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President’s Message from 2022 Annual Meeting

The following are the remarks given by LWVN president Marcia Johnson at our 2022 Annual Meeting which was held virtually on June 12, 2022:

As they say in show business…TAKE III.  Yes, this is our third virtual annual meeting.  By now we all are getting pretty comfortable with the technology, but I still want to give a shout-out to Theresa Fitzpatrick and Lisa Mirable who as our technical and event planning team make our meetings, such as this, run smoother than they might otherwise.  As much as we wanted to have our meeting in-person and are disappointed, the Board felt it was too risky given the increasing Covid Omicron numbers.  

As we reflect on this past year, which I think we all had hoped would be calmer, healthier, and productive, we now find that once again, we have Covid hanging over our heads and hearts.  Our country is divided  more than ever, and now our economy is shaky at best, especially for those with middle and low incomes.  To cap it off, there is a war…in Ukraine and on democracy. 

So, what kind of impact has this had on League priorities, let’s  take a look:

  • During this year, we saw the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2021 and the Freedom to Vote Act fail to pass the Senate.
  • Here in Massachusetts, The Votes Act has passed both the Senate and House.  Currently it is in a conference committee.  The major sticking point is election day registration.
  • Most recently there was the SCOTUS leak about Roe V. Wade most likely being over-turned.  Now this is not surprising, but it was a gut punch to women.
  • The Senate was unable to pass the Women’s Health Protection Act.
  • Here in Massachusetts, abortion is legal for up to and in some cases beyond 24 weeks under the ROE Act, which was passed in December 2020. 
  • And now with two mass killings, there is slim hope for gun control in the US Senate.

In Massachusetts we are fortunate that our state government protects our civil and human rights more so than at the national level. So as League members it is important that we all pay attention to what is happening, and our MARCOM team is committed to keeping you informed as to what the state and national Leagues are doing to regarding civil and human rights…..remembering that Democracy is not a spectator sport.

Let’s now turn back to Newton and what the League has been doing to address issues and opportunities right here at home.   This year, this report is taking a different approach and listing a program area and what topic meetings, advocacy, and League Presents were done to educate and influence city leadership and community members at-large.  I will not go through everything, as you can read the reports that begin on page 8 but rather will highlight a few of our priorities: Read more →

Membership Approves Consensus Study Committee on Zoning

Newton zoning map

At its Annual Meeting held on June 12, 2022, the membership approved the formation of a Consensus Study Committee to Update Zoning Positions.

More information about this study and the reasons for it are described below.  This will be an intensive study of local zoning, and membership interest in welcome and encouraged.  Anyone interested in participating in this committee should Contact Us.

Read more →

Municipal Transparency and Accountability Initiative: Mission Statement and Goals

Throughout its 102-year history, the League of Women Voters has been a vigorous advocate for transparent and accountable government. The League strongly believes that transparency and accountability in government–at all levels–is vital for a wide variety of reasons:  to encourage civic engagement, to measure goal achievement and evaluate results, to improve services and outcomes, and to track and monitor the actions of governmental bodies and elected officials.

In order to evaluate the transparency and accountability of Newton’s city government, and to advocate  for specific improvements, the League of Women Voters of Newton (LWVN) has launched a Municipal Transparency and Accountability Initiative. Over the next 12 months, LWVN will assess Newton’s municipal transparency and accountability, with reference to the needs in our community as well as examples and best practices implemented in other communities, in the following key areas:

  • General information about municipal services, processes, and events (e.g., a comprehensive city government calendar; departmental websites; information about city services like trash pickup and road repairs; information about the budget process, special permit process, elections; a feedback mechanism for praise or criticism; functionality of 311 system; etc.);
  • Fiscal, operational, and demographic data (e.g., budget and finance data; utilization or bottom line data for initiatives like NewMo, Blue Bikes; Newton’s progress toward carbon neutrality; public safety data such as NFD response times or number of monthly 911 calls by category; information about Newton’s affordable housing stock, including  locations and availability; demographic trends, etc.)
    • Information about City Council activity (e.g., status of docket items, councilor voting history and attendance at Council and committee meetings, minutes, agendas, audio and video recordings, etc.);
    • Information that tracks mayor’s initiatives and priorities (e.g. ARPA spending, implementation of task force recommendations, follow-up to initiatives like the Community Needs Assessment, etc.);
  • Consistent Information about Boards and Commissions (e.g., minutes, agendas, audio recordings, meeting materials, annual reports, correspondence, etc.)

As it begins this project and at key points as the project develops, LWVN seeks input from Newton groups and organizations. LWVN invites representatives of Newton groups and organizations to share their experiences with and views about transparency and accountability in Newton by responding to a brief survey.

LWVN looks forward to sharing the results of its Municipal Transparency and Accountability Initiative with the Newton community in 2023.

The League Presents: Zoning Redesign, part 1

Deb Crossley
Newton City Councilor Deb Crossley, Chair of the Zoning & Planning Committee of the City Council  (ZAP)

In August 2020, I had the pleasure of having a conversation with Councilor Crossley, Chair of the Zoning & Planning Committee of the City Council  (ZAP). As a follow-up, this evening, to that program, I spoke with Deb about the City’s progress on zoning redesign, with a focus on:

  • A brief refresher on zoning principles
  • Actions taken to-date, since August 2020
  • Village Redesign, Phase I; citizen engagement/ outcomes
  • Village Redesign Phase II; zoning to achieve public policy objectives

Please watch for an upcoming program on the MBTA Communities legislation and what it might mean for Newton.

Watch the video now

Read more →

LWVMA Statement on Leaked Supreme Court Opinion

The League of Women Voters of Massachusetts views the leaked Supreme Court opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, if it holds, as an attack on a fundamental right to health care and to the right of pregnant people to make their own decisions about what is best for them. In light of the probable overturning of Roe v. Wade, the League expresses its gratitude to the Massachusetts state legislature for passing, in 2020, the ROE Act, legislation that codified the right to an abortion in Massachusetts regardless of any U.S. Supreme Court decision. We salute our partners in reproductive health advocacy for their work in anticipating the need for this legislation.

We now urge the legislature to continue this work protecting the right to make one’s own health care decisions by passing without delay two additional bills:

  • 1196/S.673 An Act ensuring access to full spectrum pregnancy care. This bill would provide financial assistance for a full-range of pregnancy-related care. See our testimony.
  • 2399/S.1470 An Act to require public universities to provide medication abortion. See our testimony.

The national League of Women Voters continues to advocate for these rights on the federal level. Read their statement here.