THE VOTER
Making Democracy Work
      Aug/S ept 2016 -Volume 69, Issue No.1

In This Issue
Quick Links

League of Women Voters

San Jose / Santa Clara

P. O. Box 5374
San Jose, California 95150 

President's Message
Mary Collins
 Mary Collins  President,  LWV SJSC

Welcome to a new year with League of Women Voters San Jose/Santa Clara. I am honored to be your president this year and hope to meet many of you at events throughout the year.

The board and I met in July and set our priorities for this coming year.
First among them this fall is acting in this vitally important election season. We will continue our League's heritage of supporting the right to vote for all eligible voters through our registration efforts.

At the same time, we provide unbiased and accurate information to ensure an educated and engaged electorate reaches the polls (or absentee ballot), through forums on candidates, presentations on the innumerable ballot issues, and use of CreaTV community broadcasting. Voter's Edge (formerly Smart Voter) allows the voter to determine the issues facing him/her and learn about candidates in federal, state, and local elections.

We are striving to respond to the many requests from the community for information on how to register and vote, and information on issues and candidates. From the variety and number of requests, it is evident that League is viewed as the authoritative voice on fair elections and reliable voting information.

Voter Service chair Sandy Mory is scheduling many forums on candidates and issues.To fulfill the requests coming to us, we are training new members to participate. We invite you to join us in this effort in this historic year. Whatever level of action you choose is valued and appreciated.

Contact me, Mary Collins, or Voter Service chair Sandy Mory  to learn about the opportunities.

Other priorities include broadening membership and monitoring and supporting advocacy issues, particularly housing, transportation, and climate change.

Again, thank you for your continued support as we begin a very important year.

Mary

Lunch with League - Thursday, September 22
Guest Speaker, Barbara Keegan, Santa Clara Valley Water District
We hope you had a great summer. We're starting a new season of Lunch with League; please come and bring friends. Our first luncheon will be at the Fish Market on Blossom Hill Road in south San Jose on Thursday, September 22nd at 11:45am. 

Our speaker for this event is Barbara Keegan, Director and Board Chair of the Santa Clara Valley Water District. Ms. Keegan is a third generation civil engineer, born in Canada to Irish immigrant parents. Barbara has lived in several countries and came to California as a young girl. She is a graduate of San Jose State University holding both Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Civil Engineering and is a licensed civil engineer.

Barbara's professional background includes 19 years with the City of San Jose's Public Works Department where she rose to the position of Division Manager. She became the City Engineer/Assistant Director of Public Works for the City of Sunnyvale. The past two years have been spent with the Water District.

In addition to serving on the board of the Water District, Barbara also serves on the North Willow Glen Neighborhood Association and the San Jose Arena Authority. She will share with us information on the on-going drought and related issues. We look forward to hearing her views on this critical topic.

We will be meeting at:
Thursday, September 22, 11:45am
 The cost is $21 per person.

You may choose from the following delicious menu items:
1)  Albacore Tuna Melt with your choice of fruit, cucumber salad or fries
2) Market Burger with crisp bacon and cheddar cheese, & choice of fruit, cucumber salad or fries
3)  Liteaters Plate with Fresh Pacific Rockfish
4)  Caesar Salad with Bay Shrimp

Please let us know of any food allergies.

Cost for lunch is $21.00 per person  which includes your choice of coffee, iced tea or soft drink, tax and tip.  Check in will start at 11:45am. Please come prepared to pay cash. (No shows may be charged for their lunch.)

RSVP to Paula by Mon day, September 19th to LwL@lwvsjsc.org.

See you on September 22nd,
Paula Radzinski

Membership
Welcome to our newest members:

Karen Schuler, Maureen Wheatley
 
    Thank you to the following members for their donations to the League:

   Curtis Jones, Carol & Jim Lathrop, Maureen Ryan, Judy Stabile

             

ACTION - Affordable Housing
By Judy Chamberlin, Action Chair
As we head into a new year of League work, we have re-affirmed priorities for our SJ/SC group: affordable housing, transportation, and climate change.
 
May 13-20, 2015 was proclaimed by San Jose as Affordable Housing Week. Co-sponsored with SV@Home, an umbrella organization drawing together organizations interested in affordable housing, many symposiums, brainstorm sessions, videos, and tours were offered. Marie Arnold, Judy Chamberlin, and Trudy LaFrance went on a bus tour of 24 of the hundreds of projects the San Jose housing department interacts with. We learned there are many approaches: apartments built for that purpose, affordable units included in market-rate buildings, low-cost loans or down-payment assistance for home ownership, rent stabilization for older units. Some affordable housing projects are focused on seniors, veterans or mentally ill, with appropriate services nearby. 
 
The good news is that we have recently seen the the need for affordable housing being addressed in different ways by the state, the county, and the city of San Jose. Last spring San Jose tightened its Apartment Rent Ordinance for stabilizing rent increases. Acknowledging that there is no one solution to affordable housing, SV@Home supports looking into different avenues to increasing housing supply, for example, considering changing requirements for secondary, or "granny" units. 
 
At the county-level, our league recently reviewed the upcoming November Measure A ballot measure for a county bond in support of affordable housing. Based on League positions, we join with four other local leagues in supporting this measure. 
 
Our work is built on a state LWV position: support action at all levels of government for the provision of affordable housing for all Californians. This fall the Action Team will be monitoring affordable housing issues in the area, particularly in the city of San Jose, and invites your participation as we attend meetings, write letters, lobby our councilmembers, and go on record as supporting affordable housing. If you believe, as we do, that this is an important issue, please join our team. Contact Judy Chamberlin, Action Chair. 

Climate Change - New LWV SJ/SC Action Policy
By Rita Norton, Climate Change Chair
The LWV has a long-term commitment to advocating policies that improve the environment. Now with recognition that climate change is the major threat to communities and and the globe's natural environment, our local members have collated and consolidated the relevant climate change-related adopted positions and assembled them as a unified position, which enables us to speak on behalf of prospective legislation that address these issues. Read our Climate Change Action Policy  HERE .

We appreciate and recognize the efforts of our local Climate Change Committee members who are responsible for this contribution: Virginia Holtz, Cecilie Schulze, Liz Bogatin-Starr, Gloria Chun Hoo, Leslie Hallenbeck, Nancy Ianni, and Rita Norton. 
 
The Climate Change Committee welcomes new members - those who have some experience in these matters and those who want to learn -- and become engaged in advocating for solutions.
 
Please contact Rita Norton for more information.

VOTE WITH LEAGUE!!!
LWV California Recommends Ballot Measures for November 8 General Election
Vote with the League!  View our recommendations on the November 8 ballot measures. Share this flyer ( download flyer here ) with your family and friends. See more at: Ballot recommendations .

Visit Voter's Edge California for more on the funding of these measures: Voter's Edge.

FIND YOUR BALLOT - Get the Facts Before You Vote 
Voter's Edge California: Smart Voter update, new and improved!
Valley Politics for CREATV Forum: District 2, District 6, District 8
September 29, 6:30-8:30pm, City Hall Council Chambers
The forum for each district (D2, D6 ,D8) will be 20 minutes in length and will be filmed for broadcast on CreaTV's Valley Politics throughout the month of October. The September 29th forum is open to the public. Recordings will be available on CreaTV's website and YouTube Channel. Moderated by T erry Christensen.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR INVOLVEMENT
Action, Events, Voter Education
ACTION COMMITTEE - Be part of the Action team. Join League members and meet with California elected officials, observe City Council meetings, engage in League advocacy.  Contact  Judy Chamberlin
 
VOTER SERVICE  
Are you looking for a way to be involved in this political season?  We are involved in Candidate Forums, in doing Pro/Con Presentations and in Voter Registration. For Candidate Forums we need people to be greeters and question gatherers, timers, question sorters and moderators. Training and support will be provided. Our Pro/Con teams are under way and we always need more people.
Please contact Sandy Mory if you would like to join in with Voter Service!

YES on A for Affordable Housing
The Leagues of Women Voters of Santa Clara County

The Leagues of Women Voters of Santa Clara County has endorsed the county Affordable Housing Bond measure.

This November, Santa Clara County voters will have the opportunity to make history by voting YES on A for Affordable Housing, a $950 million ballot measure that will create thousands of new affordable homes for hardworking families and vulnerable communities across Santa Clara County.
Read the press release HERE.

You're invited to a fun, spirited Campaign Kick-off for the YES on A for Affordable Housing Campaign! Music, photobooth, piƱatas, opportunities to get involved, and more!
 
Featuring: Honorary Committee Co-Chairs Cindy Chavez and Dave Cortese.
Learn what the campaign is up to and how YOU can get involved to make a difference for our community.


When: Monday, August 29 right after work, 5pm, official kick-off, 6pm
Where: Elks Lodge in Santa Clara (1680 Martin Ave)
Why: Because we CAN drive more affordable housing opportunities across Santa Clara County for our hardworking families and most vulnerable communities!
 
Attendance is free, but we do ask that you  RSVP!

Bill Status Reports
League of Women Voters California
Based on our positions, League of Women Voters California (LWVC) periodically reviews bills before the California State Legislature and makes recommendations.
  
2016-2017
Bill Status Report: Bills on which the LWVC has taken a position and recommends action.
 
Need help with legislative terms? Try this useful glossary .

LWV Presents: Insights and Perspectives
Comcast Channel 30, Monday nights at 7:30pm, Comcast guide lists re-broadcasts
The best way to describe Channel 30 is TV "by the community for the community." Channel 30 airs non-commercial, member-produced videos that educate, express views, and expose talents to the San Jose community and beyond. 
Maryann Haggerty_ VP LWVSJSC
Maryann Haggerty, VP, LWV SJSC Rosaleen Zisch 

Schedule of Airings in August/September:

Sun, Aug 28, 6am, 4:30pm; Mon, Aug 29, 12:30am
Rosaleen Zisch interviews Maryann Haggerty, Vice President, LWV SJSC and expert on civics, about 2016 elections and the history of voting in the US.   VIDEO

Mon, Sept 5, 7:30pm; Sept 19, 7:30pm
Gloria Chun Hoo interviews Carl Guardino, CEO of Silicon Valley Leadership Group, on Santa Clara County
Measure B, Transportation. 

Helen Hutchison_ President_ LWVC
Helen Hutchison, President LWVC Gloria Chun Hoo
Mon, Sept 12, 7:30pm
Rosaleen Zisch interviews Jennifer Loving, Executive Director, Destination: Home and Dave Cortese, President of the SCC  Board of Supervisors on Measure A, Affordable Housing. 

Recent recorded broadcasts:
Gloria Chun Hoo interviews Helen Hutchison, President, LWV California on League priorities, voter registration, voting rights, and governance. VIDEO
  

Rosaleen Zisch interviews Elizabeth Leslie about Voter's
Edge California, a one-stop shop for voting information,
Elizabeth Leslie_ LWVC
Elizabeth Leslie, LWVC
Rosaleen Zisch
federal, state, and local candidates, and ballot measures.  VIDEO
      


CREATV CHANNEL 30 Live Streaming from your computer
Watch CREATV Channel 30 shows on your
computer with an internet connection. 



LWV SJSC Board 2016-17; Members Volunteer at Registrar of Voters

Board 2016-17
LWV SJSC Board 2016-17

Members ROV Primary 16
Members Volunteer at Registar of Voters for June Primary
(L-R) Carol Lathrop, Roma Dawson, Pat Reardon, Maryann Haggerty (VP), Judy Chamberlin, Martha Beattie (Treasurer), Mary Collins (President), Marie Arnold, Sandy Mory, Nancy Ianni, Carol Watts, Liz Bogatin-Starr, (Leslie Hallenbeck (Secretary); Rita Norton, not pictured)


HAPPY 96TH Birthday to the 19th Amendment
August 26, 2016

The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.
Making Democracy Work!
League turns 96
19th Amendment turns 96.
To see Slide Show, Click on photo above.


Calendar
Information on many of these events is available in this newsletter. See our  website calendar  for current listings and more information.  If you'd like more information but don't have web access, contact the League at (408) 271-7163.

September 8 Last Day to Order Easy Voter Guide
September 22 Lunch with League, Fish Market, Blossom Hill Rd.
September 29 Valley Politics for CreaTV, Forum for D2, D6, D8
October 24 Last Day to Register to Vote
November 8 General Election

Address / Email Change
To keep our records current please send any changes to your address, email address, or phone number, to our Dues Secretary, Sandy Remmers.  The only updates she receives are on the renewal form which is only sent once a year.
 
The Voter
Submissions due the 20th of the month
The LWVSJ/SC Voter is distributed monthly.  Article deadline is the 20th of the month.  If you have questions or comments, contact Liz Bogatin-Starr, the Voter Editor.

Join Our League
Visit our website to join and donate to our League.
 
 Like us on Facebook
 

  Democracy is not a spectator sport!  Educate!  Advocate!