Rivertowns LWV Annual Meeting Saturday June 8, 2013

Spring is here in all its glory and that means we are turning our thoughts to our Annual Meeting, to be held on Saturday, June 8. This year's meeting promises to be special, thanks to a lovely venue and a stimulating program. We are fortunate to have as our guest speaker Mark Hannay, Director of Metro New York Healthcare for All, who will speak about the Federal Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) as well as Assemblyman Richard Gottfried's New York State Healthcare bill.

At our business meeting, which will run from 10:30 a.m. to noon, we will vote on our slate of officers and directors, and discuss other agenda items. Luncheon will follow, at which time Mr. Hannay will speak and entertain questions. We will be accepting dues for 2013; kindly make your check out to LWV Rivertowns in the amount of $60. A separate tax deductible contribution to the Education Fund is also encouraged.

All are welcome and we hope to see you there! The cost of the luncheon is $10 in advance and $15 at the door. Please make checks out to "LWV Rivertowns" and mail to PO Box 142, Hastings-on-Hudson, NY 10706. Please RSVP to Jean Howell at 693-6755.

"Meet Your Elected Officials" Sponsored by Rivertowns LWV Held in April

Get involved in our democratic process and stay involved! This was the main theme of two speakers at the Rivertown League's recent event, "Meet your Elected Officials", graciously hosted by Monica Getz at her Tarrytown home this past Sunday, April 28.

Getting involved in politics was the main lesson learned by Edwin Lopez, our Student Inside Albany. Edwin is a senior at Sleepy Hollow High School. After rigorous 12-hour days of lectures, shadowing State Assemblyman Tom Abinanti, and observing committees at work, Edwin is seriously contemplating a major in political science. 

Involvement in politics to insure that the peoples' voice is heard, was a message echoed by Representative Eliot Engel, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. It was no surprise to hear Mr. Engel lament the dysfunctional climate in the House; he spoke of efforts to further weaken the Environmental Protection Agency, turn away efforts at gun control and campaign finance reform, and limit social programs such as Social Security.

On hand were several other elected officials, including State Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Assemblyman Tom Abinanti, Greenburgh Supervisor Paul Feiner, Mayors Drew Fixell (Tarrytown), Brian Smith (Irvington), and Peter Porcino (Ardsley). Also present were Irvington Trustees Ken Burnstein and Connie Kehoe, Ken Jones, Councilman of Greenburgh, County Legislators Mary Jane Shimsky and Alfreda Williams, Nikki Coddington, former Mayor of Irvington, and Judith Beville, Town Clerk of Greenburgh.

Approximately 40 Rivertowns residents took advantage of this opportunity to chat with their representatives and enjoy the convivial atmosphere. We hope to do this again next year.

Students Inside Albany Program 2013

This year our Rivertowns League selected Edwin Lopez, a senior from Sleepy Hollow High School, to attend the thirteenth annual Students Inside Albany program, which is sponsored by the New York State League's Education Foundation. The program ran from April 14th to the 17th, and brought together approximately 60 students from across the state to Albany to get a first-hand education about their state government. The program is designed to increase high school students' awareness of their responsibility in representative government and provide information about the tools necessary for meeting that responsibility.

While at the conference, students joined their peers in a hands-on learning experience about how state government works. They participated in a series of interactive lectures on topics such as the state budget process, the role of lobbyists in the legislative process, citizen rights to access government information, the role of media in politics, and the move to reform state government. The highlight for most students was the opportunity to shadow their Senators and their Assembly members for an afternoon attending session on the Chamber floor.

We are very proud of Edwin, an advanced placement student in social studies, who is now considering a major in political science. He especially liked the presentations and discussion led by State League Legislative Director Barbara Bartoletti.

LWV Sponsored Campaign Finance Reform Symposium in January 2013

"There will be campaign finance reform passed in Albany this year." For those attending the symposium on campaign finance reform sponsored by the League of Women Voters of the Rivertowns, held on Sunday, January 27 at Mercy College, these words from Common Cause Executive Director Susan Lerner were encouraging. Ms. Lerner went on to say that the extent of the reform will depend heavily on pressure from constituents on their legislators. She urged grassroots organizations like the League of Women Voters to maintain involvement in this issue. She suggested writing letters to the editor in local publications, and hand-written letters to legislators, even those known to support reform.

Other panelists included Sally Robinson of the New York State League of Women Voters who spoke of the abuses legally allowed in the current system. Ian Vanderwalter of the Brennan Center for Justice described how the New York City public financing system has resulted in proportionately more donations from lower income and minority voters. Liz Kennedy from Demos presented the results of a report on Super PACs and so-called dark spending and how they are bad for the democratic process.

"Campaign finance reform passed in the Assembly last session but not in the Senate," remarked Assembly member Tom Abinante from the 92nd District. He added that voting in the Senate was not strictly on party lines. Abinante believes that limiting the contributions is the most important aspect of reform, more so than disclosure or enforcement.

Questions from the audience were about the role of debates in elections to counteract attack ads, why the League of Women Voters no longer moderates presidential debates, and whether campaign finance reform would bring an end to anonymous attack ads from out of state groups.