July - August 2026 Bulletin Issue 59
| | Message from Co-President Joanne Shawhan
Call to Action: 2026 League of Women Voters National Convention
LWVAC members Nick McDonald, Peter Shwhan, Wendy Dury-Samson and I attended this year’s National League of Women Voters Convention, in June in Columbus, Ohio -- an exciting jam-packed three days.
The Convention was a call to action, as members from all 49 states and the District of Columbia approved the 2026-28 LWVUS program, Defending Democracy Under Siege, the League’s response to the current national situation. The program includes six priority topics, existing League positions that have been put together as a single unified program. | | | I urge everyone reading this to think about activities that you could do that would continue the work of implementing them. Which one(s) would you want to focus on and help make happen? Send your thoughts to president@lwvalbany.org.
Defending Democracy Under Siege includes:
- Voting Rights: Ensuring that every eligible voter has equitable access to register, vote, and have their ballot counted fairly and accurately.
- Protecting Elections: Protecting and empowering voters to ensure that our elections are fair, accessible, and representative of all Americans.
- Redistricting: Ensuring fair and equitable representation for all residents through transparent and accountable redistricting processes and protection of the US Census.
- Immigration: Advocating for a fair immigration process and a path to citizenship. Standing up for immigrant communities to ensure they receive fair treatment under the law and encouraging new citizens' participation in our democracy.
- Individual Rights: Protecting and defending the rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and preventing attacks that undermine those fundamental freedoms.
- The Presidency: Working to guarantee that presidential power is exercised within the constitutional framework of a dynamic balance between the three branches of government (checks and balances).
- Supporting the Abolition of the Electoral College, including the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact.
| Voter Services
LWVAC High School Voter Registration Team Update
Our summer HS Voter Registration Team meeting was exciting, informative and fun! In the middle of planning our work with our High Schools for the very busy coming semester, we celebrated Tom McKee and Mary Beth Blinn’s wedding. If you would like to work with us to inform and inspire our youngest voters -- making a big difference to the students, parents and teachers of our High Schools -- please contact Marggie Skinner or Maureen Bernstein.
We also are looking for someone to chair our Students Inside Albany (SIA) sub-committee. This is a time limited job with a minimal effort and a high impact. To learn about it, contact Marggie or Maureen soon.
Come join us and be a part of our dynamic team! | Help increase voter turnout -- Help our neighbors and community members register to vote!
Could you help with one or more of the following events? Please let Voter Services Director Wendy Dury-Samson know.
- August 10th, 5:30- 7:30 pm, Sheridan Hollow Neighborhood Association Night Out, 266 Orange Street, Albany
- August 21st, 5:30 - 7:30 pm, Love Albany Movie Under the Stars, Ridgefield Park, 316 Partridge Street, Albany
- August 22nd, 11 am- 2 pm, Dr Pamela J. Harper Community Block Party, New Jerusalem Home of the Saved Church, 160 Sheridan Avenue, Albany
- September 27th, 12 - 5 pm, Upper Madison Street Fair, between South Allen and West Lawrence.
_____________________ | | Get Vote Ready!! September 15, 3 - 6 pm
National Voter Registration Day
Covering the Entire County from Ravena to Cohoes! We need you!
Volunteers are needed to help conduct voter registration drive at area markets, in partnership with National Voter Registration Day, NVRD. Please contact Lynn Nugent. | | | Advocacy
Outcomes for 2026 NYS Environmental Bills Supported by Our 4-League Environmental Committee (Full Report)
Legislators significantly weakened the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA). In brief:
• A four-year extension was added to establish regulations to implement the Climate Law.
• Calculating greenhouse gas warming potentials to seem less dangerous than they are.
• Changing the 2040 emissions target to a 60% reduction from its original “Net Zero.”
• No longer count emissions from the extraction and transmission of imported fuels.
After spending almost two months on budget deliberations, the NYS Legislature had only six session days for other matters.
• Our long-time priorities, Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act (PRRIA) and Bigger Better Bottle Bill did not make it to a vote.
• Another priority, the Accelerate Solar for Affordable Power (ASAP) did fare better in the State budget.
• The Legislature passed a one-year moratorium on the approval of large data centers. (Governor Hochul did not sign it, but issued an Executive Order creating a new moratorium on new hyperscale data centers.)
Read the Details and Make Your Voice Heard: Contact the Governor and your legislators (NYS Senate Finder, NYS Assembly Finder) to express deep disappointment in the State’s rollbacks to the CLCPA and failure to pass the LWVNY’s two priority plastics bills (PRRIA and Bottle Bill). |  | | On Thursday, July 16, LWVAC's Deb Liebman and Mary Berry talked about the League with summer Fellows of the Government Law Center at Albany Law School. Pictured: Mary Berry, Kyle Carney, Carsyn Ide, Sarah LeClerc, Cass Goda, Deb Liebman. |  | | The League of Women Voters issued a statement from CEO Celina Stewart, on Thursday, July 16, 2026, following President Donald Trump’s address to the nation about voting. Read the full statement here. | | |
| Janet Appe, Latham
Polly-Alida Farrington, Voorheesville
Jacquelyn Swearingen, Menands
Barbara Mistishen, Albany
| | Molly Stewart, Cohoes
Kathleen Fetissoff, Slingerlands
Melinda Deering, Schenectady
Niharika Lumb, Latham
| | | Save the Date, October 26, 2026
Memorial Lecture in Honor of Richard Rifkin
6:00- 7:30 pm at Dean Alexander Moot Court Room, Albany Law School, 80 New Scotland Ave, Albany
Albany Law School's Government Law Center and the League of Women Voters of Albany County will host an event honoring the life and legacy of Richard Rifkin, a career public servant, former Legal Director of the Government Law Center at Albany Law School, and a member of LWVAC's Board of Directors. The event will include remarks from former New York State Attorney General Robert Abrams. Guest speakers and additional information to be announced.
| Reminders
- LWVAC Members find more information on our website by logging in. Find login instructions under the "Get involved" menu.
- Never send requested funds or gift card codes without confirming the request with the person who appears to be making it. | The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan grassroots organization that encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.
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