2019-2020 LWV Newton Program

The following program was approved at LWVN Annual Meeting on May 30, 2019.

The Board of Directors of the League of Women Voters of Newton recommends adoption of the following program for 2019-2020:

1. All program positions approved by the membership at the May 2019 Annual Meeting and listed on lwvnewton.org
2. Continuation of outreach, observation, education and advocacy regarding changes to the Newton City Charter.

The Board of Directors of the League of Women Voters of Newton recommends the following local action priorities for 2019-2020

1. CPA (chairperson needed):  Review CPA (Community Preservation Act) applications
2. Observer Corps:  Expand our Observer Corps.
3. Municipal Finance (chairperson needed):
   1. Review the municipal budget to show how the City is obtaining, spending, and investing funds
   2. Educate the community about how the Mayor’s office and the Finance Committee of the City Council set priorities and how the decision model impacts budget decisions
   3. Engage members and inform Board on issues related to LWVN municipal finance positions.
4. Education:
   1. Organize and promote a civics challenge in the Newton secondary schools to educate our younger citizens about their civic responsibilities, prepare our youngest voters for their roles as voters, and encourage  civic engagement.
   2. Organize and promote a civic challenge or “trivia night” for adults to foster a great understanding of government, increase voter participation and engagement, and build community on a non-partisan basis.
   3. Engage members and inform Board on issues related to local, state and national education positions.
5. Environmental Issues and Transportation (chairperson needed):
   1. Support of a revenue neutral fee on carbon. Facilitate education through forums.
   2. Gas leaks. Support state legislation to reduce gas leaks and work to increase maintenance of gas lines in Newton
   3. Educate and update members on issues related to trash and recycling.
   4. Focus efforts on transportation changes that reduce vehicle miles traveled and increase safety for all road users.
   5. Continue collaboration with Newton Safe Sidewalks, the Mayor’s Transportation Advisory Group and other partners.
   6. Continue education through.
   7. Support the system in place for implementing the Newton Bicycle Network Plan.
   8. Support and encourage the state League’s efforts regarding public transit and their other transportation priorities.
6. Elections (chairperson needed):
   1. Attend meetings of the Newton Election Commissioners.
   2. Hold a pollworkers’ party to thank the workers after the municipal election
7. Voter Service:
   1. Organize and manage forums for contested municipal offices in the 2019 preliminary and elections. We will work with NewTV, our valued parter.
   2. Continue efforts to register new voters through attendance at various events around Newton, including the Farmer’s Markets, village days, and high school senior days.
   3. Create opportunities to help people to engage in issues and advocacy at local, state, and national levels.
8. Land Use and Housing Committee:
   1. Champion local zoning reform in harmony with established local, state, and national League positions
   2. Stay informed of local land use and housing proposals, be prepared to make comments, ask questions, support or oppose according to LWV positions
   3. Examine and work with the state League to support state level zoning reform
9. Scholarship Committee:: Continue to plan process and to implement LWVN scholarships to Newton students.