league of women voters - early voting comes to … › voter › voter2019_10.pdfin 2018, the league...

Volume LXXIX, #02October 2019

Early Voting Comes to New York State This Fall! One of the key reforms supported by the LWV:

—early voting— begins this fall.

See page 3 for more.

2 Volume LXXIX, #01 • October 2019

Inside this issue:

Early Voting Comes to New York . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Leadership Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Be a Voter: NYS Now has Early Voting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

September LWV Census Forum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Pay Equity Update . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Fair Election Practices Campaing Pledge Recognition Ceremony . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Naturalization Ceremonies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Vote411 Update . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Voter Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

LWVUS Campaign to Focus on Redistricting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

2019-2020 Book Club Selections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Election Commissioner Tom Ferrarese Retires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Annual Suffragist City Parade and Block Party 2019 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

City Council Candidate Forums Cancelled . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

LWV-RMA Speaks Up on Behalf of Clean Renewable Energy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

First Fridays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Leadership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

What does it mean to you to be a member of the League of Women Voters? While this is a personal question for you to consider, does one or more of the following answer this question for you? • Protectingthefutureofdemocracy• Promotingexpandedvoterparticipationand

equippingvoterswithessentialinformationaboutelectionsandthevotingprocess

• Defendingandexpandingtherightsofvoters• Supportingfree,fairandaccessibleelectionsThis publication will report on the many ways in which the members of the Rochester League are taking actions to address these topics.ThevoiceoftheLeaguehelpedpassearlyvoting,which will go into effect with the upcoming election. Now,westandreadytoraiseourvoiceandourhandstosupporttheCompleteCountinitiativefor the Census. We recently hosted members of the Rochester-Monroe County Complete Count Committeeataneducationalforum(seecoverageofthiseventonpage4).ConsiderjoiningthevoicesheardatthiseventtobecomeactiveinachievingthegoalsofthisCensusinitiative.ThePeoplePoweredFairMapsCampaignisthenextopportunitytoraiseourvoices.Thisisanationalredistricting campaign that is focused on creating fair political maps nationwide. In New York state, the goal is to pass or protect state laws implementing a fair redistricting process. This approach includes lookingforopportunitiestoimprovepublicinputintheredistrictingprocessandtomoveforwardlawsthatincreasetransparency.Seepage9andtheLWVUSwebsiteformoredetailsonthisprogram(https://www.lwv.org/redistricting/people-powered-fair-maps-campaign)andlookforupcomingopportunitiestoparticipateinthisadvocacyinitiative.What does it mean to you to be a member of the League of Women Voters? ThevoiceoftheLeagueisheardinyouractions,inyoursupport,inyourvolunteerism,inyourfinancial commitment. That sound you hear is your voice,compoundedwiththevoicesofyourfellowmembers in LWV-RMA. May the sound continue to grow and the community impact continue to speak tothestrengthofcivicengagement.Wewouldlovetohearyourvoice.Contactuswithideas and suggestions.InLeague,yourCo-Presidents

Judy Sternberg [email protected] 5856837690.

Kimberly Byers [email protected] 5852474958

Leadership Corner


Voting is about to get easier for New Yorkers. One of the key reforms adopted this year by the Legislature andsignedintolawbytheGovernoristheprovisionforearlyvotingacrossthestate.General Election Day is November 5, 2019, but for those who wish, early voting is now being offered October 26 – November 3.EarLy VOtIng schEduLESaturday,October26 9:00A.M.–2:00P.M. Sunday,October27 1:00P.M.–6:00P.M. Monday,October28 7:00A.M.–3:00P.M. Tuesday,October29 Noon–8:00P.M. Wednesday,October30 Noon–8:00P.M. Thursday,October31 7:00A.M.–3:00P.M. Friday,November1 7:00A.M.–3:00P.M. Saturday,November2 1:00P.M.–6:00P.M. Sunday,November3 9:00A.M.–2:00P.M.

EarLy VOtIng sItEsAsofSeptember16,sevenlocationsforearlyvotinghavebeen identified:Greece Town Hall,3VinceTofanyBlvd.Ogden Town Hall,269OgdenCenterRoadMonroe Community College Downtown Campus,321

StateStreetPenfield Town Hall,3100AtlanticAvenueThe Marketplace Mall,1MiracleDriveRidge Culver Plaza(formerFallasstore),2255EastRidge

RoadSUNY Empire State College,680WestfallRoad.Voters who are registered anywhere in Monroe County may vote in any of the seven locations.Remember: If you choose to vote on November 5, you can only vote at your designated voting location, as in previous elections.Thereisaproposaltoincreasethenumberofvotingsitesto15.WatchnewscoverageasOctober26approachestolearnifmoresitesbecomeavailable.Tolearnmore,visittheLWVNYSwebsite,nyearlyvoting.org.ThisresourcefeaturesanFAQsectionandaccesstoabrochureonearlyvoting.

sOurcEs: LWVNYSMatthewLeonard.“Earlyvotingishere:Whatyouneedtoknow.”RochesterDemocrat&Chronicle.September15,2019,page4A.

New York State now has Early Voting!Vote at any of these locations or times!

Our “melting logo” demonstrates that LWV-RMA has acceptedthechallengefromRochesterPeople’sClimateCoalition(RPCC)toraiseawarenessinourcommunity and to unite to fight climate change. TheLWV-RMAlogoonourFacebookpagehasbeen“melted” for one week to show our support.

Melting Logo Draws Attention to Global Warming


September LWV Census ForumLWV cEnsus fOrum: cEnsus Is safE, Easy, & ImpOrtant OnSeptember23,LWV-RMAhostedaforumontheimportanceofthe2020Censusindeterminingpolitical representation and the allocation of federal funds – and on ways to ensure that ALL people arecounted(onceandintherightplace).Apanelrepresentinggroupsinvolvedinthe2020CensusinMonroeCountyprovidedanoverviewofstepsbeingtaken locally to ensure an accurate Census count.SusanPerry,PartnershipSpecialistattheU.S.CensusBureau,reviewedthepurposeoftheCensus.Shenoted that:• Peoplemayrespondin2020usingtheInternet,

phone,paper,orpersonalvisitbyaCensusemployee;

• PersonalinformationcollectedbytheCensusBureaucannotbylawbeusedagainstrespondentsbyanygovernmentagencyorcourt(includingICE);

• LWV-RMAmemberscanhelpbypromotingCensus participation within our communities and bypromotingtheavailabilityofCensusjobs.

AlexYudelsonoftheRochester-MonroeCountyComplete Count Committee discussed how this group is concentrating on reaching hard to count populations in our region, both urban and rural,

since federal aid formulas are based on numbers of people. He sought LWV-RMA help in promoting Censusinvolvement.SherryJohnson,ExecutiveDirectorofMonroeCountySchoolBoardsAssociation,usedgraphicstoexplainthedependenceoffederalandstateeducation aid formulas on data collected by the Census.CynthiaDana,arepresentativeofMonroeCountyLibrarians, shared ways that libraries in our county are preparing to help people complete the census formselectronicallyusingcomputersinlibraries,viaextendedhours,mobilecommunitylibraries,andshuttle busing.In addition, those in attendance met at tables to discuss other strategies that could be used to ensure that hard to count residents in our county participate inthe2020Census.To learn more, please contact:www.census.gov(censuspurposes)www.2020census.gov/jobs(availablecensusjobs)uscensusbureau(viaFacebook,Twitter,YouTube,Instagram)[email protected] (Rochester MonroeCompleteCountyCommittee)

TOP: Panelists Susan Perry, Alex Yudelson, Sherry Johnson, and Cynthia Dana.INSETS: LWV Members Elaine Schmidt videotaping the session to post on the LWV-RMA website, and Ann Carmody moderating the forum.BOTTOM: Meeting participants discussing additional ways to reach hard-to-count residents.


Pay Equity Update Earlierthisyear,theNYSGovernmentpassedlegislationsupporting pay equity. Now comes the hard work of implementing that legislation. We need to keep on top ofthisasthegapsinpayhaveincreasedsince2018,asshown in the graphic at the right. In2018,theLeaguejoinedthePayEquityCoalition(PayEquityCoalition.com)whichincludesActionforABetterCommunity(ABC),AmericanAssociationofUniversityWomen(AAUW),CitizenAction,Ibero-American Action League, La Cumbre, National OrganizationofWomenofGreaterRochester(NOW),St.Joseph’sNeighborhoodCenterInc.,TheChildren’sAgenda, and the Urban League of Rochester. Since2018,thecoalitionhasheldEqualPayDayeventsforLatinas,Black/AfricanAmericanwomen,andallwomen.September23markedthedayin2019whenNativeAmericanWomenwouldearnwhatwhite,non-Hispanicmendoingthesameworkearnedin2018.ForLatinasintheRochesterMetropolitanArea,LatinaEqualPayDayisnotuntilNovember20,almostthreeweekslaterthanitwasin2018becausethepaygapbecameworse.ThepicturesbelowweretakenattheAugust22EqualPayRallyforBlack/AfricanAmericanwomen,oneoffeweventsofthiskindinthenation.Theyshowcasesomeofthemorethan100menandwomenattending,aswellas some of the city, county, and state officials who spoke.WatchsocialmediaandtheLWV-RMAcalendarfortheLatinaEqualPayDayeventofNovember20,designedtoeducateandactivateadvocates.Seethe2019LatinaEqualPayDayRally&PressConference(https://bit.ly/2OGZ8mz)fordetails.Plantojointherallytoshowyoursupport.Ida Holloran [email protected] Julie Damerell [email protected]

TOP LEFT: Officials who addressed the August 22 rally. TOP RIGHT: Gin Busack with a placard. BOTTOM LEFT: Kim Byers with a sign. BOTTOM RIGHT: Media covering the rally.

2019 is WORSEthan 2018!

Latina

NativeAmerican

Black

Mothers

White

AsianAmerican

$1.00

$0.85

$0.77

$0.69

$0.61

$0.58

$0.53

Every Day Is Noncents!.

White non-Hispanic Men

November 20

September 23

August 22

June 10

April 19

March 5

equalpaytoday.org/equalpaydays

Every Day is Non¢ents!EDUCATE2019 Equal Pay Days

LatinaNative

AmericanBlack

MothersWhiteAsian

American


Fair Election Practices Campaign Pledge Recognition Ceremony120 candIdatEs cOmmIt tO faIr ELEctIOn practIcEsThe LWV-RMA and The Interfaith Alliance of Rochester(TIAR)heldaceremonyonSeptember12intheatriumoftheMonroeCountyOfficeBuilding,recognizingcandidateswhosignedtheFairCampaignPledgeforthisyear’sGeneralElection.Atotalof120candidatesinCounty-wideandlocalraceshavesignedthePledge,committingtorunningpositive,issue-orientedcampaigns.ThenamesofallcandidateswhosignedthePledgearelistedontheLeagueofWomenVoters’websiteatwww.lwv-rma.org.TheFairElectionPracticesHearingPanelacceptsproperly filed complaints from candidates who signedthePledgeandwillcontinuetohearcomplaintsuntilNovember4,thedaybeforeElectionDay.Hearingdecisionswillbereleasedtothe media and posted on the League of Women Voters’website.FormoreinformationabouttheFairCampaignPledgeandtheFEPC,pleasevisittheLeagueofWomenVoters’[email protected].

LWV-RMA Co-President Judy Sternberg reading the names of candidates who signed the FEPC pledge; County Executive candidates Cheryl Dinolfo and Adam Bello signing the FEPC pledge; and FEPC Chair Kris Rogers leading the FEPC ceremony.

Naturalization CeremoniesLWV-RMAmembersattendedtwonaturalizationceremonies in August. On August 8, Marcia Eisenbergwelcomed45newcitizensduringthenaturalizationriteattheMonroeCountyOfficeBuildingledbytheHonorableJudithSinclair.MargaretSupinskihelpedregisternewcitizenstovoteattheFederalBuildingonAugust29duringnaturalizationceremoniesledbytheHonorableDavidLarimerfor53newcitizens.ThankyoutoallofourNaturalizationvolunteers!Wecouldnotbethereforallthenaturalizedcitizensifitwasn’tforyourdedicationtothisproject.Sheila Abeling [email protected]

New citizens with Justice David Larimer on August 29.


BE INFORMED.

VOTE INFORMED.TO GET INFORMATION ABOUT CANDIDATES ON YOUR BALLOT VISIT

VOTE411.ORG

Vote411 UpdateVote411,theLeaguevoterinformationwebsite,has a new look. It will take fewer clicks to see the candidatesonyourballotandviewtheirresponsestoLeaguequestions.Asofmid-September,morethan100candidateshadpostedandseveralothersindicated that they planned on posting before the MonroeCountyraceswentliveonSeptember23.Pleasecheckoutyourballotandnotewhichofyourcandidateshaveresponded.Whenyouseecandidatesortheirrepresentatives,eitherthankthemforpostingoraskwhytheyhaven’t.Weposedseveralquestionstothecandidatesforeach office. Here are some of them:• Howwouldyoubalancethepromotionof

developmentinourtownwithprotectionoftheenvironment?PleasediscussCommunityChoiceAggregation and/or other specific proposals. (TownSupervisorandCouncilmembers)

• TheCityofRochesterClimateActionPlan(CAP)wasendorsedbyCityCouncilinMay2017.(http://www.cityofrochester.gov/climateactionplan/)HowhighaprioritywouldyougiveaddressingClimateChangeinourcounty? And what specific measures would you take to coordinate City and County efforts to address and mitigate Climate Change in ourcounty?(CountyExecutiveandCountyLegislators).

• Whatrecommendationsofthe2019RochesterDistinguishedEducatorReportwouldyousupportfor2019-2020schoolyear?(RochesterCommissionerofSchools)

• IdentifyoneinitiativethatCityCouncilcouldpropose to address youth crime. (Rochester City Council).

Many thanks to the committee members for their assistance:ChristineBooth,JulieDamerell,ReneeFrazier,DeborahGordon,JudyHartmann,MyraPelz,ChrisPryorandGailWilder.VisitVote411fortheElectionInformationYouNeed!Judy Weinstein, Vote411 Chair [email protected]

LOOk fOr us On facEbOOk! We know you’ll “like” us!www.facebook.com/lwvofrma


Voter Services spOtLIght On LWV-rma gOtV tEamLWV Voting Videos:4shortvideosareinvariousstagesof production from completed, being edited, to in-planning.Theycover“HowtoVote”,“ChooseaPoliticalParty”,“ParoleeVotingRights”,and“EarlyVoting”.Whendonetheywillbemadewidelyavailablethroughour website, social media pages, LWV-RMA YouTube Channel,aswellasthroughtheBoardofElections,andmultiplecommunityorganizations.ThefirstthreeofthesewillbereleasedbytheendofSeptember.MajorthankstoBarbaraGroshwhohasproduced,written,directedandeditedthevideos.ElaineSchmidtandRockyCoombershottheliveactionvideosandhadinput in the editing.Postcards:1,000votinginfoandreminderpostcardswillbesenttorandomlyselectedregisteredvoterswhodidnotvotein2016orwhohavenewlyregisteredsincethen. All recipients will be from a single, low-turnout districtwithinMonroeCounty.Resultsof2019turnoutwill later be compared to a similarly low-turnout district thatdidnotreceivethetargetedpostcardstoassessforeffectiveness.Collegestudentswillbehelpingwithpersonalizedmessagesonthecards.JulieDamerell,MyraPelz,AnnCarmody,JudyHartmannandGailWilderareinvolvedinthiseffort.Text Messaging Service:TextmessagingtovoluntarilyenrolledregisteredvoterswillstartgoingoutacoupleofweeksbeforetheEarlyVotingperiod,October26-November3.InitialmessageswillincludelinkstoVote411.organdtoourvotingvideos.Thesewillbefollowed by prompts to make a plan for when, where andhowavoterwillgotothepolls.Finally,therewillbeday-ofreminderswithday-to-dayEarlyVotinghours.TeammembersareBarbaraGrosh,JudySternbergandMyraPelz.Lawn Signs:“I’maVoter–JoinMe”signswillbedistributedinearlyOctobertoproudvoterswhoarewilling to be neighborhood influencers. Hospitals Affidavit Voting:ExpansionofaservicebegunlastyearincollaborationwiththeBoardofElectionsandanattorneyvolunteer.OnNovember4th,Leaguevolunteerswillcirculateinparticipatinghospitals(likelytwo)andobtainrequestsforaffidavitballotsfromin-patients.ThosevolunteerswillreturnonNovember5th,withtheballotsforthosehospitalizedvotersandseethatthecompletedballotsgetreturnedtotheBOE.Attorneyswillparticipatetooverseeandvalidatetheprocess.GinBusackandBarbaraGroshhead up this effort.Additionalactiveteammembersare:DavidNewman,DebLeary,andDianeStengel.Voter Registration Month – September

NationalVoterRegistrationDaythisyearwasSeptember24th,butitseemswithallthevoterregistrationactivitythattakesplaceinSeptembertheentiremonthshouldberecognized.Onthe24th,weconductedfiveregistrationeventsandonetrainingsessiononconductingvoterregistration.Inaddition,KimByerswroteandsubmittedaLettertotheEditoroftheD&C.Totalsforthemonthweretwelveevents,severalofthoseoncollegecampuses,includingNazareth,EastmanSchoolofMusic,RIT,andMCC-Brighton.OthereventstookplaceattheRochesterPublicMarket,MaplewoodBranchLibrary,HenriettaLibrary,SuffragistCityParadeandBlockParty,andattheNYSAssociationForAffordableHousingConference.UpcominginOctoberareanotherdayatthePublicMarketonOctober5,theAutumnRootsFestivalonOctober5,ProjectHomelessConnectonOctober15,andHalloweenattheMarketonOctober27.ThankstoourSeptembervoterregistrationvolunteers:DebLeary,KimByers,JoanAlden,JaneBeck,RosinaCurren,TanyaDavis,GeorgiaDeGregorio,DebGordon,CaroleHaas,RebeccaJohnson,PatrickMacey,KathyMock,MarionO’Connor,JoanRosenthal,ElaineSchmidt,ClareShea,KatherineSmith,DianeStengel,JudySternberg,ElaineWalker,SusanWeinberg,GailWilder,andDonnaWilliams.Additional Voter Services ActivitiesVoterServicesisalsoactiveinrespondingtoinquiriesfromassortedindividuals,organizationsandotherLeagues.InSeptember:• WeparticipatedintheLWVofSchuylerCountyEarly

VotingForum.KatherineSmithandElaineSchmidtgraciouslytraveledtoWatkinsGlenonSeptember11to be presenters for that program.

• WecontributedtothenewLWVNYSGOTVtoolkitfeaturinglocalleagueGOTVinitiatives.BarbaraGrosh is our GOTV contact person.

• WeprovidedvoterregistrationtrainingandsupporttoNYSDisabilityRightsAdvocatesandtoNYSAssociationForAffordableHousingPropertyManagers.

Judy Sternberg,[email protected]

The League hopes to include an advocacy component in each of its educational

forums this year.


LWVUS Campaign to Focus on Redistricting: People Powered Fair Maps (PPFM)TheLWVUShasdevelopedthe“PeoplePoweredFairMaps(PPFM):ANationalRedistrictingCampaignforAllLevelsofLeague.”LWVUSleaderscalltheinitiativeapowerful collaboration between national, state, and local Leagues aimed at building power in communities across thecountry.Theyseetheinitiativeasawaytofocusredistricting work with a reform plan that allows entry byalllevelsofLWVandawaytobuildcapacityaroundasingle topic.PPFM“AreasofFocus”includethefollowing:• BallotInitiativeandReferendums–Develop

educationalmaterials,recruitvolunteers,collectsignatures,organizeatthestatelevelusingworkgroupswithLWVmemberexperts.

• StateConstitutionalOptions–Developeducationalmaterials, conduct public dialogues, meet with lawmakers,developgrassrootsandgrass-topsadvocacy,buildcoalitions,consultwithdedicatedlegal partners.

• StateLegislativeFixes–Developactionalerts,writelettersandopedcolumns,providetraininginareassuchastestifying,trainmembersforadvocacy,developpowermapping,supportlegislationdrafting.

• FederalLegislativeFixes–PromoteVotingRightsAdvancementActof2019(VRAA),ForthePeopleAct(toprotectFirstAmendmentrights),in-stateadvocacycampaigns,amediacampaign,and‘spank’and‘thank’efforts.

InSeptember,theLWVUSpresentedawebinaronPolicy&Action: Redistricting202This webinar looked at the manner in which the states are structured to conduct redistricting. New York was classifiedasusinganAdvisoryCommissionwhichwasdefined as a group that is appointed by the legislature; partisanship is imbedded in the committee process. The majorityoftheconferencewasfocusedonpresentationsby league members from California and Washington state. California’scompletelyindependentandsuccessfulcommissioninvolvesthefollowingelements:1. Politicianshavenoinfluenceindrawingthelines.2. The process is open and transparent to the public

andinvolvedmanyfocusgroupstodevelop.3. Criteria,rankedbyimportance,wereestablishedto

guide the drawing of the lines: a. Reasonably equal population b. Voting rights compliance

c. Geographic contiguity d. Respect for neighborhoods, city, and county

boundaries, and communities of interest e. Geographic compactness, as much as possible

givenhighercriteria f. Nesting,asmuchaspossiblegivenhigher

criteria g. No consideration of place of residence of

incumbent or candidate4. TheLeaguespoketotheprocessonly,monitoring

andadvocatingforprocesscompliance. TheLeaguedid not participate in the drawing the lines.

5. Commissioners must be trained prior to the start of the redistricting process.

The Washington state process was similar with two exceptions:

1. Theydidnotrankthecriteria,whichtheysawasapossiblefutureimprovement.

2. The legislature appointed the commissioners, whotendedtobeseniorpoliticians. Thisdrovecompromising where the lines were drawn to balance the districts between the parties.

NextstepsbyLWVUS:• TheLWVUSwillworkwithLWVstateleadersto

determine how to engage in the campaign at the locallevel.

(AllstateswillreceiveagranttosupportthisworkbyNovember.)

• TheLWVUSwillreportonprogresscoordinatingthrough state LWVs.

• LWVUSwillseekphilanthropiccontributions.Giftsby members and others will enable greater reach to individuals,voters,andelectedofficials.

ThehopeandexpectationarethatLWVmembersatalllevelswillbeactivelyinvolvedinthenationalcampaign on redistricting. Look for more information on redistrictingasLWVNYSformulatestheNYSstrategyandengages the local LeaguesTo learn more now, go to https://www.lwv.org/redistricting/people-powered-fair-maps-campaign. Graphics from LWVUS presentation at: https://www.lwv.org/league-management/people-powered-fair-maps-campaign-tele-town-hall


2019-2020 Book Club Selections IdentifiedAtameetingonAugust19,interestedLWV-RMAmembersidentifiedsevenbookstodiscussatmonthlymeetings during the coming program year. ThegroupmeetsattheGreenhouseCaféat10:00A.M.(Note:Themeetingwilloccuronthe2ndThursdayinOctober).Thedates,booksandvolunteerdiscussionleaderarebelow.Ifthereisnoleaderlistedforabook,weneedavolunteer.All LWV-RMA members are encouraged to read the books and attend the discussions.Judy Weinstein [email protected]

Date Title Author Leader

9/19 Democracy in Chains : The Deep History of the Radical Right's Stealth Plan for America (2017)

Nancy MacLean Chris Pryor

10/10 The Lemon Tree : An Arab, a Jew, and the Heart of the Middle East (2006)

Sandy Tolan Georgia DeGregorio

11/21 Beloved (1987) Toni Morrison Elaine Schmidt

1/16 The Women’s Hour: The Great Fight to Win the Vote (2018)

Elaine Weiss Judy Weinstein

2/20 The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America (2017)

Richard Rothstein

3/19 Educated: A Memoir (2018) Tara Westover Ann Carmody

4/16 The Death and Life of the Great Lakes (2017) Dan Egan


Election Commissioner Tom Ferrarese RetiresTomFerrarese,whohasretiredastheMonroeCountyBoardofElectionsCommissioner, will be sorely missed in the community. He has partnered with the League on many occasions, always protecting the interests of the Monroe Countyvoter,nomatterwhatpoliticalpartyaffiliation.Duringhistenuresincehisappointmentin2002,TomoversawthebiggestchangeinthevotingprocessesinMonroeCountywiththetransitionofthelevermachinetotheelectronicsystem.WhenevertheLeagueneededassistanceorinformationaboutvoting/elections,Tom was always willing to help.TheLeaguewishesTomtheverybestinhisretirement.WehavepresentedhimwiththeLeagueServiceAppreciationplaqueaswellasanengravedmoneyclip.Tomsent LWV-RMA a note which said, among other things, “IthasbeenmypleasuretoworkwiththeLeagueoversomanyyears…(T)heLeaguehasdonesuchagreatjobtoinformingthecommunityregardingthemanyissueswearefacedwith…whatanamazinggiftyouhavegiventothiscommunity.”

Annual Suffragist City Parade and Block Party 2019TheannualSuffragistParadeandBlockPartyissponsoredbytheNationalSusanB.AnthonyMuseumand

HouseinhonorofRochester’skeyroleintheWomen’sSuffragefightandincelebrationoftoday’sorganizationsandindividualswhocarry on that spirit in their work to protect and furtherbothhumanandvotingrights.ThisyearLWV-RMAwasrepresentedbyTanyaDavis,DebGordon,MarionO’Connor,MyraPelz,KrisRogers,ElaineSchmidt,JudySternberg,andDonnaWilliams. Voter registration and information were providedbytheseLWV-RMAmembersattheafterparty in the park. Note our new LWV-RMAT-shirts!Themessage on the back is “Your Vote is YourVoice!Vote”.Wehaveafewt-shirtsininventory.Ifyouwould like to purchase onefor$12.50,sendan email to [email protected] or call 585.262.3730.

Views from the Equality for All People Parade.The photo in the center shows LWV-RMA members Myra Pelz, Kris Rogers, Deb Gordon., Marion O’Connor, and Elaine Schmidt lining up for the parade.


LWV-RMA Speaks Up on Behalf of Clean Renewable EnergyOnAugust26,2019LWV-RMAenteredastatementonRG&E’srateincreaseproposaltotheNYSPublicServiceCommissionduringtheirpubliccommentperiod.ThestatementledwithanoverviewoftheLeagueofWomenVoters’longhistoryofadvocatingfor policies that protect our state, nation and planet from the serious threat of climate change. It went on to state: “Basedontheabove,andonthegoalsofthenewlyadoptedNewYorkStateClimateLeadershipandCommunityProtectionAct,LWV-RMAbelievesthisisthetimeforRG&Etoprioritizethetransitiontorenewable energy resources and upgrading of the electricgrid,andnotthetimetobemakingmajorinvestmentsinnaturalgasinfrastructureandfossilfueltechnologies.Further,wesupport:• moreRG&Efundingforbeneficialelectrification

andincome-basedincentivesforheatpumps.• adecreaseinRG&E’selectricityfixedcharge

which,at$21.38,isthehighestinthestateandunfairly impacts low income residents.

LWV-RMAsupportsthecallforNYSPublicServiceCommissiontorequireaperformance-basedincentivestructureforRG&E,linkedtotheachievementofaffordablegreenenergygoals,insteadofapprovingaguaranteedincreaseinRG&E’srateofreturnfrom9%to9.5%.NYSPublicServiceCommissionhasanobligationtoactonbehalfofthepublic.Pleaseuseyourpowerhere.”Judy Sternberg, [email protected]

City Council Candidate ForumThe League of Women Voters has a long history of organizingandhostingcandidateeventsinorderto:• Educatethepublicabouttheissuesincampaigns• Provideanopportunityforvoterstowitness

candidates discuss those issues face-to-face; • Stimulatepublicinterest,andparticipation,in

election; and, • Provideanopportunityforthepublictoengage

the candidates. LWV-RMAandtheRochesterPeople’sClimateCoalitionplannedaCandidateForumforthethreeCity Council districts with contested races. In support oftheLeague’snonpartisanpolicy,weonlyhold forums when at least two candidates for an office participate.Weconsidereachvotingdistricttobeaseparateoffice.Becausethereisonlyonecandidateon the ballot in the NW district, no forum was planned for this district. The responses for the other districts were as follows:East District:MaryLupienacceptedtheinvitation;DaveRSutliff-Atiasdeclinedtheinvitation.Northeast District:ChrisEdesacceptedtheinvitation;MichaelA.Pattersondidnotrespondtotheinvitation.South District:AlexanderJ.WhiteandMarcusC.Williamsacceptedtheinvitation;LaShayD.Harrisdidnotrespondtotheinvitation.Note that numerous attempts were made to reach the candidates who did not respond using email, phone, first class mail, and certified mail.In accordance with our policy, because only one candidatefromeachoftheEastandNEdistrictshasacceptedtheinvitation,wewillnotholdCandidateforums for those districts. The League of Women Voters will hold a forum on October 16th for the two candidates in the South District who accepted our invitation. We regret the non-participation choices of Ms. Harris,Mr.PattersonandMr.Sutliff-Atias.Thosechoicesdeprivevoterstheopportunitytohearcandidates in their districts answer questions posedbytheLWV-RMA,RPCCandthepubliconimportant issues. Those choices run counter to our missionofinformingvotersandpromotingvoterturnout.Shouldn’tcandidateswelcomequestionsfrom those they seek to represent? Candidates runningforpublicofficeareapplyingforajob.When a candidate does not respond to a request for information, what does that tell us?

Shouldyouseeanyofthethreecandidateswhowere not willing to participate in our forum, please letthemknowthatyouexpectcandidatestotakepartinvotereducationactivities.ForumwillbeheldOctober16,7:00P.M. location to be announced.Our complete media release is on our website at http://www.lwv-rma.org/Judy Weinstein, [email protected]


Coming Events!OCTOBER4 FirstFriday(11:00A.M.,I-Square,400Bakers

Park)9 LWV-RMABoard(Noon–2:00P.M.,AsburyFirst

UMC)10 BookClub(10:00A.M.,GreenhouseCafé,2271

E.MainStreet)16 CandidateForum:CityCouncil-SouthDistrict

7:00P.M.withcandidatesAlexanderWhiteandMarcus Williams. Location TBA.

17 Naturalization(10:00A.M.-1:00P.M., Monroe CountyOfficeBuilding)

29 Naturalization(1:00P.M.–3:00P.M.,Rochester CityHall)

Board of Directors meetings are held at Asbury First UMC . Board meetings are open to all members . See calendar for dates and times .Advocacy/Government Committee meets monthly . For details, call Ann Carmody at (585) 748-5848 .

Naturalization ceremonies are usually held on second Thursday of each month . Check League website for updated info each month .Forums are open to the public . Calendar information is subject to change .

For more complete information, consult our website at www .LWV-RMA .org, call 262-3730 or e-mail us at info@lwv-rma .org

Be sure to check your email and our website for other events as they are scheduled!

29 Forum:CourtSimplificationMOVED(seeNovember11)

November1 FirstFriday(11:00A.M.,I-Square,400Bakers

Park)8 Naturalization(1:00P.M.-3:00P.M.,George

EastmanMuseum,900EastAvenue)11 Forum:CourtSimplification(7:00P.M.-9:00

P.M.,AsburyFirstUMC)13 LWV-RMABoard(Noon-2:00P.M.,AsburyFirst

UMC)14 Naturalization(10:00A.M.-1:00P.M.,Monroe

CountyOfficeBuilding)21 BookClub(10:00A.M.,GreenhouseCafé,2271

E.MainStreet)21 Naturalization(1:00P.M.-3:00P.M.,Federal

Building100StateStreet)

Don’t Miss First Fridays with LWV-RMA

October4November1December6January3February7

JoinLeaguecolleaguesforlunchoramid-day coffeebreakeachFirstFridayofthemonth,

11:00A.M.-1:00P.M.atI-Square,400BakersPark, atTitusAvenue,Irondequoit,NY14617.

NoneedtoRSVP.Pencilusinonyourcalendar andjoinwhenyoucan!

There’saplaceatthetableforyou!

March 6April3May1June5

COMMITTEE CONTACTSLookingforinfoonaLeaguecommitteeoractivity?Looknofurther!

Advocacy/Government, Ann Carmody [email protected] [email protected]

Communication/PR,JulieDamerell [email protected]

Election Services/Naturalization,SheilaAbeling [email protected]

Fair Election Practices Campaign,KrisRogers [email protected]

Membership, Mary Garfield [email protected]

Nominating,MaryHussong-Kallen [email protected]

Programs, Ann Carmody [email protected]

VOTE411,JudyWeinstein [email protected]

Voter Services,JudySternberg [email protected]

A Monthly Publication of the League of Women Voters/Rochester Metropolitan Area

!Name:_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Address: _______________________________________________________________________________________________

City: ___________________________________________ State: ___________________________ Zip: __________________

Telephone: _______________________________________ E-Mail: ________________________________________________

Check Amount: ____________________________________

Level of Membership: ________________________________

MEMBERShIP LEVELS:Individual/Associate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$75

Household . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $105

Susan B . Anthony/Frederick Douglass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $150

Carrie Chapman Catt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $200

Student . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . FREE

Low income, call office at 262-3730 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $liding $cale or send an email to: info@lwv-rma .org

Please send this form and your check payable to League of Women Voters/RMA to:

LWV-RMA PO Box 10573

Rochester, NY 14610or join us online at: www.lwv-rma.org/join.php

Join the League Today!

NOVEMBER VOTER DEADLINE IS OCTOBER 15!

PO Box 10573 Rochester, NY 14610585-262-3730www.LWV-RMA.org

The Voter is a monthly publication

of the LWV-RMA

Editor, Judy Wadsworth

Layout/Design, Chris Burleigh

Goals of the League of Women Voters:• Toencourageinformedcitizen

participationingovernmentandpolitics• Toinfluencepublicpolicythrougheducation

andadvocacy

Leadership TeamCo-PresidentsKimByers(2019-2020)JudySternberg(2019-2021)TreasurerJudyWeinstein(2019-2021)SecretaryJulieDamerell(2019-2020)DirectorAnnCarmody(2018-2020)DirectorMyraPelz(2019-2021)DirectorKrisRogers(2018-2020)DirectorGailWilder(2018-2020)

League of Women Voters-Rochester Metro Areamission statementThe League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.Voter education is one of the League’s most important functions, and the League encourages all citizens to register and to cast an informed vote .The League does not support political parties or candidates, but does take stands on important issues after careful study and research .Membership in the League is open to all persons who are at least 16 years of age . Those under 16 can be associate members .

board of directors

league of women voters - early voting comes to … › voter › voter2019_10.pdfin 2018, the league...

Documents