THE LEAG UE OF WO MEN VO TERS OF EAST NASSAU www.lwvofeastnassau.org info@lwvofeastnassau.org At local, state and national levels the League works to influence public policy through education and advocacy. March 2018 SAVE THE DATE Wednesday, March 7 3:30 pm LWVEN Business Meeting Sunday, March 18 2:00 pm LWVNC Women s History Month Luncheon, Verdi s, Westbury See right column. Tuesday, March 20 1:15 pm Vote18 Training. See page 3. Wednesday, March 21 3:30 pm LWVEN Women s History Month Meeting. See right column Wednesday, April 4 7:30 pm LWVEN Business Meeting Thursday, April 12 7:00 pm Candidate Forum for AD 17 East Meadow Library. See page 8 Tuesday, April 24 Special Election for Assembly District 17 (East Meadow area) Wednesday, April 25 7:30 pm Topic: The Constitution & the Bill of Rights Speaker from Nassau County Bar Association All members are welcome to attend business meetings as well as general meetings. If planning to do so, please call 516-221-1948 to assure that the time and/or place has not been changed. Unless otherwise indicated, LWVEN meetings are held at the Levittown Library. In this Issue p. 2 LWVNYS Regional Training Workshops, Lobby Day p. 3 Vote18, Moderators, Tech. Security, Early Voting p. 4 State Ethics & Voting Reform, Wasted Food, Welcome New & Returning Members p. 5 & 6 Ads, Membership Form, Keeping Connected p. 7 & 8 Gov t Transparency p. 8 Candidate Forum, AD 17 March is Women s History Month! In recognition of Women s History Month, the League of Women Voters of East Nassau has invited Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas to speak about the role of women in Nassau County Government, as well as the job of the District Attorney s office. Wednesday, March 21, 2017 at 3:30 pm at the Levittown Public Library, The meeting is being co-sponsored by the League and the Library. Ms. Singas is the 15 th elected DA of Nassau County, and the 2 nd female DA. She serves as the county s independently-elected chief law enforcement officer, ultimately responsible for all criminal and minor offense prosecutions that occur within Nassau s various courts, as well as appeals to higher state and federal courts. There will be a question and answer period following Ms. Singas presentation. Members of the community are invited to attend. For additional information contact Barbara Epstein: epsteinb1@gmail.com or 516-221-1948. The LWV of Nassau County in Recognition of Women s History Month has invited you to a Buffet Luncheon Sunday, March 18, 2018, from 2:00 to 5:00 P.M. Verdi s of Westbury, 680 Old Country Road, Westbury, $60/person Keynote Speaker: Natalie A. Naylor, Professor Emerita, Hofstra University Honorees: Laura Curran, Nassau County Executive; Laura Gillen, Supervisor, Town of Hempstead; Maureen O Connell, Nassau County Clerk; Andrea C. Phoenix, Presiding Judge, Nassau County Mental Health Court Invitations were sent to all League members in the county. If you did not receive your invitation, please contact Paula: paulablum@hotmail.com or 516-785-3213 or use the tear-off form on page 8 of the February VOTER to register for the event. We look forward to seeing everyone there. The LWV of Nassau County is an Inter-League Organization (ILO) comprised of the five local Leagues in the county.
League of Women Voters of NYS Regional Training Meetings March April 2018 The League of Women Voters of NYS invites all members to come to training workshops being held throughout the state on Saturdays from 10:00-3:00 in March and April. All members are invited to attend any or all of the workshops. All local Leagues board members are strongly encouraged to attend at least part of the day. Lunch will be provided and will allow for informal networking among the attendees. There is a $20 charge to cover other expenses. Name: League: Email: Phone: Position on local League Board, if Board member: I will attend (directions will be provided with confirmation of registration): March 17, Capital Region (Unitarian Church of Schenectady, 1221 Wendall Ave, Schenectady, NY 12308) March 24, Westchester Area (Mamaroneck Public Library, 136 Prospect Ave, Mamaroneck, NY 10543) April 7, Cortland Area (CNY Living History Museum, 4386 US-11, Cortland, NY 13045) April 14, Rochester Area (Rush Henrietta Senior High School, 1799 Lehigh Station Rd, Henrietta, NY 14467) Tentative Workshop Topics Moderating Candidate Forums Creatively Managing Your Local League Getting your Members Active on Issues Motivating Voters to Vote Engaging Youth in Our Democracy Social Media & Apps for Engaging New Members and the Public Becoming a Player in Your Community: Observer Corps, Hot Topics & Collaboration Raising Funds & Having Fun Making the Most of Voter Service Activities Civic Education & Engagement for Students & Communities Send completed form and $20 check payable to LWVNYS to: League of Women Voters of NYS, 62 Grand St, Albany, NY 12207 or register with credit card, by fax 518-465-0812 or by phone 518-465-4162, or email Meg@lwvny.org Please call Barbara Epstein: 516-221-1948, if you register for the Westchester program. We would like to carpool if possible. Advocacy Training and Lobby Day The state League s annual Advocacy Training and Lobby Day has been scheduled for April 24 th in the NYS Museum in Albany. We are assured that time will be reserved for attendees to have time to view the special exhibit on the history of women s suffrage which is currently on exhibit at the museum. All members are welcome to attend. Come learn about our state advocacy agenda, hear directly from the Issue Specialists about our expected action for the 2018 Legislative Session and lobby your own legislators in their Albany offices. 2
Vote18 Training Judie Gorenstein, Voter Service VP, LWVNYS, will demonstrate and provide training in the Vote18 Program. This special program has been used in many schools in Suffolk County and elsewhere around the country for encouraging high school students to register and to vote. If you are interested in assisting students to register, please join us at 1:15 pm on Tuesday March 20, 2018, at the home of Barbara Epstein, 142 Tardy Lane South, Wantagh, 221-1948, epsteinb1@gmail.com. RSVP by Thursday March 15 th. The program takes about 90 minutes. For those who are unable to attend on March 20, Judie has agreed to present it during the lunch break at the March 24 th Regional Training Workshop at the Mamaroneck Public Library. See page 2 for more information on the Regional Training Workshop. Laptop, Smartphone and Tablet Security According to Consumer Reports, it is essential for anyone who owns these devices to protect them by setting good passwords or pins. In an article in its November 2016 issue, it stated: Any lost devices without a screen lock is an unprotected gateway for thieves, who may be able to access your email, banking, and social accounts, changing passwords and taking control of your digital life. The screen lock PIN should have at least six digits, and should be unique, but not too personal. Among the number combinations that should never be used are: the last four digits of your social security number, your birthdate, or your phone number. (Editor s note: I have suggested to several people that one convenient pin or password would be all or part of their childhood phone number. It is something that all of us seem to remember easily, yet is no longer known by anyone else [except perhaps a sibling].) Moderators Needed Local Leagues sponsor many candidate forums for legislators during the month or two before the November elections each year. Sometimes, other groups do so as well, and they often request League moderators. Many PTAs that sponsor school board candidate meetings also request League moderators. More moderators are needed in order to adequately fulfill these requests. A training session for those interested in being moderators is scheduled for March 3, from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon, at the Port Washington Library. Jane Thomas, Judy Jacobson and Nancy Rosenthal will provide the training. Judie Gorenstein, LWVNYS Voter Service Director will attend. Please contact Jane Thomas: jane.thomas107@gmail.com if you plan to attend. If you are interested in moderating, but are unable to attend on March 3, please let Barbara know: 221-1948. The Nassau County ILO might be doing another training workshop, and/or we can schedule a local training session for our East Nassau members. Lobbying for Early Voting New York is one of just 13 states that do not allow early voting. In January, lawmakers and activists from all across the state traveled to Albany to let our NYS legislators know that by not allowing early voting, our state is falling behind the rest of the country. Early voting will increase voter turnout and alleviate stress for people who work long or irregular hours, and for those who require flexibility to accommodate their busy schedules. New York should stop making it difficult for its citizens to vote. From February 15 th through February 25 th, Leaguers all over NYS were busy meeting with their state Senators and Assemblymembers in their district offices to urge them to vote for early voting legislation. The current proposed legislation would allow early inperson voting for 12 days before Election Day, with one voting location per 50,000 voters in each county. If you were not one of the members who went to visit a legislator, you can still make our position known. Send an email or a letter to your state Senator or Assemblymember, and tell him or her that you support early voting. 3
State of the State Ethics and Voting Reform Proposals Missed the Mark Jennifer Wilson, LWVNYS, January 2018 For the last two years, Governor Cuomo has included ethics, campaign finance, and voting reform proposals in his State of the State address. Once again the Governor has laid out these reforms, but this year he didn t spend nearly as much time or effort touting the proposals. Instead, his ethics proposal was limited to a single proposal, banning outside income for state legislators. He spent less than a minute discussing his remaining reforms. The Governor has proposed closing the LLC loophole, instituting public financing for state legislators, early voting, no-excuse absentee voting, same day registration, and automatic voter registration. The League is supportive of all of these reforms, but we fear that the Governor s quick, one minute coverage of the proposals may be a sign that he is reluctant to use his political muscle to pass these initiatives. We continue to push for funding in the state budget for early voting and automatic voter registration and we hope that the Governor will continue to recognize the importance of this funding. We believe that this year the public is demanding ethics and voting reforms and we hope that, even with the brief mention of these proposals, Governor Cuomo is truly committed to securing passage of these proposals. The Average Household Throws Away $640 of Food Each Year By Susan Wilson Here are some ways to reduce that number. Be Choosy About Buying In Bulk While it makes sense to buy some household items like paper products in bulk refrain from buying perishables unless you can use them within a reasonable length of time. Oils, including olive oil, have a limited shelf life and can easily turn rancid. Spices lose their flavor within a year, so it is smarter to buy smaller quantities. Eliminate Leftovers Some families just will not eat leftovers, and tossing leftovers accounts for a large amount of food that goes to waste. If this occurs in your family, learn to cook less or cook enough protein for 2 meals and turn each half into 2 completely different meals. Use Common Sense With Expiration Dates Since food labeling is confusing, many of us err on the side of caution, wasting millions of dollars of food in the process. Since there's no universal standard for labeling products, reconciling the various terminologies can be next to impossible. After all, what's the real difference between the Sell by" date and the "Use by" date? And then there's the "best before" date, which is even more ambiguous. These labels are food manufacturers recommendations for peak freshness and taste rather than indicators of food safety or health concerns. As a general rule, most foods can be consumed days, weeks or even months past the dates printed. Just use common sense. If the product looks, smells or tastes funny, chuck it. Sources: well.blogs.nytimes.com, GreenLivingtips.com, RealSimple.com, SeafoodHealthfacts.org Welcome New and Returning Members Elizabeth Gardiner Plainview Mary Gould Levittown Marilyn Hametz Massapequa Jean Kaiser Levittown Michele Manno Baldwin Lise & Allen Mayer Plainview Erin King Sweeney Wantagh 4
Please patronize our advertisers. Their ads help to defray the cost of distribution and printing. Hirsch Electric FOR HOME AND SECURITY MIKE HIRSCH Licensed Master Electrician 84 Victor St. Plainview, N.Y. 516-822-5044 Since 1987 (516) 795-8325 590 B R O A D W A Y MASSAPEQUA, NY 11758 Be sure to attend LWVNC s Women s History Luncheon March 18, 2018 TSG FINANCIAL INSURANCE FINANCIAL SERVICES BENEFITS Benjamin R. Chafitz bchafitz@tsgfin.com w w w. t s g f i n. c o m Cosmetic, Implants, Restorative Root Canal and Family Dentistry 516.336.5991 1325 Franklin Avenue Suite 540 Garden City, NY 11530 2565 Beverly Road Merrick, NY 11566 Tel: 516-378-8600 stevenmlevydmd@gmail.com WWW.M E R R IC K D E N T IS T R Y.C O M 3728 Park Avenue, Wantagh, NY 516-826-5555 Worldgym.com/wantagh Glenn-Scott Landscaping Save-On Sprinklers savonsprinklers.com glennscottland@aol.com 2285 Bedford Ave. Bellmore NY 11710 516-826-2815 516-781-0535 fax-516-826-1120 Members: Ask your favorite professional or retail store to take this ad space. Name: Membership/Contribution Form Yes, I want to support the LWV s work in citizen education and advocacy. membership dues $ 5 Individual Membership $80H ousehold Membership (2 or more) $30 (Full-time) Student Membership $75 Supporting Membership Tel: Address: Email Address: Areas of interest: Enclosed is my (our) check payable to LWV of East Nassau for contribution Please clip & send with your check to: Barbara Josepher LWVEN Treasurer 339 Cold Spring Road Syosset, NY 11791 Total: 5
The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages informed and active participation of citizens in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy. N EW Y OR K STATE SEN ATE LEGISLATIVE OFFICE BUILDING ROOM 513 ALBANY, NEW YORK 12247 (518) 455-2765 (518) 426-6925 1 SCHOOL STREET, SUITE 303B GLEN COVE, NEW YORK 11542 (516) 676-0050 FAX: (516) 676-0071 8 TH SENATE DISTRICT SENATOR JOHN E. BROOKS E-MAIL: BROOKS@NYSENATE.GOV DISTRICT OFFICE 5550 MERRICK ROAD, SUITE 205 MASSAPEQUA, NEW YORK 11758 TEL: (516) 882-0630 FAX: (516) 882-0636 M ICHAEL A. M ROOM 437 LEGISLATIVE OFFICE BUILDING ALBANY, NEW YORK 12248 TELEPHONE: 518-455-4684 FAX: 518-455-5477 NEW YO RK STATE ASSEM BLY CHARLES D. LAVINE MEMBER OF ASSEMBLY 13TH DISTRICT E-MAIL: LAVINEC@ASSEMBLY.STATE.NY.US ASSEMBLYMAN 15 THDISTRICT ONTESANO 111 LEVITTOWN PARKWAY HICKSVILLE, NY 11801 TELEPHONE: 516-937-3571 FAX: 516-937-3632 E-mail: montesanom@assembly.state.ny.us ROOM 441 LEGISLATIVEOFFICE BUILDING ALBANY, NEW YORK 12248 (518) 455-5456 FAX: (518) 455-5467 MARCH IS WOMEN S HISTORY MONTH N EW Y OR K STATE SEN ATE LEGISLATIVE OFFICE BUILDING ALBANY, NY 12247 (518) 455 2390 e-mail: marcelli@nysenate.gov SENATOR CARL L. MARCELLINO FIFTH SENATE DISTRICT 250 TOWNSEND SQUARE OYSTER BAY, NY 11771 (516) 922-1811 FAX (516) 922-1154 NASSAU COUNTY LEGISLATURE ROSE MARIE WALKER NASSAUCOUNTY LEGISLATOR DISTRICT 17 (516) 571-6217 FAX: (516) 571-6277 E-MAIL: rmwalker@nassaucountyny.gov 1550 FRANKLIN AVENUE MINEOLA, NY 11501 Y our Invitation to the W om en s H istory Luncheon sponsored by the LW V of N assau C ounty Inter-League O rganization (ILO ) is in the m ail. W e hope you w ill join us for this biennial event. (516) 571-2660 Fax: (516) 752-4099 MAUREEN O CONNELL, RN, JD OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLE RK NASSAU COUNTY CLERK 240 OLD COUNTRY ROAD MINEOLA, N.Y. 11501 Www.nassaucountyny.gov/agencies/clerk/ LWVUS & LWVUS Education Fund 1730 M St. NW, Ste. 1000 Washington DC 20036 www.lwv.org lwv@lwv.org KEEPING CONNECTED LWV of Nassau County PO Box 221 Port Washington NY 11050 516-431-1628 www.lwvofnassaucounty.org info@lwvofnassaucounty.org LWVNYS & LWVNYS Education Foundation 62 Grand Street, Albany NY 12207 518-465-4162 www.lwvny.org lwvny@lwvny.org 6
State Government Transparency Checklist We speak often of the need for transparency in government. Many feel that if there were true transparency, there would not be as serious a problem as currently exists regarding the Citizens United decision and its aftermath. But, do we know what true transparency would include? Below is what the website of Ballotpedia contends would be required for a state to be judged to be transparent. How close does our state come to meeting these criteria? Budget All budgets, current and historic, available online All appropriations bills posted online at least one week before a vote Graphs showing spending and revenue over time Check register must include: 1. The amount of the payment 2. Date 3. Check number 4. To whom the payment was made (including the address) 5. What it was for 6. Budgetary authority for the expenditure 7. Functional expenditure category 8. Sources of funds 9. Links to the relevant contracts under which the payment was made Usability Consistent use of website domains Searchable Present the information to the user in a clear and concise way. Websites written in "plain English" instead of legal jargon Consistent and easy-to-understand user interface, especially in regard to how the website is navigated and content is organized Does not require tedious plug-in downloads Elected officials Contact information for all elected officials Terms of office and date of next election Voting record Voter registration (Party Affiliation) Conflict of interest Committee appointments Administrative officials Contact information for all appointed and elected administrators Terms of office Governing boards and bylaws for agencies Voter registration Conflicts of interest agreement Ethics Must have an ethics commission and guidelines for ethical behavior of officials Process for reporting ethics violations available on website Investigations and results of investigations posted Audits (Financial/Performance) Regular audits of state agencies and departments, including the Governor and the Assembly Audit results posted online Scheduled financial audits posted online Performance audits for state programs Continued on page 8. 7
Continued from page 7. Contracts Rules governing contracts posted online Bids and contracts for purchases over $10,000 posted online Vendor campaign contributions posted with contract Lobbying/Advocacy Disclosure of state-paid lobbying activity Database of registered lobbyists Agency lobbying contracts posted online All grants given to nonprofit organizations with reason for the grant and a contact in the organization responsible for oversight FOIA FOIA contact for every state agency/department in one central location Department/Agency FOIA officer posted on Department homepage Annual compliance survey performed measuring the number of FOIAs submitted, number fulfilled, average time for compliance and reasons for denials Taxes Central location for all tax information, including state "fees" such as drivers' licenses Tax documents for all elected officials Each agency discloses all sources of revenue Candidate Forum The League of Women Voters of East Nassau, in co-sponsorship with the East Meadow Public Library, has scheduled a Candidate Forum for Assembly District 17, prior to the Special Election on Tuesday, April 24, 2018. Candidates: John K. Mikulin (Rep.) Matt Malin (Dem.) Where: East Meadow Library, 1886 Front Street, East Meadow When: Thursday, April 12, 2018, 7:00 pm If you live in or around the East Meadow area, and do not know if you are in Assembly District 17, call the Board of Elections: 571-2411 or 571-VOTE (8683) to find out. If you are in the 17 th AD, please come to meet the candidates, hear what they have to say and get your questions answered. Then you can cast an informed vote on Tuesday, April 24 th. Polls will be open from 6:00 am to 9:00 pm. (Note: Both candidates may also be on additional party lines on the ballot.) The League of Women Voters of East Nassau www.lwvofeastnassau.org, info@lwvofeastnassau.org Management Team: Barbara Epstein, Barbara Josepher, Norma Schaeffer, Peggy Stein Editor: Paula Blum, paulablum@hotmail.com Circulation: Mary Price Advertising: Barbara Levine 8