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From
January through June 2002 the League of Women Voters of California, through
their Education Fund, sponsored over 30 forums around the state regarding
local issues tied to CPF’s key issues of land use, fiscal and governance
reform. Topics addressed include health care crises within communities such as
North San Diego County, which is losing its hospital; broad discussions about
quality of life in communities such as six Orange County cities (Brea, Buena
Park, Fullerton, La Habra, Placentia, Yorba Linda); and having input into a
county’s general plan in regions such as Humboldt County. Some communities,
Piedmont for example, a small wealthy city completely surrounded by Oakland,
discussed techniques of reducing their footprint, a concept designed to
calculate the impact that our lives have on the planet’s resources through
our consumption.
While the topics varied
widely, the forums had some findings in common: People do care about the
health and sustainability of their communities, they want their elected
officials to take on the tough choices, and they want to be involved.
more
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Civic Participation at its Best |
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 Local Leagues and
co-sponsoring organizations reached close to 1500 people through
these forums and discussions, with over 60% of the audiences being
first-timers to League activities. League representatives attended
all the regional forums to participate as community members. The
forums included and engaged more minority groups than ever before
at League events and about 13% of participants overall were
elected officials, policy makers or significant policy
influencers. Supporting the CPF mission to “link people to
policy”, the events gave audience members the opportunity, some
for the first time, to speak directly with their mayors, city
council members, county supervisors and officials from local
government divisions.
For
more information on the events held or the activities of the
League of Women Voters of California or in your community, contact
Judy Davis, Chair of the Education Fund, at 1-888-870-8683 or
email her at judiths@speakeasy.org.
Also see the League’s web site at http://ca.lwv.org/.
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About the League of Women Voters |
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The
League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political organization,
encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in
government, works to increase understanding of major public policy
issues, and influences public policy through education and
advocacy. Membership is open to everyone of voting age.
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