Empowering Voters.
Defending Democracy.

Local League News: March 2022

newspapers on a table with a pair of eyeglasses in front of the pile

Equal Pay Day 2022 was March 15, but equal pay isn’t enough to provide the economic stability needed in today’s economy. Fair pay must be added to the mix for women’s economic recovery from Covid and to thrive in New York State. View Kathy Stein, President of LWV of St. Lawrence MAL Unit, speak at […]

Issues and Advocacy: March 2022

person budgeting while drinking coffee

Legislative Priority Summary The State League sent out the form for the 2022 legislative priorities late November 2021. The forms were due February 1st, 2022. Nineteen Leagues submitted their top three legislative priorities. The top three priorities (in ranked order) are election law, natural resources, and healthcare. Pre-Budget Advocacy Summary and Budget Update On Saturday, […]

Criminal Justice Committee: April 2022

Courthouse, judge's gavel and handcuffs create the concept of criminal justice

During the recent budget negotiations, reform of certain parts of our criminal justice system became a central piece of the discussions between the governor and the legislative leaders. There were significant differences with regard to this subject, but in the end a compromise was reached. That compromise resulted in amendments to the laws affecting bail […]

Political Parties Currently Recognized in NYS

Political Parties Currently Recognized in NYS Parties are listed in the order in which they appeared on the voter registration form and ballot in 2021. Descriptions are those of the parties themselves. Conservative (https://www.cpnys.org) The NYS Conservative Party, founded in 1962 is dedicated to individual freedom, personal responsibility, the protection of traditional American values of […]

Partisan Warfare

Partisan Warfare Paula Blum In a Newsday article on Sunday, October 24, Yancey Roy cited a poll that said “Americans Share Values/Divided on Issues.” Many of us who grew up in the 50s, 60s and 70s remember a lot more cooperation, compromise, and willingness to work together to solve problems and resolve differences. We saw […]

Climate Emergency Resolution

Climate Emergency Resolution The rationale for Adoption of a Climate Emergency Resolution: The past decade has been the hottest in recorded human history. The natural disasters of 2020, consisting of wildfires, droughts, floods, and hurricanes, and the worst pandemic in more than a century are all symptoms, at least in part, of accelerating global climate […]

Take Action: Support DC Statehood

Take Action: Support DC Statehood (S 51) The U.S. House Of Representatives has passed the Washington DC Admission Act (HR 51). The District of Columbia is home to over 700,000 people and yet does not have voting members in the U.S House or Senate. The people of DC are denied a voice in Congress, unable […]

Public Mapping Project

Public Mapping Project The U.S. Constitution mandates that electoral district lines be redrawn following each decennial Census, as we learn where we, the people, live. “The drawing of electoral districts is among the least transparent processes in democratic governance. All too often, redistricting authorities maintain their power by obstructing public participation. The resulting districts embody […]