League of Women Voters - Greater Omaha
A non-partisan political organization open to all citizens age 18 or older.
April, 2008
Volume 50, No 9
League of Women Voters of Greater Omaha
Annual Meeting
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Champions Run
13800 Eagle Run Drive
9:15 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
9:15 a.m. Registration and Coffee
9:30 a.m. Business Meeting
11:30 a.m. Luncheon and Program
Speaker: Dr. Sam Walker
Professor Emeritus, UNO Criminal Justice Dept.
Topic: Omaha Police Problem in a National Perspective
$18.00 per person
All League members, spouses, and other guests are invited to attend.
See flyer.
LWV is where hands-on work to safeguard democracy leads to civic improvement.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Saturday, March 22, 9:00 a.m., Creighton University Ahmanson School of Law, Room 124: U.S. Health Care Public Forum.
Monday, March 24, 6:00 p.m., Durham Research Center, UNMC campus. “Making Lemonade with Toxic Lemons
Friday, March 28, 7:30 - 9:00 p.m., Location information removed from web copy. International Relations Committee.
Monday, April 7, 7:00 p.m., Film Streams: Free showing of film “The Greatest Silence: Rape in the Congo.”
Tuesday, April 8, 7:00-9:00 p.m., Location removed from web copy. Reading Resource Group.
Sunday, April 13, 2:00 p.m., Jewish Community Center, 333 S. 132 St.: Congressional candidate’s debate.
Saturday, April 19, 9:15 a.m., Champion’s Club Pavilion: LWVGO Annual Meeting. See above and flyer.
Saturday, April 26: LWVNE Annual Meeting.
Saturday, May 3, 9:00 a.m. to noon, Location information removed from web copy.: Board orientation meeting.
Tuesday, May 13, 7:00-9:00 p.m., Location removed from web copy. Reading Resource Group.
June 13-17, Portland Oregon: LWVUS National Convention. “Reaching New Heights Together”
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
When the phone rings at our office in the Center Mall the caller is usually asking for a speaker from our Speaker's Bureau or requesting our voter registration services. However, this month there have also been calls from candidates, sounding a little frantic, worried they've missed the Voters Guide questionnaire. You'll be glad to know I've called them all back to reassure them, and isn't it great to know our publication is the one that all (smart) candidates put on their list of places to be?
Yes, the primary election is just a few weeks away, and that means League members will have the opportunity to proofread the Voters Guide, register voters, help with debates, and participate in door to door canvassing. And, our Speakers Bureau welcomes new speakers. If you enjoy--or even “don't fear”--talking to groups you should consider joining the bureau. We have prepared talks ready to go or you can present one that you've developed. Really, don't be shy.
If you attended the February general meeting you know that we were not able to present our Making Democracy Work Award to our honoree, Dr. Maryanne Stevens, because she had to be out of town. We are pleased to inform you that she will be able to join us for lunch at our annual meeting and we will honor her at that time.
My thanks to all of you for your loyalty to League.
Linda D.
THE GREATEST SILENCE: RAPE IN THE CONGO
On Monday, April 7th at 7p.m. there will be a free showing of the film "The Greatest Silence: Rape in the Congo" at Film Streams’ Ruth Sokolof Theater, 1340 Webster Street. Organizers are trying to put together a panel discussion for afterwards.
Film Streams’ Ruth Sokolof Theater is located at the corner of 14th and Webster in downtown Omaha. The theater sits north of the Old Market, south of the Hot Shops Art Center, west of Qwest Center Omaha, and east of Creighton University.
THE CASE FOR INVESTING IN WOMEN AND GIRLS:
Around the world women struggle to rise above crushing poverty, disease, and violence and build a better life for themselves and their families, yet they shoulder a staggering burden and disproportionate share of the world's poverty that statistics barely convey:
• Women produce half of the world's food but own only one percent of its farmland;
• The majority of the one billion people living on less than a dollar a day are women;
• Approximately one in three of the world's women experience gender-related violence;
• Every minute, a woman dies as a result of pregnancy or childbirth;
• In Sub-Saharan Africa, for every 10 men living with HIV/AIDS, there are 14 women living with the virus.
Research and experience show that investing in women's health and education yields tremendous benefits not only for the woman but for her children, family, community, and nation:
• Educated girls contribute to increased economic productivity and improved family nutrition; for every year a girl goes to school beyond the fourth grade, her wages rise 20 percent and her family size drops by 20 percent;
• A job given to a woman means support for an entire family;
• Empowered women are agents of the common good and uplift the well-being of the human family overall;
• Women who are empowered to make decisions strengthen family healthcare, stem the spread of HIV/AIDS, and promote long-lasting peace.
Investing in women is not just the right thing to do--it also is the most effective economic development strategy and has been shown to pay dividends for the whole human family.
<www.wfd-aliance.org>
As an LWV member, you have the opportunity to contribute in a leadership role through the organization that has a great impact on local, state, and even national issues.
The community needs everyone to participate in order to be a strong, safe, fair and vibrant place to live.
POLICE AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS
From Jonah D.
The Mayor and City Council are considering whether to re-establish the position of Public Safety Auditor for the City of Omaha. The Police and Community Relations Committee endorse the re-establishment of the position of a Public Safety Auditor for Omaha and encourage the City Council to endorse the establishment of a Public Safety Auditor for the following reasons:
o Build trust relationships with the Police Department and the community
o Restore faith among community people of color and/or poverty
o Improvement of delivery of police services
o Provide a safety valve for citizens complaints through a mediation process
It will be necessary to define the responsibilities of the Public Safety Auditor and remove the supervision of this position from the political process. The past auditor was responsible to the Mayor, the Chief of Police, the Chief of the Fire Department, and the City Council. The present ordinance for a Public Safety Auditor needs to be eliminated and a new ordinance fashioned after successful auditor programs be accepted.
At an October 9, 2007 press conference, Linda D., President of the League of Women Voters of Greater Omaha made the following statement:
“As President of the League of Women Voters of Greater Omaha, I am announcing today our conclusion regarding the question: “Does Omaha Need A Public Safety Auditor?”
The League of Women Voters believes Omaha would benefit from the reinstatement of the Public Safety Auditor. It is the mission of the League to promote political responsibility through informed and active participation in government.
During the past few months, the League has reviewed the issue and become aware of a number of roadblocks to public safety and public trust, and has concluded that a Public Safety Auditor is necessary to improve police community relations. Therefore, we recommend a revision to the City's Ordinance for a Public Safety Auditor to provide responsibility for this position outside the political arena.
League members reached this conclusion based upon public commentary at a Town Hall meeting in June and subsequent forums conducted throughout Omaha this summer. In addition, committee members met with Mayor Fahey, Police Chief Warren, Police Union President Aaron Hanson and other individuals to discuss the issue and gain perspective from their response.
We generally found support for a Public Safety Auditor as a means to improve relations between Omaha citizens and police officers. While we believe the position of a Public Safety Auditor is a necessary component for good police and community relations, it is only one component. The League's Police and Community Relations Committee reviewed the issue of trust between police officers and Omaha residents and we believe improving trust requires additional effort. We are committed to continuing our review of the Public Safety issue.
Papillion Creek Watershed Partnership
Stage IV Results
By Clyde Anderson
This is a follow-up to my article in the February newsletter about the Partnership's public forums held in late February and early March. I attended the forum at the UNO Alumni Center Feb. 19th, and it was really more of an open house with several information stations in the large room with employees and consultants from the Partnership available to explain various aspects of the project studies.
There was a wealth of information available for visitors, and I was pleased to find Low Impact Development (LID) options well represented. If you were unable to attend one of the forums, you can access and view the Partnership's fact sheets at <http://www.papiopartnership.org/factsheets.htm>. There is an excellent fact sheet on LID - “Low Impact Development can help protect our watershed.” The Water Detention fact sheet explains the role regional water detention (dam sites) in preventing flooding and improving water quality.
Perhaps the best fact sheet to review is Stage IV Results. Stage IV is a study that measured different options for their ability to meet water quality and flood control objectives along with their cost impacts. The options studied include:
o Existing land use
o Future land use with no new stormwater management improvements
o Regional detention (dam sites) only
o Low Impact Development (LID) with on-site detention (Maximum LID), and
o Combination of stormwater management improvements.
The last option, a combination of regional detention and LID, makes the most sense.
In the Partnership's Frequently Asked Questions fact sheet, the Papio-Missouri River NRD seems to deny that it favors a stormwater management plan that favors construction of a network of regional detention facilities. However, this quote comes from the Spring 2006 issue of the NRD's Spectrum newsletter: “When it comes to controlling runoff waters, larger and fewer reservoirs throughout the watershed are deemed more efficient in controlling flood waters and trapping sediment than numerous smaller ponds; and they cost less to maintain.”
Sierra Club believes a few regional reservoirs may have a role in the Papio Watershed Plan, but relying almost exclusively on reservoirs is not a sound strategy to prevent flooding, especially in the lower part of the watershed where most of the dense development exists. A combination of LID and regional detention is best. Regional detention facilities, which are primarily funded by property taxes, puts an unfair burden on homeowners.
Based on a 2003 study for the City of Omaha by the consulting firm URS, property taxes is one of the most inequitable alternatives for funding flood control projects. Residential property generates only 36% of Omaha's stormwater runoff while non-residential properties generate 64%. But 60% of the City's property tax income comes from residential property. Thus residential properties would pay 66% more than their fair share. Also, funding flood prevention projects solely from property taxes provides no incentive for property owners, especially those with large impervious surfaces, to control their storm water on site.
Low Impact Development is usually a land owner's responsibility, and the cost of LID varies with the volume of stormwater runoff. Thus a homeowner with only 50% impervious surface may be able to manage stormwater runoff with an inexpensive rain garden or bioswale. A big box store with 90% of its property covered with impervious surfaces is faced with much more expensive solutions such as a stormwater containment basin. Part of the final policy recommendations by the Partnership should require that all planning agencies within the Partnership boundaries require new developments to provide some on-site stormwater management.
We also have a concern that regional detention facilities built as joint public-private partnerships with developers will promote more urban sprawl.
The Papio Creek Watershed Partnership must finalize its stormwater management policies and plans by 2009. Sierra Club will continue to participate in the public comments process to help assure that the outcome is balanced between LID and regional detention facilities.
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From March 2008 Missouri Valley Sierran. Used by permission.
LWV is involved in shaping the important issues to keep our community strong.
U.S. HEALTH CARE PUBLIC FORUM
Saturday, March 22
Creighton University law students will hold a public forum on Saturday, March 22, to give Omaha-area residents an opportunity to air their concerns about the state of U.S. health care, including problems they have personally encountered. The event, sponsored by Creighton's student-run Health Law Society will begin at 9 a.m. at Creighton's Ahmanson School of Law, Room 124. The forum, sponsored by Creighton's student-run Health Law Society, will look what is and is not working in U.S. health care and explore ways to improve health care delivery. The forum will provide valuable information to the society, which is interested in proposing legislation for improvement. The Health Law Society focuses on current issues in the health care industry.
Contact: Shad Beavers
Tel. (402) 393-0326
Cell Phone: 1-719-205-5207
Email: shadbeavers@creighton.edu
Making Lemonade with Toxic Lemons:
a New Revolution in Health Sciences
DATE: March 24th
TIME: 6:00PM
LOCATION: Durham Research Center
John P Meyers is an expert on environmental estrogens and other forms of pollution. He will be speaking on the UNMC campus, Monday, March 24th, at 6 pm, in the "Durham Research Center" auditorium. Park in the patient lot by the hospital, but go west from the lot (away from the hospital) across the street to the DRC.
Please be our guest for this thought provoking and informational presentation by toxicology expert and co-author of Our Stolen Future, Dr. John Peterson Myers.
CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATES DEBATE
The League of Women Voters together with National Council of Jewish Women is hosting a debate for the Congressional candidates on Sunday, April 13, at 2:00 p.m. at the Jewish Community Center, 333 South 132nd Street. Our four congressional candidates have been invited. Bring some good questions. Hope to see you there!
VOTER REGISTRATION
With the primary just around the corner, we are receiving requests from organizations to have Voter Registration at their events. OPS would like to have a table at a few of their schools during Parent/Teacher conferences. Middle Schools the week of February 11th, Senior High Schools the week of March 10th, Elementary Schools the week of March 24th. Also, ICAN Omaha has invited us to have a booth at their April 2nd Women's Conference. They are anticipating 1500 participants.
If you can help at any of these events please contact Marilyn R. or Marianne C. Contact information removed from web copy.
PROOFREAD THE VOTERS' GUIDE
During the second half of March several people will gather and proofread the VOTERS' GUIDE copy. If you can help with this, please contact Kathy D. Contact information removed from web copy.
LWV is where citizens like you are actively engaged in
effecting change on the local, state, and national level.
LWV is an organization where smart, active leaders work to create change in their communities.
MAKING DEMOCRACY WORK AWARD
This year's LWVGO recipient of the Making Democracy Work Award is Dr. Maryanne Stevens, RSM, President of the College of Saint Mary. Although she was unable to join us in February for her official recognition, she plans to attend the annual meeting luncheon. Please welcome and congratulate her at that time.
“A Voice for Citizens, A Force for Change”
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.
On Tuesday April 8th the book group will discuss chapters 1-3 of Journey Into Islam: The Crisis of Globalization by Akbar Ahmed. Chapters 4-6 and the epilogue will be discussed on Tuesday May 13th. Four copies of this selection are in the Omaha Public Library collection. Copies are available for purchase at The Bookworm in Countryside Village; a 20% discount is given if you identify yourself as a book group member. The book may also be purchased online and at other stores, as readers prefer.
Book Study meetings are open to every League member; guests are welcome. Contact information removed from web copy.
At the beginning of the April meeting members will decide whether or not to meet during the summer. Participants will also discuss options for the next selection. If you want to suggest a book please bring this basic information to the meeting: title, author, synopsis of the book and/or review(s) of it, availability at the public library, cost if purchased. (If you cannot attend the April meeting you may send the information to Anne or Kathy.)
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE MEETING
The month of March will complete our two-year discussion concerning International Health Issues. Time: 7:30 P.M. - 9:00 P.M.
March 28 will feature the final discussion of our two years’ series exploring "THE IMPACT OF GLOBAL HEALTH ON THE UNITED STATES." Guest Speaker: DR. MAGDA PECK from THE UNMC Department of Public Health. Dr. Peck's reputation of professional excellence and people friendly will be an overwhelming closure event for preparing our members to be informed and educated about essential knowledge to share with the Omaha Community.
Location of Meetings: Location information removed from web copy.
THINK BEFORE YOU INK!!!
Your signature is valuable!
Consider those petitions before you sign!
The League of Women Voters of Nebraska encourages its members and the public to be alert when they are asked to sign initiative petitions.
You will be asked to sign a variety of initiative petitions. Some circulators will ask you to sign a petition, "just to get it on the ballot so people can vote on it."
Your signature is valuable. Only sign an initiative petition that you believe belongs on the ballot.
Here are six questions to help you make up your mind about an initiative petition:
Is it complex? Some issues can be decided by a simple yes or no vote, but complex issues may need to be thoroughly examined in a legislative arena.
Is it confusing? Only sign an initiative petition that you understand.
.
Does it belong in the Constitution? If an initiative amends the Constitution, consider whether the change is fundamental law or can be better addressed through legislation.
What would be the effects if passed? Are there existing laws already in place so that an amendment is unnecessary? What purpose will it serve?
Who is behind it? You can find out who are the real sponsors and opponents of a petition. Are the major sponsors and supporters Nebraskans? Contribution and expenditure reports are available through the Election Division of the NE Secretary of State’s office at (402) 471-2555
Before you sign, ask to see identification of a signature gatherer. Paid signature gatherers are required to carry a card issued by the Secretary of State. Volunteers have a different card also issued by the Secretary of State. You can request and view the identification of signature gatherers to assure they are legitimate.
Be sure you want a petition issue on the ballot
before you sign your name.
Think before you ink! And spread the word!
League of Women Voters of Greater Omaha
Annual Meeting
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Champions Run
13800 Eagle Run Drive
9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
9:15 a.m. Registration and Coffee
9:30 a.m. Business Meeting
11:30 a.m. Luncheon and Program
Professor Emeritus, UNO Criminal Justice Dept.
Topic: Omaha Police Problem in a National Perspective
$18.00 per person
All League members, spouses, and other guests are invited to attend.
MEMBERSHIP
Please email or call me with any address, email, or phone number updates.
2008 - 2009 Membership fees will be due on April 1, 2008. Please rejoin early.
I encourage everyone to update their Yearbooks throughout the year as new contact information is provided in the membership report.
Membership Prospects
I would be glad to include potential members in the mailing list to receive a few complimentary issues the Bulletin. If you know someone who might be interested, please submit the complete contact information (name, address, phone number and if possible email address) to my attention.
Calling all volunteers! Help is always needed with membership outreach. I am looking for experienced members who are interested in greeting new members over the phone. If you are interested, please contact me.
Membership information removed from web copy. Please click here to contact our Membership Chair.
Click here for a printable copy of the Membership Application.