On May 2nd, the Somers Town Board convened its work session. Some of us were there to thank the Town Board for refusing to entertain a resolution opposing the Reproductive Health Act that Carmel and the Putnam County Legislature had passed in April.
Thank you to the handmaids who came out, representing the chattel from the Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood.
Speak Up – Speak Out! Women’s lives depend on it.
Thank you to the handmaids who came out, representing the chattel from the Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood.
Speak Up – Speak Out! Women’s lives depend on it.
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Anti-choice extremists are on a rampage. They are showing up in mobs at town hall meetings, county legislative sessions and in the streets – demanding the passage of a resolution to repeal the Reproductive Health Act.
And WCLA PAC & Choice Matters are there every step of the way – standing up for you & against them! We are speaking out & talking back, making sure that the truth (not fake facts) get out there.
This is all about the 2019 & 2020 elections.
These zealots are energizing their supporters. Their plan – & it’s a good one – is to get their supporters really revved up by dangling red meat. They are betting, just like Donald Trump is, that abortion-rights haters will turn out to vote in the 2019 Westchester County & town elections, and in 2020 to take back the New York State Senate.
We need your financial support to get out the vote for our pro-choice candidates, to publish our Bright Yellow Voting Guide, & to continue to stand up & fight back against these reproductive rights haters.
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Every year, political parties select judicial candidates to run for office. This year, in Westchester, there are 2 seats open on Family Court and 2 on County Court, & on the Supreme Court 9th Judicial District there are 4 seats.
The Democratic party holds its judicial convention for the Family & County Court seats on Tuesday, February 12, 2019. The Democratic Convention for Supreme Court candidates will be held in mid-August.
Choice Matters interviews the candidates for the different courts to determine which candidates are pro-choice and which are anti-choice.
Judges, like all individuals, bring their personal biases to the bench when they hear a case. Therefore, a judicial candidate’s view of reproductive rights is important at the local/County level, just as it is for the US Supreme Court.
Given the political climate we are living in, no interviews could be more important.
The Following Candidates for County Court have been rated “PRO-CHOICE”: ALEX EISEMANN EVAN INLAW MELISSA A. LOEHR ROBERT J. PRISCO AMY S. PUERTO NOAH D. SORKIN MICHAEL TAWIL
The Following Candidate for County Court has been rated “ANTI-CHOICE”: Tim Lewis
The Following Candidates for Family Court have been rated “PRO-CHOICE”: LISA BOSLOW DORMAN JERRICE DUCKETTE EPPS KERI A. FIORE SHARI GORDON WAYNE HUMPHREY NICHELLE JOHNSON THOMAS QUINONES MARY ANNE SCATTARETICO-NABER MAURICE DEAN WILLIAMS
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VOTE NYC Public Advocate Election Tuesday, February 26, 2019 (please share this with your friends who are NYC voters)
The NYC Public Advocate’s office may be the first stop for women in NYC who are having trouble accessing their rights under the Reproductive Health Act.
WCLA Pac does not usually endorse candidates in NYC for Public Advocate (PA). However, given the importance of the PA’s office, we want to share with you our concerns about one candidate.
We got to know Jumaane Williams last year during the Lt Governor’s raceand found hemisrepresentedhis record on abortion rights.
In our book, he is not to be trusted with women’s healthcare – especially with so many other candidates running.
With Roe v Wade in jeopardy, we must insist that all of our elected officials are 100% pro-choice.
Election Day is NOW!
NOT Voting CANNOT be an Option!
To protect a Woman’s Right to Control her Own Body, VOTE for: **Andrew Cuomo/Kathy Hochul for Governor/Lt. Governor **Letitia James for Attorney General **Kirsten Gillibrand for US Senator **For Supreme Court Justice/9th Judicial District
>Hal Greenwald
>Kathie Davidson
>William Giacomo
>David Everett
>Barry Warhit
>Joan Lefkowitz
**Sean Patrick Maloney for Congress CD 18
**James Skoufis for NYS Senate SD 39
**Peter Harckham for NYS Senate SD 40
**David Buchwald for NYS Assembly AD 93
**Vedate Gashi for NYS Assembly AD 94
**Sandy Galef for NYS Assembly AD 95
WCLA PAC
ENDORSES
KATHY HOCHUL
for NYS LT. GOVERNOR
“WCLA PAC is proud to endorse Kathy Hochul for New York Lieutenant Governor. With the US Supreme Court on the verge of overturning Roe v. Wade, New York women need a Lieutenant Governor who is committed to making New York a reproductive rights sanctuary – and that starts with the passage of the Reproductive Health Act. Kathy Hochul is that person. New York women cannot afford a candidate who is “evolving”, like her opponent. We need experienced leadership. As a former Member of Congress and as New York’s Lieutenant Governor, Kathy Hochul has demonstrated that she is an outspoken proponent of women’s comprehensive reproductive health care and is willing to fight for it. We stand with Kathy Hochul.”
WCLA PAC
ENDORSES
ANDREA STEWART-COUSINS
for NYS Senate NYS Senate District #35
(Greenburgh, Scarsdale, parts of New Rochelle, of White Plains & of Yonkers)
“At a time of real crisis in America, we must do everything in our power to protect the women of New York. We stand united with Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins to make New York State a Reproductive Rights Sanctuary.”
WCLA PAC
ENDORSES
ALESSANDRA BIAGGI
for NYS Senate NYS Senate District #34
(Pelham, parts of Mt. Vernon, & parts of the Bronx)
“The sitting president and anti-choice Republican-controlled Congress now in Washington DC are chomping at the bit to appoint the next anti-choice extremist nominee to the US Supreme Court. Those same people continue to strip women of all of our constitutional rights to control our own bodies. We must secure women’s rights here in New York State. That starts by electing Alessandra Biaggi to the New York State Senate.“
WCLA PAC
ENDORSES
JULIE GOLDBERG
for NYS Senate NYS Senate District #38
(Westchester County: Town of Ossining including the Village of Ossining & Briarcliff Manor & Rockland County: Towns of Clarkstown, Orangetown & Ramapo including Nyack, Suffern, Spring Valley & New City.)
“Julie Goldberg stands in sharp contrast to her opponent who has stood as a major roadblock in advancing women’s health care.JulieGoldberg is dedicated to the passage of: the Reproductive Health Act, the Comprehensive Contraceptive Coverage Act and the New York State Fair Pay Act. It is time to elect a true pro-choice ally to represent District #38 – It is time for Julie Goldberg!”
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Today was a great day. We came out in support of NYS Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins!
Voters, Have Your Say! VOTE on THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 13TH- It’s PRIMARY DAY.
Excerpts from the remarks made by the Reproductive Rights Advocates present to endorse Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins:
“At a time of real crisis in America, when the sitting president and anti-choice Republican-controlled Congress are committed to stripping women of all of our constitutional rights to control our own bodies; when the president’s nominee for the US Supreme Court is an outspoken opponent of abortion rights and committed to overturning Roe v. Wade, we must do everything in our power to protect the women of New York. We must stand united with Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins to make New York State a Reproductive Rights Sanctuary.” Catherine Lederer-Plaskett, Westchester Coalition for Legal Abortion PAC
“Senator Stewart-Cousins has never backed up or backed down when it comes to fighting for our state’s women and girls. With endless attacks on reproductive rights on the federal level, we must have leaders like Andrea Stewart-Cousins who will fight for the freedoms essential to all New Yorkers. It’s time to elect a senate leader that will give a voice to the voiceless and fight for essential protections to shield us from federal attacks. We need Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins,” said Robin Chappelle Golston, President & CEO, Planned Parenthood Empire State Acts.
“Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins is a consummate champion for reproductive rights and abortion access. She embodies New York values, leading the charge to pass the Reproductive Health Act and the Comprehensive Contraception Coverage Act, and fighting for the women and families of her district. The NIRH Action Fund PAC is thrilled to endorse Andrea Stewart-Cousins for State Senate,” said Andrea Miller, president of the National Institute for Reproductive Health Action Fund PAC.
“NOW is proud to endorse Andrea Stewart-Cousins for State Senate. Andrea is a strong leader and advocate for the women and girls of New York and has NOW’s full support,” said Sonia Ossorio, President of NOW-NYS.
“Andrea Stewart-Cousins has never forgotten why she ran for office: to make a difference for the women and children of Westchester County. Andrea’s vision for New York, funding quality public schools, keeping streets safe with sensible gun laws, and protecting a woman’s reproductive rights, is a vision for a New York where we can all thrive, together. Eleanor’s Legacy is proud to endorse Leader Stewart-Cousins for re-election to the New York State Senate and to be the fearless leader for the women and children of Westchester,” said Brette McSweeney, Director of Eleanor’s Legacy.
NYS Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins
NYS Senator Shelley Mayer
Catherine Lederer-Plaskett, endorsing Andrea Stewart-Cousins, and speaking out on behalf of the over 100,000 pro-choice members of WCLA PAC here in Westchester.
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Astorino’s “no-tax-levy increase budgets” is FALSE. The combined Westchester County sewer & refuse taxes have risen from $2.1 million to $146 million, under Astorino between 2011-2016. The impact on homeowners depends on location. Sewer levy increases in Blind Brook: 56%, New Rochelle: 50%, Eastchester: 19%, Rye: 25%, Ossining: 29%, etc. Check your own tax bill & see how much Astorino is costing you.
Astorino has been selling off county assets to balance the budget. Now he wants a form of privatization for the Westchester County Airport to balance the 2017 budget. Because of public opposition, Astorino took $132,000 out of a locked airport capital improvement fund to send a campaign-like mailer to 350,000 households. “The Federal Aviation Administration is looking into the legality of the action.”
Astorino rented office space at 125 Park Avenue, NYC, in 2015, at $45,000 tax payer dollars per year, for “economic development.” There’s no record of how often it was used or for what purpose. No deals are reported to have originated there. Last month, after c&idate George Latimer shined a light on the office rental, Astorino abruptly decided to close it. The owner of 125 Park Ave. donated to Astorino in 2015, a month after the lease started.
Astorino’s outrage over racial & religious hate is FAKE. Astorino is being funded by billionaire Robert Mercer part-owner of Breitbart network that supports white supremacists & Nazi ideology & actions. There is a direct line between Mercer, Breitbart & Astorino’s support of Nazi & Confederate materials being sold at the gun show.
*Rob Astorino mocked concerns about Nazi literature & Confederate flags being sold at the Westchester County Gun Show- a gun show that Astorino personally authorized by vetoing legislation prohibiting them on County-owned property. Astorino’s reasoning: 8,000 people attended & it made money so he won’t stop it or the sale of “controversial” literature. His administration dismissed the sale of the hate materials saying they are “historical”.*Westchester has been the target of racial & religious hate graffiti since last November. Astorino’s response was to compare it to anti-Trump demonstrations, just like in Charlottesville where Trump equated violent neo-Nazis with non-violent counter protesters. Astorino declared, “President Obama & Hillary Clinton as well [should] come out & say to their supporters, ‘Calm down’.”(-as though they were responsible for the new surge in violence against people of color, all women, & those of certain religions & ethnicities.)
Sources: Latimer comes out swinging, lohud.com; Rob Astorino dips into Westchester airport reserves for mailing, lohud.com; Westchester to close NYC economic development office, lohud.com; Westchester County Executive Hopeful Takes Aim, newyork.cbslocal.com; NY Lawmaker: Gun Shows Inappropriate-Whole Counter-Culture, Anti-Society’ Mindset, mrctv.org; Westchester Residents say Nazi literature, Confeerate Flag Items were sold at gun show, newyork.cbslocal.com; Pro-Nazi Literature, Confederate Flags Sold at Gun Show at Westchester County, patch.com; Billionaire gives 1m to super pac backing Rob Astorino, NYpost.com; Steve Bannono: Five things you should know, adl.org; Spoils system stays strong in Westchester, lohud.com; Astorino’s officed subpoenaed in Bharara probe; lohud.com; Astorino: Feds reviewing emails, phone calls, lohud.com; After Astorino donor testifies, George Latimer camp calls for resignation, lohud.com
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Our Yellow Pro-Choice Voting Guide reaches over 80,0000 households in Westchester County. Voters in our database have been identified as being pro-choice and are willing to cross party lines to vote for pro-choice candidates.
Although our voting guide is distributed on our website and via email, we know that mailed voting guides make a difference, especially in close elections. It is extremely costly to mail the voting guide.
To support the costs of the voting guide, please join us for an evening of music, dinner and dancing.
Eric Schneiderman, New York’s Attorney General, has once again shown he gets it!
“It” in this instance is women’s right to privacy which includes accessing reproductive healthcare safely.
On June 20th, New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman introduced a lawsuit to “protect women from abuse and intimidation outside of a reproductive health clinic in Queens.” If successful, it would create a safe zone of 16 feet outside of clinics with the goal of guaranteeing that women have the freedom to exercise their constitutional right to access reproductive healthcare without the intimidation and harassment that has become far too familiar.
This is a much-needed, celebrated win for the women of New York.
We stand with the Attorney General and commend him for his continued support and empowerment of women. Unlike so many officials today who fail to stand up for comprehensive reproductive rights, Schneiderman acts when he sees constitutional violations!
In the time of Trump, this is exactly the kind of action that is imperative, now more than ever. We hope AG Schneiderman’s actions will inspire others in cities and states across the country to follow New York State’s top law enforcement officer’s lead.
Read more about AG Schneiderman’s action to protect the rights of women to safe access.
(Too bad for Westchester County, the current County Executive, Astorino, does not respect women’s privacy and access to safe healthcare. He vetoed legislation that would have protected us! It’s time for Astorino to lose his job in the next election.)
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