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LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF WESTCHESTER
Making Democracy Work |
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League Roundtable with County Board of Legislators March 3 LWV Westchester will host a Westchester County Board of Legislators roundtable discussion Wednesday, March 3, at 9:30 in the 8th floor conference room at the Michaelian County Office Building, 148 Martine Avenue at Court Street in White Plains. (You will need to show valid picture identification). As always, League events are open to the public. Why is county government important to each of us? Our Board of Legislators allocates the money needed to operate county government and services and has oversight responsibility of the Executive branch. While two-thirds of the county government’s workload consists of delivering services and programs mandated by the state of New York, the other third is discretionary, funding labs & research, public safety, planning, transportation, health & mental health, services to children, the Westchester Library System, Parks, Recreation & Conservation, and Emergency Services. We have the responsibility to influence how these funds are spent: they are our dollars. Ken Jenkins is the new chairman of the BOL and other changes in legislative committee chairmanships have taken place as well. The League is very much a presence at all BOL meetings keeping a sharp eye, especially on budget issues and the housing settlement, which affects most of our towns and villages. By your presence at this discussion, it shows the legislators that we take an interest in what they do. League Commented on 2010 County Budget Proposals at Dec. 10, 2009, hearing The LWVW made the made the following comments about the proposed budget: The League recognizes the difficulties that County Executive Spano faced in preparing this budget because read more >> download this statement(Word doc.) League Letter to the County Board of Legislators 9-18-09 on the Proposed Housing Settlement Dear Mr. Ryan and Honorable Members of the Board of Legislators: For many years, the League of Women Voters® at all levels – National, State and County – has recognized the need for affordable housing and supported its creation. Based on this support, the League of Women Voters® of Westchester has monitored and observed all relevant housing entities, including the County’s Housing Opportunity Commission, various committees of the County Board of Legislators, and local housing development proposals. Read more Download the letter (pdf file, 2 pages)
Tappan Zee Bridge There have been several questions pertaining to the Environmental Impact Statement Study (EIS) surrounding the Tappan Zee Bridge replacement. There are eight different phases to the EIS. The DOT and its partners have just finished the fifth phase, the Scoping Update. It is now available on the TZB website and describes the Project purpose and needs, in addition to describing the alternatives to be studied in the next phase as well as the scope for the environmental and engineering studies. The report will incorporate the public comments and involvement programs along with outcomes. The report concluded with an updated schedule for completion of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement with the expectation it will be completed next summer, in 2010.
The LWVW Tappan Zee Bridge Study Committee will continue to monitor progress as well as review presented reports throughout the remainder of the project. LWV of Westchester Statement on Tappan Zee Bridge Proposal of Fall 2008 In April 2001, with the Tappan Zee Bridge moving beyond its projected life of 50 years and traffic congestion increasing on Route I-287, the New York State Thruway Authority (NYSTA) and MTA Metro North Railroad (MNR) formed a partnership to undertake a comprehensive study of transportation needs and mobility on the corridor. The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) joined the team as coordinator in 2005. In the spring of 2007, this team formed stakeholders' groups (SAWGs) to participate in discussion of its plans. The Westchester League of Women Voters (LWVW) participates in two SAWGs. The LWVW has also hosted several informational meetings for the public on the Tappan Zee/I-287 project. In March 2007, in cooperation with the Rockland League of Women Voters, we held a particularly well-attended meeting at Kendal-on-Hudson in Sleepy Hollow. That meeting featured speakers from the NYSDOT, the Westchester Planning Department, the Rockland County Legislature and the Westchester Rockland Tappan Zee Bridge Task Force. Then, in September 2008, the NYSDOT - now the lead agency of the project - presented new plans for the project. As many area residents are not yet familiar with either the past or current proposals, we thought it might be useful to offer a set of pros and cons for discussion. Download complete statement (Word document) For more information, contact Kristina McCarthy at lwvWestchester@verizon.net. BIGGER BETTER BOTTLE BILL SUCCESS After seven years of advocacy the BBBB has passed. We have worked with our coalition partners using Action Alerts to our members and legislative memos to our elected officials, speaking at hearings, sending press releases, etc., etc. etc. The new bill requires a deposit on bottled water, and this is huge because last year 3.2 BILLION water bottles were sold in NY. The other great news is that beverage companies must return 80% of unclaimed deposits to the State General Fund (not to the Environmental Protection Fund); since 1982 beverage companies have kept more than $2 billion of unclaimed deposits. The law also increases the handling fee for retailers to 3.5 cents and provides an assistance program through EPF for private, non-profits and municipal entities. This expanded recycling will conserve resources, including energy.
Voter Service Contact Laura Fratt (723-5108 or fratt@verizon.net). Environment and Open to anyone who wants to observe it, our County Legislative Environment Committee becomes opaque if no one shows up to see what's going on. Issues that affect your home, town and taxes directly are discussed and positions are recommended in these committee meetings. That's where the LWVW can be an invaluable "fly on the wall", reporting on and publicizing the issues this committee discusses. No other non-profit group fills this niche. The fact that we are non-partisan carries extra weight in the minutes we report. The more of us who join, the easier it will be. Just one afternoon every other month (currently Mondays at 3:00) and a few paragraphs of minutes that will be disseminated to our County Voter and web site will create a valuable resource to those interested in the workings of our local government and it will create another tangible reason to support our local LWVs with membership and donations.So give it a try. It's fun and usually very interesting. And you might just find out what the county is up to in your home town! Take Action! Our Citizen Action Toolkit is an easy-to-use resource for contacting elected officials, or to send a letter to the editor of your local newspaper. Support League issues with just a few clicks of your mouse. You can sign up for action alerts on the issues that are important to you.Make your voice heard!
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Calendar Feb. 4 Candidates Night Chappaqua Library. 7:30pm Robert Castelli and Peter Harckham are running for 89th Assembly District seat vacated by Adam Bradley. Bring your questions for the candidates. After opening statements, candidates will respond to questions from the audience. Following the question and answer period, candidates will give closing statements.This event is free and open to the public. Chappaqua Library, 195 S. Greeley Ave., Chappaqua, 7:30pm. Feb. 9 Special election for the above contest Mar. 3 League Roundtable with County Board of Legislators. Details at left. For more info on events around the county click here and give us your email address Read the LWV of Westchester newsletter, the COUNTY VOTER: Download a pdf file of County League's current newsletter here (past issues, too) Roundtable on Municipal Consolidation and Shared Services: Opportunities, Feasibility, Challenges and Consequences Held Jan.21, 2010 in Rye
RYE, NY – January 22, 2010 -- City, Village and Town managers from Rye, Rye Town, Rye Brook, Port Chester, and Mamaroneck discussed the feasibility, challenges, and opportunities when towns and villages share or consolidate services. State Assemblyman George Latimer moderated the lively discussion which took place on Thursday evening at the Rye Free Reading Room. State Assemblyman George Latimer moderated the discussion. Panelists included Christopher Bradbury, Rye Brook Village Administrator; Frank Culross, Rye City Manager; Bishop Nowotnik, Rye Town Confidential Secretary to the Supervisor; Christopher Russo, Port Chester Village Manager; and Richard Slingerland, Mamaroneck Village Manager. (From left to right in above photo: Russo, Nowotnik, Culross, Latimer, Slingerland, Bradbury.) The event was well attended by local elected officials, both past and present, and by residents from throughout Westchester. State Senator Suzi Oppenheimer, Port Chester Mayor Dennis Pilla, Town of Rye Supervisor Joe Carvin, Rye Mayor Doug French and County Legislator Judy Myers were just a few of the officials in attendance. Assemblyman Latimer set the tone by putting the night’s topic into context. “If you have moved to this area what you notice is how illogical it all seems” Latimer posited. He went on to say, “The Village of Port Chester looks more like a city and the City of Rye looks more like a village. It’s a crazy quilt pattern. The question is, how do we manage towns and villages incorporated in the early 1800’s but that are dealing with 21st century problems?” LWVW President Mary Beth Gose Resigned to Serve on Transition Committee As of November 22nd, our LWVWestchester President Mary Beth Gose resigned to serve on County Executive-Elect Astorino’s Transition Subcommittee on Government Administration. Her expertise should serve the new administration and County residents well. LWVW Vice President Adelaide DiGiorgi Installed as President The League of Women of Voters of Westchester announces the installation of First Vice President Adelaide DiGiorgi as LWVWestchester President at the League's December 3rd Executive Board meeting. She is replacing Mary Beth Gose who resigned the position on November 22nd to join the Transition Team for County Executive-elect Rob Astorino. Ms DiGiorgi, a Tuckahoe resident, moved into Westchester County with her husband in 1993. She has a BA in education from Long Island University, Summa Cum Laude. After leaving an executive position at Citigroup in 1993 she affiliated as Agent with several real estate brokers in Bronxville. She held the position of President of the Bronxville LWV and has been First Vice-president of the LWV Westchester since 2006. Since 2004 Adelaide has been an active member of the League's County Government Committee. Her community activities include a role as Trustee in the First Unitarian Society of Westchester where she heads the Women's Group and is liaison to the Society's Administrator. In keeping with her LWV interests, she serves as an Election inspector at the primaries and elections each year. LWV Specialist on Environment Roberta Wiernik Honored In a special program at the Board of Legislators' October 5 meeting, longtime League advocate for the environment Robert Wiernik received the Integrated Pest Management Award from Cornell University. Single Payer National Health Insurance Op Ed published in the Journal News on February 19, written by Madeline Zevon, vice president of the White Plains League of Women Voters and a member of the LWV of Westchester Health Committee. 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. Westchester County The League of Women Voters of Westchester and LWV New Castle have been collaborating to advocate for a Septic Management Plan for the county. Based on findings and consensus from one county study and two New Castle studies, oversight of these systems is essential to ensure proper functioning and long-term efficacy. To date there have been no requirements for maintenance of the read more> County League Seeks Volunteers 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: Tel: 914-949-0507; fax 914- 997-9354; email LWVwestchester@verizon.net
Join the League! The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan grassroots organization which promotes informed citizen participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy. League members make a difference in their community, statewide and nationally through active volunteering and/or financial support. Membership is open to all citizens of voting age. Non-citizens may join as associates. Students may join at a reduced rate. For further information on membership, contact a local League through the link on this page or e-mail lwvwestchester@verizon.net with your address and phone number and we will contact you with further information. |
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Updated by Valerie Castleman Feb. 1, 2010