The Cooperstown Area
The Cooperstown Area
Democrats Vying for NY's 102nd Assembly District to Debate on June 4
The League of Women Voters of Albany County and the League of Women Voters of the Cooperstown Area will hold a debate for the three Democratic Party candidates’ debate running for the 102nd NY Assembly District. The debate will be Thursday, June 4, 2026, at the Bouck Hall Theater at The State University of New York College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill, 106 Suffolk Cir, Cobleskill, NY 12043 from 7-9pm. contest in advance of the June 23rd Primary.
Action Alert! The Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act
The Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act (PRRIA - S1464A Harckham/A1749A Glick) continues to gain momentum. Yesterday, the legislation passed through the Senate Finance Committee by a vote of 13-6. And in the Assembly, the legislation now has 76 co-sponsors — a majority of members.
The bill is now on the Senate floor, where it already passed in 2024 and 2025. In the Assembly, it passed through every committee last year and is on the Assembly floor, calendar No. 68. As the legislature prepares to vote on the worst budget for the environment in recent memory, lawmakers in both houses are prioritizing PRRIA.
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Can you take action to help fight plastic pollution? A NY state bill would tackle the root cause by addressing single-use packaging. The Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act (S1749a/A1646a) reduces plastic packaging, bans some of the worst toxic chemicals used in packaging including banning PFAS, does not allow chemical recycling aka advanced recycling to count as real recycling and makes big corporations pay for waste management.
This bill would reduce plastic pollution, and because plastics are made from fossil fuels, it will also reduce climate emissions. It will save tax dollars millions and protect public health. But an army of industry lobbyists are in Albany fighting hard against this bill. We need your voice! We need people power to outrun the Albany fat cats.
Call your state assemblymember today!
1. Dial the Assembly Switchboard at 518-455-4100 and ask to be connected to your Assemblymember’s office. If you’re not sure who your Assemblymember is, click here to look them up https://nyassembly.gov/mem/search/?
When someone picks up, you can use this short script (the bolded text below is the critical part if you want to keep it short and sweet):
“Hi, my name is ____ and I’m a constituent calling from _____. I’m calling to urge the Assemblymember to please vote YES on the Packaging Reduction & Recycling Infrastructure Act (Assembly Bill 1749a). This bill passed through the Senate two years in a row but has never come up for a floor vote in the Assembly. Also, please inform the Speaker you'll vote YES on A1749a." (Only say the last sentence if you think they are a yes vote.)
Be a Beacon for Democracy
The Board of Directors of the League of Women Voters of the Cooperstown Area agreed at its March 2026 Board meeting to support the “Shine the Light” activity of the Beacon for Democracy.
The second pillar of League’s Unite and Rise 8.5 initiative is “Public Mobilization and Coalition Building.” The initiative calls for Leagues to act locally and raise our voices with other local groups to “Defend Democracy.” Many League members have done just that by participating in “No Kings” rallies, like the one coming up on March 28. Now League members are encouraged to act weekly and locally in the Beacon for Democracy project. Learn how you can participate in Beacon For Democracy with other League members
Get Involved: Learn About the League Observer Corps
The League of Women Voters Cooperstown Observer Corps is always looking for new members to help with this very important effort. Learn more about our League's Observer Corps and what we do. The Observer Corps is a great way to get involved in your community and in League work, especially if you are new to the League and to our community
