The Program of the League of Women Voters of Albany County (LWVAC) consists of (A) those local government issues chosen for concerted study and action at the Annual Meeting, and (B) action to implement LWV Principles.

 

Local Program issues  are situated within the County of Albany or any municipality or special district within Albany County. 

The League’s public policy positions at the National (LWVUS) and State (LWVNYS) level inform the development of local issues and positions. In addition to the local Program, LWVAC also advocates for active positions of LWVUS and LWVNYS. Summaries can be found in Impact on Issues documents, here for the LWVUS and here for the LWVNYS.

Promote Government Transparency

• Increase citizen participation in the political process.
• Review and assess local municipal plans, goals and achievements.
• Develop and maintain an active Observer Corps.
• Increase municipal and local visibility through volunteers who will report on local events; also consider and evaluate outreach efforts by localities intended to inform the voters.

Encourage Voter and Citizen Participation

• Encourage citizens to become knowledgeable about the issues through our scheduled educational events throughout the year.
• Provide civic education, including those in under-represented populations, such as young people, newly eligible-to-vote individuals, and those who are incarcerated or experiencing homelessness, equipping them to exercise their right to vote.
• Study and then address the funding of public libraries within Albany County as moved at the LWVAC Member luncheon in February 2024.

Uphold Health Policy

• Advocate for health care policies that support bodily autonomy throughout the lifespan; and for adequate resources, access, and financing, especially in underserved areas, school-based care, long term care, reproductive health services, mental health and substance abuse mitigation programs including tobacco control.

Address Criminal Justice Reform policies

• Advocate against policies and practices that are disproportionate in the treatment of marginalized communities and communities of color; identify and monitor these practices in local courts, policing and prosecution.
• Promote police and law enforcement standards that are effective in reducing crime without denying rights of individuals.
•  Support the development and funding of programs that serve as alternatives to incarceration.
•  Defend and support programs which promote successful reentry into the community of those who have been incarcerated.

Environment Advocacy¹

• Continue to develop the study group monitoring Albany County’s progress towards meeting the greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals of NYS’ Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) and advocate for practices that will help meet that goal.
• Raise awareness of and advocate against proposals and activities that will cause environmental harm in Albany County and for proposals that will strengthen the health of our environment, support biodiversity and build climate resilience.
• Advocate for policies that will lead to a decline in the initial production of waste and facilitate the transfer of discarded items and components, without adding to the burden of environmental injustices historically impacting Albany County.

[1] Also as reflected in the original Four County Waste Position initially passed in 1991; updated, revised and ratified at the 2022 Annual Meeting; adopted state-wide at the LWVNYS Convention in 2023-2024.

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