News from the League of Women Voters of New Rochelle

News from the League of Women
Voters of New Rochelle
LWV ANNUAL MEETING ON JUNE 2nd
Please join us at the Annual Meeting of the New Rochelle League of Women
voters, which will once again be held at Ground Floor Co-Working at 547
North Avenue (one block north of City Hall) at 6pm. The gathering will be
a wonderful time to greet old friends and new members, as well as elected
officials. There will be a short business meeting to approve next year’s
proposed budget, slate of candidates and the list of Study and Action Items.
Wine, soft drinks, and “small plates” representing a little Taste of New Rochelle
will be served.
The Honorable Kathie Davidson
Ground Floor Co-Working
This year’s guest presenter is the Honorable Kathie E. Davidson, who has
served as the Supervising Judge of the Family Courts for the Ninth Judicial
District (Westchester County) since 2004. Judge Davidson supervises the
Family Court Judges, Support Magistrates, Court Attorney Referees and Court
Staff. In addition, she is an acting justice of the Supreme Court 9th Judicial
District. Davidson, a New Rochellean, was re-elected to the Westchester
County Family Court on November 5, 2013 for a term expiring in 2023.
All members are urged to attend this important event, free for them, and
to bring non-member friends who are asked to provide a $10 donation.
LWV CANDIDATES FORUM A SUCCESS
On Monday, May 9th, candidates for three New Rochelle Public Library Board
of Trustees seats and two New Rochelle Board of Education positions
introduced themselves and answered questions from the public at a
Candidates Forum sponsored by the League at the New Rochelle Public
Library’s Ossie Davis Auditorium.
All three candidates for vacancies on the library Board of Trustees were on
hand to introduce themselves and to speak about their experience and goals
for the Library. Candidates included an incumbent running for reelection,
Gregory T. Varian, and two incumbents appointed to fill out unexpired terms,
Deirdre Gray Clark and Yadira Ramos-Herbert. They will fill one full five-year
term, an unexpired three-year term and an unexpired one-year term,
depending on the number of votes received by each candidate.
Rachel Relkin, Vincent Malfetano, Todd Kern, and James O’Toole
All four candidates for two vacancies for a five-year term on the School Board
also answered questions from the audience and those prepared by the
League. Incumbent Rachel Relkin, Todd Kern (who won the two seats),
Vincent J. Malfetano, and James O’Toole, touched on issues ranging from the
$106,479,575.00 capital project bond to application of “least restrictive
environment” placement for those children with special needs.
The forum was replayed on Cablevision Channel 77 and Fios Channel 30 until
the May 17th election. A summary information sheet of all seven candidates
was made available at the forum and on the recently-launched New Rochelle
League website (http://www.lwvnewro.org) and Facebook page
(https://www.facebook.com/LeagueOfWomenVotersOfNewRochelle).
MUNICIPAL HOUSING ELECTION
The New Rochelle League supervised the NR Municipal Housing Authority
Election for seats as tenant representatives on its advisory council on May 3rd
from noon to 9pm. Many thanks to members Peter Korn, Pearl Quarles, Joan
Alexander, Ina Aronow, Cindy Kahn, John Hessel, Pat Carter, Leslie Mignault,
Monica Grey and Leona Newman for their service. Special thanks goes out to
Ina Aronow, who organized the event. This was an election that reinforced our
belief that every vote counts: with three candidates running for two seats, the
winners were separated by a single vote from each other, and by only two
votes from the loser!
VOTER REGISTRATION
Voter Services volunteers, under the leadership of Joan Alexander and Amy
Weiser, have been busy registering voters in April and May at Iona Prep, Iona
College, The College of New Rochelle, and Monroe College. They’ve also been
at the New Rochelle Public Library’s “Big Book Sale” on the first Saturday of
each month, and at Hope Community Services Food Pantry and Soup Kitchen.
League volunteers were also at the Re-Entry Resource Fair on April 22 at
Grace Baptist Church to register people who had been released from
incarceration and were eligible to vote.
Joan Alexander notes that future plans include being at The Grand Market on
the first Saturday of each month until November, the New Rochelle Street Fair,
Hope Community Services Food Pantry and Soup Kitchen, and the local
colleges. The League also hands out special information booklets for new
voters in English and Spanish, and for those who are homeless.
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Registration at Iona Prep
COFFEE AND CONVERSATION
Coffee and Conversation is an ongoing series of informal public gatherings
sponsored by the League of Women Voter with guests discussing public
issues. On April 15th, Coffee and Conversation was honored to have State
Senator Andrea Cousins meet with members of the New Rochelle community
at the New Rochelle Public Library. She talked about her background growing
up in public housing in Yonkers, and living through the Yonkers desegregation
process. Now the Democratic leader of the Assembly, Ms. Stewart Cousins
discussed her frustration with trying to open up budget negotiations beyond
“the three men in the room”. She did say, however, that the State ended up
with a “pretty good budget” that included minimum wage increases, dropping
of the Gap Elimination Adjustment, and inclusion of paid family leave.
Ms. Stewart Cousins also took time to discuss her concern for the treatment of
veterans, especially with the rise of heroin and opiate abuse. She noted that
female veterans are often overlooked. She also took time at the end to listen
to and answer questions from the audience.
Meeting with Andrea Stewart Cousins
Professor Jeanne Zaino
On May 20th, Jeanne Zaino, PhD, Professor of Political Science at Iona College
and frequent commentator on political and electoral issues, was the guest at
Coffee and Conversation. She discussed the state of the Presidential elections
on the eve of the party conventions, and answered questions from attendees.
Dr. Zaino has served as chair of the Political Science Department, director of
the Honors Program, and interim dean of the School and Arts and Science at
Iona College. She has been published and quoted in national and local print
media and has been a frequent guest on national and local radio and
television. She was the featured speaker last year at the New Rochelle
League’s Annual Meeting, during which she spoke to an engaged audience
about the damaging efforts to limit those who can vote around the country.
Meeting with Jeanne Zaino
LEAGUE WELCOMES NEW CITIZENS
On May 11th, which was also Law Day in Westchester County, the New
Rochelle League of Women Voters represented the LWV in Naturalization
Count. Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, three presiding judges,
and two members of the Westchester Bar Association addressed our newest
citizens and their families. LWV member Louise Kuklis was given a chance to
describe the activities of the League to those assembled. She later welcomed
all the new citizens, distributed information about their rights as citizens, and
encouraged them all to register to vote that day. Each local League is asked to
attend the Naturalization Court proceedings twice a year, and volunteers find
it moving and inspirational.
LEAGUE SENDING NRHS STUDENT TO ALBANY
Each May, the NY State League of Women Voters puts on a special program,
“Students Inside Albany.” This conference is an intensive, four-day training
experience designed to immerse students in the process by which public
policy is proposed, enacted, and changed in New York State, and to educate
students on how they can influence and affect this process. Albany insiders
discuss the operations of state government, including how policy is shaped.
Students develop knowledge of the disparate forces that influence policy
development. In addition, students are given the opportunity to shadow
Assembly members and Senators and to observe Assembly and Senate
sessions in action.
Students Inside Albany
Emely Celine Munroe
This year, our New Rochelle League is sponsoring New Rochelle High School
student Emely Celine Munroe, a graduating senior. Emely will be attending
Binghamton University in September and majoring in Political Science. She
reports that she is “extremely thrilled to be attending the Students in Albany
Conference since politics is my passion, and grateful for this amazing
opportunity to begin my career.” The New Rochelle League thanks NRHS
teacher Debbie Minchin for her help in selecting this year’s candidate.
NEW ROCHELLE LWV CABLE PROGRAMS
“City People and Issues,” a cable television program sponsored by the League
of Women Voters of New Rochelle, is offering two new interview programs,
broadcast on Cablevision Channel 76 on Mondays at 7 PM, Wednesdays at 9
PM, Thursdays at 9:30 PM and, soon, on-demand. These feature Cindy
Kanusher, Executive Director of the Pace Women’s Justice Center, and Gary
Stern, Engagement and Exchange Editor for The Journal News/LOHUD.com
Kanusher explains how women can get a range of legal help from the Justice
Center on such issues as domestic violence and elder abuse. Haina JustMichael is the host. This program will be shown the weeks of May 16 and 30.
Stern discusses the revolutionary changes in delivering news and information
as Gannett Newspapers has evolved from a group of local community
newspapers into a regional media company focusing on lohud.com and other
social media. Ina Aronow is the host. It will be shown the weeks of May 30
and June 6.
After being shown at least once on Cablevision, the programs will go on
demand at Vimeo.com.
Interviews that are on demand now include:
Dr. Brian Osborne, Superintendent, New Rochelle School District,
www.vimeo.com/162744046
New Rochelle Community Police Officers, www.vimeo.com/162751909
County Legislator Catherine Parker, www.vimeo.com/159338213
Author Dennis Nardone, www.vimeo.com/159343453
New Rochelle Mayor Noam Bramson, www.vimeo.com/153050481
Arleen Zuckerman, New Rochelle Cares: Aging in Place,
www.vimeo.com/153850717
LWV Westchester leaders, www.vimeo.com/152005404
New Rochelle City Manager Charles Strome, www.vimeo.com/151950226.
State Senator George Latimer, update on state issues www.vimeo/148778131.
HOPE Community Services, www.vimeo/com148787475.
Deborah Minchin, social studies teacher, New Rochelle High School, finalist in the
NYS Teacher of the Year competition, www.vimeo.com/143621059
Tracy Kay, executive director, Westchester Children’s
Museum, www.vimeo.com/134232823
Theresa Kump Leghorn, president, New Rochelle, Council on the Arts,
www.vimeo.com/133698495
Councilman Jared Rice on My Brother’s Keeper in New Rochelle,
www.vimeo.com/130761968
ROXBURY FARM OPENS NEW ROCHELLE SITE
Roxbury Farm CSA is partnering with Hope
Community Services to offer shares in their 2016
harvest to people in lower Westchester.
Members pre-pay the farmers for their share,
then pick up a selection of seasonal organic
vegetables at Hope Community Services Food
Pantry every Thursday afternoon from June
through November. Fruit and meat shares, and
winter root boxes, are also available. The Farm makes a significant weekly
donation of produce to Hope’s Soup Kitchen. For more information or to sign
up for the 2016 season, go to www.roxburyfarm.com or call 518-758-8558.
UPCOMING EVENTS
May 22-25: New Rochelle League sending NRHS student Emely Munroe to
Student Inside Albany Program
June 2: Westchester County League Annual Convention at the Scarsdale
Woman’s Club. Lunch and Speaker at 12:30 pm. Speaker is Michael Walman,
President of NYU Center for Justice. Cost $40. Please contact
[email protected] for more information.
June 2, 6 PM: LWV New Rochelle Annual Meeting at Ground Floor CoWorking, 547 North Ave., NR. “Cocktails & Conversation”
DUES GOING UP JULY 1st
At its May meeting, the LWVNR Board accepted a proposal to increase dues as
of July 1, 2016 primarily to cover our fair-share payments to the National,
New York State, and Westchester Leagues. These payments total $54.00 for
individuals and $81.00 for households annually. Our local dues ($50
individual, $75 family) have not been raised for many years and no longer
cover these obligations. The NR Board’s proposal, which must be approved by
the membership in attendance at the Annual Meeting, sets dues at $60.00 for
individuals and $85.00 for households. Members can still pay the old rate if
they send in their checks before July 1, 2016.
The League depends on the work and financial support of all of its members to
carry outs its programs. Please fill out and mail the coupon in this issue with
your check to the League of Women Voters of New Rochelle to join or
renew membership. In doing so, you will also become a member of the county,
state, and national Leagues with access to members-only online resources.
Donations to the LWV Educational Foundation are tax deductible and help
underwrite the costs for activities such as sending a student to participate in
the Students Inside Albany program, printing and distribution of the Voter
Guides, dissemination of printed pamphlets on voting rights, and more.
MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION
LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF NEW ROCHELLE
NAME ______________________________________________________________________
ADDRESS __________________________________________________________________
CITY, STATE, ZIP
______________________________________________________________________________
TELEPHONE ______________ EMAIL _______________________________________
____ Individual $50/$60
____ Household* $75/$85
*Additional Household Member Name ____________________________________________
Email______________________________
____ New Membership
_____ Renewal
____ I would like to support the League with a tax-deductible contribution
(payable to LWV Education Foundation)
_____ $100.00
_____ $50.00
_____ $ Other
Return this application with membership check made payable to LWVNR
to
THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF NEW ROCHELLE
46 LONG VUE
NEW ROCHELLE, NEW YORK 10804
Remember to get your check in before July 1, 2016 for the lower price!