League of Women Voters of the
Cooperstown Area

UPDATE 
  VOL.5       October 2009



Hello LWVCA League Member! This e-bulletin is generated for you

 

Editor:  Joyce Hickling jhh330@earthlink.net

President: Ellen Tillapaugh kuchtill@verizon.net 

 

 

Future Meetings
Oct 17 2009, 12 noon
Lunch @ Otesaga with LWVNYS Legislative Director, Barbara Bartoletti. Reservations now with Vicki Gates, Cnty Hwy 33, Cooperstown, NY  13326 
November 18, 2009
 The future of solid waste management in Otsego County. See article at right.

 

January  20, 2010
Local and national program planning meeting. What issues do you think we should address?

 

 

Upcoming Events
 Local elections: Tuesday, November 3, 2009

 

 

News
A letter from LWVNYS has been sent to Governor Patterson asking him to direct the DEC to extend the time period beyond the usual 30 days as well as the number of locations around the state for hearings on the proposed regulations for issuing permits for gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale.

 

 

Meetings for this League year are scheduled for the third Wednesdays of the month. Mark them and make them! 

 

 

 

 





National Popular Vote Consensus

At the May 18, 2009 meeting of the national League board of directors, the following statement was passed unanimously. It reflects the board's decision that there was no consensus on the question of whether or not League members support the system of a National Popular Vote to choose our nation's president. 

"The LWVUS affirms its support of the direct election of the president and abolition of the Electoral College, but the LWVUS has no position on the National Popular Vote Compact as studied in 2008- 2009."

Many have expressed their disappointment in this outcome through the listserve set up for discussion during the study. Some feel that it's worth another try with less confusing consensus questions, and with better materials. We may be seeing proposals from individuals, local or state Leagues as we begin program planning for the next national convention in 2010. Our program planning meeting is the Third Thursday in January.

Shall we leave MOSA behind?

The final report from consultant Hans Arnold, who was contracted by the Otsego County Board to make recommendations for the future of solid waste management in Otsego County, will soon be in the hands of the county's Solid Waste and Environmental Concerns committee. On Wednesday, November 18, 2009, we will hold a public meeting for all residents who wish to comment or ask questions about the plan.

We will be inviting Otsego County's representatives to the MOSA board of directors, and Terry Bliss to be present that evening. We are sure that residents will want to know if the plan is sustainable and responsible. Watch for more details in our November eUpdate! 

State Consolidation/Shared Services Study
The state League's 2009 convention approved a new study on local government consolidation and shared services. over the course of this year. The issue of increasing local government efficiency through consolidation is quite complex. Consolidation is not limited to a simple merger of two local governmental units or the merger of school districts, but also contemplates the consolidation of speical districts such as fire, library, water, sewer, etc. the consolidation of local public authorities, the consolidation of a municipal service without the loss of the underlying governmental units, for example: civil service hiring, assessing, IT, purchasing, etc. all with the intent of reducing costs. 
The study commitee, chaired by Noreen Fisher, recommends the following websites for beginng to get up to speed on this study topic:
- www.nyslocalgov.com (good overall explanation of state initiatives)
Case.For.Local.Control.pdf (a publication of the Association of Towns)
- www.dos.state.ny.us/lgss/publications.htm"SharedServices (a good site with several additional reports).
 
May we have your email address?
 
 Your email address is key to being an informed League member. It will also save our League money on postage and paper. We are careful to "blind copy" you in order to protect your privacy and will not use or sell your email address. 
 
Look Forward to Great Decisions!
 
We have purchased a set of eight DVDs from the Foreign Policy Association. Each is devoted to one of the eight Great Decision topics, exploring them in detail with experts in the field. The DVDs are a half hour in length, leaving time for discussion after viewing them. The number of DVDs and topics we will schedule will depend on member interest. Below are the topics and summaries:

Running Out: The Global Food Crisis: In Egypt, army units are baking bread for the poor. In Mexico, office workers are cutting back on Tortillas. Even in New York City, gourmet shops are no longer stocking certain items. What's behind the global food crisis?

Off the Grid: Energy & the U.S Economy: Drill baby, Drill. Are there any realistic altrnative energy scenarios on the horizon? While domestic production is one solution, much more will be needed to break America's dependence on oil.

Rising Giants: The World's Fastest Growing Countries: High oil prices. The crisis on Wall Street. Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. As Americans face these and other challenges, a number of fast-growing countries, brazil, Russia, China and India, are poised to compete in the global economy. Are they a real threat to U.S. dominance?

Race for the Arctic: As ARctic ice melts, the opening of the North West Passage could be the definitive event of our time. Is the U.S. poised to take advantage of this new trade route and its vast resources, or is Russia edging it out? What are the ramifications of the great melt?

Cuba After Castro: With Fidel Castro cast out of power due to illness, his brother Raul has initiated unprecedented reforms in Cuba. But what happens when a Castro no longer controls Cuba?

Border Patrol: Pakistan and Afghanistan: Eight years after 9/11, the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan is as lawless as ever and Osama bin Laden is still on the loose. Should the U.S. move to secure this region, home to ranks of Taliban and al Qaeda leaders?

Human Rights: 'Never Again.' Again and Again: Libya. Zimbabwe. North Korea. These countries aren't just human rights violators; some of them have had seats on the UN Human Rights Council. How can the U.S., itself accused of violations in the past, help move the issue forward worldwide?