Making Democracy Work: Let's work together to implement NYS Environmental Legislation

Stephanie Quarlesis a director of the League of Women Voters of Suffolk County, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government and influences public policy through education and advocacy. For more information, visit http://lwv-suffolkcounty.org, or call 631-862-6860.

View the above article on the TimesBeaconRecord Media website here.

The League of Women Voters (LWV) has a longstanding non-partisan role in organizing, managing and moderating candidate debates in Suffolk County. In the fall of 2019, we expanded that role by creating an alliance with the Kings Park Central School District (KPCSD) for a Suffolk County Executive debate on October 21.

In the summer we were given permission to use Kings Park High School (KPHS) auditorium, chosen for its convenient location near the Sunken Meadow Parkway, thus appealing to both Smithtown and Huntington township voters. As the campaigns heated up in late September, LWV engaged with KPCSD Superintendent of Schools Dr. Timothy Eagen, who was most enthusiastic about establishing a true partnership between LWV and KPHS. Dr. Karen Lessler, KPHS Assistant Principal and Jack Bishop, KPHS Student Council Advisor, immediately followed up with LWV and a plan was developed that was innovative and educational for the school and the community.

With LWV guidance on debate structure and rules, KPHS students in the National Honor Society and the Student Council worked diligently to organize the program and materials for the night of the debate. They spread word about the debate to the greater Kings Park community (including parents) and organizations, and letters were sent to local elected officials inviting them to be honored guests at the debate. They collaborated on banners both for the candidate dais as well as a welcome banner in the KPHS lobby. They created informative name cards for each of the candidates, as well as a program for all attendees with debate rules, candidate names, and details of all students speakers/topics. They also developed questions for the candidates (on index cards) which dealt with issues of importance to students.

On the night of the debate, the students welcomed over 300 attendees. They introduced administrators, spoke about the importance of voting and read each candidate’s biography. Other students mixed with the attendees prior to the debate in the lobby, giving out programs and question cards, which were also distributed and collected in the auditorium. 

The debate itself was videotaped by Kings Park Productions, and is on the LWV website lwv-suffolkcounty.org on the events page. Local media were present and did extensive reporting the following day. Newsday’s Rachelle Blidner’s headline says it all: Focus on Young People on LI. Questions asked of candidates Bellone, Fischer and Kennedy during the 2 hour debate covered many issues including young peoples’ challenges in finding jobs and affordable housing, vaping and the opioid crisis, school safety, the environment, especially water issues and creating more vibrant sustainable downtowns.

A week after the debate, LWV members met with about 15 students who were involved in the debate to “de-brief.” Most students admitted that they didn’t really know much about the office, the candidates, or debates in general. Only a few considered themselves up to date on current issues or “political.” A few spoke about the importance of getting news from legitimate sources.

Interestingly, the students were surprised that so few people showed up in a county with 1.5 million people. They also commented on how the candidates “interacted with each other” and that the “candidates didn’t directly answer the questions.” When asked whether they were surprised by the results of the election, they said no.

The KPHS students were committed to involving students from all grades so that there would be continuity. They looked forward to future debates, and thanked KPHS for their “excellent support.” It takes a village- actually a school district- to set an example of youth empowerment and engagement.

Before You Cast Your Ballot in November by Nancy Marr

Each election day we have the opportunity to vote for the candidates we think are best for our communities.

This November 5, candidates will be on the ballot for positions as Suffolk County Executive and Legislators in each of the eighteen county legislative districts. The County Executive manages and supervises the county's departments and agencies, establishing the efficiency and effectiveness of county government + setting policy, standards, goals and objectives and hiring and evaluating the performance of county management personnel. As manager of the county finances, the County Executive creates and presents an annual budget to the Legislature. He represents the county at meetings, forums, and intergovernmental relations with other levels of government. To learn more about the County Executive, call to make an appointment with one of his staff members to discuss an issue of concern to you and ask what the executive can do about it.

The Suffolk County Legislature consists of 18 legislative districts, each of which elects a representative every two years. (Every ten years, after each census is tallied, the districts are redrawn according to the redistribution of the population.) The Legislature is the elected body responsible for public health and public safety. Its Presiding Officer appoints the members and chairs of committees. There are currently twelve, each one dealing with a different subject + health, economic development, transportation, etc. The members, schedule and agendas for meetings of the Legislature are on the county website https://www.scnylegislature.us/. Committee meetings are held the week before the general meetings, and the public may attend and address the committee. A call to the chairperson of the committee you wish to visit may open up a line of communication.

When a bill is proposed, it is assigned to a committee which brings in experts to inform committee members, listens to testimony from concerned citizens and votes on it. If a bill is passed through the committee, it will move to the agenda of the next General Meeting for consideration by the full legislature.

Both the Suffolk County Executive and the 18 Suffolk County Legislator positions are term-limited. Each can serve up to twelve years (three 4-year terms for the County Executive, and six 2-year terms for the Legislators). Consult the League of Women Voter's Directory of Public Officials http://www.lwv-suffolkcounty.org/files/2019DPO_web_6-23-19.pdf for information on the 2019 office-holders and their contact details.

How can you know whether the incumbent represents your point of view about a particular issue? Attend any meetings where it will be discussed or listen to the streaming of the meetings on your phone or computer. Each meeting, held in either Hauppauge or Riverhead, includes a "public portion," when members of the public may make statements to the legislators about any of their concerns. (They may not answer questions asked by constituents at the meeting, but can be reached at their office if you wish to speak with them.) What can we find out about the opposing candidates? Information from news articles, debates held by civic organizations, events where the candidates will be meeting voters and websites such as https://www.vote411.org/ are ways to learn more about all candidates.

The New York Civil Liberties Union, recognizing how hard it is to hold public officials accountable, has scheduled trainings open to the public from 6pm to 8pm on October 1 at the Deer Park Library, October 3 at Patchogue-Medford Library, October 8 at the Emma Clark Library, and on October 9 at Middle Country Library. Call 631-650-2301 or email suffolk [at] nyclu.org for more information or to register.

The election is but one step in the process. Our job continues with the candidate who has won. We can continue to speak at the legislature and committee meetings, and at meetings with the legislator and/or staff to work toward action. Gathering others who share and support your concerns will strengthen your efforts to create positive change.

Nancy Marr is first vice president of the League of Women Voters of Suffolk County, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government and influences public policy through education and advocacy. For more information, visit http://www.lwv-suffolkcounty.org or call 631-862-6860.

View the above article on the TimesBeaconRecord Media website here

Access to Justice for all New Yorkers by Nancy Marr

In July 2015, New York State Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman made permanent the Commission to Expand Access to Civil Legal Services in New York. To measure the impact of the justice gap on vulnerable litigants and others, a task force had been created in 2010 to assess the extent and nature of the state's civil legal services crisis.

It held public hearings with civil legal providers, law firms, law schools and other stakeholders statewide and determined that the chronic lack of free and low-cost legal assistance has led to a crisis in the courts, reflected by the ever-rising number of unrepresented litigants in these cases whose incomes are too low to pay for legal representation (a low-income family of four in New York State earns about 125 percent of the poverty level of $25,750).

The mission of the commission is to ensure access to justice for all by using every resource, including self-help services, pro bono programs, technological tools and adequate funding (now $100 million of dedicated state funds annually for civil legal services throughout New York State). In order to add more pro bono attorneys, the commission amended the Rules of Professional Conduct to recommend an increase of annual pro bono hours for lawyers and for law school graduates seeking admission to the New York State bar from 10 to 50.

The commission sought a site for a local pilot in which a strategic action plan could be developed; its goal would be providing effective assistance to all the persons in need and its success could then inform similar efforts in communities statewide.

Looking at Suffolk County it found significant assets: a supportive judiciary, engaged providers, an active bar association and an involved law school that provides a variety of legal clinics for residents and trainings for legal service providers are significant assets.

Suffolk's challenges include its geography, the highest number of veterans in the state, a high percentage of homeless persons and many unaccompanied minors. A substantial percentage of the population speaks a language other than English at home.

Because the needs of many community members were still unmet, Suffolk was selected as a pilot. The gaps in legal services in Suffolk County are largest in three areas: family law, immigration and re-entry of veterans and formerly incarcerated individuals. Housing and health care also loom high in need for legal help.

With funding from the Public Welfare Association, under the leadership of Administrative Judge C. Randall Hinrichs, Suffolk County launched its program with the Suffolk Planning Group, including civil legal aid providers, the judiciary, the Suffolk County Bar and Touro Law Center. Prior to starting the program, they held listening sessions, attended by 70 of the community organizations that are points of entry for people seeking help.

Despite the number of service providers, many recognized that they were unfamiliar with each other's services and that gaps exist that present opportunities for community integration and resource awareness. Training will be provided for these organizations and nonlawyer volunteers on how to make effective referrals. Recognizing the importance of talking to people in their own language, and at their level, these organizations can provide assistance to people in need that can prevent the escalation of issues into court matters.

To publicize the legal resources that exist in Suffolk, and make it easier to navigate the system, the Suffolk Planning Group is soon to launch a website that would include offerings of the many legal service providers and advocacy groups. The two centers for help are Brentwood Public Library, 34 Second Ave., Brentwood, and Middle Country Public Library, 575 Middle Country Road, Selden. Suffolk residents may call 631-822-3272 for appointments with attorneys who provide advice in areas of law to persons in need. Informational materials are available at the centers, as well as training videos.

The intersections between individuals and the civil justice system are complex. As we begin to break down barriers, we can enable everyone to access the information and effective assistance they need, and in a form they can use. With an integrated system where communities are empowered; courts participate and support access to justice initiatives; and legal service providers are dedicated to serving those in need, the provision of effective assistance will help people improve their lives.

To view copies of the Community Legal Help Project information flyers in English and in Spanish, visit http://www.lwv-suffolkcounty.org/TakeAction.html.

Nancy Marr is first vice president of the League of Women Voters of Suffolk County, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government and influences public policy through education and advocacy. For more information, visit http://www.lwv-suffolkcounty.org or call 631-862-6860.

View the above article on the TimesBeaconRecord Media website here

Education + Advocacy on Drinking Water Contaminants by Stephanie Quarles

Many organizations, universities, scientists and government officials have studied and spoken out on Long Island's water issues, with regard to our oceans, estuaries, rivers and our aquifers. A recent conference, May 30, in Riverhead organized by the Environmental Advocates of New York (EANY) focused on the contamination of drinking water supplies in Suffolk County and aimed to educate and strengthen advocacy and partnerships on these issues. At the conference the following bills that were pending in the NYS legislature and supported by EANY were highlighted. Since the conference, the Senate and Assembly have debated and passed all but one of these bills. They are described below (source: EANY).

1, 4-Dioxane Ban A.6295, S.4389 prohibits the distribution and sale of household cleaning products and personal cosmetic products containing 1,4 dioxane to protect our health and waterways which will take effect Dec 21 2021. The USEPA has classified it as likely to be "carcinogenic to humans, and it is listed by California Proposition 65 as known or suspected of causing cancer or birth defects. Studies show that it causes chronic kidney and lever effects and liver cancer". Since it is not listed as an ingredient in health and beauty and home care products, "it is difficult for consumers to avoid". Alternative manufacturing process exist. The NY State Drinking Water Council recommends that for 1,4 dioxane more than 1 part per billion requires treatment. Nassau and Suffolk water suppliers have reported the highest levels of 1,4-dioxane contamination in the nation. It is most prevalent in our LI waters with 82 of the 89 wells above the threshold. Update: Passed by NYS Senate and NYS Assembly, waiting for Governor's signature to become law.

PFAS-Free Firefighting Foam A.445, S.439 bans the use, manufacture, sale and distribution of firefighting foam containing perfluroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances known as PFAS chemicals two years after the effective date. These bills are to eliminate a major source of drinking water contamination and encourage alternatives. PFAS is associated with cancer, hormone disruption, liver, and kidney damage, developmental and reproductive harm and immune system toxicity'. There is no safe level of exposure. Hampton Bays Fire Department on LI was designated as a Superfund site (contamination site) due to groundwater contamination by PFAS. Update: Passed by NYS Senate and NYS Assembly, waiting for Governor's signature to become law.

`Polluter Pays' A.5377-C, S.3337 -C allows public water suppliers and wholesale water suppliers to sue a polluter for damages within three years of water testing that reveals elevated levels of dangerous contaminants in the water supply. This bill makes it easier to hold polluters accountable and helps prevent the costs of remediation from falling on New York taxpayers. Update: Passed by NYS Senate and NYS Assembly, waiting for Governor's signature to become law.

Restricting Nitrogen Fertilizer A.4568, S.2130 adds to the Environmental Conservation Law to require that only low level fertilizer with no more than 12 % nitrogen by weight is sold in Suffolk and Nassau Counties. Limits on nitrogen in fertilizers will reduce the nitrogen that runs off during rain. EANY recommends that the bill be extended to cover all of NY State and not be delayed to Dec 31, 2021. Update: Currently in the Environmental Committee in the Assembly

Although the focus of the seminar was on drinking water contaminates, other topics of concern for our water quality were brought up as well; the drop in the aquifer, nitrogen levels and the sewage discharge, lead pipe run off, salt intrusions and septic systems were also noted as major issues affecting water quality.

The importance of appropriate standards for detecting contamination was stressed.

Tyrand Fuller, Suffolk County Water Authority, described the water quality mapping and database project known as `WaterTraq'. It tracks potential threats in the water supply and provides supply information to the public and regulators. It has an interactive map providing the status of LI ground water for health officials, industry professionals and the public. It provides both untreated (raw) water test results and treated water that is sent to the public. http://liaquifercommission.com/watertraq.html

Another way to find out information about the water quality in your community is at the Suffolk County Water Authority Water Quality Report website: http://s1091480.instanturl.net/2019waterreport/water-quality-by-distribution-area-2019-scwa_index.html

Our fellow Suffolk County residents must be more aware of how fragile and difficult it is to safeguard the quality of our drinking waters. We must continue to educate ourselves and speak loudly for support of legislation dealing with our water crisis.

For a list of conference speakers as well as additional resources from expert sites on our drinking water visit http://www.lwv-suffolkcounty.org/TakeAction.html

Stephanie Quarles is a director of the League of Women Voters of Suffolk County, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government and influences public policy through education and advocacy. For more information, visit http://www.lwv-suffolkcounty.org or call 631-862-6860.

View the above article on the TimesBeaconRecord Media website here

Deconstructing the School to Prison Pipeline
by Nancy Marr

Concern about the school to prison pipeline has mounted in recent years. At the opening of the first federal hearing on the subject, earlier this year, Senator Dick Durbin said, "For many young people, our schools are increasingly a gateway to the criminal justice system. This phenomenon is a consequence of a culture of zero tolerance that is widespread in our schools and is depriving many children of their fundamental right to an education." Matthew Cregot, an attorney with the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, explained, "With suspension a top predictor of dropout, we must confront this practice if we are ever to the end the `dropout crisis,' or the so-called achievement gap."

A zero tolerance policy requires school officials to hand down specific, consistent, and harsh punishment--usually suspension or expulsion--when students break certain rules. The punishment applies regardless of the circumstances, the reasons for the behavior (like self -defense), or the student's history of discipline problems. These policies developed in the 1990's in response to school shootings and general fears about crime. The school to prison pipeline starts (or is best avoided) in the classroom. When combined with zero-tolerance policies, a teacher's decision to refer students for punishment can mean they are pushed out of the classroom, and much more likely to be headed toward the criminal justice system

On May 10, Suffolk County Sheriff Errol D. Toulon, Jr. and Assemblywoman Kimberly Jean-Pierre from Babylon brought together experts in juvenile justice, child development, human services, law, and trauma to develop A Holistic Approach to Deconstructing the Prison Pipeline. Testimony at the hearing identified domestic abuse, substance abuse, mental health issues, lack of education, and gangs as factors that lead young people into crime, and called for the creation of "safe spaces" for "at -risk" children to receive counseling, recreational activities, job training and education. Intervention to help a child must recognize that he may be calling out for help, angry at himself and his environment; instead, what he gets is punishment. Significantly, three previously incarcerated women testified that prison had rescued them. It changed their environment by providing for their basic needs, making them follow rules, requiring them to go to school.

Jerri Katzerman, SPLC deputy legal director, said that the increase in police in school buildings, called School Resource Officers, has contributed to the increase in in-school arrests. The vast majority of these arrests are for nonviolent offenses, often for being disruptive. A recent U. S. Department of Education study found that more than 70 percent of students arrested in school-related incidents or referred to law enforcement are black or Hispanic. Children with special needs are also arrested at a higher rate than others. Instead of pushing children out, Katzerman said, teachers need a lot more support and training for effective discipline, and schools need to use best practices of behavior modification to keep these kids in school where they belong. In restorative justice circles, which bring together the student who has committed the crime with the victims and any others who are affected, it is possible to repair the harm, restore relationships and help the student become accountable for his actions.

Parent groups have successfully worked with school districts to change zero tolerance policies and adopt school-wide positive behavior support systems that create a more welcoming environment for children and their parents, encouraging parents to advocate effectively for their children in suspension cases. These are societal issues that will not be solved solely within schools. We need to take action to create a society that meets the needs of all children

"Deconstructing the prison pipeline is about mobilizing all facets of the community to prevent juvenile delinquency and crime," said Toulon. "It's about implementing practical prevention and intervention solutions that will improve people's lives and make our communities safer." You can support programs in your school or community that work for all children, but especially those who need help to overcome the trauma of family problems or mental illness.

Nancy Marr is first vice president of the League of Women Voters of Suffolk County, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government and influences public policy through education and advocacy. For more information, visit http://www.lwv-suffolkcounty.org or call 631-862-6860.

View the above article on the TimesBeaconRecord Media website here

Population Data; Partisan Redistricting; Independent Commissions
by Nancy Marr

After each decennial Census, the Constitution requires each state to re-draw the lines for election districts in order to allocate the number of Congressional house seats fairly if they have gained or lost population. In 42 states they are drawn by the state legislature, while in six states they are drawn by independent commissions and in seven states by politician commissions, where elected officials may serve as members. We know that technology makes it possible to mine data for many socio-economic factors, but do you realize that candidates who are drawing the lines can access records on political party registrations of the voters in their district and which elections they've voted in to configure legislative districts that will protect their incumbency? Drawing the lines so that members of the opposition party are diluted by being spread out among many districts ("cracking") or concentrated in only one district ("packing") denies the right to an equal vote to those in the minority party.

The Supreme Court had found complaints about apportionment to be a purely political question outside of their purview, but 1962's decision in Baker v. Carr it held that federal courts had a role in forcing states to correct inequities in the makeup of electoral districts, leading to the rule of "one person, one vote." Under the Equal Protection clause in the Constitution, inequality in voting power is unconstitutional, especially when it affects the rights of minorities.

Advocates in many states have challenged gerrymandering in the courts, based on partisanship or race. Currently, many of the cases heard by the Supreme Court have been denied because the plaintiffs lacked standing, without a finding on the whether the claims were justiciable. The League of Women Voters of the United States and many state and local Leagues have been involved in court cases with other groups or on their own. LWVUS is waiting for a decision from the Supreme Court on a gerrymandering case it brought in North Carolina, and Leagues in Ohio, Missouri, Michigan, Tennessee, and Texas have been involved in challenges to unfair districting or registration practices. The relief that is sought are often independent redistricting commissions to draw the new lines.

In 2008, Common Cause led an effort to pass Proposition 11 in California. It placed the power to draw electoral boundaries for State Assembly and State Senate districts in a Citizens Redistricting Commission, as opposed to the State Legislature. The Act, proposed by the initiative process, amended both the Constitution of California and the Government Code. It was passed by the voters in the November 2008 elections and was extended In 2010 to include U.S. House seats as well. It passed by a small margin despite opposition from the California Democratic Party, including Barbara Boxer and Nancy Pelosi, and Asian, Hispanic and African American groups. They argued that it would not prevent politicians from hiding behind the selected bureaucrats, and would not guarantee protection for minority groups.

HR1, on the 2019 Congressional calendar, includes proposals that would mandate the use of independent commissions and the establishment of redistricting criteria, including racial fairness, protection for communities of interest and a ban on partisan gerrymandering. It would require public hearings before and after a plan is drafted, and a requirement that the responses to public comment be included alongside the final plan. The Brennan Center for Justice interviewed a diverse group of 100 stakeholders who were involved with redistricting in state-level redistricting and municipal commissions. It concluded that commissions can significantly reduce many of the worst abuses associated with redistricting but only if the commissions are carefully designed and structured to promote independence and incentivize discussion and compromise.

Despite efforts to require the use of independent commissions, or amend state constitutions to prohibit gerrymandering, fair competition among candidates can only result if all voters believe their candidate can win. As long as information about party membership or voting patterns is available to those drawing lines, redistricting will not be a blind process. Today's technology and algorithms make it too easy to configure districts that include voters who would consistently return incumbents or elect officials of a given party. For our democracy to prosper, all citizens must have the opportunity to vote and to know that their vote will count.

Nancy Marr is first vice president of the League of Women Voters of Suffolk County, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government and influences public policy through education and advocacy. For more information, visit http://www.lwv-suffolkcounty.org or call 631-862-6860.

View the above article on the TimesBeaconRecord Media website here

How Girl Scouts Taught Us the Power of One
by Lisa Scott

A few weeks ago, the League was asked by the Girl Scouts of Suffolk County to assist voters at an event on April 8. What the League learned that night about the vision, empowerment and maturity of our "not-yet voters" is truly inspirational and remarkable. Keep in mind Girl Scouting's mission: building girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.

Today, a civil discourse on most issues is nearly impossible. Most influencers seem to drown out individuals who want to learn "the story behind the story" and reach thoughtful well-researched conclusions. Yet the Girl Scouts' participation in and embracing the 12,000 Voices initiative was a model for us all.

The name 12,000 Voices was chosen for its aspirational value. Start with readings of "12 Angry Men" performed by 12 Impassioned Women, over the course of one weekend, all over the country: in high schools, community and regional theaters, community colleges, universities and community centers. Over the course of time, imagine readings in 1000 locations, accumulating 12,000 voices. The event is planned to take place nationally every year.

The readings took place in every nook & cranny of the country: red, blue and purple communities in all 50 states. And after each staged reading there was an opportunity to update voter registration and learn about voter engagement. Voter suppression is real. Gerrymandering is real. Individual voices and votes matter.

We can increase awareness and participation through the power of girls' and women's voices as they read this classic play. Only one juror votes "not guilty." As tempers flare and the arguments begin, the audience learns about each member of the jury. The power of one impassioned voice, speaking with conviction, is breathtaking.

And what did the girls take away from this experience? That taking positive risks build confidence and leadership skills. They developed greater understanding of the extreme importance of the role of a jury in our judicial system; a civic duty that should be welcomed, not avoided. Girl Scouts promise to serve their country and help people at all times, and civic engagement fits very well within this pledge. They feel empowered, they know they have a voice within the civic community, and that their voices and opinions matter.

Additionally Girl Scouts of Suffolk County was delighted to have a show of amazing diversity among its women actors, with a wide range of ages, cultural backgrounds, and life experience, which is quite different from the original cast of "12 Angry Men." Such diversity brought a refreshing and exciting tone to the script, and strengthened the message of the show, allowing it to become that much more significant.

The audience ranged in age from middle-schoolers through grandparents, but each person was able to take away a clear and cogent understanding of the power of individuals to make a difference in situations both small and personal, or national and affecting our place in in society and the planet we all share. Let's all learn from Girl Scouts; they will be our future leaders.

For more information on Girl Scouting in Suffolk County, visit gssc.us or call (631) 543-6622. The League looks forward to strengthening our partnerships with Girl Scouts and encouraging youth civic education and engagement in a nonpartisan environment.

Lisa Scott is President of the League of Women Voters of Suffolk County, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government and influences public policy through education and advocacy. For more information, visit http://www.lwv-suffolkcounty.org, email league [at] lwv-suffolkcounty.org or call 631-862-6860.

View the above article on the TimesBeaconRecord Media website here

Ensure Easier Voting in November
by Lisa Scott

Voting is about to get easier for New Yorkers. New York has long been behind most of the country when it comes to voting. Our election laws were archaic, making it difficult for people to vote and resulting in low voter turnout. However, both the NYS Assembly and Senate passed several bills on election law, most of which have been signed into law by Governor Cuomo. Not all are effective immediately and some will require additional money to be added in the state budget. Other reforms such as no-excuse absentee ballots and same day voter registration must go through the NYS Constitution amendment process, which will delay their implementation for at least three years.

Early voting will take place for the first time in New York for the 2019 general election on November 5. (Thirty-eight states and District of Columbia have already instituted in-person early voting.) Voters will be able to vote at designated poll sites 10 days prior to election day. Each County Board of Elections will follow the law designating the number of and placement of the early voting poll sites and notify voters of the days, hours, and locations of the early polling sites. But all NYS county boards of elections (especially those like Suffolk County which have large populations and geographic areas) face a myriad of challenges to meet the early voting law requirements.

The League of Women Voters of New York (LWVNY) estimates the cost of statewide early voting to be $9.3 million for implementation in the 2019 general election. The law requires 1 site per 50,000 registered voters over a period of 9 days with 8 hours of weekday early voting and 5 hours of weekend early voting.

The projected cost areas include poll sites (rental fees for 83 additional sites throughout NYS); staffing and training (training session costs and staffing compensation); voting equipment (some counties may need to purchase new equipment including electronic poll books); security (voting machines and ballots must be secure 24/7 throughout the period of early voting) and education (statewide mailings advising all registered voters- this would be a one-time cost).

In particular, electronic poll books (utilizing secure tablets or laptops with data downloaded in advance eliminating wifi/hacking concerns) are essential for Suffolk and similar multi-site early-voting counties in NYS. They allow greater ease and accuracy during the early voting period, and will have long term cost savings after their initial investment. They provide a fast check-in process, reducing the propensity for long lines. They reduce the need for provisional ballots because voters' records can be searched for in multiple ways. And if a voter is in the wrong place, she can quickly be directed to the correct precinct in order to cast a regular ballot. Additionally they can be updated right before the election, reducing the rush to enter registration and updates in time to print and distribute paper poll books; and they make post-election updates much faster and accurate. Three NYS counties conducted successful pilot projects utilizing electronic poll books last year.

As of mid-March 2019, Governor Cuomo did not include funding for early voting in his January 2019 Executive Budget (and his February amendment proposals). LWVNY and other good-government groups have been lobbying NYS Senate and Assembly members to include early voting funding in their budget amendments in March. NYS law requires a budget by April 1 each year- so there will be substantial negotiations for the governor and the NYS Senate president and Assembly speaker in late March. The governor contends that significant savings from a consolidated single state primary will be adequate to cover early voting costs. But there is only one primary date in 2019, so that money will only become available in 2020. Absent funding for early voting in the 2019 NYS budget, each county will have to find its own funding for early voting this year. Suffolk County will thus face a substantial unfunded mandate from NYS in a time of decreasing revenues and substantial borrowing. Contact your NYS Senate and Assembly leadership and representatives and Governor Cuomo now to ensure appropriate funding for a successful early voting rollout in November!

Lisa Scott is President of the League of Women Voters of Suffolk County, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government and influences public policy through education and advocacy. For more information, visit http://www.lwv-suffolkcounty.org, email league [at] lwv-suffolkcounty.org or call 631-862-6860.

View the above article on the TimesBeaconRecord Media website here

Curb Gun Violence with Common Sense Legislative Solutions
by Nancy Marr

According to the Gun Violence Archive, the number of mass shootings during 2018 in the United States has been estimated at 346, with 18 of them in schools. But laws backed by the NRA and other pro-gun groups prevent the public from seeing which firearms dealers are selling the most guns used in crimes, information the federal government collects but won't share, even with premier research universities. The NRA also pushed through rules that had a chilling effect on federal studies focused on how guns affect public health, denying policy makers a road map for better gun laws.

Regulating the ownership and use of guns by the federal government began in the 20's and 30's with support from the general public and the NRA, then a sporting and hunting association. Since then the federal government and the states have passed legislation requiring background checks, waiting periods, licenses for concealed weapons carriers, restrictions on purchases for certain high risk people, and a ban on assault weapons and ammunition. In 1980 the Brady Bill, against NRA opposition, tightened the background check requirements and created the FBI NICS system to provide speedy background checks. After the shooting at Sandy Hook governments turned their attention to preventing shootings by high risk people. New York State passed the Safe Act, amending its Mental Hygiene Law to add a new reporting requirement that mental health professionals currently providing treatment services to an individual must make a report to authorities, "if they conclude that the individual is likely to engage in conduct that would result in serious harm to self or others." The Act requires those who live with a household member "who has been convicted of a felony or domestic violence crime, has been involuntarily committed, or is currently under an order of protection" to "safely store" and lock any guns in a secure gun cabinet."

NRA opponents of the regulations state that the laws only hurt people who adhere to current firearms laws, and the regulations about gun locking devices prevent gun owners from using their guns in self-defense.

The League of Women Voters of the United States has been in support of stricter laws for background checks, more gun safety education, a ban on assault weapons, and protection for victims of domestic violence from abusers who possess guns. The LWV of New York supported legislation to establish criminal sanctions for possession and sale of assault weapons, which were banned in 1994 but released from the ban In 2004.

Currently, on both the federal and state levels there are laws that are being considered during this session that would deal with many of the loopholes and problems of illegal firearm use.

On the federal level, proposed legislation this term includes: requiring unlicensed sellers to meet their buyers (with certain exceptions) at a licensed gun dealer who would run a background check using the same process used for his own inventory; support for a ban on assault weapons; broadening the definition of domestic abusers to the laws protecting victims of domestic violence; and opposing a national bill that allows people to carry concealed weapons.

On the NYS level, in January the Assembly and the Senate passed six important gun control bills related to: an extreme risk protection order (erpo/"red flag") law; background checks extension; a bump stock ban; a ban on arming educators; out-of-state mental health records check; and gun buyback programs. In February we hope that Governor Cuomo signs these bills, and that the needed regulations are written and appropriate funding allocated.

Contact your US Representative and NYS Senator and Assembly member to find out how they voted or plan to vote, and what they think of these bills. Thank them if they did vote for those you care about, and clearly communicate your concerns and advocacy when they did not. For more information, go to the Senate or Assembly websites to research details on the individual bills or check with individual Congressional or NYS Legislative aides via phone or email. Make your voice heard on this important issue.

Nancy Marr is first vice president of the League of Women Voters of Suffolk County, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government and influences public policy through education and advocacy. For more information, visit http://www.lwv-suffolkcounty.org or call 631-862-6860.

View the above article on the TimesBeaconRecord Media website here

A Step Forward to Achieve Pay Equity in Suffolk County- What Next?
by Lisa Scott

Somewhat quietly in late 2018, the Suffolk County Legislature and County Executive Bellone added an important tool to the fight for pay equity: The Restricting Information on Salaries and Earnings (RISE) Act. The League commends the entire Legislature and the County Executive for taking this action- it's fair, it's sound economics, it can reduce the need to pay for additional social support for working families. And it's good for Suffolk County's citizens. It shows that our County's Legislators and Executive can work to reclaim their place as innovative, socially responsible elected officials while operating with foresight in a fiscally prudent manner.

Why should pay equity be a concern for us all? Race and gender are significant factors in what women earn for doing the exact same jobs as men. In April 2018, The NYS Dept. of Labor reported that Suffolk County women in general earn just 78.1 cents for every dollar a man earns. Comparably, black women are paid about 64 cents for every white male dollar and the pay gap of Latina women is about 55 cents to a white man's salary dollar. Equal Pay Day in April reflects how long AFTER the end of the year a woman has to work before she takes home the same amount of earnings as a man in the prior year- Thus, over 15 months of work for a woman to earn what a comparable man earned in 12 months!

Pay inequality isn't just a women's issue; it is a family issue. Recent research has found that 42 percent of mothers with children under the age of 18 are their families' primary or sole breadwinners. Wage discrimination can impair their ability to buy homes and pay for a college education and limits their total lifetime earnings, thereby reducing their retirement savings and benefits.

Gender pay inequity and low wages put the burden of meeting the expenses of employees squarely on the backs of local taxpayers, who make up the difference in the costs of living with social safety net programs. The pay gap not only hurts women and their families, but it also hurts the communities they support. That means local businesses are hurt through lost sales, as are local schools and governments that depend on sales tax and property tax dollars to fund the programs and the infrastructure those communities need to exist. In New York State, social service costs are paid directly by country governments who then must wait for state and federal reimbursement.

If pay equity makes good economic sense for our communities, how does the RISE act work towards this goal? The bill, which takes effect on June 30, 2019 was initially created to restrict employers from using salary and benefits history when establishing salary and benefits for new employees. The legislature explained that utilizing this information in decision making perpetuates wage discrimination and the wage gap experienced by women, racial and ethnic minorities, and employees returning to the workforce after an extended period away.

Gov. Cuomo recently signed an "equal pay for work of equal value bill" which directs the president of the civil service commission to study and publish a report evaluating public employers' wage disparities related to the job titles segregated by the gender, race and/or national origin of the employees in the title. Once completed, the study will be delivered to the Governor and the leaders of the legislature, and the data from the study will be used to address pay inequities in the state's workforce. "New York State has to be a leader on this issue + a model of reform," the bill's sponsor, Assembly member Barbara Lifton said. "By getting our own house in order and ensuring that our public employees are being paid fairly for the work that they are doing, we are sending the wider message that wage disparities cannot be tolerated in a society that prides itself on treating everyone fairly."

The NYS Legislature is only in session until June. We must advocate now to strengthen our equal pay laws so that women have the tools they need to fight back against pay discrimination.

The League's work on pay equity stemmed from member concern over the feminization of poverty in the 1980's. Additional sources for pay equity information and advocacy include AAUW, PowHerNY, National Women's Law Center and the Center for American Progress.

Lisa Scott is president of the League of Women Voters of Suffolk County, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government and influences public policy through education and advocacy. For more information, visit http://www.lwv-suffolkcounty.org or call 631-862-6860.

View the above article on the TimesBeaconRecord Media website here