October/November 2015

October/November 2015
LOCAL VOTER
LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS
SYRACUSE METROPOLITAN AREA
Syracuse Metro LWV
PO Box 11866
Syracuse NY 13218
Phone: (315) 396-8225
Email: [email protected]
Web Sites:
Local:
www.lwvsyr.org
State:
www.lwvny.org
National: www.lwv.org
Calendar
Tuesday, Nov 3rd
Election Day
Thursday, Nov. 12th
Raise the Age Concurrence Meeting
Saturday, Nov. 14th
LWVSYR Board Meeting
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Board Notes………..............................2
Leadership Message ……..…..……...3
New York Health Bill..…..………... ..4
News from LWVNYS ………….….…5
Vote411.org……………………..……6
Voter Service………………...……….7
Support LWVSYR……...………..…..8
Should 16-18 year olds be treated as adults in the New York
State Criminal Justice System?
RAISE THE AGE CONCURRENCE MEETING*
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2015
11:30AM-2PM
CNY PHILANTHROPY CENTER
431 EAST FAYETTE ST - SYRACUSE 13204
Bring your lunch and join us for a discussion on
whether the League should take a position on the issue.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
In January 2014 a Commission on Youth, Public Safety and Justice was appointed
by Governor Cuomo to make recommendations on how New York could raise the
age of juvenile jurisdiction. In January 2015 a final report was released with 38 concrete recommendations for reforming the youth justice system. These recommendations are based on the acceptance of the basic premise that the age of criminal responsibility should be raised and that young people accused of criminal behavior
should be treated differently than adult offenders.
Based on these findings, the Governor pushed for a comprehensive legislative
package in the 2015 legislative session designed to re-frame the way young people
are treated by our criminal justice system.
The legislature approved the allocation of funds to implement the principals of the
proposals, but the legislature adjourned without passage of either proposal. Because
LWVNYS lacked an applicable position, we could not advocate for or against these
proposals.
ABSENTEE VOTE DEADLINES
•
•
•
•
Application by mail must be post
marked by Oct. 27th
Apply for ballot in person at the
Board of Elections by Nov. 2nd
Deliver ballot in person by
Nov. 3rd
Delivered ballot by mail post
marked by Nov. 2nd and received
by Nov.10th
In June 2015, the LWVNYS convention delegates approved a state board recommended program item to conduct a post-convention concurrence with portions of the
LWV of Ohio’s Juvenile Justice Position. Local leagues have been asked to hold
meetings to review the governor’s proposal to determine if we can support it and
lobby for it in the upcoming legislative session.
*Concurrence is defined by LWVUS League Basics as agreement by League members with a position on an issue reached by a small group of members or by another League. Based on LWVUS precedent, it is not necessary that the “decision
statement” or “pre-stated position” follow verbatim the position upon which it is
based.
Officers
MEMBERSHIP NOTES
We are sorry to announce the passing of
League member, Joan Policano. Joan spent
her life educating young adults. She was also
an active participant in the Democratic Party.
Our condolences to her family and friends.
REMINDER
If you have not renewed your membership,
please consider doing so. We depend on
membership dues to carry out our programs
and activities and to support both the National and State Leagues.
Leadership Team
Joan Durant
Joan Johnson
Secretary…
Treasurer….
Diane Dwire
Roberta Millert
Directors
Education
Membership …
Publications/Public Relations…
Voter Service…
Directors-at-large
If you have misplaced your membership renewal letter, you can use the form on the last
page of this newsletter to submit your dues.
Thank you to all who have renewed their
membership.
A Celebration of Rae Rohfeld’s Life
In July Charles Trabold.
hosted a picnic in memory
of his late wife, Rae
Rohfeld. It was attended by
many of Rae’s neighbors,
friends and former coworkers. League friends
who attended included
Joan Johnson, Mary Lou
Green, Lenore Rapalski
and Joan Durant pictured.
Rae was an active member of the Syracuse community and the League. The event had been planned
originally to mark Rae’s 80th birthday.
We all miss Rae and her commitment to the League.
Margrit Diehl
Sylvia Matousek
Joan Johnson
Joan Durant
Mary Ann Barth
Harold Bertram
Michele Jones Galvin
Ann Jamison
Hasoni Pratts
Off-Board Positions
Budget Director….
Nominating Committee…..
Vacant
Lisa Alford
Ona Bregman
Diane Chappell-Daly
Technical Support…
Roberta Millert
The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political organization encourages the informed and active participation of
citizens in government and influences public policy through
education and advocacy. For more information please call
the League office at (315) 396-8225 or e-mail to
[email protected]
Diversity Statement
The Syracuse Metropolitan League of Women Voters is committed to diversity and pluralism, which means there shall be
no barriers to participation in any League activity on the basis of age, race, ethnicity, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, economic status, or national origin.
Please let us know your email address or if your address has
changed. It is the most efficient way to communicate .
You will be notified of upcoming local events and LWVUS
and LWVNY National & State Action Alerts and news.
Your e-mail address will not be shared or
sold. Please respond to [email protected] if there
has been a change on how we can contact you.
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!
!
!
Election Day is only days away. With all the debates and media coverage of presidential candidates you would
think we are electing a president this year. That not being the case, there are many important local elections happening across the country and in our own community. The people you elect in a local election year determine
many of the services you receive – streets and roads that are paved and plowed, adequate water and sewer services, libraries and parks that meet your expectations, and the list goes on. Most importantly they determine how
much it will cost you for these services you expect from local government.
Offices to be filled this November include many county, city, and town positions. We will elect a Supreme
Court Judge. There is also a race for the 128th Assembly District. Citizens in the village of Camillus will elect a
mayor and village trustee. Candidates for these offices are asking for the job of representing you. The decisions
they will make in office will influence public policy for years to come.
Unfortunately voter turnout is expected to be low. Statistics show that in the last two local election years (2013
and 2011) only about 25% of eligible voters went to the polls. In comparison roughly 70% of citizens turn out to
vote in a presidential year.
Learn what the candidates stand for by reading their information that will come in the mail; ask them where they
stand on the issues when they ring your door bell; and visit our online voter’s guide, Vote411.org to learn where
many of these candidates stand on the issues.
Rooted in the movement that secured women the right to vote, the League of Women Voters has always been
committed to registering, educating and turning out voters. As we approach our 100th anniversary we hope you
are planning to participate in your local elections and we hope you encourage others to do so as well.
Making Democracy Work,
Joan Durant
Joan Johnson
CALENDAR
Tuesday, November 3, 2015
Polls open 6:00 am– 9:00pm
Election Day
Thursday, November 12, 2015, 11:30am-2:00pm
CNY Philanthropy Center, 430 East Fayette St, Syracuse 13204
Concurrence Meeting on Raise the Age
Saturday, November 14, 2015, 9:30am
Dunkin Donuts, 1909 Teal Av, Syracuse 13206
LWVSYR Board Meeting
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NEW YORK HEALTH
ASSEMBLY BILL A5062 (GOTTFRIED)/SENATE BILL S3525 (PERKINS)
This bill would create a universal single payer health
plan– New York Health– to provide comprehensive
health coverage for all New Yorkers.
Eligibility, Benefits:
Every New York resident would be eligible to enroll
regardless of age, income, wealth, employment, or other
status.
There would be no premium, deductibles, or co-pays.
Coverage would be publicly funded (see next column).
The benefits will include comprehensive outpatient and
inpatient medical care, primary and preventive care,
prescription drugs, laboratory tests, rehabilitative, dental, vision, hearing, mental health etc.– all benefits required by current state insurance law or provided by the
state public employee package, Family Health Plus,
Child Health Plus, Medicare, or Medicaid, and others
added by the plan.
Everyone would choose a primary care practitioner or other
provider to provide care coordination– helping to get the
care and follow-up the patient
needs, referrals, and navigating
the system. But there would be
no “gatekeeper” obstacles to
care.
A broadly representative Board
of Trustees will advise the
Commissioner of Health.
Long term-care coverage is not included at the start, but
the bill requires that the Board develop a plan for it
within five years of passage.
Payments to Health Care Providers:
Health care providers, including those providing care
coordination, would be paid in full by New York
Health, with no co-pays or other charges to patients.
The plan would develop alternative payment methods to
replace old-style fee-for-service (which rewards volume
but not quality), and would negotiate rates with health
care provider organizations. (Fee-for-service would continue until new methods are phased in.)
Funding:
Health care would no longer be paid for by insurance
companies charging a regressive “tax” - premiums, deductibles and co-pays– imposed regardless of ability to
pay.
Instead, New York Health would be paid for by assessments based on ability to pay, through a progressively
graduated state payroll tax (paid 80% by employers and
20% by employees, and 100% by self-employed) and a
surcharge on other income.
Federal funds now received for Medicare, Medicaid, Family Health Plus and Child Health Plus would be combined
with the state revenue in a New York Health Trust Fund.
The “local share” of Medicaid funding– a major burden
on local property taxes– would be ended.
Private Insurance:
Private insurance that duplicates benefits offered under
New York Health could not be offered to New York residents. (Existing retiree coverage would be phased out and
replaced with New York Health.)
Federal Funding and Waivers:
For the system to work most effectively, New York would
seek federal waivers that will allow New York Health to
completely fold in Medicare, Medicaid, Family Health
Plus, Child Health Plus, ACA benefits, and any other federally funded program.
The League of Women Voters of NYS believes every New
Yorker should have access to basic physical and mental health
care that is both affordable and accessible.
The Affordable Care Act has insured numbers of uninsured
Americans but there are still many who are not insured. A
single payer system is the best approach to access and equality
in health care.
Our thanks to LWVNYS Healthcare Specialists Madeline
Zevon and Anne Burton for providing local leagues with information on the issue.
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NEWS FROM LWVNYS
2016 Legislative Agenda
Now is the time for our local League to have input on
state League advocacy in Albany. Last year the state
board introduced a new Legislative Agenda document for distribution: a booklet with more information on each of the main issues that we monitor. With
this new approach, we believe that members, the
public and legislators are able to see the full breadth
of issues (rather than the few listed on the former
Legislative Agenda brochure) that we are monitoring, even if we don’t expect to accomplish all of
these during this session.
The state board still needs and wants your input on
our lobbying priorities. Locally we are asking our
members to submit your suggestions and concerns on
the issues you would like to see the state League
lobby on this coming legislative session. The Syracuse Board will compile your responses and send
them on to Albany. The State Issue Specialists will
consider them and make recommendations to the
LWVNYS Board. Please help us by submitting your
priorities by email at [email protected] or snail
mail at Syracuse Metro LWV, PO Box 11866, Syracuse NY 13218. Any questions, please let me know.
Joan Johnson
Co-leader
Advocacy Training Day
Tuesday, April 26, 2016
This year the State League will combine its annual advocacy training day with an actual lobby day. The
schedule calls for plans to hear presentations from our
Issue Specialists in the morning, lunch for networking,
and then visits with our own legislators to lobby our
League priority issues.
Mark you calendar and watch for more
info on the day.
Transportation Issues
A significant bill to change how
transit infrastructure and operations is
funded by NYS was introduced in
June, 2015, by Senator DeFrancisco
(Syracuse) and Assemblyman Brennan
(Brooklyn), bill S5967/A8242. The major feature
of the bill, “Transit/Transportation Investment
Legislation”, offers a steady and increasing stream
of revenue for the capital needs of transit and
transportation infrastructure. The source of this
revenue is a small percentage of the NYS personal
income tax.
The bill will not in any way change the personal
income tax rate. Rather, a small portion of the
existing tax revenues would be redistributed to the
transportation systems all across the state, for use in
transit and transportation agencies. Revenue would
stay in the area where generated, i.e., downstate
revenues would benefit the MTA and its suburbs;
upstate revenues would benefit transit agencies and
the DOT.
The bill has a handful of co-sponsors in each
house. The Senate version now sits in the Finance
committee; the Assembly version sits at Ways and
Means. This bill will be in the stack of legislation
that greets the Legislature in January. What can we
do now to move this bill forward? The best way is
to convince our legislators across the state to be cosponsors. At the Buffalo/Niagara LWV, we have
succeeded with two legislators and are happy that
one of our senators was an original sponsor.
To view the legislation, go to: http://
open.nysenate.gov/legislation/bill/A8242-2015.
More info on this bill is available at New York
Public Transit Association (NYPTA) website,
nytransit.com.
Gladys Gifford,
LWVNY
Transportation Specialist
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Electronic Voters Guide is Now Live!
The League of Women Voters of the Syracuse Metro Area is pleased to announce that its electronic voters
guide, through Vote411.org, is now live with information on the candidates in the Nov. 3 general election.
All candidates for Onondaga County and the City of Syracuse were invited to participate in our online guide.
The 128th State Assembly District candidates are also included. Candidates for local town races are not a part
of the guide. To learn more about the candidates in your specific town, contact the Board of Elections or
County and Town Political Party Chairs.
VOTE411.org is a "one-stop-shop" for election-related information, providing nonpartisan information to
the public with specific information on the following aspects of the election process:
An electronic voters guide with information provided by candidates
Absentee ballot information
Ballot proposition information (where applicable)
Election dates
ID requirements
Military and Overseas Voting
Polling place locations
Registration deadlines
Voter qualifications
Voter registration forms
Voting machines
People can enter their address to view the races that they will be voting on in November. Candidates for each
of the races are listed and information about the candidates, if provided by the candidates, is available. Candidates who have not submitted their information are listed with “Candidate has not responded.”
It can be accessed online at www.vote411.org or through the League’s website at www.lwvsyr.org in an
easy-to-use electronic format. Citizens can compare candidate information and print a customized sample
ballot prior to election day.
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VOTER SERVICE— ACTIVITIES
On September 22nd, National Registration Day, the Syracuse LWV
registered students at Onondaga Community College. Thanks goes
to Joan Durant, Diane Dwire (pictured at right) & Harold Bertram for helping out.
On October 9th the League co-hosted the Syracuse Commissioners of
Education Forum at Huntington School. The event was sponsored by Parents
for Public Schools. Thanks to Peggy Chase
for acting as time keeper. Other League
Members were there to register voters.
Left to right: Mary Anne Barth, Peggy Chase,
Margrit Diehl, Liz Stack.
The 8 candidates for city schools discussed many issues and showed a deep
commitment to the challenges facing teachers, parents and children in the
city schools.
Left to right: Latoya Allen, Ray Blackwell, Caleb Duncan, Mark Muhammad,
Rita Paniagua, Dan Romeo, Max Ruckdeschel, and Katie Sojewicz
The forum was moderated by WSTM Channel 3 News Anchor, Laura Hand.
The Syracuse League continues to register new citizens at Naturalization Ceremonies
each month at both federal and county court locations. We are always looking for
volunteers to help us out. Please contact the League by phone 315-396-8225 or by
email at [email protected] to learn more about participating in these ceremonies.
Please remember the Syracuse Metro LWV is partnering with the New York Alliance
For Donation, Inc. whenever we register voters.
HOW YOU CAN SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE SYRACUSE METRO LWV
$________ LWVSYR gifts support our local general operation fund (non-tax deductible)
$________ LWVNYS Education Foundation gifts (tax deductible) Simply note on your check that you are
donating to the Syracuse LWV and your donation will be held in our local league grants
management account to support our educational programs.
Name _______________________________________ Address________________________________________
City ____________________ State _____ Zip ___________ Phone _____________ Email _______________
Please mail your check to Syracuse Metro LWV, PO Box 11866, Syracuse NY 13218 Thank you.
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LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS
SYRACUSE METROPOLITAN AREA
PO BOX 11866
SYRACUSE NY 13218
October/November 2015
MAKING DEMOCRACY WORK FOR 95 YEARS
_____ Individual Member $55.00 _____ Household* $80.00
_____ Student** $25.00
Name ___________________________________________________________________________
Address_________________________________________________________________________
City______________________________ State______________ Zip________________________
Phone________________ Cell Phone_________________ E-mail_________________________
Date ___________________________
To join call us at (315)396-8225, email us at [email protected] or mail this form to
Syracuse Metro LWV PO Box 11866 Syracuse NY 13218.
* Two members in the same household
ANNUAL DUES—July 1, 2015-June 30, 2016
** Full time student under 25
I am unable to join right now but would like to send a contribution to the Syracuse Metro LWV. See how your
contribution can help us “Make Democracy Work “ See page 7 for details on how you can contribute. Thank You!
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