Social Policy

Social Policy

Secure equal rights and equal opportunity for all. Promote social and economic justice and the health and safety of all Americans.

Stop Gun Violence red text on black background with gun covered in chain and lock
News

After several Listen and Learn sessions, the Gun Violence Prevention and Safety committee met to brainstorm next steps for the committee. The discussion included a summary of what we're already doing as well as what we could do on our own as well as to augment other efforts in the community. Want to get involved with the League's efforts? Contact committee chair Gwendolyn Saffo.

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Action Alerts

Today the city commission voted unanimously to allow the voters to decide on the governance of our local utility, GRU. They voted in favor of an ordinance that will allow a ballot referendum on November 5, 2024, on which voters can choose whether to have our utility governed by governor appointees or by local officials. The League stands firmly on the side of home rule for GRU. The state does not belong in our city charter or governance of our city. League leadership will be devising a public campaign to inform the public about the options and to encourage a “yes” vote on the referendum. Here are the asks for today’s Action Alert...

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Action Alerts

The first of two required readings of an ordinance to repeal Article 7 in the city charter, which created the GRU Authority, happened at the city commission meeting on May 16 at 1:00pm, in City Hall. All seven commissioners voted in favor of putting a referendum on the general election ballot. Unanimous! The vote required a supermajority, so at least six commissioners had to vote in favor. Getting all seven votes was due to the work of a collaborative group including our league, the Alachua County Labor Coalition, the Sierra Club, unions, the NAACP and GRU customers...

Janice holding sunflower
Blog Post

Dear Members,
Let’s call May “Motivation Month.” (I love alliteration!) There’s a lot to motivate us in May, both sticks and carrots. Let’s start with carrots.

On May 23 at 6 p.m. we will be having our Annual Meeting for the first time since COVID. Hurrah! We’ll get to chat and catch up, enjoy a tasty dinner and have our business meeting. It will be fun and gratifying to see the marvelous people who do the good work of the League and welcome new members and leadership. Can you tell I’m excited?...

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News

The Affordable Care Act (ACA), passed into law in 2010, was designed to improve the health of Americans. A key strategy in the law is improving access to health care which, in America, means providing affordable high quality health insurance. Florida Medicaid eligibility is limited to specific populations like pregnant women and children, but the ACA offers the opportunity to expand Medicaid to low-income adults. Florida is one of only 10 states that has not expanded Medicaid, so it should not be surprising that it ranked 47th in the percentage of residents with insurance and 48th in the nation for access to care. This paper presents a summary of just a few of the many studies describing the reasons Florida should expand Medicaid.

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Event Date: 
05/18/2024 - 10:00am to 12:00pm

Join Yes on 4 and LWV as we work to end government interference with abortion!

Red Gun Violence text with white Prevention and Safety text on black to gray background with red circle around a hand on the left
Event Date: 
05/21/2024 - 6:30pm

LWVAC's new Gun Violence Prevention & Safety Committee will meet by Zoom on the third Tuesday of each month.

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Event Date: 
05/14/2024 - 7:00pm
Event location: 

Oak Hammock

This Oak Hammock Committee Meeting will include an update on Florida's Gun Laws, featuring Gwendolyn Saffo, LWVAC VP and chair of the LWVAC Gun Violence Prevention and Safety Committee and Rebecca Darnell, Legislative Lead for Moms Demand Action A

Health Care Committee in white text on a blue rectangle with geometric shapes in a variety of blue colors in the far background
Event Date: 
05/13/2024 - 4:00pm
Event location: 

Oak Hammock

Our Health Care Committee, co-chaired by Barbara Frentzen and Kim Walsh-Childers, is hosting its next meeting in person at Oak Hammock. Join the team to help plan upcoming actions and events. Everyone is welcome!

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Action Alerts

Welcome, community! If you did not read the Action Alert from 4/22/24, please read it below. It will give you the background on the public utilities (GRU) referendum that the LWV of Alachua County supports wholeheartedly.

The first of two required readings of the ordinance to repeal Article 7, which created the GRU Authority, will happen at the city commission meeting on May 16 at 1:00pm, in City Hall...

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