The League Presents...

Vote Yes on Question 2 and support Ranked Choice Voting

October 19, 2020

The League of Women of Voters of Massachusetts (LWVMA) and the League of Women Voters, Newton (LWVN) support and urge a YES vote on Question 2 Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) for primary and general elections for state executive officials, state legislators, federal congressional representatives, and certain county offices.

RCV is a voting method in which voters rank candidates according to their preferences. The LWVN thought it was important for us to provide our members and Newton Voters more information about RCV. In our latest The League Presents…, Marcia Johnson discussed Ranked Choice Voting with Susan Millinger, LWVMA Board of Directors and LWV Amherst Steering Committee member about RCV and covered the following topics:

History and Benefits of RCV:

The key differences between RCV and Plurality system
The reasons as to why the League supports this ballot question.
The mechanics of how this works and what it takes for a candidate to win.
The challenges and potential drawbacks to RCV.

For more information, please refer to the Secretary of States’ Office.

Thank you!

The League Presents- A Conversation with Councilor Deb Crossley, Ward 5, on Zoning Redesign

August 31, 2020

Recently, I had the pleasure of having a conversation with Councilor Crossley, Chair of the Zoning & Planning Committe of the City Council, (ZAP). The City of Newton’s Zoning Redesign project is a multi-year effort to update and rewrite Newton’s Zoning Ordinance. “Zoning is the set of laws governing such things as the size and shape of buildings, additions and renovations, and what types of activities can take place in which buildings”. We talked about the following topics:

The background/history of the zoning redesgn process, specifically the what, why, and when.
What will success look like?
How will zoning redesign help with the development of more econimically diverse housing units?
How is ZAP planning to engage the community in the conversation and gather input/commentary?

Information and regular updates about Zoning Redesign can be found at the Current Drafting Status page on the city’s website.

Marcia Johnson

President, LWVN

The League Presents: Civics with author Gloria Gavris

March 3, 2020

Gloria Gavris, a Newton resident, joined Marcia Johnson for a conversation about her book E is for Election Day. During the conversation we learn about Gloria’s early involvement in elections and civic engagement in her home town of Everett Massachusetts. At an early age she became involved in her father and brother’s campaigns for local office.

Gloria also shared how she has been working with educators to help students, of all ages, learn more about elections and how they can become actively involved. She shares how her book became something special to her and some of the 2016 presidential candidates. It is fascinating!

With the 2020 presidential, congressional and state legislative campaigns in full-swing, Gloria shares ideas on how parents can use this book as an educational tool to help their families learn, real-time, more about the election process.

The League Presents: Voting Rights for Women – League of Women Voters & Suffrage 100 Massachusetts

February 9, 2020

On January 23rd, Fredie Kay, Founder & President of Suffrage100MA was the League’s guest. The Voting Rights for Women show focused on three topics regarding the celebration of the upcoming 100th anniversary of the adoption of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1920, prohibiting the federal and state governments from denying citizens the right to vote on the basis of sex.

Suffrage 100 Massachusetts It’s mission is to commenorate the centennial of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, granting women suffrage.

The Women’s Right-to-Vote Coaltion of Newton – We have joined together to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment which established women’s right to vote nationwide. Through education and the arts, we honor the struggle suffragists endured to gain this first step in voting rights and acknowledge that the journey continues.

League of Women Voters – With the ratification of the 19th Amendment, women and their allies won the biggest growth in deocracy in the last 100 years. We celebrate this great accomplishment by standing in our power, but at the same time, we acknowledge that the 19th Amendment did not break down voting barriers for all women. Even today, our work is not done.

Thank you to Fredie Kay.

Please watch for our February show with Gloria Gavris on E is for Election Day

The League Presents: Ruthanne Fuller, Mayor of Newton

January 5, 2020

On December 19th, Mayor Fuller was the League’s guest. for A Look Back….A Look Forward

She has just about finished the first half of her four-year term. We used this time to reflect on her accomplishments, her learnings, and her priorities going forward. Her mission is from the NNHS inscription/oath: To Strive in all ways to transmit our city greater, better, more beautiful than it was transmitted to us.

Some highlights from our conversation:

Accomplishments: Greatest accomplishment was the fulfillment of Full-day Kindergarten; Proactive planning and investment in/for our villages and commercial corridors; The revised and enhanced Inclusionary Zoning ordinance. New affordable housing is on the horizon with Golda Meir House, Howard Haywood House and much more to come.

Learnings: The City has great employees. Working together is key…the City Council, School Committee, residents, advocates, our state delegation. Listening carefully and responding respectfully, as things take time and can be harder than originally thought.

Priorities: Making sure Newton is built the way we want…zoning redesign. Having a new home for our seniors. Major infrastructure projects are done well and we move forward on climate change actions including an Energy Coach.

Thank you to Mayor Fuller for an interesting and informative conversation.