League of Woman Voters of Northampton Area

74th BOOK SALE SEPTEMBER 27

HELP NEEDED:

Donating and Collecting books:  July 7 – 25 at Smith Voc and Ag High School and Cooper’s Corner

Sorting books with LWVNA members, 9 – 1 weekdays July 8 – August 1 at SVAHS

 

LWVUS STATEMENT ON FACEBOOK

“May we all come together to demand climate action that will protect our people and our future.”

Seven bills enacted into law would help protect Massachusetts residents from the barrage of federal threats to individual liberties.  
Please contact your state representative and state senator THIS WEEK via email or phone using the suggested script below and ask them to urgently support the passage of the following bills. Find your legislators HERE.
Suggested script: 
“Dear Rep./Sen. ________,
With a federal administration stripping away existing constitutional rights and protections, Massachusetts must take a stand. As a member of the League of Women Voters, I encourage you to sign on as a co-sponsor and support passage of the following bills to protect and ensure reproductive freedom, immigrants’ rights, and freedom of expression:
H.86/S.197, An Act to protect location privacy/An Act to protect safety and privacy by stopping the sale of location data (Location Shield Act)
H.2370/S.1563, An Act prioritizing patient access to care (update state law to ensure no one must leave the state for abortion care)
SD.2808, An Act strengthening health care protections in the Commonwealth (Strengthen protections for providers that offer abortion care and gender-affirming care)
H.2580/S.1681, An Act to protect the civil rights and safety of all Massachusetts residents (Safe Communities Act)
H.1588/S.1122, An Act relative to immigration detention and collaboration agreements (Dignity not Deportations)
H.1954/S.1127, An Act ensuring access to equitable representation in immigration proceedings (Immigrant Legal Defense Fund)
H.3594/S.2328, An Act regarding free expression (Prohibits book bans)                                                                                     Feel free to personalize your emails by adding why securing human rights for all residents is important to you. Remember to include your name and complete street address. 
Click HERE to review more information about these bills.

LWV and coalition of groups filed lawsuit against President Trump’s EO on voting

 

Voting Rights Groups Challenge Trump’s Recent Anti-Voter Executive Order

A coalition of voting rights organizations filed a lawsuit in the US District Court for the District of Columbia to challenge President Trump’s unlawful executive order on voting. The order attempts to seize the power to set voter registration rules from Congress and the states, and doing so in a way that would violate federal law and the Constitution if carried out by the Election Assistance Commission (EAC). Key provisions of Trump’s order could disenfranchise millions of eligible voters, particularly voters of color, women voters, naturalized citizens, voters with disabilities, voters with low incomes, and first-time voters.

Read article, “Single-payer health care just needs vote,” Gazette, 4/5/25 here.                      Write to your Senators and Reps and ask them to co-sponsor the bill, which does not rely on federal funds. The following are co-sponsors as of 4/6: Senators Comerford, Mark, Gomez, Olivera, and Rep Sabadosa. 

LWV annual membership renewal system changes start February 3rd

Beginning February 3, most members will join and renew their annual dues through a centralized online form. For a summary of the new process, please read New membership System FAQs 2/25

ALL MEMBERS SHOULD ACTIVATE THEIR MEMBERSHIP PORTAL  IN FEBRUARY. LWVUS will send you an email (membership@lwv.org) the week of February 3rd. The email contains a unique link, just for you. Lou Bouley has already entered your membership profile. Review it, make changes if needed. This will create your unique link to the portal. 

First open the Join/Renew/Portal button in top menu to see complete directions, including a video with step-by-step actions. Directions include joining and renewing annual membership dues. Click on red Join/Renew button on the right to go to the national portal.

Don’t want to use the LWVUS portal? You can pay dues or join offline – print the membership form on the Northampton Area LWV website. Click on the Join/Renew/Portal button in top menu for directions for writing check and mailing address.

REVISE CHAPTER 70 FUNDING FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Contact your legislators

Write to your Representative and Senator about the critical need to revise Chapter 70 Funding. Northampton, Amherst, Holyoke school systems can’t balance their budgets for 2026, and are considering cutting teachers and programs because of insufficient Ch.70 Funds.

LWVMA Where We Stand, p 39 calls for adjustment of the state’s education funding formula (the foundation budget formula) to meet changing needs and to cover costs, including those associated with mandated programs (2017)

Excellent slide show Overview of Chapter 70 Funding for Education by the Mass Municipal Association.

 

Broadside Bookstore, Northampton – great source of books for defending democracy, diversity, equity, and inclusion

“We are here for you today and always. We hope our little store can be a source of comfort and a site of knowledge and power.” Broadside Bookstore Facebook, Jan. 20,2025

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion League Policy

The Northampton Area League is fully committed to ensure compliance – in principle and in practice – with LWVUS Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Policy.

1/21/2024 LWV DEI Policy: Discrimination or harassment of any kind will not be accepted within the League, including but not limited to race, socio-economic status, age, ability status, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, gender identity, or marital status. The League is committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of diversity, equity, inclusion, access, and belonging for all people. The League is an organization that respects and values the richness of our community and our members. The collective sum of our individual differences and life experiences represents not only our culture, but our reputation and the organization’s mission and achievements as well.

Historical Posters and Photos are now in the 100th Anniversary Folder

View historical photos, events, and resources here.

 

 

 

 

 

NORTHAMPTON NATURALIZATION CEREMONY

Fifty-three people from twenty-seven countries were joyfully naturalized on July 4th. Many folks thanked us for our role at the ceremony, including Senator Comerford, Reps Domb and Sabadosa, and Mayor Sciarra.

Randi Kline, Katherine Halverson, Lou Bouley, and Ann Wedaman greeted new citizens and helped some to register to vote.

“SLAVERY & FREEDOM IN NORTHAMPTON 1654 – 1783” EXHIBIT AT HISTORIC NORTHAMPTON

“Slavery and Freedom in Northampton 1654 – 1783,” a new exhibit at Historic Northampton  runs through December 11, 2026. Learn more  in this Gazette article, 7/2/25

“Slavery and Freedom in Northampton, 1654 to 1783”

We must protect Medicaid for the millions who rely on it. Tell Congress not to endanger the health of our country. Contact Congress with this easy form from LWVUS. Medicaid ensures Americans have access to basic health care regardless of their economic status or disability. Cuts to the program will almost assuredly threaten care for vulnerable populations and leave millions uninsured.  
The League believes that every US resident should have access to a basic level of quality health care at an affordable cost. Medicaid is essential to protecting the health and dignity of Americans, including new moms and children, seniors, and people with disabilities. Medicaid expansion has been imperative in insuring millions of Americans previously in a coverage gap. 

LWVMA supports “An Act ensuring access to full spectrum pregnancy care”

The League of Women Voters of Massachusetts urges a favorable report for H.1311/S761, “An Act ensuring access to full spectrum pregnancy care.” Read our full testimony here: https://lwvma.org/…/04/LWVMA-Testimony-H.1311_S.761.pdf

TERRIFY, UNACCEPTABLE, AND DANGEROUS

On April 25, 2025, federal agents arrested Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan at her courthouse for allegedly obstructing the unlawful arrest of Eduardo Flores-Ruiz. Read the League’s statement: https://www.lwv.org/…/terrifying-unacceptable-and…

Worcester, Easthampton, and Somerville Public Schools file suit against dismantling the Department of Education. The Trump administration terminated $106 million in K-12 education grant funding for Massachusetts 3/21/25, including $47 million to Springfield.

Congress has introduced the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, which would require citizenship documentation to register to vote even though voters in every state are already required to affirm or verify their citizenship status when registering.
Americans do not need MORE obstacles to vote. Tell your representatives to say NO to the SAVE ACT.

 

In the first 17 days of the Trump administration, we’ve witnessed nothing short of the weaponization of government against Americans. Read LWV CEO Celina Stewart’s full statement in response to actions taken by the new administration and the impact on voters,

On February 5, 2025, LWUS sent a letter to the Chairs of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CACAP), the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), “requesting a meeting with you to discuss how we might work together to protect and preserve federal voting rights laws, including the Voting Rights Act, during the 119thCongress.” Partners on the letter included The League of Women Voters of the United States®, Southern Poverty Law Center, American Association of People with Disabilities, Asian Pacific Islander American VOTE, National Council of Jewish Women, and National Organization for Women.

Rep. Sabadosa, other pols again co-sponsor ‘Medicare for All’ bill

Rep. Sabadosa, other pols again co-sponsor ‘Medicare for All’ bill, Hampshire Gazette, 2/3/2025

 

LWV co-sponsored book event at Odyssey Bookstore Oct. 7

Lou Bouley and Brigid Glackin provided voting information at the League table.

 Joshua Douglas introduced his new book, The Court v. The Voters: The Troubling Story of How The Supreme Court Has Undermined Voting Rights. The book gives an urgent and gripping look at the erosion of voting rights and its implications  for democracy, told through the stories of 9 Supreme Court decisions –and the next looming case. RECOMMENDED READING for a greater understanding of the Supreme Court’s role in curbing voting rights, and how we can reverse course towards improving voters rights.

Click to watch Northampton LWV member, Chris Flory, discuss Medicare for All in MA.