League of Woman Voters of Northampton Area

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Northampton Area League Annual Meeting June 6, 2023

ANNUAL MEETING

Annual Meeting Minutes

Guest speaker Keith Fairey, CEO of Way Finders, spoke about “Our Housing Crisis and the Way Forward.”  He described the scope of the crisis, which is dire, and described changes needed to alleviate the shortage of affordable housing. 

The affordable housing crisis is severe. The projected need in 2025 in our region = 19,000 additional housing units. The current number of housing units planned = 1,300 units. Only 18 (out of 101) communities in Western Massachusetts now have dedicated affordable housing.

Increasing housing will depend on systemic changes:

  1. Municipal zoning and planning changes, with greater uniformity
  2. Legislation: View League-Supported/Opposed Legislation 2023 – 2024 Scroll to Affordable Housing section to find 7 bills supported by the state League – links to the bills, bill summaries and testimonies.
  3. Increased funding:

             A new commonwealth bond bill is in planning stage

            Increase MA rental voucher program to $3.5billion/year, which is currently underfunded.              

            Increase federal funding, which has declined for the past 40 years

Mr. Fairey’s talk was related to the on-going local study by our local League on homelessness and housing.

A Northampton Area League-sponsored proposal at the state Convention in June 2023 to update the LWVMA affordable housing policy was approved by a near unanimous vote.

Text of adopted policy: A review and update of the LWVMA policy on Affordable Housing/Homelessness.

This review and update was proposed by the LWV of the Northampton Area. The LWVMA has established positions on Affordable Housing, including a section on homelessness (p. 51-53 in Where We Stand), but the included data is based on information from the 1970’s and 1980’s, and has limited information on homelessness specifically.

Information from documents from the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, the UMass Donahue Institute, and The Center for American Progress, indicates that the supply of affordable housing is shrinking relative to the need, and that the definitions of “market value,” “affordable housing” and “median income” among other terms are not necessarily reflective of current economic situations.

A review and update of LWVMA’s Affordable Housing position would serve to reflect current data and specifically focus on homelessness, better advocate for local and state policies that will address an acknowledged problem in housing, and address the need for representation and resources for the under-housed and unhoused people in our communities.     

Act today to protect climate programs in the US Farm Bill 2023

Thank you to everyone who attended our education event, Act for Change: US Farm Bill 2023, Farming, Climate and You. In case you missed it, view the recording here.

Farm Bill 2023 hearings are underway now. Please contact our Massachusetts Congressional delegation this week and urge them to protect climate-smart agriculture and conservation technical assistance using the sample script below. These investments will enable farmers, especially those with small to mid-size farms, to thrive and transition to climate-friendly practices. 

Sample script

Dear Senator/Representative [Insert Name],

As a member of the League of Women Voters of Massachusetts, I urge you to ensure that the conservation and climate-smart programs in the 2023 Farm Bill are fully funded, so that all farmers – not just a few – will have access to the resources and technical support they need to transition their practices to both adapt to and mitigate the impacts of climate change. Dedicated funds must be protected from being diverted to other programs.       

Scientists warn that to limit average global temperature rise to 1.50C, fossil fuel emissions reductions must be made and our agricultural practices must evolve. Conservation funding can help Massachusetts farmers implement the Massachusetts Healthy Soils Action Plan, enabling them to increase soil carbon, build resistance to drought and flood, and create habitat for fish and wildlife – good for Massachusetts, good for the planet.

Be sure to include your name and complete street address in your signature

Additional Talking Points from the coalition letter to Congress:

USDA’s voluntary, incentive-based conservation programs:

● Enable producers to adopt practices that build soil health, sequester carbon, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, 

●  Improve surface and ground water quality,

●  Increase water efficiency, building resilience to drought and flood,

●  Create habitat for fish and wildlife.

Adequately funding these programs in the 2023 Farm Bill will help to:

●  Energize rural economies,

●  Improve climate resilience, and

●  Ensure that our nation’s farmers, ranchers, and foresters are part of the solution to climate change. Currently farms are part of the climate problem, responsible for 11% of total  greenhouse gas emissions.Additional talking points, see Farm Bill Fact Sheet

US Congressional delegation contact information:

● US Senator Ed Markey 

Email: Use the “Share Your Opinion” form at  markey.senate.gov

​​Phone: (202) 224-4543

● US Senator Elizabeth Warren

Email: Use the “Share Your Opinion” form at  warren.senate.gov

Phone: (202) 224-4543

● US Representative Jim McGovern [Rep. McGovern serves on the US House Committee on Agriculture and is a lifelong champion of farmers and of fighting climate change.]

Email: mcgovern.house.gov 

Phone: (202) 224-4543

● Your Representative

Annual Meeting Northampton Area LWV

Florence Civic Center, 90 Park St., Florence

Agenda and Annual Meeting Packet coming in mid-May.

We hope many of you can attend as this is a great time to see other league members, hear a great speaker, share some food and vote on our local program, slate of officers and the budget for 2023-2024.

https://lwvnorthamptonarea.org/2011-2/

MINUTES Board Meeting January 9, 2023, 7 p.m.

Lou Bouley called the meeting to order at 7:05.

Present were Board Members:  Lou Bouley, Randi Klein, Nancy Polan, Ann  Wedaman, Cynthia DiGeronimo, Zjemi Moulton, and Bob and Margie Riddle.  Also attending was LWVNA  members Helen Seidler, Vera Yanez and  student member Charlotte Powell 

Minutes of Meeting December 12, 2022 meeting were approved by vote. Ann Wedaman agreed to be alternate secretary while Margie Riddle is unavailable.

Treasurer’s Report – Lou Bouley presented the Treasurer’s Report.   

The balance December 1, 2022 was $28,232.27.  Income totaled $525.57.  Expenses totaled $1,119.00.  The balance December 31, 2022 was $27,638.84.  We have 119 members.

Portfolios

Voter Service – Brigid Glackin reported that we should think ahead about working at the new citizens welcome on July 4th and also the reading of the speech of Frederick Douglass.  She also spoke about being prepared ahead of time for candidate forums for fall elections probably before the November election.  Randi Klein mentioned the importance of the voter education guide that we have done with the Daily Hampshire Gazette.  Our League has also been invited to have the window at Broadside Bookshop, and Randi has agreed on our behalf.  Discussion centered around appealing to high school students about the importance of voting.

Education – Bob Riddle reported that William Wehrli has accepted appointment as Northampton High School Principal. JFK Middle School also has a new principal. A mask advisory is in place in the Northampton Public Schools because of the new advisory.

Health Care – Osa Flory was not present to provide a report.

Meeting Basic Human Needs – Cynthia DiGeronimo reported that our shelter meal team of about five people provides an evening meal once a month.  There are more than 30 teams providing these meals.  Cynthia reported that Service Net will no longer provide staffing for the shelter.  Starting April 1 Community Support Options (CSO) will direct both the Cot Shelter and Grove Street Inn.  Kelly Ben-Ezra (formerly Kelly Pereira) will be director. She is considering new directions for the shelters.  One goal being considered is to combine the two shelters into one that is available year round and 24/7.

Membership – This portfolio needs a leader.  Currently we have 121 members.  Several high school students joined through the promotion in September.  Several members offered to help with the phone-a-thon.

Natural Resources and Legislative – Nancy Polan reported working toward municipalities in our area requiring new and rehabbed housing to be net zero for affordable housing.  She has a committee 

Legislative – Nancy Polan reported that legislative action involving housing will be important in the next months.

Public Relations Suggestion – Connie Burak has met by phone with Zac Brittain, account executive at the Daily Hampshire Gazette to work toward a yearly contract with the Gazette.

She suggested also asking if we could have a monthly column in the Gazette.

Study of Issues of Homelessness in our Area – Margie Riddle reported that the study group will meet again at 4:00 January 22, 2023. The focus has centered on availability of truly affordable housing especially for low income residents working for minimum wage. The group has decided to interview key players at the local, state and national level and propose a state or national study leading toward legislation to address the need for housing.  Brigid Glackin will attend a webinar to learn about suggesting a state study.

Book Sale – The date will be September 23 or 30.  Book Collection will be July 10-28 with sorting through August 4.  

Newsletter – Lou Bouey proposed that we suggest to the membership at the annual meeting to amend the By-Laws to no longer require a newsletter six times a year.  We could suggest instead that an email go out to membership every month directing membership to our website.  Much discussion with no decision followed.

Upcoming on-line LWVMA meetings

A new dawn for climate action and climate justice virtual rally, January 11, 12 – 1 pm Go to http://lwvnorthamptonarea.org/ for the link to join the Zoom meeting (No RSVP needed)

LWVMA virtual town hall for program planning, January 11, 7 pm.  Link to register at http://lwvnorthamptonarea.org/

Next meeting – 7 p.m. Monday February 13, 2023 by zoom. Lou Bouley will set up the zoom.

Adjournment – The meeting was adjourned by Lou Bouley at 8:45. 

Respectfully submitted,

                                                Margie Riddle, Secretary