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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:

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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

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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.

2022 Civics Challenge

This year’s Civics Challenge has been postponed until October.  Look for more information on the date and how to register coming in August.

Celebrate your civics knowledge!  Join us for a fun and friendly event for students and adults. Compete for prizes while engaging in an exciting test of your knowledge of our government.  Individuals and teams of up to 4 are welcome.  Learn more and find resources to up your civics game on our Newton Civics Challenge page.

The League Presents: Newton’s Citizens Commission on Energy

Halina BrownMarcia Johnson had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Halina Brown, Chair of Newton’s Citizens Commission on Energy.   In this program, Halina helps us to learn about the Commission, and the important work it does on behalf of the city and the overall sustainability of our community and world.  During our conversation we learned about:

  • The Energy Commission: its creation, mission, members, and how it operates
  • It’s greatest (recent) accomplishments
  • The greatest challenge for Newton in terms of climate protection
  • What the Commission is doing to help tackle this challenge
  • How LWVN can contribute to the Commission’s work

Halina is a retired professor of Environmental Science and Policy at Clark University and Newton resident for 39 years.  Since her retirement from Clark University she has been actively involved in the development and implementation of Newton’s Climate Action Plan. She also is a longtime League member.

Watch the video now

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