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Huntington Bulletin - December 2021
by Jonathan Rosenbaum 10 Dec '21

10 Dec '21

> League Friends, Local League Presidents and State Board, > Attached is the League of Women's December newsletter. Enjoy and Merry Christmas to each of you. > > BJ & Patricia

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Climate Rally and Climate Time Capsule
by Nyoka B 29 Oct '21

29 Oct '21

Greetings everyone. Just a reminder that there will be a Climate Rally tomorrow in Charleston. See the info below. The LWVWV will have a booth there where we will be accepting Hopes, Prayers and Wishes for our climate future to add to a current project (spurred by the Climate Rally) a Climate Time Capsule to be opened in 2050. The MU James E. Morrow Library special collections will archive until then! We are certainly working to see that IPCC goals of zero emissions by that date will be met. It will also house timely news articles and efforts made by WV citizens and organizations to help curb climate change. As well, copies of requests made to our WV senators to keep the climate initiatives in the reconciliation bill and the Build Back Better plan. https://www.whitehouse.gov/build-back-better/ and more. Please see the attached Climate Capsule Cover below. *IF ANY OF YOU HAVE CONTRIBUTIONS FOR THE CLIMATE TIME CAPSULE, PLEASE EMAIL THEM TO ME. * There us still time to do so over the weekend! I won't complete the assembly until next week Nyoka. 🕊 <https://click.everyaction.com/k/38014552/313611208/-961530893?nvep=ew0KICAi…> There's nothing scarier than climate change and its debilitating impacts. From devastating floods and deadly heat waves to the health and economic costs of inaction, climate change is deeply affecting our West Virginia communities. Join us *Saturday, October 30 from 1 - 2:30 p.m*, for a *HALLOWEEN RALLY for CLIMATE ACTION* <https://click.everyaction.com/k/38014560/313611251/-961530893?nvep=ew0KICAi…>, in front of the Robert C. Byrd Federal Courthouse Building, 300 Virginia St. E., in downtown Charleston WV. Our goal is to let Senator Joe Manchin hear a wide variety of West Virginian voices, urging him to protect our land and people by standing with clean energy. We'll have music, speakers, a climate action opportunity, a photo booth to send a climate message and more. We'll hear a virtual address to the rally from Dr. Michael E. Mann one of the world's leading climate scientists. NOTE: This is a COVID mask-wearing outdoor event. Please wear masks if you come. You're welcome to wear Halloween ones, too! If you aren't vaccinated, please get with your local Health Department, physician or local healthcare provider. Your health matters. PARKING: There are lots of parking spaces in the nearby Town Center Mall parking garage and on local streets. *Thank you for taking action with West Virginia Citizen Action!*

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Halloween Rally for Climate Action as forwarded from Gary
by Nyoka B 28 Oct '21

28 Oct '21

<https://click.everyaction.com/k/38014552/313611208/-961530893?nvep=ew0KICAi…> There's nothing scarier than climate change and its debilitating impacts. From devastating floods and deadly heat waves to the health and economic costs of inaction, climate change is deeply affecting our West Virginia communities. Join us *Saturday, October 30 from 1 - 2:30 p.m*, for a *HALLOWEEN RALLY for CLIMATE ACTION* <https://click.everyaction.com/k/38014560/313611251/-961530893?nvep=ew0KICAi…>, in front of the Robert C. Byrd Federal Courthouse Building, 300 Virginia St. E., in downtown Charleston WV. Our goal is to let Senator Joe Manchin hear a wide variety of West Virginian voices, urging him to protect our land and people by standing with clean energy. We'll have music, speakers, a climate action opportunity, a photo booth to send a climate message and more. We'll hear a virtual address to the rally from Dr. Michael E. Mann one of the world's leading climate scientists. NOTE: This is a COVID mask-wearing outdoor event. Please wear masks if you come. You're welcome to wear Halloween ones, too! If you aren't vaccinated, please get with your local Health Department, physician or local healthcare provider. Your health matters. PARKING: There are lots of parking spaces in the nearby Town Center Mall parking garage and on local streets. *Thank you for taking action with West Virginia Citizen Action!*

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October 2021 Member Newsletter
by LWV Morgantown-Monongalia County 16 Oct '21

16 Oct '21

Fall Member Meeting Coming Up - OCT 24 View this email in your browser (https://mailchi.mp/39a12a6fb206/spring-2021-member-newsletter-14933559?e=b7…) October 2021 Empowering Voters. Defending Democracy. ** Contents ------------------------------------------------------------ * Fall Member Meeting * Fall Member Meeting: Zoom Invitation * President's Message * LWV-MM Report on Voters Service * LWV-MM Report on Redistricting * LWV-MM Report on Broadband Access or Lack Thereof * JOIN US * MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION * WELCOME NEW MEMBERS! ** Fall Member Meeting ------------------------------------------------------------ ** October 24, 2021, 6:00 p.m. ------------------------------------------------------------ ** Featured Speaker: Carye Blaney, Monongalia County Clerk ------------------------------------------------------------ ** Topic: The For the People Act ------------------------------------------------------------ Due to COVID, this meeting will be held virtually. Zoom information below. Usually the Fall Meeting is an opportunity for members to socialize and hear an interesting speaker on a timely topic. Sadly, the pandemic has made in-person socializing risky, so we’ll each have to bring our own punch and cookies and assemble in our homes. One thing the pandemic doesn't change: we’ll still have an interesting speaker on a timely topic. Our speaker will be Carye Blaney, Monongalia County Clerk. Carye has been our County Clerk since 2007 and although her office is responsible for many county functions (including recording real estate documents, handling probate estates, recording births and deaths), we in the League mostly associate her with voting. As County Clerk, Carye is responsible for ensuring that citizens are able to register or change their voter registrations, and that they can use those registrations to vote at a secure location and that they can be confident that all votes cast will be honestly counted. Carye will be speaking with us about the Freedom To Vote Act. The Freedom to Vote Act is the compromise version of the For the People Act currently being considered by Congress and is co-sponsored by Senator Manchin. The Act proposes to promote racial justice, thwart the assault on voting rights occurring in many states, set national standards to protect the freedom to vote, and it addresses many other issues. You can get more information on the Act at: https://lwvwv.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4cfc532d297ffd33b5a9c2322&… (https://lwvwv.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4cfc532d297ffd33b5a9c2322&… ) Please join us as we welcome Carye and if you have questions about the Act, we will have a short question and answer period after her presentation. ------------------------------------------------------------ ** Fall Member Meeting: Zoom Invitation ------------------------------------------------------------ LWV Morgantown-Monongalia County is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. Topic: LWV-MM Fall Member Meeting Time: Oct 24, 2021 06:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting https://lwvwv.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4cfc532d297ffd33b5a9c2322&… Meeting ID: 836 1806 4534 Passcode: 299770 One tap mobile +13017158592,,83618064534#,,,,*299770# US (Washington DC) +13126266799,,83618064534#,,,,*299770# US (Chicago) Dial by your location +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC) +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 929 205 6099 US (New York) +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) Meeting ID: 836 1806 4534 Passcode: 299770 Find your local number: https://lwvwv.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4cfc532d297ffd33b5a9c2322&… ** President's Message ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ It is always challenging to figure out where to start one of these messages -- especially when it is your first as the new president of our League. As I have probably not met many of you yet, I wanted to take a moment and introduce myself and explain why I am a member of the League. My name is Sarah Barnes and I live in Morgantown with my husband, Steven Marra, our teenage daughters, and our faithful (to me, anyway) dog, Murray. I joined the League after meeting Shirley and Jonathan Rosenbaum in 2017 at an event at the old Erickson Alumni Center (before they transformed it into the WVU Art Museum). Shirley simply asked me if I would be interested in joining the League of Women Voters and, without hesitation, I said that I would. If you recall, there seemed to be a growing awareness in 2017 that we were headed for contentious times. Fighting gerrymandering, helping people register to vote (and be able to vote), and learning more about who was running for office at all levels were things I felt were exceedingly important. I’m glad I joined, but the challenges to our voting rights that were only hinted at in 2017 are more pressing than ever now. Which brings me to today. When I was asked if I would consider being nominated to serve as the League President, I was concerned that I would not have enough time to offer our organization and be effective. I’m happy to say, that with the assistance of past-president and current secretary Vicki Conner, our new vice-president Judy Ball, treasurer Lyndell Millechia, the rest of the board (Jonathan and Shirley Rosenbaum, Nancy Ulrich, Marly Ynigues, Carol Barnes, and Penny Thomas), and our dedicated members, those concerns have eased. We have adopted a great program which focuses on specific areas (voter services, social justice, broadband access, and more) that have a huge impact on voting rights and voter education and information. We are looking forward to the challenges of 2022 and are already working hard to fight for fair redistricting maps, supporting efforts to protect our rights and access to the ballot, and register voters. In 2022, we will continue to step up our efforts to register voters in Monongalia County and educate and inform through candidate forums. Monongalia County has a large student population, many of whom have not registered or updated their registration for our county. We have a great opportunity to increase the number of students who are registered to vote by increasing our voter registration outreach to them. But to do that we need your help. If you are interested in serving on committees working with voter services, social justice, broadband, or the other areas the League is involved in, please let us know! Email lwvmorgantown(a)gmail.com (mailto:lwvmorgantown@gmail.com) and let us know if you would like to help by serving on subcommittees for any of our program efforts: * Voters Service - Coordinator: Vicki Conner * Social Justice - Coordinator: Marly Ynigues * Broadband Access - Coordinator: Sarah Barnes * Other Areas: Local Government, Natural Resources, Education - Need volunteer coordinator(s) As always, thank you for being a member of the League of Women Voters Morgantown-Monongalia County. I look forward to meeting all of you when we get back to safely meeting in-person. Until then, I’ll settle for seeing you all on October 24 at 6:00 p.m. on Zoom. See you then! - Sarah Barnes ** LWV-MM Report on Voters Service ------------------------------------------------------------ In 2021, most of the election activity has been legislative activity. More on that below. 2021 has been an off-election year except for local City Council and Education Excess Levy elections, but 2022 will be an interesting one to watch. Here’s a link to the WV Secretary of State site with details about the 2022 election season. https://lwvwv.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4cfc532d297ffd33b5a9c2322&… We will be electing: * U.S. House of Representatives * County Commission * State Senate * County Clerk * House of Delegates * Circuit Clerk * State Executive Committee * Board of Education * District Executive Committees: Congressional, Senatorial, and Delegate * County Executive Committee * Conservation District Supervisor As usual, the League will be sponsoring forums for the various local offices, so watch for those dates to be announced in Fall 2022. Remarkably, more than 400 bills relating to voting access were introduced in 49 states in the 2021 legislative sessions and many new voting laws have been passed. In fact, 18 states have passed 30 laws that adversely impact a citizen’s right to vote. You can find details about these laws and their impacts on www.brennancenter.org. However, 2021 has not been all bad news for voters’ rights. The Brennan Center reports that at least 25 states enacted 54 laws with provisions to expand voting. “…These laws expand access to early and mail voting, make voter registration easier, and restore voting rights to Americans with past convictions, among other measures. Many of the states in which voting is already comparatively more accessible are the same as those enacting policies to further strengthen voting access, deepening a national divide such that the promise of the right to vote depends increasingly on where Americans happen to live [emphasis added]. More than 900 bills with expansive provisions have been introduced in 49 states in the 2021 legislative sessions…” In WV, SB 565, endorsed by Secretary of State Warner, would have reduced the number of days for early voting and voting by absentee ballots, supposedly to give the County Clerks more time to get the poll books ready for Election Day. That bill passed handily in the Senate but died in the House Judiciary Committee. We will need to be alert to other voting changes in the 2022 Legislative session. Congressional Democrats have proposed bills to restrict the ability of states to negatively impact voting rights. The For The People Act has morphed into the Freedom To Vote Act in an attempt to garner the 60 votes needed to pass it. Senator Manchin is one of the authors of the amended Act. So far there has been no indication that 10 Republicans will vote for it, so some actions to limit the filibuster might be required. Unfortunately, Senator Manchin and others have previously expressed a negative view on changes to the filibuster, so passage is very much up in the air. And there has not been much activity on the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, which seeks to reinvigorate the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and reinstate some Federal control over which states can impose laws restricting voting rights. You can find good information on that at https://lwvwv.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4cfc532d297ffd33b5a9c2322&… - Vicki Conner ** LWV-MM Report on Redistricting ------------------------------------------------------------ Every 10 years, as instructed by the U.S. Constitution, a Census of the entire U.S. population is conducted and those counts form the basis for allocating members of the U.S. House of Representatives among the 50 States. The Census is also used by each State for redrawing Legislative districts. For West Virginia districts for the Senate and House of Delegates must be re-evaluated and re-drawn according to Federal and State law. It is likely that the 2020 Census and subsequent redistricting will always carry an asterisk [*]. First, there were lawsuits over whether the Census could include a question about citizenship (the courts ultimately said no). Then came the pandemic, and Census data collection -- the part that involves direct contact with people who didn't respond by mail or electronically -- was temporarily suspended due to safety concerns. Of course, that resulted in the data collection going longer than initially planned, but then data collection was cut off before the final deadline (an inexplicable late change). All the delays in collection and processing backed up delivery of data to the states, which backed up state efforts to work on their redistricting plans, and on and on. Maybe multiple asterisks are in order. Regardless, the “final” Census data were delivered on August 12, 2021, so the states could begin their work. (For comparison, the 2010 Census data for redistricting were delivered to the states during February-March 2010.) In WV, the delays resulted in a severely truncated timeframe for the Legislature to complete its redistricting work. Under WV law, anyone running for election in 2022 must reside in their district one year prior to the 2022 election. Thus, the new districts must be in place prior to November 8, 2021. Further complicating the WV redistricting process in 2021 are two other factors: 1. Our loss of one seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Previously, WV has had three representatives in Congress. Beginning in 2022, that number will shrink to two due to the state's extraordinary loss of population over the past decade. Those two new districts will still need to meet Constitutional standards for population equality, compactness, and adherence to county boundaries. 2. Reconfiguration of House of Delegates districts. Previously, the 100 members of the House of Delegates were divided among single-member and multi-member districts. For example, the whole 51st district, which covers the bulk of Monongalia County, is represented by five Delegates. But in 2018, the Legislature passed a law to change that. Multi-member districts will go away, and the Legislature will have to draw 100 single-member districts out of 55 counties. Those districts will still need to meet Constitutional standards for population equality, compactness, adherence to county boundaries and communities of interest. WV legislators got a head start by assembling a Joint Committee on Redistricting, June 7, 2021. Dates for public hearings were announced on July 8, with procedures for public hearings announced on July 23. Between July 27 and September 16, twelve in-person public hearings were conducted in venues all across the state. The hearing in Morgantown was among the most heavily (if not the most heavily) attended. Three virtual public hearings were conducted from September 20 to September 22. The Joint Committee has posted all of the hearings on YouTube at https://lwvwv.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4cfc532d297ffd33b5a9c2322&…. Maps! Unfortunately, the Joint Committee did not make any proposed maps available prior to or during the public hearings so that the public could direct their comments toward particular features. Some states have laws that require maps to be a part of the public hearing process; WV has no such mandate. The first proposed maps were rolled out publicly in Committee hearings: * The Senate Committee has met multiple times, September 23, 30, October, 6, 7, 8. During their first meeting, the Senate Committee adopted a rule that proposed maps would be posted at least 24 hours in advance of discussion, to give the public an opportunity to comment. They have adhered to that rule, so far. * The House Committee has met only once, September 30. The Committee unveiled several Congressional maps and one map of House of Delegates districts. None of the maps has been discussed publicly. * All public comments are posted on the Joint Committee’s website. However, none of the meeting materials (other than agendas and maps) are posted. The Governor has called a Special Session of the Legislature to begin the week of October 11. The exact process for how the proposed redistricting maps will be taken up has not been revealed at this writing. We may know the fate of Monongalia County in the redistricting process, however, by our fall meeting. - Judy Ball ** LWV-MM Report on Broadband Access or Lack Thereof ------------------------------------------------------------ From the Local Program for 2021-22: The pandemic proved that education, community engagement, and achievement of the LWV’s other priorities depend on access to 21st century digital infrastructure, a need that will not expire when the pandemic is over. 2021-2022 Priority: Advocate for and support access to high-speed, affordable broadband for all residents, schools, libraries, and businesses in the county and state. Current Status: There is statewide acknowledgement that broadband services are sorely lacking, especially outside the larger communities of WV. Those of us living in Morgantown have several options for internet providers and packages within those provider companies, but you don’t have to travel far into the County to see service degrade and disappear. Pieces of the Bureaucratic Puzzle In the 2017 Legislative session, the West Virginia Broadband Enhancement Council was established, with the primary emphasis being the development of broadband infrastructure in unserved and underserved areas of the State. As stated in WV Code, “... it is a primary goal of the Governor, the Legislature and the citizens of this state, by the year 2020, to make every municipality, community, and rural area in this state, border to border, accessible to Internet communications through the expansion, extension and general availability of broadband services and technology…” Obviously we haven’t achieved the 2020 goal, and you can see more about the Council at https://lwvwv.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4cfc532d297ffd33b5a9c2322&… In early 2021, the WV Department of Commerce created a new “Office of Broadband” which is tasked with coordinating the state’s efforts around implementation of a statewide broadband system. It isn’t clear how this office will interact with the Broadband Enhancement Council. In June 2021 the West Virginia Broadband Investment Program was initiated. This program will use the ARPA funds to expand broadband. The ARPA will dedicate $2.17 billion to West Virginia through various funding streams. The Capital Projects Fund includes $138 million for broadband development in West Virginia. “The focus of the Capital Projects Fund on the continuing need for connectivity in response to the COVID-19 pandemic complements the broader range of uses, including for broadband infrastructure, of the American Rescue Plan’s separate $350 billion Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds.” (from Broadband Enhancement Council June 20, 2021 https://lwvwv.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4cfc532d297ffd33b5a9c2322&… What’s Happening Locally In April 2021 the Monongalia County Commission announced a tentative timeline for implementing a broadband strategy. They have since chosen Ice Miller Whiteboard, a consulting firm, to do a feasibility study and develop a strategic plan. In a town hall on Sept 29, Commissioner Sikora said that surveys are ongoing and as of that date, about 1700 citizens have participated. There has been no official timeline announced for what comes next. It is not clear how this Mon County initiative intersects with the state effort. The League of Women Voters Morgantown/Monongalia County will continue to advocate for expansion of broadband across the state and especially across our own region. We will try to put the puzzle together and will keep you updated in future newsletters. - Vicki Conner ** JOIN US ------------------------------------------------------------ The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan organization. Providing nonpartisan information and promoting democracy count among our major priorities. Join or renew your membership in the League today to help us carry on this mission. Also, feel free to forward this email to your friends who may be interested in the League's activities. We are eager to add to our ranks. Renew Your Membership Today! (https://lwvwv.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4cfc532d297ffd33b5a9c2322&…) ** MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION ------------------------------------------------------------ When you become a member of the Morgantown-Monongalia County League of Women Voters, you are also a member of the LWV-US and the LWV-WV. Membership in the League is open to all persons (not just women) over the age of 16. Annual dues are $48 for an individual, $72 for a household (two at the same address), and $5 for a student. Checks should be made to LWV Morgantown-Mon County and mailed to: Lyndell Millecchia, 476 Lawnview Drive, Morgantown, WV 26505. You can also pay with credit card or PayPal at https://lwvwv.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4cfc532d297ffd33b5a9c2322&…. Dues must be received by December 31 to meet the LWV-US membership deadline. If you are unsure about whether your dues are paid, email Lyndell at millecchia(a)comcast.net. The League also welcomes and encourages contributions to support our work. Membership dues and contributions to the League of Women Voters are not deductible as personal or business expenses for tax purposes. ** WELCOME NEW MEMBERS! ------------------------------------------------------------ ** Lynda Goldberg Kenneth Martin Marly Ynigues ------------------------------------------------------------ ============================================================ Copyright © 2021 League of Women Voters Morgantown Monongalia, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website. Our mailing address is: League of Women Voters Morgantown Monongalia 531 Woodland Cir Morgantown, WV 26505-2335 USA Want to change how you receive these emails? You can ** update your preferences (https://lwvwv.us20.list-manage.com/profile?u=4cfc532d297ffd33b5a9c2322&id=1…) or ** unsubscribe from this list (https://lwvwv.us20.list-manage.com/unsubscribe?u=4cfc532d297ffd33b5a9c2322&…) . Email Marketing Powered by Mailchimp http://www.mailchimp.com/email-referral/?utm_source=freemium_newsletter&utm…

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Upcoming Events: Redistricting; Climate, Jobs and Justice; Suffrage Celebration
by Julie Archer 16 Aug '21

16 Aug '21

The WV Legislature's Joint Committee on Redistricting is continuing to hold public hearings now through September 16. The next public hearing is tomorrow, August 17, in Martinsburg. Dates for three virtual public hearings have yet to be announced. See the full schedule and other redistricting information and resources compiled by our Fair Maps Committee here. [1] ----- The West Virginia Climate Alliance and a number of other organizations are holding a virtual public forum on Tuesday, August 24th from 7 to 8:30 pm. Climate, Jobs and Justice: A public forum on West Virginia's future is designed to educate and inform the public where climate policy stands in Congress and what people can do to impact this policy. Collin O'Mara, President and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation, will be joined by Pam Nixon of West Virginia NAACP, Jeremy Richardson of Unions of Concerned Scientist, and Sean O'Leary of Ohio River Valley Institute. It's a great lineup. Register here: Meeting Registration - Zoom [2] Over the next two months we will either adopt significant policy addressing the climate crisis or fail once again to make meaningful reforms. Please share the attached invitation with anyone who might be interested. ----- On August 26, please grab your favorite drink and join Planned Parenthood Votes! South Atlantic for their Cocktails for a Cause: Celebration of Suffrage. Panelists include: South Carolina State Senator Margie Bright Matthews; Executive Director of the New North Carolina Project, Aimy Steele; and Effie Kallas, Co-President of the League of Women Voters of West Virginia. Register for FREE today. [3] Thursday, August 26, 2021 6:00 - 6:30 p.m. via Zoom As we commemorate the 101st anniversary of suffrage for many American women, we also recognize the ongoing fight for voting rights. States across the country have introduced a surge of legislation that would make it harder to cast a ballot, particularly targeting people of color, people with low-income, and young people. Voter suppression directly impedes our ability to control our bodies and plan our futures. These political attacks are a tremendous threat to what we stand for. Cocktails for a Cause [4] will feature an exciting panel discussion on Planned Parenthood Votes! South Atlantic's role in getting out the vote in 2022, and standing against voter suppression. Register today! [5] Your support makes it possible for Planned Parenthood Votes! West Virginia PAC to expand and protect reproductive health and rights in West Virginia. BECOME AN EVENT SPONSOR [6] or register here for free. [7] ----- Julie Archer (she/her/hers) Co-President (304) 610-9094 (cell) Links: ------ [1] https://lwvwv.org/redistricting-information-resources/ [2] https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYsceuvqzkqHtWHMZ-j7Pw3KjMLmBd9zP… [3] https://click.everyaction.com/k/33838848/300105240/1311666298?nvep=ew0KICAi… [4] https://click.everyaction.com/k/33838858/300105247/1311666298?nvep=ew0KICAi… [5] https://click.everyaction.com/k/33838863/300105254/1311666298?nvep=ew0KICAi… [6] https://click.everyaction.com/k/33838870/300105260/1311666298?nvep=ew0KICAi… [7] https://click.everyaction.com/k/33838877/300105271/1311666298?nvep=ew0KICAi…

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Action Alert: WV Water Protections Under Revision – Act by July 19
by Julie Archer 11 Aug '21

11 Aug '21

We're sharing this important Action Alert from our friends at the WV Rivers Coalition. All Hands on Deck: WV Water Protections Under Revision A recent a policy decision by the WVDEP related to water quality standards creates a loophole to allow industries to dump more toxins in our source water. This proposal is part of a second round of human health criteria revisions - the portion of our water quality standards that protects our health from dangerous pollutants like cancer causing toxins, chemicals known to cause birth-defects, and poisons like cyanide. Submit comments on the proposal today! [1] This policy is dangerous for West Virginia. Not only will it allow more toxins in our drinking water sources, it creates a shortcut for polluters to allow EVEN MORE toxins in our water with less public involvement. Ways this policy puts our health and our water at risk: * The proposal creates a loophole for industry to further weaken the human health criteria on a case-by-case basis if industry funds a study that sways the WVDEP to decide that water and fish can handle more toxins. * This is handout to big corporations, who can afford the studies. Hint: chemical manufacturers asked for this loophole, so we are pretty sure they can afford these studies and are confident they believe they can demonstrate results in their favor. * There is already a process in place to revise water quality standards. The revision sidesteps that procedure by creating a shortcut that reduces scrutiny and public input in decision-making. * The loophole exacerbates environmental justice issues by allowing more toxins in waters near industrialized areas, which are often poorer communities that are already struggling with problems related to social, economic, and environmental justice. * On top of all these factors, it's just plain old bad policy. It's_ _vague and sets a precedent for further weakening of water quality standards statewide. This is an all hand on deck call to action! You can submit comments on the proposal through July 19 here [1]. It's important for the WVDEP to hear personalized responses from commenters. Think about how the policy change would affect you and your loved ones personally. In addition to submitting written comments, please plan to join the virtual public hearing on the proposal on July 19 at 6:00PM [2]. Links: ------ [1] https://wvrivers.salsalabs.org/hhc2021/index.html [2] https://dep.wv.gov/events/Pages/event.aspx?eventid=363

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Young WV Week of Action; Redistricting Public Hearings
by Julie Archer 26 Jul '21

26 Jul '21

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this email reversed that dates for the Morgantown & Martinsburg Young WV rallies. Today kicks off a Week of Action organized by Young West Virginia [1]. They are hosting rallies across the state to help garner community action in support of the For the People Act, John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, and D.C. Statehood. These pro-democracy reforms are our once in a generation opportunity to protect our freedom to vote, end partisan and racial gerrymandering, and get dark money out of politics. Join a rally near you. Events are happening in: * Monday July 26, Charleston - RSVP here [2] - Facebook Event [3] * Tuesday July 27, Huntington - RSVP here [4] - Facebook Event [5] * Thursday July 29, Bluefield - RSVP here [6] - Facebook Event [7] * Friday July 30, Morgantown - RSVP here [8] * Saturday July 31, Martinsburg - RSVP here [9] Join Young WV's week of action and play a part in fulfilling the promise of our democracy. This week is also the start of a series of listening sessions hosted by the Legislature's Joint Committee on Redistricting, with public hearings in Winfield (Tuesday 7/27) and Logan (Thursday 7/29). All 12 in-person public hearings will take place from 6 to 8 PM, with doors opening at 5:30 PM to begin the sign-in process. Anyone who would like to be guaranteed an opportunity to speak during the hearings will need to be present to sign in by 6 PM. See the full schedule and other redistricting information and resources compiled by our Fair Maps Committee here. [10] Let's take advantage of the upcoming hearings to let legislators know that when it comes to our districts, we want a transparent process we can trust, where communities remain whole and where voters have an equal voice. Thanks for all you do! Julie -- Julie Archer Co-President, League of Women Voters of West Virginia (304) 610-9094 (cell) Links: ------ [1] https://www.facebook.com/youngwestvirginia/ [2] https://www.mobilize.us/dfadcoalition/event/402408/ [3] https://www.facebook.com/events/1658370897701899 [4] https://www.mobilize.us/dfadcoalition/event/402409/ [5] https://www.facebook.com/events/308223144373789 [6] https://www.mobilize.us/dfadcoalition/event/402410/ [7] https://www.facebook.com/events/1307742959661053 [8] https://www.mobilize.us/dfadcoalition/event/402411/ [9] https://www.mobilize.us/dfadcoalition/event/402412/ [10] https://lwvwv.org/redistricting-information-resources/ 

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Young WV Week of Action; Redistricting Public Hearings
by Julie Archer 26 Jul '21

26 Jul '21

Today kicks off a Week of Action organized by Young West Virginia [1]. They are hosting rallies across the state to help garner community action in support of the For the People Act, John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, and D.C. Statehood. These pro-democracy reforms are our once in a generation opportunity to protect our freedom to vote, end partisan and racial gerrymandering, and get dark money out of politics. Join a rally near you. Events are happening in: * July 26th Charleston * July 27th Huntington * July 29th Bluefield * July 30th Martinsburg * July 31st Morgantown You can find events and RSVP here [2]. This week is also the start of a series of listening sessions hosted by the Legislature's Joint Committee on Redistricting, with public hearings in Winfield (Tuesday 7/27) and Logan (Thursday 7/29). All 12 in-person public hearings will take place from 6 to 8 PM, with doors opening at 5:30 PM to begin the sign-in process. Anyone who would like to be guaranteed an opportunity to speak during the hearings will need to be present to sign in by 6 PM. See the full schedule and other redistricting information and resources compiled by our Fair Maps Committee here. [3] Let's take advantage of the upcoming hearings to let legislators know that when it comes to our districts, we want a transparent process we can trust, where communities remain whole and where voters have an equal voice. Thanks for all you do! Julie -- Julie Archer Co-President, League of Women Voters of West Virginia (304) 610-9094 (cell) Links: ------ [1] https://www.facebook.com/youngwestvirginia/ [2] https://www.mobilize.us/dfadcoalition/?country=US&end_date=2021-08-01T0… [3] https://lwvwv.org/redistricting-information-resources/ 

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Join Us Thursday for Redistricting for the People Teach-In
by Julie Archer 15 Jun '21

15 Jun '21

A friendly reminder about our Redisticting For the People! Teach-In on redistricting and the For the People Act. Who: League of Women Voters of West Virginia & special guests What: Redistricting for the People! Teach-In [1] When: Thursday, June 17 at 7 PM Where: Facebook Live [2] or Zoom Why: We will discuss how the redistricting process is going to work this year, how the For the People Act would impact it in the future, and what you can do to get involved. Click here to register [1]. Special guests include Delegates Barbara Fleischauer & Evan Hansen, who have sponsored bills to establish and independent redistricting commission, and Senator Charles Trump, Co-Chair of the WV Legislature's Joint Committee on Redistricting. We look forward to seeing you on Thursday! Links: ------ [1] https://www.mobilize.us/dfadcoalition/event/395760/ [2] https://www.facebook.com/events/828015494755862

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Join Us Thursday for Redistricting for the People Teach-In
by Julie Archer 12 Jun '21

12 Jun '21

Join the League of Women Voters of West Virginia for a teach-in on redistricting and the For the People Act! Who: League of Women Voters of West Virginia & special guests What: Redistricting for the People! Teach-In [1] When: Thursday, June 17 at 7 PM Where: Facebook Live [2] or Zoom Why: We will discuss how the redistricting process is going to work this year, how the For the People Act would impact it in the future, and what you can do to get involved. Click here to register [1]. Speakers include Delegates Barbara Fleischauer & Evan Hansen with Moderator Effie Kallas from Co-President of LWV-WV. We look forward to seeing you on Thursday! Links: ------ [1] https://www.mobilize.us/dfadcoalition/event/395760/ [2] https://www.facebook.com/events/828015494755862

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