ABOUT THE LWV
How You Can Help
VOTING INFO
Voter Guide 2007 (English) for
Northern Westch.
ENVIRONMENT
LOCAL
OBSERVER NOTES
Annual Luncheon with Speaker David Kaczynski Wednesday May 21 at Noon
"The Death Penalty -- A View from an Insider"
David Kaczynski, Executive Director of New Yorkers Against the Death Penalty, will be guest speaker at the League's spring luncheon on May 21st, at 12:00 noon, immediately following the annual meeting.
In his talk, "The Death Penalty – A View from an Insider," Mr. Kaczynski will share a personal and moving story of his first-hand involvement with a death penalty case – that of his brother, Theodore Kaczynski, the so-called Unabomber. Theodore was arrested in 1996 after David and his wife Linda approached the FBI with their suspicions that Theodore might be involved in a series of bombings that caused three deaths and numerous injuries over 17 years. Although diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, Theodore was charged capitally in the case; ultimately, he was sentenced to life without parole. David Kaczynski relates this story as a riveting window into some of the complexities of death penalty issues. He will also discuss significant court cases, recent and pending, that impact death penalty issues.
New Yorkers Against the Death Penalty (NYADP) is a statewide coalition of organizations and individuals committed to the abolition of capital punishment. NYADP advocates for public policy change through education, grassroots organizing, and lobbying.
David Kaczynski is currently writing a book on violence and healing with Gary Wright, who was seriously injured by one of Theodore Kaczynski's bombs in 1987.Crabtree’s Kittle House (11 Kittle Road, Chappaqua). $40 per person (check to LWV of New Castle); mail to Evelyn Bloom, 5 Woodmill Rd., Chappaqua NY 10514. For more info email lwvnewcastle@optonline.net.
League Comments on
Reader’s Digest Scoping
The window for public comment on the proposed redevelopment of Reader’s Digest closed on Friday, January 25, 2008. The purpose of public scoping was to solicit input from the community on issues to be addressed in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) that is required under New York’s SEQR law.
As lead agency for the review, the Town Board now has until February 25th to adopt a final scope document, which will outline all the issues Summit/Greenfield must address in the DEIS. The Town Board will be considering speakers’ comments from the three public scoping sessions held on January 9th and January 22nd, as well as written comments that were received by the January 25th deadline. The League’s Local Planning Committee reviewed the redevelopment proposal and draft scope document prepared by Summit/Greenfield, and submitted comments that raised questions about a number of major issues, including density, traffic, age restrictions, taxes and town services, and zoning, among others. Download Word Document to read LWV's full comments
Where to Find Important Documents
Related to Reader’s Digest
The draft scoping document prepared by Summit/Greenfield, the redevelopment proposal for Reader’s Digest/Chappaqua Crossing, and other important documents are available on the town website at www.town.new-castle.ny.us/ReadersDigestProperty.html.
Coffee and Conversation with State Legislators
Held Friday,
December 14, 2007
LWV of Westchester Responds
to
Draft "Croton Plan"
The Croton Watershed is a series of interconnected reservoirs and lakes that provides approximately 10% of New York City’s drinking water during normal times and up to 30% during times of drought. It also provides drinking water to parts of the towns of Somers, Yorktown and Cortlandt. Protection of the watershed is critical to ensure safe drinking water to these communities.
In January 1998, the ten Croton Watershed towns, Westchester County and he NYC Department of Environmental Protection agreed to participate in the development of the Croton Plan. The purposes of the Plan were: to identify significant sources of pollution in the Croton watershed system; to recommend measures that can be taken by NYC, the counties and the municipalities to improve water quality and to prevent degradation; and to recommend measures to protect the character and special needs of the Croton Watershed communities.
After waiting for almost 10 years, a draft of the Croton Plan was finally released in July (to read the draft of the Plan go to www.westchestergov.com/planningdocs/CrotonPlan/index.html). The County held meetings to present the plan and to ask for public comment. The Environment Committees of the New Castle League and the County League were very interested in the draft, particularly how it addressed septic management issues. Download the LWV's comment on the Plan which was read at the public hearing and submitted in writing to the County Planning Department.
School/Library Board Election May 2007
Leaguers prepared School/Library Voters Guide
LWV Moderator Marcia McCraw with
candidates for school board May 07
New Voting Systems
Counting Every Vote
and Making Every Vote Count
If you didn't make it to the March 21, 2007, meeting on this topic, you can read here summary of what has led up to the current situation on voting machines as provided by speakers Marion S. Sinek, at right above, HAVA advisor to Senator Hillary Clinton, and Laura Porter, Electronic voting technology specialist, LWV-Westchester. See our page Election Laws for this summary and some more recent info.
Keeping an Eye on the
Tappan Zee Bridge Project
A Study Committee of the Westchester County LWV has been meeting to collect information on this project as it will have a significant impact on all of us in the region. If interested in joining the group please contact Chairman Kristina McCarthy c/o the Westchester County League.
Calendar
May 15 Candidates' Night (see below)
May 17 Annual Compost Bin Sale Day at Saxon Woods Park, White Plains 9am-2pm. Garden advice. Rain or shine. Reserve your bin by Friday May 16. Moreinfo at
www.westchestergov.com/
environment_compostbinsale.htm
Download pdf for details and order form.
May 21 Annual Luncheon
(see left)
Candidates' Night, held
May 15th, rebroadcast
on NCCTV
The May 15th LWV Candidates' Night for School and Library Board candidates can be seen on NCCTV, Channels 75 and 77. The following are airtimes, now through Election Day, May 20th. The program is also available for "viewing on demand" on the NCCTV website, at the link below:
CHANNEL 75
Sun 05/18/08 08:00 PM
Mon 05/19/08 01:00 AM
Mon 05/19/08 08:00 AM
Mon 05/19/08 01:00 PM
Mon 05/19/08 07:00 PM
Tue 05/20/08 08:00 AM
Tue 05/20/08 03:00 PM
CHANNEL 77
Sun 05/18/08 10:30 PM
Mon 05/19/08 10:30 AM
Mon 05/19/08 10:30 PM
Tue 05/20/08 10:30 AM
For On Demand Viewing on the NCCTV website:
http://www.ncctv.org/index.php?
option=com_expose&Itemid
=64&album=45&photo=2
ACT NOW
Bigger Better Bottle Bill
It's time to kick our campaign on the BBBB into high gear. We only have a short period of time left to have an impact on the state budget.
I have an urgent request. Please --
Click the following link:
http://capwiz.com/lwvny/issues/alert/?alertid
=11031006&PROCESS=Take+Action, to send a letter to your legislator asking them to support the BBBB in the 2008-2009 State Budget.
The Tappan Zee Bridge:
A Regional Approach
Hosted by LWVW
Thursday, Mar. 27
The League of Women Voters® of Westchester (LWVW) will host an informational presentation on the future of the Tappan Zee Bridge and Route 287 corridor, entitled “The Tappan Zee Bridge: A Regional Approach,” on Thursday, March 27, 2008, from 7:30-9:30 p.m., in the Gathering Room at Kendal-on-Hudson, Routes 9 and 117 in Sleepy Hollow. Panelists will include Cheryl Lewy, Chair, Westchester County Planning Board, Michael Anderson, Team Leader, New York State Department of Transportation, and Marsha Gordon, Westchester County Co-Chair, Tappan Zee Futures Task Force.
The panelists will discuss current and projected regional conditions necessitating this project (e.g., demographics, employment trends and transit needs), proposals for the future of the bridge and I-287 corridor, and the Task Force’s perspective thus far. A question-and-answer period will follow the presentation.
The LWVW encourages public officials and residents to attend, as this is an excellent opportunity to learn about the broader implications of the Tappan Zee project on the lower Hudson Valley. For directions and additional information, please call (914) 332-1301 or e-mail sdschwarz@aol.com
If you are interested in joining the Study Committee of the Westchester County LWV please contact Chairman Kristina McCarthy c/o the Westchester County League.
The League of Women Voters of New Castle is a nonpartisan political organization that encourages citizens to play an informed and active role in government. At the local, county, state and national levels, the League works to influence public policy through education and advocacy. We do not endorse candidates. Membership is open to women and men who wish to participate in these efforts.
The League is part of a county, state and national organization, the League of Women Voters of Westchester, the League of Women Voters of New York and the League of Women Voters of the United States. More info about this league below
LWV Meetings: Board meetings are held on the second Wednesday morning of each month to conduct the business and planning of the League. All members are welcome to attend. Other meetings, to receive a report from a study group, or to inform the public about an election, or local issue, are usually held in the evening in a public building. Study groups meet at times agreed to by the participants, usually in the home of a member.
NCCTV: Many of the programs we host are available for viewing on NCCTV. LWVNC shows can be seen on channel 75 (community access station) and on channel 78 (government station). See www.ncctv.org for current schedules.
For more information, or if you are interested in attending events, please e-mail us at lwvnewcastle@optonline.net
Read pdfs of our newsletter, The Voter
Westchester County Needs Septic Management!
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. See complete article on our Septic Management page
"A Drinking Problem
Nine million people drink water from the New York City reservoirs, including the Croton Reservoir; approximately 800,000 of these are Westchester County residents. Twenty thousand homes in Northern Westchester get their water from wells.
While these water supplies have been considered safe, they are threatened by malfunctioning septic systems, which are placed on the property of individual houses, housing developments and businesses; these systems treat the wastewater on the premises instead of sending it to a central treatment plant. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, failing septic systems are the second largest cause of water pollution - and this includes drinking water. The agency estimates that 168,000 viral illnesses and 34,000 bacterial illnesses result every year from contaminated drinking water. See complete article on our Septic Management page
Updated Apr. 27, 2008
by Valerie Castleman
Many thanks to Westchester Alliance for Telecommunications and Public Access (WATPA ) & the Westchester Library System (WLS) for hosting this site.
