Educating Voters. Defending Democracy.

The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.

The Voter

January, 2024

President's Letter

January is Time for Program Planning

To achieve great things, two things are needed: a plan, and not quite enough time.

--Leonard Bernstein

While so many people are engaged (or enraged) by national and international politics, this January it’s time for our League to focus on local issues, where we can have such a great impact. You’re invited to participate in our annual program planning process to shape that impact. Please sign up for one of the three meeting times as detailed below, Then use the time until we meet to consider… What are the local issues you want our League to work on this year? 

• We have an active caucus group studying housing. Can we commit to taking more steps to address issues such as the effects of displacement on renters? 
• Another caucus is forming to work on issues of climate change. With coastline on the San Francisco Bay and on the Pacific Ocean susceptible to rising sea levels and erosion, plus extensive areas of human/wilderness interface and forests that are vulnerable to intense fires, our county has unique concerns among Bay Area counties in how to mitigate the effects of climate change.
• Some of our members have expressed a desire to see improvements made to campaign finance at the local level. Can we commit to studying this issue in the coming year? 
• What about the effectiveness of the many special districts that raise and spend tax dollars – how can we ensure that they are as effective as possible?
• Last year we agreed to focus on reforming the redistricting process for our county. What more can we do in 2024? What opportunities will we find to move our government to be more representative, more efficient, and more open?

Whatever issues light you up, be sure to attend one of the program planning sessions and speak up. (And be sure to read Mia Clapham’s rousing “call to arms,” below, for one example of how League training and experience can turn into real-world advocacy in our own towns.)

Margaret Lukens, president

Get with the Program (Planning)

What issues would you like to see the National League of Women Voters prioritize the next two years? Do we already have a position on them, or is this something we need to study? Where should we put our energy and activism? Come and join a discussion that will inform our League’s input to the National League agenda for two years to come. 

Here’s how it works: As a grassroots organization, the League sets our agenda through an annual Program Planning process: 

• Members help choose League priorities. 
• All League action, advocacy, and education efforts are based on League positions and League principles. 
• Action in support of League positions may only take place where there is member agreement and understanding.  

We will have three Program Planning sessions this year; two in-person meetings, with the third on Zoom. These stand-alone meetings cover the same material, so please register for just one:

1. Saturday morning, January 20, 10 am to 11:30 a.m. at Kathee Tyson’s home – 401 Bridgeport Drive in Half Moon Bay. Click here to sign up. 
2. Saturday afternoon, January 20, 2 to 3:30 p.m. at Linda Jansen’s home – 809 Lawrence Road in San Mateo Click here to sign up. 
3. Tuesday afternoon, January 23, 12 to 1:30 pm via Zoom. Register here. 

See you there!

Linda Jansen and Kathee Tyson, Program Planning

What’s your “why” when it comes to climate change?

Join us for the Climate Change Caucus Kickoff. This first meeting* will be held via Zoom on Wednesday, January 17, 5-6 p.m.

We will share data, then we want to hear from you: What's your "why" when it comes to climate change? 

Together, we will get informed and explore local needs, advocacy, and how to partner with groups in San Mateo County working to mitigate the effects of the Climate Crisis. 

Come join us. Get informed, and change the future.

*Can’t do the kickoff? No worries. We plan to have multiple formats and times in the future.

Tina Doede and Gail Wheeler

Volunteer Opportunity:

Join the Budget Committee

Working with our treasurer Nicole Niederer, our Budget Committee prepares the annual budget for members to adopt at our June annual meeting. The committee does its work over four months, from January to the end of April. If you find finances interesting, or if you’ve always wanted to learn more about how our League sustains itself and pays for our activities, contact Margaret Lukens at president@lwvncsmc.org to see if the Budget Committee is the right place for you this year.

Nicole Niederer, treasurer, and Margaret Lukens, president

Harness the Power of Your Voice

As an active league member and participant in our housing caucus, I've learned the value of speaking up for what I believe in. I reflected on this notion when I decided to comment publicly as a private citizen to support an affordable housing development in my community. 

840 San Bruno Ave will be a 100% affordable development containing 341 homes for our residents, the first of its kind in San Bruno in over 10 years, and it is desperately needed. According to state housing laws, the development meets the requirements for ministerial approval; however, it still had to go before the planning commission for official sign-off. 

Speaking in front of neighbors who may not support your position can be intimidating, but the more you use your voice, the stronger it gets. I gathered my thoughts and courage at the podium and spoke from the heart. It felt so satisfying to support this project, and why it will mean so much to our residents who otherwise may face displacement.

Often, our officials only hear from one side of a position and not from those on the other side, which can give them a skewed perspective of what the larger community wants. Using your voice, you can help adjust their view for the benefit of your community, whether it's related to housing or another critical issue you care about. 

Mia Clapham

New (& Not So New)

Member Orientation

Thursday, January 11, 7–8 p.m. via Zoom

or

Saturday, January 13, 10–11 a.m.

Plus optional social hour, 11 a.m.–11:30 a.m.

at our office

444 Peninsula Avenue, Suite 1

(email tina.doede@lwvncsmc.org to RSVP)

Welcome to our new members! Please join us for new member orientation to:

•    Learn about the League and find answers to your questions
•    Meet other League members
•    Discover how you can get involved

Whether you’re a new member or have been a member for a while and would like to reconnect, everyone is welcome. Prospective members are also welcome, so bring a friend.

Tina Doede, Membership Chair

“Welcome to California” photo credit: Tobias Müller (Twam), www.twam.info, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

Help us make a strong Voter Service team for a big election year

2024 is a General Election year, so the Voter Service team has lots to do. For starters, the California Primary Election is March 5th, with ballots to be mailed the first week in February! 

To support this Q1 Primary Election our League will focus on tabling events in our communities, to provide voter registration and important education about voting logistics. 

The General Election season in the fall will be even busier with candidate forums, ballot proposition education, and you guessed it, more tabling events. 

We invite you to kick off the year by attending one of our two Voter Service Open Houses:

• In Person: Saturday, January 13 at 11:30 a.m. at the League office - just after the New & Not-so-New Membership orientation, so you could do both. To sign up for the in-person meeting, email us at voterservice@lwvncsmc.org
• via Zoom: Wednesday, January 17th at 7:00 p.m.

Kathy and I will give a short presentation about all 2024 Voter Service activities and opportunities. Then we’ll answer questions and discuss your interests in serving the League and San Mateo County voters. 



We will also support you throughout the year with regular team meetings. In these sessions, we will offer more detailed training so you feel confident performing Voter Service activities and representing the League. 

Email us at voterservice@lwvncsmc.org with any questions or to tell us in advance about your interests. 

Margie Gater

Kathy Wheeler

Voter Service Co-chairs

Housing Caucus Update

Register here for our next Housing Caucus meeting on Monday, January 15 at 5 p.m. (via Zoom). Join us as we continue our discussions on:

• Ask an Expert Series: Brainstorm on inviting other housing-related experts to our Caucus meetings, after our successful “Ask a Housing Advocate” event.
• LWVNCSMC Annual Housing event, Spring 2024: Continue to flesh out our possible event highlighting the advocacy work of impacted communities.
• Project Homekey: Updates on possible new site in Millbrae.
• Teacher Housing: Learn more about Cabrillo Unified School District’s possible bond measure to build teacher housing on excess school land.

If you are new to our Caucus, please watch our April 11, 2023, General Meeting, Affordable Housing in San Mateo County: Behind the Numbers, to better understand some of the challenges and roadblocks our cities face, as they plan to reach the State's target of 48,000 new housing units--nearly 20,000 of which should be affordable--by 2031.

We meet monthly, on the third Monday at 5 p.m. Next month's meeting will be on February 19.



Elana Lieberman, co-chair, Housing Caucus

Alerts from the League - Your Action Can Make a Difference



Ask your representatives to enshrine equality in the Constitution.

In December, the League commemorated the 100th anniversary of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). The ERA will enshrine equality of rights under the law regardless of sex in the Constitution. It has met all ratification requirements but has yet to be added to the Constitution, leaving more than half the population unprotected from discrimination.

A congressional resolution affirming the validity of the ERA as part of the Constitution is now before Congress: 

• In April 2023, the Senate voted in support of this resolution with a bipartisan majority, but it fell short of the 60-vote threshold to overcome a filibuster. 
• The Senate can reconsider the resolution, and the House can bring it to the floor, but we need your help to tell Congress that we demand equality now.
• Click here to tell your elected officials that equality belongs in the Constitution.

Edith Jones, Advocacy and Action

The Wednesday Caucus

Wednesday, January 31, 10-11 a.m.

This informal meeting is all about conversation and camaraderie. Ask questions, share what you're working on, and gather inspiration.

All are welcome. Register here.

Welcome to Our New Member

Barbara Cohen

Mark Your Calendar

We have a new phone number. You can now contact us at 650.229.8384.

Stay informed

Stay informed with updates and alerts from your state and national Leagues. Use these links to register:

• For California League updates, sent monthly: LWVC    
• For national League updates, sent twice a month: LWVUS (scroll to the bottom of the page to sign up for e-mail updates).
• Subscribe to Bay Area Monitor Notes here

Keep an eye on our website, https://www.lwvncsmc.org, for the latest on upcoming events.

Join the League

We love having new members join us and help with the important work we are doing. Click here to join online or print out a mail-in form. Scholarships are available for new members. Please contact us at membership@lwvncsmc.org.