We Won’t Go Back!

Patricia Nugent August 7, 2022

“I read the news today, oh boy…”

That lyric isn’t the only throwback from the 1960s, when activists were challenging long-
standing social ills, taking to the streets for women’s rights, racial justice, gay rights. When war
was raging overseas and in our streets, when voting rights were denied, when the Klan openly
marched and lynched, and women bled to death in dirty backrooms. When illegal political tricks
were used to impact election results.

Here we are again. Back to the future.

We know you feel overwhelmed and exhausted. Didn’t we right those wrongs? The very reason
the League of Women Voters was founded over 100 years ago is the reason Americans are
marching and protesting today. As a national organization, we continue to be on the front lines
fighting voter suppression and reproductive restrictions. We are a voice for inclusive
democracy, for principles that honor and protect diversity.

The League is more relevant than ever today. There are more than 700 chapters in this country;
ours is one of the strongest, advocating and lobbying for legislation to protect human rights and
promote social justice. We have over 200 members, affording a political-yet-nonpartisan
opportunity to DO something rather than wring our hands as we listen to news reports of the
downturn this country is taking.

We’re distributing buttons that read “We Won’t Go Back!” And we won’t! Stop by one of our
events to get your free button, and wear it with pride and defiance. Please consider inviting a
friend who’s also wondering how to be an effective force for change. The greater our number,
the greater our ability to stand strong against oppression.

Misrepresenting Susan B. Anthony on Abortion

by Linda McKenney, Storyteller and Historical Reenactor

Some anti-abortion activists are misrepresenting Susan B. Anthony, one of the early women’s rights leaders. They are claiming that Miss Anthony would support making abortions illegal if she were alive today.

This assertion is purported based on an article written anonymously that appeared in The Revolution, a women’s rights newspaper that Miss Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton published from 1868 to 1870. “A,” the author of the article referred to abortion as “child-murder.”

Because the article was signed “A,” these activists claim it was written by Miss Anthony herself. However, a study of every page of The Revolution reveals many articles signed “S.B.A.,” which would seem to indicate that when Miss Anthony authored an article, she used her own initials.

Additionally, upon scrutiny, one can see that many of the articles signed “A” were on subjects of which Miss Anthony had no expertise. And an article by “A” quarreled with The Revolution‘s position on capital and labor, which lead to a debate in a subsequent issue in which the editors addressed its author as “Mr. A,” which would strongly suggest that it was someone other than Miss Anthony.

While Miss Anthony used the word abortion in one of her speeches, she did not say that she supported making it illegal. She listed seeking an abortion as one of the possible consequences of being the wife of an alcoholic husband, who may impregnate his wife and then leave her with no means to support the child. Miss Anthony mentioned abortion again later in the same speech, this time only in the context of the injustice of laws that intimately affect women but are made and enforced by men.

Anthony’s long career of public speaking provided many occasions for her to speak about abortion, if she’d chosen to do so. The plain fact, however, is that Susan B. Anthony almost never referred to abortion, and when she did, she said nothing to indicate that she wanted it banned by law.

League Comments on Proposed New District Maps

5/17/22

Judge McAllister and Dr. Cervas,

The League of Women Voters of Saratoga County is a non-partisan group of over 200 members working to empower voters through education and advocacy. We submitted testimony to the Independent Redistricting Commission both before the first maps were drawn and after the maps were released for comment.

The Saratoga County League asked that you respect and preserve the municipal and county boundaries by which we already identify ourselves and conduct our lives.

We are very pleased to see that the Special Master’s Senate District Map puts all of Saratoga County into one Senate District (the 44th) and honors our request to have our community of interest with the Capital District respected by putting us in a Senate District with Schenectady and Niskayuna. We hope this district stays as drawn.

In our previous testimony we pointed out that Saratoga County should be a part of a Capital District Congressional District. We noted that the majority of our residents are more oriented towards the Capital District than to the North Country. Significant proportions of our population are employed in State government, and in other large businesses in Albany and Schenectady. We are part of the CDTA (Capital District Transportation Authority) and Capital District Regional Planning Commission (CDRPC). Our hospital is affiliated with Albany Medical Center, and most of our medical providers are also affiliated with Capital Region groups. Therefore, we request that the entire County be included in one Congressional District, and we request that you redraw the Congressional map in such a way that we are included with the Capital District area.

Thank you.
Ann Marie Pendergast
Steering Committee
League of Women Voters of Saratoga County

Stories of Good Trouble on the Journey to Justice

Read the Stories of Good Trouble on the Journey to Justice

The Community Arts Grant awarded to the League of Women Voters of Saratoga County (LWVSC) and sponsored by Saratoga Springs United Methodist Church is “Good Trouble on the Journey to Justice”. The theme, inspired at the time of John Lewis and Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s passing, created an opportunity to share stories of personal or family members’ challenges to achieve justice.

The artist, Francellise Dawkins created a fabric collage with photos of the story contributors along with quotes from the narratives.

Good Trouble is evident in the stories of those seeking to effect change. Courage is reflected in taking a stand against wrong and giving support for unpopular actions to obtain justice. As you read the stories and view the collage please consider your personal reaction to their words. Hopefully you will share your thoughts through written comments.

The Good Trouble collage is being displayed at the Saratoga Springs Methodist Church this spring.

New District Voting Maps

Francine Rodger March 29, 2022

Redistricting has made many changes to the voting districts in Saratoga County and it is worthwhile to look at the new maps. We have included links so you can just click on them to see the maps.

The majority of the changes have occurred in the State Senate districts. In the past Saratoga County municipalities were either in the 49th Senate district (Tedisco) or the 43rd Senate district (Jordan). In 2022 Saratoga county municipalities will be either in the 46th the 47th Senate district.

If you look at the map for Senate District 46, you will see it covers the “Northway corridor” of the county as well as Troy, Niskayuna and Schenectady. In 2012, these municipalities were split between Senator Tedisco and Senator Jordan’s districts. In 2022, Senator Tedisco is moving on to the 51st Senate District which no longer covers any Saratoga County municipalities.

The 47th Senate District wraps around the 46th and will join other counties going up to the Canadian border. (Now represented by Sen. Stec). In addition, the City of Mechanicville is split between Senate Districts 46 and 47.

There are also changes in the two Congressional Districts with Congressional District 20 (Tonko) increasing its coverage in Saratoga County as well as parts of Warren County, and Congressional District 21 (Stefanik) retaining the towns of Day, Hadley, Edinburg, Corinth and Saratoga (Town) and a portion of Stillwater.

The four Assembly Districts had smaller changes. Waterford remains in Assembly 108 (McDonald). Assembly 112 ( Walsh) will no longer represent Greenfield which will move to Assembly 114 (Simpson) There are no changes in Saratoga County for Assembly 113 ( Woerner).

These changes occur every ten years based on the census findings. We anticipate there may be some primary contests in June, so check our elections page to see if there is a primary in your town or city.