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VOTERS SERVICE

Prepare, publish and distribute nonpartisan information on registration, voting, candidates, ballot issues and elections.

OUTLOOK FOR WORK

• Coordinate, conduct, and/or review:  voter registration; and education when requested.

• Train local League members to organize and moderate candidates meetings.

• Coordinate assignment of moderators for candidates meetings sponsored by local Leagues and other qualified organizations.

• Coordinate gathering of candidate information by local Leagues for inclusion in Voters Guide.

• Prepare and distribute the Voters Guide.

• Consider various options for distribution of the Voters Guide, in terms of effectiveness (readily available for voters who need and will use them), cost, expected level of financial help, number of volunteers available, League image, etc.

• Consider less expensive options for data entry of the Voters Guide information.  Develop a process to integrate the gathering and processing of information for the Voters Guide with that of SmartVoter.

• Utilize the SmartVoter website (www.smartvoter.org) as an additional service for voters in the following elections in Westchester County:  Primary Elections; General Election in November; Village Elections in March; School District Elections in May.

• Help plan and sponsor candidates meetings for countywide offices.

• Continue as a liaison to and support for the Fair Campaign Practices Committee for Westchester County.

NATURALIZATION COURT

Coordinate attendance at Naturalization Court to welcome and distribute voter information to new citizens.

ISSUES

The following items are in alphabetical order.  Neither that order nor the numerical order of the Outlooks for Work denotes priority, thus leaving LWVW the flexibility to act as the situation warrants.

I.   GOVERNMENT

A.  COUNTY BUDGET

Analyze, review and take action on the Westchester County Budget as a fundamental tool for implementing County Government policy, with particular emphasis on the parts that pertain to County League program. 

OUTLOOK FOR WORK

• Examine methods of cost containment with emphasis on consolidation of both the departmental services within Westchester County and between government and municipal services.

• Examine new or proposed revenue sources for Westchester.

• Continue to urge improvements to the County Operating and Capital Budgets, including improvements to the documents’ formats and earlier release dates.

• Monitor the impact of proposed budget allocations on government programs, essential human services, the environment and proposed plans for the consolidation of sewer districts in Westchester County.

5.   Monitor the Westchester Medical Center budget as it relates to the County Budget.
6.  Monitor the budget adoption process, including proposals to impose super-majority requirements to raise taxes.
7.  Continue to urge the Administration and the Board of Legislators to insist on periodic, audited reports from the MTA (Metropolitan Transit Authority) detailing where the County’s money is being spent.

B.  WESTCHESTER COUNTY GOVERNMENT 

Monitor and take action on the operation of the Westchester County Government with particular attention to Election Process Reform and the issues listed below.  Continue to monitor campaign finance reform, redistricting, lobbying, environment and housing issues.

OUTLOOK FOR WORK

1. Monitor all aspects of the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) implementation, including the September 2008 implementation of precinct-based optical scan voting systems with ballot marking devices for the disabled.  Continue to advocate for precinct-based optical scan voting systems with ballot marking devices for all voters and for a reliable auditing process to evaluate accuracy of voting systems.

2. Continue to monitor and take action on proposed housing legislation and programs for workforce housing, low income housing and housing for the homeless, and advocate for further development in these areas.  Monitor the development and implementation of the Westchester Housing Land Trust and take action to educate the public as to its applicability.

3. Continue an active observer corps to monitor legislative programs and policies.

4. Support legislative districting measures to preserve municipal boundaries, standards of compactness, and contiguity, consistent with federal requirements for population equality. 

5. Support property tax reassessment countywide and in individual communities.

6. With the assistance of the Executive Committee, continue a student education program, e.g., Student  Legislative Day.

II.  ENVIRONMENT

• A.

   ENVIRONMENT

Promote an environment beneficial to life through the wise management of natural resources in the public interest by recognizing the interrelationships of air quality, energy, land use, waste management and water resources.

OUTLOOK FOR WORK

• Through the League’s annual county budget review process, promote acquisition and preservation of open space by the County which will not compete with land for low income and affordable housing.

• Monitor and take action on any proposal for the consolidation of sewer districts, the creation of septic districts, or the creation of any entity to address sewage and/or stormwater management.

3. Promote public education on water quality issues with emphasis on stormwater management, septic systems and sewers.

4. Advocate for a countywide septic management plan.

5. Take action to address Global Warming and Sustainability issues with special attention to energy use, the Indian Point Nuclear Plant, and mass transit on the Tappan Zee Bridge.

6. Promote pollution prevention and reduction with emphasis on:

• Support for the county pesticide reduction law.

• Distribution of the League/NYPIRG organic resource guide of garden and lawn care products.

• Sponsor compost bin and native plant sales.

7. Observe meetings of the Board of Legislators Committee on the Environment and Energy; publish observer notes on the League’s website.

B.  TAPPAN ZEE BRIDGE
   
Study options for the rehabilitation or replacement of the Tappan Zee Bridge and come to consensus on what is the best option, taking into consideration environmental consequences, quality of life and economic impact on the region. 
OUTLOOK FOR WORK

• Continue the meetings of the committee to study the options to replace or rehabilitate the bridge.

• Continue to disseminate information to League members and the public through articles in the County Voter.

• Continue to disseminate information to League members and the public through additional meetings with Michael Anderson's Project Group, and other stakeholder groups, such as the TZB Task Force.

• Continue the process of attending the stakeholder Advisory Working Groups meetings on a bi-monthly basis and report the progress back to the League study group.

• Hold a consensus meeting within a reasonable period of time.

III. HUMAN RESOURCES

A.  CHILDREN’S ISSUES

Monitor and take action on issues concerning children’s development, health, safety and welfare.

OUTLOOK FOR WORK

1. Support initiatives aimed toward improving children's health and safety, such as reducing gun violence, reducing targeted marketing to children, and enhancing nutritional standards. 

2. Alert members to, and support, childcare initiatives to improve availability and quality of services to the disabled population, as well as developing youths.

3. Cooperate with other organizations and coalitions dedicated to improving the lives of children throughout the county.

4. Endeavor to be a liaison between public officials and the League in order to be informed of pressing needs and proposed legislation.

B.  DIVERSITY ISSUES

Monitor and take action on issues concerning the health, safety and well-being of members of diverse groups.  Support measures to reduce discrimination involving bias against a person’s race, color, ethnicity, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, or disability.