CLIMATE CHANGE COMMITTEE

August 31, 2019

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA CLIMATE CHANGE FORUM – SEPTEMBER 14, 2019

Through the efforts of a special subcommittee on sea level rise, the Marin League Climate Change Committee is moving forward in its work with the California League’s Climate Change Task Force in drafting framework for two state-wide bills that will address issues around sea level rise. One bill will focus on development; the other one infrastructure. Currently underway are efforts to seek input at the legislative level and engage other League chapters working on this issue for input, support and recruiting additional legislators.

This effort will be part of the activities of Nancy Bell and Kiki LaPorta when they attend the League’s Northern California Climate Change Forum on September 14 in Sacramento, at which time Kiki will present the sub-committee’s progress.

We look forward to making valuable contacts at the Climate Change Forum and look forward to reporting back in the next Voter issue.

Thank you to Diz Swift, Program Director of the Califor-nia League’s Climate Change Task Force, who is playing an integral role in guiding us through this process.

Nancy Bell, Climate Change Committee

NOVATO COHORT UPDATE

August 31, 2019

Our Novato members took some personal time this summer, like most of our general membership, but did engage in a few activities: attended a Congressional Town Hall, met before and then attended Novato City Council meetings, assisted with high school student voter registration, and started plans to partner with Soroptimists Novato for a City Council Candidates Forum in September or October.

Our Cohort is simply a group of Marin LWV members who focus on issues important to Novato residents. Members who live in, near or even far from Novato are welcome to join us.

Contact Robin Diederich at RKDiederich@gmail.com if you would like information about the Cohort.

Board Briefs

August 25, 2019

At the Board Retreat   on August 14:

  • Reviewed non-partisan policy for Board members

  • Discussed Total Board Responsibility

  • Planned calendar for next year

  • Reviewed process for decisions to take action

  • Appointed Sue Ream to the Executive Committee

  • Voted to support San Anselmo parks parcel tax   

Lift for English Learners College of Marin

June 29, 2019

The Education Foundation of the League of Women Voters of Marin County supports the work and mission of our League. It also undertakes special projects that underscore our League’s goals, most often in education.

The last two years the Education Foundation has conducted a spring campaign, titled “A Lift for English Learners”. Our original goal was to provide help to recent immigrant students at College of Marin in its excellent English as a Second Language program. Last year we raised $3,000, matched with $3,000 from the assets of the Education Foundation. This spring we did better: $3,610, with matching funds of $3,000 for a total grant to College of Marin of $6,610. This grant provides a free Golden Gate transit card for 600 ESL students each semester.

NOTICE TO VOTERS – WHAT’S NEW FOR THE NOVEMBER 5 ELECTION

June 29, 2019

NEW AND SAFER VOTING EQUIPMENT TO DEBUT IN THE NOVEMBER 5, 2019 ELECTION:

To comply with the California Secretary of State’s directive for new and safer voting equipment, the Marin County Elections Department has received authorization from the Marin County Board of Supervisors to pur-chase a new voting system that includes accessible marking devices for voters with physical disabilities (as required by law), back-up paper ballots and central ballot tabulation equipment. This new equipment will de-but at the November 2019 election.

CENTRAL BALLOT TABULATION:

Considering that the majority of Marin’s voters vote by mail (over 75%), and to use the County’s financial re-sources accordingly, effective with the November, 2019 election, ballot tabulators will not be deployed to the polls. Instead, voters will deposit their polling place ballot directly into a locked ballot box at the polls. After the polls close, all voted polling ballots will be transported from the polls and receiving centers to the Elec-tions Department at the Civic Center, and fed through high speed scanners to be counted centrally on elec-tion night, instead of at the polls during the day.

Since the ballots are being counted after the polls close, the results from the polls will be available later on Election night. Counting is expected to be completed by midnight. As in the past, results of early vote-by-mail ballots will be available immediately after 8PM on Election night.

THE SCHEDULE

November 5, 2019 - local election for cities (city councils for Novato, Larkspur, Fairfax and San Anselmo) (note: the last day for submission of local ballot measures for the November, 2019 election is August 9, 2019)
March 3, 2020 - Presidential Primary Election
November 3, 2020 - Presidential General Election

The Census shapes California's Future

June 19, 2019

The Voters FIRST Act gave this power to California citizens ensuring that new and fair political boundaries are drawn without special interests, politics and political influence.

Every ten years, after the federal census, California must re-establish the boundaries of its Congressional, State Senate, State Assembly, and State Board of Equalization districts to reflect new population data and shifting populations.

California citizens who are eligible may submit an online application to the California State Auditor’s Office during the initial 60-day application period from June 10, 2019, to August 9, 2019.

Learn more and how you can apply to participate.

Rosie Rios, 43rd Treasurer of the United States speaks at League Event

May 7, 2019

Listen to the talk delivered to our members and guests at our April 18th Gala Event. The evening speaker was Rosie Rios, 43rd US Treasurer under President Obama. 

Her presentation, “Inspirations & Aspirations, Using History to Influence our Future”, comes at a time when more women than ever are using the power of their voices to influence our future; however, there are still many barriers of stereotypes and un-conscious biases to overcome. 

CHARTER SCHOOLS TO BE DISCUSSED AT THE UP- COMING LWVC CONVENTION

May 3, 2019

Our Education/Libraries Committee recently learned that the Fresno League has developed a position on charter schools that they plan to submit to the con-vention delegation for consideration and concur-rence. Since this proposed position was not available during the Program Planning period, it will come for-ward as a non-recommended item and will require 3/5 approval for adoption.

The position grew out of a study that the Fresno League conducted on charter schools in the Fresno School District during 2016-2017. The study noted a number of concerns, including ”insufficient transpar-ency and accountability, significantly low achieve-ment in a number of instances, financial data that did not yield complete information, and state regulations that appear not to be uniformly enforced.”

The Fresno League’s recommendations to address these concerns are reflected in the proposed charter school position. Among these, the position states that Education Code regulations on the authorization and oversight of charter schools to be clear and enforced and that reporting requirements related to financial and academic data should be the same for charter schools as for other public schools. Additionally, the position calls for authorization and oversight of char-ter schools by local districts in the communities where the schools and their students reside.

In preparation for the convention, we will be discuss-ing the Fresno League’s charter school concurrence position at our next Education/Libraries Committee meeting on May 16 at 9:45 in the League office. You are welcome to join us.

Concurrence Position Full Report

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