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WPCNR MILESTONES. From Benjamin Boykin Westchester County Legislator, District 5 (White Plains, Scarsdale, Harrison. April 2, 2022:

Dear Friends and Neighbors, 

I wanted to share this special occasion with you.

Sincerely,

On Monday evening, the Westchester County Board of Legislators commemorated Women’s History Month by honoring all of the women who have served the Board, in a live-streamed video presentation and ceremony.

Having elected 2 women to the top leadership positions for the first time in the Board’s history — Catherine Borgia as Chair and Nancy Barr as Vice Chair — it was fitting to pay tribute to all the women who have served the BOL since it first convened in 1970. From the start, women have been integral to this body as Legislators, and in leadership positions of Chair, Vice Chair, Majority and Minority Leader, and as Clerk.

A video comprised of personal messages from former Legislators was shown, and included segments from NYS Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, NYS Assemblywoman Sandy Galef, the Hon. Diane A. Keane-Foster, the Hon. Alfreda A. Williams, the Hon. Pearl C. Quarles, the Hon. Kitley Covill and the Hon. Ruth Walter.

They relayed anecdotes about winning their place at the table by balancing the budget, working across the aisle for economic and social equity for women and minorities, and helping to create the County Human Rights Commission.

A photo montage followed, chronicling the work of all the women Legislators which culminated with the Board’s appointment of Tajian Nelson as the first Black woman Democratic Election Commissioner at the March 7, 2022 Board meeting.

(L to R: Bottom row – Leg. Ben Boykin II, Leg. Terry Clements, Vice Chair Nancy Barr, Chair Catherine Borgia, Democratic. Election Commissioner Tajian Nelson,  Democratic County Committee  Chair Suzanne Berger, Maj. Leader Christopher Johnson, Leg. Jewel Williams Johnson, Leg. Erika Pierce, Top row – Min. Whip James Nolan, Leg. Damon Maher, Leg. Vedat Gashi, Leg. David Tubiolo, Maj. Whip Jose Alvarado)

Chair Borgia acknowledged and thanked the former women Legislators who were in the audience, asking them to stand with the women who currently serve, as pictured below. She concluded the program by remarking that it was wonderful to see all of these pictures of the women who had come before and to know of the battles they fought to benefit the current cohort. She added that everyone has an obligation, both men and women, to encourage young women to participate in government because it is clear that with equal representation, really good things happen.

(L to R Bottom row – Leg. Terry Clements, Hon. Ruth Walter, Hon. Alfreda A. Williams, Hon. Kitley Covill, Hon. Pearl C. Quarles, Chair Catherine Borgia, Vice Chair Nancy E. Barr, Top row – Leg. MaryJane Shimsky, Leg. Erika Pierce, Leg. Catherine F. Parker, Leg. Jewel Williams Johnson, Min. Leader Margaret Cunzio attended remotely)

Watch the video presentation here: https://vimeo.com/693265825

Read a program for Monday night’s event at: https://westchesterlegislators.com/images/Newsroom/2022/2022_WHM_Program.pdf

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WPCNR DAYTRIP. From the Highlands Current by Alison Rooney. April 2, 2022:

The Doors Open at Chapel Restoration

 By Alison Rooney, Arts Editor, The Highlands Current | 24 hours ago

Full calendar of live events planned for summer, fall To see the entire story go to:

https://highlandscurrent.org/2022/04/01/the-doors-open-at-chapel-restoration/

The two years in which the doors were closed were not idle ones for the volunteers who run the Restoration

 

The Chapel Restoration (Photos provided)

Bekah Tighe, a former board member, is now president, overseeing the serene site, which has been a Hudson River landmark since it was built in 1833 in Greek Revival style. As the first Catholic Church north of Manhattan, it initially served West Point Foundry workers and their families. 

After it was abandoned in 1906, the weather, fire and other elements took their toll and by 1970, it was in ruins. A group led by Academy Award winner Helen Hayes worked to restore it.

Tighe detailed some of what’s been going on, behind the scenes, since the closure.

The Chapel Restoration is located at 45 Market St. in Cold Spring, adjacent to the Metro-North station, where parking is free on weekends. For a full calendar of events, see chapelrestoration.org. Most are free, although donations are welcome. Tickets for Restoration Roadhouse and Jazz at the Chapel concerts are $25.

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WPCNR CAMPAIGN 2022. From the League of Women Voters. March 31, 2022 UPDATED 9 PM EDT:

On the day when WPCNR was visited by a canvasser collecting petition signatures for the New York State primaries, the New York Supreme Court in Steuben County has rejected the New York State reorganization of voting districts now in effect as unconstitutional, the League of Women Voters reported today.

This just in 9 PM

Governor Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James issued the following joint statement in response to the New York Supreme Court’s rejection of the state’s current redistricting plans: 

“We intend to appeal this decision.” 

The suit was filed in Steuben County (district in orange on map above) according to News 10 by 14 Steuben County residents who claimed the districts were politically motivated because 4 Republican seats were “knocked out.”

You may read the complete decision and background here:

https://www.democracydocket.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/E2022_0116CV_TIM_HARKENRIDER_et_al_v_TIM_HARKENRIDER_et_al_DECISION_AFTER_TRIAL_243.pdf

The League of Women Voters in Westchester wrote WPCNR:

In 2014, with the support of the League of Women Voters of New York State, voters approved the establishment of an Independent Redistricting Commission (IRC) to draw new district lines free from partisan bias.

A New York State Supreme Court judge’s decision today invalidated the new Congressional, State Senate and State Assembly lines adopted by the Legislature on its own initiative.

The Court found that the Legislature had failed to follow the Constitutional process approved by voters, and that the Congressional lines also violated the new anti-gerrymandering provisions of the Constitution. 

The Court ordered the Legislature to submit new maps, with bipartisan support, by April 11, 2022, or the Court will retain a neutral expert to prepare new maps.

The Court’s decision, if upheld on appeal, unsettles the 2022 election process. 

That unfortunate outcome is solely the responsibility of the state Legislature for ignoring the 2014 Constitutional amendment and the will of the voters. 

The League calls on the Legislature to promptly adopt redistricting lines with bipartisan support that comply with the Constitutional standards.

The League of Women Voters of Westchester will continue to update all as information becomes available.