2022 was a great year for advocacy in California!
Get the highlights from the nearly 80 pieces of legislation that the League advocated for in 2022 at the LWV of California website!
California 2021 Advocacy Wrap-Up
 
League of Women Voters of California

In this 2021 Advocacy Wrap-Up, you can read highlights of our California League's hard-earned victories, some lamentable delays, and a preview of our goals for next year. 
We are truly a grassroots organization...
The League of Women Voters takes action on an issue or advocates for a cause when there is an existing League position that supports the issue or speaks to the cause.

Positions result from a process of study. Any given study, whether it be National, State, or Local, is thorough in its pursuit of facts and details. As the study progresses, a continuing discussion of pros and cons of each situation occurs. Prior to the results of the study being presented to the general membership, study committee members fashion consensus questions that are then addressed by the membership.

Additional discussion, pro and con, takes place as members (not part of the study committee) learn the scope of the study. After the members reach consensus, the board forms positions based on that consensus.

It is the consensus statement -- the statement resulting from the consensus questions -- that becomes a position. Firm action or advocacy can then be taken on the particular issue addressed by the position. Without a position, action/advocacy cannot be taken.
Dale spearheads this group because she knows how important our advocacy efforts are. Within Advocacy, there is the Observer Corps, the veritable watchdog of our Beach Cities area. The Corps reports on groups like local city councils, and councils of government, so LWVBC remains current with what is happening in our community— we are not there in this capacity to support or resist any issue; it is just fact gathering.  However, once a concern is brought up, our Advocacy arm comes into play, where we take a stand on an issue using LWV positions for support.  It is in this role that LWVBC can attend public meetings to speak or write letters to express concern or support. 

For more information about our chapter's advocacy, contact Joan LeSage at  sage.joan@gmail.com 
League of Women Voters Positions

What is a Position? The League of Women Voters takes action on an issue only when we have a position addressing that particular issue. Members must study and come to consensus on an issue, in order to form a position. This thorough process ensures that our advocacy is well considered by a broad range of people, understood by our members, and we have a sense of the political environment.

The links below help League members use our public policy positions effectively at the national, state, local, and regional levels to act in their own communities.:

Positions of the League of Women Voters of the Beach Cities (local level)

Positions of the League of Women Voters of Los Angeles (city level)

Positions of the League of Women Voters Of Los Angeles County on website  (county level)  Document

Positions of the League of Women Voters of California (state level)

Full positions for the League of Women Voters of United States (federal)
WE NEED YOU: OBSERVER CORPS!
Share the position with one or more interested people.
 
WHY:    Our City Council meetings are an important part of how our cities support, protect and enrich our lives.
  •  The first reason for observing public meetings is to watch their general operations. What issues are being discussed and how is the meeting being conducted? Does the agency comply with the open meeting laws?
  • The second reason for observing public meetings is to watch for issues on which the League should be taking action - speaking out. If an item that is being discussed is related to one of LWVC's positions then include that in your report. We'll look into it and see whether it's something that the League should be speaking out on.
  • Finally, and maybe most importantly, observing makes a statement that the community is watching the process of government. The League observer is the representative of the public at these.

WHAT:    Attend or watch a city council meeting and share important information.  We would like all of our cities represented/observed for every city council meeting.    
  •  Go to the meeting. Get a copy of the agenda (if possible, check whether it is available in advance online) and any other reports that are available. You don't have to read them all! You may not speak for the League at the meeting. Outside of the meeting you can ask questions of staff and officials
  •  If you can't be at the meeting in person, then watch it online. While the officials may not see you, you can still monitor the meeting

WHO:    Anyone who lives in the South Bay and is a member of the League of Women’s Voters of the Beach Cities.  Share the work with someone else. We already have one observer for Redondo Beach and one for Hermosa Beach.  
 
If you are interested, please contact Grace Peng at gspeng.lwv@gmail.com
Email  BeachcitiesLWV@gmail.com
629 19th Street
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
Phone 310-379-6663
Empowering Voters. Defending Democracy.
League of Women Voters® of the Beach Cities   ©2021         Problems with this website?  Contact: webmaster@lwvbeachcities.org 
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