she said. She also urged people to see the personal stories underlying every issue, talk to people with different opinions from yours and be nice but also strong and courageous.

Gov. Kunin’s latest book “The New Feminist Agenda: Defining the Next Revolution for Women, Work and Family” is scheduled for publication in May. She also is a commentator on Vermont Public Radio and teaches at the University of Vermont.

After listening to the women leaders, the girls divided into groups to plan their political campaigns. They chose a candidate and staff members such as campaign manager, treasurer, and publicist and prepared a poster with a slogan or platform. They were asked to consider funding of their campaign as part of their planning.

Students were engaged and enthusiastic and responded positively, said Adie Shore, who coordinated the program.

“We are the future,” said Elena Licursi from Bronxville High School. “We can make a difference. I have to figure out what I value and show I can make our country better.”

Elizabeth Gottlieb of Westlake High School called the conference “a big influence on us.”

Help Put SuperPACs Out of Business

How can you fight back against the big money pouring into the political campaigns this year? Sign the petition on The White House website* urging President Obama to appoint new commissioners to the Federal Election Commission (FEC).

The FEC is supposed to be the government agency that enforces campaign finance laws, but it isn’t working and hasn’t for a long time. Of the six commissioners at the agency, three of them simply refuse to enforce the law, and five of the six are serving despite the fact that their terms expired some time ago.

It is time to clean house and President Obama is the one that needs to do something about it.

Click here to urge President Obama to clean house at the Federal Election Commission (FEC).

If you are tired of the millions of dollars flooding our political campaigns courtesy of SuperPACs, sign the petition and help us reach our goal of at least 25,000 signatures of support by February 10, 2012.

Don’t just sign it yourself; post the petition on Facebook, Tweet about it and forward this note to all of your friends. Together, we can make sure that the votes of millions of Americans are more valuable to our elections than a big pile of money.

* In order to successfully sign the petition, you will need to create an account on WhiteHouse.gov and respond to a confirmation email. If you need guidance on creating this account please use our helpful step-by-step guide to creating your account and signing the petition.

Elisabeth MacNamara, LWVUS President

LWV of Westchester County Statement on Redistricting

As a nonpartisan citizen’s organization, the League of Women Voters has long supported the appointment of an independent commission for the redistricting process. The League believes that the results of the present partisan process only serve to demonstrate the need for such an independent body. Analysis makes evident that the process has resulted in even more gerrymandered lines particularly for the state Senate Districts than in the past.

The 37th Senate District map shows zigzagging lines drawn through Yonkers, New Rochelle and White Plains – splitting these communities in such a manner as to carve minorities out of this district. The concept of ‘community of interest’ was clearly abandoned in dividing these municipalities. The lack of adherence to the concept of ‘community of interest’ is further demonstrated by putting Scarsdale in the 35th district with the River towns and western part of the County when its community of interest lies with the eastern side of the county – especially when it comes to flooding issues and storm water management, significant issues in that part of the County…and part of the Scarsdale School district lies in Mamaroneck.

Then we have the example of Ossining – which has been moved into a senate district in Rockland County – on the other side of the Hudson River – completely isolated from the rest of Westchester County.

The League is also deeply concerned and disappointed with the timing as well. The lines were released only last Thursday, January 26, and the hearings for comments began on Monday January 30. There were a very limited number of hearings scheduled and few, if any, of those were located in the counties most affected by the proposed redistricting. In many cases, there was not enough time for the distribution of materials to the public to allow for meaningful input. This clearly limits the opportunities for communities and individual voters to do the type of in depth analysis and review needed to provide comments We are now being told that there is little or no time to make changes because of the Federal Court’s setting of the date for congressional primaries and the lines must be adopted. We find the release date and the present urgency all too convenient and an attempt at a ‘fait accompli’.

The public wants and deserves an independent commission to draw the state legislative and congressional districts according to fair and objective criteria with meaningful public input. We urge Governor Cuomo to veto these lines and appoint an independent commission. The people of the state of New York deserve better than a system that allows politicians to draw lines that insure their continuance in power at the expense of the public’s right to representation.

Carolyn Stevens, Board Member, LWVW
Sharon Lindsay, President, LWVW
February 2012

Download this statement

A Privilege of League Membership: Witnessing the Solemn and Joyful Rite of Becoming a U.S. Citizen

How does it feel to touch exuberant joy, to embrace pride? My recent experience is one I’d like to share with you.

Every few years it is my privilege to represent the League of Women voters at Naturalization Court, to watch as people from all corners of the globe magically become part of the diverse fabric which makes up the citizenry of the United States.

On December 7th, a wet and very windy day which was the 70th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, Adelaide DiGiorgi and I entered the ceremonial courtroom of the Westchester County courthouse in White Plains and were immediately engulfed by the excitement and anticipation of those occupying almost every seat -- people of all generations several who were about to become citizens, many of whom were accompanied by friends and family.

Read/download entire article with pictures (pdf one page)

League Statement on Fair and Affordable Housing

To:

James E. Johnson, Esq., Monitor
Jay Golden, Region 11 Director, HUD (NY)
Robert P. Astorino, County Executive, Westchester County
Kenneth W. Jenkins, Chair, Board of Legislators, Westchester County

Please be aware that the League of Women Voters of Westchester has become increasingly concerned by the apparent heightened tension among the parties to the Fair and Affordable Housing Settlement Agreement executed by representatives of HUD and Westchester County in 2009 and approved by the US District Court.

In the hope that it would be productive, the League gave great thought to the attached Statement and wishes to submit it for your thoughtful consideration.

With best regards ,

Sharon Lindsay
President

Karen Schatzel
Chair, Housing Committee

Janet Zagoria, Chair
Betsy Weiner, Member
County Government Committee

Download the Statement

(Printed newsletters have been discontinued)

Interested in NYS politics? Want to participate directly in the legislative process and development of policies? Join the new LWVNYS Lobby Corps

The League of Women Voters of NYS is developing a Lobby Corps, similar to that of LWVUS. The purpose is to train a group of volunteers who will then communicate the League's position on proposed legislation in person directly to the members of the state Senate and Assembly. The volunteer lobbyists will receive background information, talking points and individual assignments of legislators. A meeting will be held prior to the start of the legislative session in Albany to train and brief the Corps.

These volunteers are not to replace the Issue Specialists on whom the League currently depends for specific information, testimony and memos on particular issues as they are considered by the legislature. Instead, the Lobby Corps will be generalists who will provide the direct contact with the legislators on the key talking points. The Corps will also attend legislative committee meetings to report to the state League on important discussions and votes. It would be expected that the Lobby Corps volunteers would agree to lobby on a regular basis as assigned in Albany, for example, at least 2 days a month.

The Corps will work very closely with the state League's Vice President for Issues and Advocacy, Sally Robinson, and our Legislative Director, Barbara Bartoletti. The volunteers will "shadow" Barbara to meet the legislators, become familiar with the capitol and the legislative procedures, and learn the aspects of good lobbying techniques, especially during the volunteers' first year.

Come make a difference - and try something new in the League! For more info contact Laura Ladd Bierman, LWVNYS Executive Director, Laura@lwvny.org

The recession has been taking a toll on New York businesses, but it isn't the only thing ailing us; the high cost of health care and the lack of access to care dog businesses and individuals. Here is a commentary from the League of Women Voters on single-payer national health insurance, a leading solution to the cost and accessibility problems plaguing health care in New York, where an estimated 1 in 6 people lacks insurance.

What is single payer? It refers to the administration of health-care funds by one payer, rather than by the current multiple insurance companies. This payer would be the federal government. Think of single payer as enhanced and improved Medicare for all. The League of Women Voters of Westchester, New York state and the U.S. League all advocate for single-payer health care.

If you know of someone who may be interested in serving on the County Board or any of the committees, or if you have an interest in doing so, contact the League office: