LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS of THE RIVERTOWNS

P.O. Box 142, Hastings on Hudson, NY 10706 www.watpa.org/lwv/rivertowns

BULLETIN–MAY2016

COMEONE!COMEALL!

ANNUALMEETINGANDLUNCHEON

Saturday,June4,2016

Meetingat10:30AM;Luncheonat12:00Noon

HomeofJeanHowell,189Broadway,DobbsFerry

ElectionofnewLWVRofficersanddirectors

A Breath of Fresh Air

Ourluncheonspeakeris

VirginiaMartin,DemocraticElectionCommissionerofColumbiaCounty

WhowithherRepublicancounterparthasbeenconductingFullheadcountsofpaperballots

ALLAREWELCOME!!!

BringaFriend

PleasereturntheformonthebackpageofthisBulletinwithyourcheckfor$20.00perpersonpayabletoLWVtheRivertownsorcallJean(914693-6755)byMAY27toreserveyourplace.

BOARDBRIEFSApril:Wediscussedplansforupcomingevents—visitstoourstatesenator,AndreaStewart-Cousinsandassembly-personsTomAbinantiandSandyGalef,theCountyConventiononJune2nd,theNationalConventioninWashington,D.C,onJune16,andourAnnualMeetingonJune4th.WeplantoaddHealthCaretoVoterRegistrationandAffordableHousingcurrentlylistedintheIssuesandActionssectionofourwebsite.ITCOULDHAPPENINNEWYORKLegislationforasinglepayersystemofhealthcareforallisinplayforNewYorkState.AssemblymanRichardGottfried’sbillNewYorkHealthAct(A.5062)hasPASSEDtheAssemblyandtheLEAGUEislobbyingforitspassageintheSenate(BillPerkins–S.3525).TheLWVUShashadapositionfavoringasinglepayersystemforalongtime,butNOWisthetimeforustoputourshoulderstothewheelandmakethecalls,emailsandvisitstoourStateSenatorstoconvincethemthatpassageofthebillwouldbeaboonforthestateandserveasanexampleforthecountry.TUESDAY,May10at8:30attheEldoradoDinerWest(acrossfromtheDoubletreeHotel,(480SouthBroadway,Tarrytown)FINDOUTALLABOUTITatournextHOTTOPICSBREACFAST.ElizabethRosenthal,MD,willbethefeaturedspeaker.InvitefriendsandRSVPto(914)332-1301orwww.lwv-rivertowns.org.ThevideoFIXITisworthwatching.https://iemso.com/143233923.UsethepasswordFIXITtoaccessthefilm.GETOUTTHEVOTE(TarrytownMusicHall)GetouttheVotewasthemessageattheUseYourVoicecampaignattheTarrytownMusicHallonSaturday,March12.Thiswaspartofa39-cityconcerttourbyweill-knownperformersPattyGriffin,SarahWatkinsandAnaisMitchelincollaborationwiththeLeague.BeforethemusicianshitthestageourownLisaCohensteppedupandurgedthepackedaudiencetoupdatetheirvoterregistrationifneededandtovote.Theaudiencecheered.AftertheperformancePattygaveimpassionedpleastovoterstoparticipateinthisyear’selections.SusanSchwarzandSusanGoodwinwereinthelobbydistributingvoterregistrationformsandanswerquestionsaboutvoting.NONPARTISANPOLICYAlthoughLWVRby-lawsstipulatethattheLeaguedoesnotsupportpartiesofcandidates,amoreexplicitLocalNonpartisanPolicyisneeded.LindsayFeinbergandSusanMaggiotowillworkonthisduringthesummer.

NOMINEESFOROFFICERSANDDIRECTORS2016-2017President: SusanGoodwin NominatingCommitteeVicePresident: EmmaLouLouis (2016-2017)Secretary PatRodriguez tobechosenatthemeetingTreasurer: SusanMaggiotto Directors: RhodaBarr LisaCohen BarbaraDannenbring LindsayFeinberg MonicaGetz LynnLevine SusanSchwarz MiriamMauzerall,DirectorEmeritaNominationsfromthefloorareacceptedprovidedyouhavetheconsentofthenominee. Continuinginofficeto2016:VicePresidentJeanHowellandDirectorSueWeisfeldSusanGoodwinhasrequestedaLeaveofAbsencetoallowher tocampaign forherfavorite candidate in the upcoming national election. Itwas granted and shewillreturn toherLWVRposition inNovember. EmmaLouLouiswillbePresidentprotemintheinterim.PROPOSEDLOCALPROGRAM2016–2017(UnchangedfromLastYear)

1.ContinueoutreachplanfornewresidentstointroducethemtoLeagueprogramsandpriorities.2.PeriodicallyreviewMasterPlansofeachofthevillages.3.Developaprogramtostimulatecitizenparticipationingovernment.Outlookforwork:continueanLWVRbookclubbasedonLeagueissues.4.Supportlanduseplanningthatprovidesforaffordablehousing,openspace,andwaterfrontaccess.5.Supportvillagelibrariesandprovideeducationalandinformationalforumsrelatedtocommunityneeds.6.Supportmeasurestoincreaselocalfairhousinginitiatives.7.Continueoutreachtostudents.WorkwithschoolstoencouragestudentparticipationinStudentsInsideAlbanyandRunning&Winning.8.Continuetomonitorandsupportriverfrontplanningineachofthevillages.DeterminewaysinwhichtheLeaguecanpromoteriverfrontplanningthatbalanceslocallanduse,environmental,andrevenuegeneratingconcerns.9.PromoteawarenessoftheLeagueofWomenVotersoftheRivertowns’positionsandactivitiesthroughperiodicstatementstovillageboardsandletterstotheeditorsoflocalnewspapers;encourageobservationandreportingofschoolandgovernmentmeetings;developcontactswithothercivicorganizations;lobbylocalelectedofficialsonissuesonwhichtheLeaguehaspositions.10.Exploreconsolidationofservicesamongvillagesandschooldistricts.11.Supportcounty-widere-assessment.12.StudyPovertyandhungerinourvillages.

VIDEORECORDINGPOLICYAftermuchdiscussionandtweakingtheguidelinepackage(forcandidates’debates)wasrecentlyadoptedbytheLWVRboard.Ifyouhaverecommendation,pleasecontactLindsayFeinberg.(478-0566or

1. ThecontentofthisforumisownedbytheLeagueofWomenVotersoftheRivertowns.

2. OnlythevideographerauthorizedbytheLeaguemayrecordthisforum.3. AnyuseoftheauthorizedrecordingrequirestheadvanceapprovaloftheLeagueof

WomenVotersoftheRivertowns.exceptotherlocalleaguesmayposttherecordingsontheirwebsites.Onlylicensedmedia,includingTV,radioandnewspapersareentitledbyFCCregulationstoairportionsofthisrecording.Anyoneelsewhoairsthisrecordingmaydosoonlyinitsentirety.

4. Nooneispermittedtoeditfootageforcampaignpurposes.5. TheLeagueofWomenVotersoftheRivertownswillpostrecordingsofforumsin

theirentiretyonLeaguemedia.6. Allpartychairsandcandidateswillsignareleaseformstatingthattheyhaveread

andacceptedtheconditionsabove. NYSLEGISLATIVEVISITSIt’s that timeofyear! OnApril14thJeanHowell,RuthKotecha,MiriamMauzerallandSueWeisfeldlobbiedLWVpositionswithSenatorAndreaStewartCousins,andEmmaLouLouis, Selma Thackeray and Christine Verber interviewed Assemblyman ThomasAbinanti.GeorgeCalviisvisitingSandyGalef(Wecoverawidegeographicarea.)

TopicsdiscussedwithStewart-Cousinsincludedinfrastructure,naturecentersandparks,education,raisingtheageofcriminalresponsibility,recentjudges’salaryincreases,humantrafficking,limitingprisonsolitaryto15days,andpotentialschoolancillaryservices(aspecialinterestofthesenator).Thestateiscommitting$300milliontotheEPAwhichwillbeusedtocontinuepreservationeffortsandinvestmentinmoreopenspaces,andnaturalresourceprotection.Thesefundsinclude$250,000fortheHudsonRiverValleyTrailGrantsProgramand$5millionfortheHudsonRiverEstuaryPlan.NatureCentersandPreservesaresupportedlocally.However,theinfrastructure,whichisindisorder,getslittlemaintenancesincelocalcommunitieshavelittleavailablemoneyandpoliticstakesatoll.

AssemblymanAbinantiagreeswithmostLeaguepositions.Topicsdiscussedatlengthincludedelectioncampaignfinancereforms,whistleblowerprotection,governmenttransparency,environment,over-development.Heemphasizedtechnicaldifficultyenactingchange;statutesmustbecarefullydrawn.Hefavorsin-personearlyvotingandstreamliningabsenteeballotprocedure;ataskforcemaybeneededtoconsolidatepoliticalandspecialdistrictelections.SaysthatNYcorruptionproblemisduemoretoenforcementlapsethanproblemswithlaw.

WATERFRONT CONSENSUS Only one suggestion came from our (bulletin) request for suggestions for possible change to our ten year old Waterfront Consensus or its companion “Development Criteria”. This suggestion will be submitted for discussion and adoption at the June 4 LWVR annual meeting: (G) Residential development should include a non-negotiable 15% requirement for affordable housing. “non-negotiable 15% requirement for” added. (Clarification: Environment has been folded into the Riverfront Group.) NATURALIZATIONCOURT,FEBRUARY24,2016–GeargeF.CalviOnebyonetheyfiltereddowntheaisleastheirnameswerecalled.DressedintheirSundaybest,manybeamedfromeartoearastheyshookhandswithSupremeCourtJudgeLindaJamisonandWestchesterCountyClerkTimIdoni.Fromfourcornersoftheglobe,CentralAmerica,SouthAmerica,theMiddleEast,Japan,China,Africa,SoutheastAsia,Ireland,evenBermuda;,thiswasthedayanticipatedforsolong,andnowithadarrived.AsIstoodatmypostwithcolleaguesfromtheRivertownsLWV,DaughtersoftheAmericanRevolutionandJewishWarVeterans,123newcitizenspassedbytoshakehands:coldhands,warmhands,sweatyhands,andnervoushands.Somecamealone,somehadentourages.Oneyoungfellowsportingayarmulkeseemedtohavebroughtanentirecheeringsquad.Whilesometooktimetoexchangepleasantriesandactuallyglanceatourpublications,othersrushedbytoexcitedlygreetfamiliesorgettoanoffsitecelebration.Somehadoutgoingpersonalities,manywereshy.Thewholespectrumofageswererepresented.Sooverwhelmedatthesignificanceofwhathadjustoccurred,somewereatatotallossforwords.Merewordsweresuperfluousanyway.Theirfacessaiditall:itwasaperfectlywonderfuldayfornewcitizens-andoldonestoo.IfyouwouldliketorepresentLWVRatNaturalizationCourt,contactRhodaBarr(478-1144orrhodabarr29@gmail.com).END OF LIFE? At a March 8 HOT TOPICS BREAKFAST arranged by new LWVR member Sherry Saturno who used her extensive geriatric social work experience to explain the web of medical, financial and social issues involved as we age. Attorney Elizabeth C. Friand (Bleakley Platt law firm) explained legal issues (there are plenty); Susie Rush from the office of NYS Assemblywoman Amy Paulin covered right to die legislation in New York and elsewhere. “Our heads were spinning”. Recommended reading: “Being Mortal” by Atul Gawande.

CHRISTINEHINDLEVERBER-ajourneyWithoutaccent,Chris(Ardsley)isfarfromherbirthplaceinBradford,Yorkshire,England.Weknowheraschampionofsinglepayerhealthcare,andwomen-and-girlsattheUN.Howdidthishappen?Somememories:“Iwasfourwhenmy10montholdbrotherdiedofDiphtheria!1933.ItwasaroundthattimethatIdeclaredIwasgoingtobeamidwife!!!!(becausethedistrictnurse/midwifelivedinalovelyhouse!)”AfteravisitfromAmericanrelatives,herfathervowed,“NextyearwegotoAmerica,”butdiedsuddenlythatyear,atage55,ofleukemialeavingasmallbequest,enoughtopaymyone-wayboatfaretoNY”.“IcametoAmericainJanuary,1951,age21,alreadyaBritishNurse,expectedtostayforayearandI’mstillhere65yearslater.IworkedatPatersonGeneralHospital,NJ,fortwoyears,gettinglicensed,thanmovedtoNYC,”whereIattendedHunterandColumbia“twonightsaweek...,workedinvariouspositions,gotmarriedandhadthreechildren.IgotmyBSin1964,lateradoctorateinAdultEducationfromColumbia.“’Our’house”(builtbyChrisandSelwyn)isoneofourbestachievements...Stillworkingonit,it’snever‘finished’.MeanwhileItookayearoffinEngland,1974,tobecomeaBritishmidwife.”“MymothervisitedwhenI’dbeenhereacoupleyearsandwetraveledbyGreyhoundbusasfarasFlorida,California,andMichigan,thenbycarwithfamily,acrossCanadatoCalgary.WhensheleftontheQueenElizabethonJuly4th,1953,Ihad$28inmywallet.”“BritainhashadNationalHealthsinceafterWW2.Istartednursingin1947anddidn’tknowanythingdifferentuntilIcamehere.”LWV DC CONVENTION The Rivertowns League is covering the registration fee for two lucky members to attend the upcoming US League Convention in Washington DC, June 16-19. Transportation to the conference and hotel room are not included in this offer and will be at your own expense. The rates for rooms are $200 and up per night plus tax. If you would like to represent our League at this important conference, or have questions, please reply to rtownsleague@mail.com ASAP. We look forward to hearing from you! INTHERIVERTOWNSCondolencestoEmmaLouLouisofthepassingorherdaughter,Julie.JuliecontributedgreatlytotheaccuracyoftheBulletinwithhercarefulproofreading.BestwishesforaspeedyrecoverytoMonicaGetzwhoisrecuperatingfromsurgery.Withregret,wehaveacceptedInezJacklin’sresignationfromtheBoard,butarehappythatshewillremainaLWVRmember.

Lookingahead-IMPORTANTDATES! Thursday,May5:HastingsSchoolBoardCandidates’ForumHillsideSchoolCafe120

LefurgyAvenue,Hastings,7:00p.m.;co-sponsorHastingsPTSA

Tuesday,May10,HotTopicsBreakfast,ElizabethRosenthal,M.D.ofPhysiciansforaNationalHealthProgramwilldiscusspendinglegislationandhowNYcanleadthewayinprovidinghealthcareforall.EldoradoDiner,480SouthBroadway,Tarrytown(acrossfromtheDoubletreeHotel),8:30a.m.

Saturday,May14:RivertownsLWVBoardMeeting–HastingsCommunityCenter-

10:00a.m.Boardmeetingsare“open”andwewelcomeyourparticipation.Tuesday,May17:SchoolDistrictElections-BudgetandBoardofEducation–all

districts–7:00a.m.–9:00p.m.Thursday,Jun2:CountyConvention–ScarsdaleWomen’sClub,37DrakeRoad,

ScarsdaleSaturday,Jun4:AnnualMeetingandLuncheon–homeofJeanHowell,189Broadway,

AptC(facingHudsonRiver.VirginiaMartinofColumbiaCountywilldiscusshowelectionsarestolenandhowvotinghasbeenmadeinaccessibletomanypeople..10:30a.m.-2:00p.m.Thisisaveryimportanttopicinthispresidentialelectionyear!!DON’TMISSIT!

YES. I WILL ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING AND LUNCHEON!

Name: ___________________________________ Phone _________ E-mail:_______________ Name(s) of Guest(s): ____________________________________________________________

Number attending ____ Total enclosed ($20.00) per person) $________ Mail to: LWV the Rivertowns, P.O. Box 142, Hastings-on-Hudson, NY 10706 RETURN BY May 27, 2015 Please make checks payable to: LWV the Rivertowns Mail to: LWV The Rivertowns, P.O. Box 142, Hastings-on-Hudson, NY 10706

LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF THE RIVERTOWNS P.O. Box 142 Hastings-on-Hudson, NY 10706

PLEASE SUPPORT THOSE WHO S UPPORT THE RIVERTOWNS LWV

BY-LAWSCHANGES Acommitteecomprisedofdirectors,InezJacklin,SusanSchwarzandJeanHowellhavebeenstudyingourby-lawsandsuggestedchanges,mostquiteminor,tobringtheminlinewithourcurrentpracticesandrecommendationsofLWVUS.Theproposedchangeshavebeenapprovedbytheboardbutmustbevotedonbythemembershipattheannualmeeting.Copiesoftheby-lawswillbeavailableatthemeeting.Highlightsarebelow.ArticleII,PurposesandPolicySection1.Purposes:change“goodgovernmentandpolitical”to‘civic’responsibility.Section2.Policy:addtheword“Political”before“Policy”ArticleIIIMembershipminorre-wordingArticleV,BoardofDirectorsSection1.Selection,QualificationandTerm.Inadditiontotheofficerstheboardmayconsistof“uptoeight(8)directorselected...anduptoeight(8)appointed”–eachincreasedfromsix(6).Additions:directorsshould“assumeresponsibilityforanassignment,administrativeportfolioorstudyitem”“thenominatingcommitteemayrecommendvotingmembertobeanemeritadirectorinrecognitionofservicetoLWVR.”Section3,ExecutiveCommittee:Dropthewords“theBoardmayappointanexecutivecommitteeconsistingofnofewerthanthree(3)membersoftheboard”.ItisinconsistentwithArticleIV,Section1whichdefinestheexecutivecommitteeas'theofficersofLWVR.ArticleVII,NominationsandElectionsSection2.ReportoftheNominationCommittee.Thereportofthenominatingcommitteemaybesenttothemembersbymail“orelectronicmeans”.