LEAGUE ACTIVITIES

CITY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

The committee will meet every second Thursday of each month at 10:30 a. m.
The City Affairs Committee explores the workings of the city government, encourages citizens participation, and advocates for local issues and programs that evolve from LWV studies and consensus. Committee members observe City Council and Board of Elections meetings; review pending legislation and reports on such city issues as campaign finance reform, implementation of the Help America Vote Act, Charter revision, housing programs, and election activities.

LEGISLATIVE ACTION COMMITTEE

The committee meets every fourth Thursday at 11:00 a.m.
This committee is the advocacy arm of the League of Women Voters of the City of New York and promotes League positions on issues of public policy through lobbying calls and letters to elected representatives from New York City.

Redistricting, Campaign Finance and Health Care are the priority issues on the committee's 2008 legislative agenda. The fourth issue, Voting Technology, has been temporarily resolved with the decision by County Boards of Elections in New York (with the exception of Hamilton country) to reject DREs and use ballot marking devices compatible with optical scanners for the September and November elections. Committee members will promote League positions on the other three issues by calling and writing letters to state elected representatives from New York City, and by participation in Lobby Day in Albany. Our positions are as follows:

Redistricting-- The creation of an independent nonpartisan Redistricting Commission by constitutional amendment that limits partisan interests of incumbents and ensures representation of all citizens (including racial, ethnic, and language minorities) allows public access to data and input in public hearings, and provides legislative approval with a minimum of alteration.
Campaign Finance-- A move to some measure of public financing of campaigns, a reduction in the limits of contributions to "housekeeping accounts" of political parties and to candidates, transparency on group contributors who serve as "bundlers," and restrictions on the personal use of campaign contributions.
Health Care-- A single payer health care system to contain costs and provide equitable access, a basic level of quality physical and mental care, planning and regulation to ensure quality care, containment of costs without compromising accessibility, enhanced budgetary appropriations for health promotion.