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Dear Friends,
It is the time of the year for hope and light and when dozens of religious and secular celebrations occur across the world. It is also the darkest month of the year, and we enter it at a time of unprecedented domestic and international strife. Perhaps this year’s gift is to recall that good people accomplished remarkable things this year. Maya Angelou said, “Pick up the battle and make it a better world. Just where you are.” Do not let media noise diminish the battles won this year.
Moms for Liberty candidates were roundly defeated across the nation. Reproductive choice was successfully defended in yet another state. Amid bad news about voting rights, the Supreme Court rejected the Independent State Legislative Theory. Alabama, after being ordered twice to redraw legislative maps, now has one that ensures better representation. History was made when Rhode Island elected its first Black congressman and several cities elected the first person of color, many of them women, as mayors. Virginia voters opted for balanced power and elected their first transgender state senator. The economy is historically strong, and real wages have increased for the first time since the pandemic.
In Illinois, a first-in-the-nation initiative was enacted that prohibits book banning. Sixteen-year-olds will be able to pre-register to vote. With a deposit of $11.5 million dollars this month, Illinois’ Rainy Day fund exceeds $2 billion dollars. In 2017 the fund had just $48,000.
Legislation was passed that protects women who use reproductive health care in Illinois from out-of-state subpoenas and shields the licenses of providers. Assault rifles were banned. The SAFE-T Act was upheld by the Illinois Supreme Court and went into effect in September, eliminating cash bail. The Invest in Kids Act will sunset at the end of December, keeping more revenue in the state’s coffers for stronger, more equitable public school funding.
Locally, the League has revitalized its Civic Engagement series: Second Tuesday and Drinks and Dialogue. The Observers Corps has three volunteers attending and reporting on municipal councils and boards. Forest Park, Oak Park, and River Forest adopted ordinances requiring restaurants to ask customers if disposable utensils are needed, and two of the three villages will ban polystyrene beginning in January. The Environmental Committee promoted plastic-free July at the Oak Park Farmers Market. The Voter Services committee participated in the Civic Service Fair at OPRF High School and moderated five successful, well-attended candidate forums for Oak Park and Forest Park. The Advocacy Committee conducted fruitful interviews with local legislators and helped organize the successful effort to end the Invest in Kids Act.
The coming year will be a busy one for the League with our regular business, our LWV OPRF Centennial Celebration on October 24, 2024, and with what will likely be the most important presidential election in our nation’s history. Congratulations to each of you who helped win this year’s battles, both big and small. Now let’s be ready, from wherever you are, to win a decisive battle for democracy in 2024.
Wishing you the gifts of gratitude, grace, and joy this December. Remember that somewhere this month a child, perhaps one newly settled in our community, will look out a window and see snow for the first time. Happy December!
Peace,
Jane
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