President's Message

League is participating in multiple legal challenges

Participating in litigation to protect voters, election integrity and democratic principles is not new to the League, but LWVUS and and LWVC have been extra busy with legal actions in the past few months. Most recently LWVC filed a motion to intervene against a lawsuit seeking to block counting mailed ballots received after Election Day. Challenges to unprecedented Executive Orders are moving through the court system. National and state litigation efforts are changing weekly but you can stay up to date on the status of each by visiting the League's national newsroom.

“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second-best time is now.”   -- Old Chinese proverb

Why Urban Forests Matter

Nature's Air Conditioning • Carbon Capture

Keys to a Healthier Community

Friday, May 16, 2025 10 a.m.-12 noon

West Valley Public Library, 1242 San Tomas Aquino Rd., San Jose

In lieu of the May Lunch with League, you are encouraged

to attend this important event presented by the five

Leagues of Women Voters in Santa Clara County.

This workshop and information session about the Santa Clara County Urban Forest Master Plan will discuss potential impacts of the plan on our cities and why the League’s concerns about both climate change and basic human rights are intertwined. Urban forests are key to better mental and physical health and they save money! Speakers include:

• Michael Cappon, Project Manager, Santa Clara County Urban Forest Master Plan, Davey Consultants
• Briana Horta, Santa Clara County Office of Sustainability and Resilience
• Marc Landgraf, Assistant General Manager, Santa Clara County Open Space Authority
• Sara Davis, City Forester, Department of Transportation, City of San José

Register to attend

Additional volunteers are needed to help with set up and refreshments.

Please contact Virginia Holtz if you can assist.

An information-packed presentation by Erik L. Soliván, Director of Housing for the City of San José, was the focus of Lunch with League in April. He covered the housing continuum that ranges from preventing homelessness through home ownership and the lagging housing production that complicates finding solutions for affordable housing. His slide deck was informative all on its own, and you can read through the slides HERE

May is Affordable Housing Month

More than 30 events are scheduled for Affordable Housing Month in May by a number of local organizations and educational institutions that cover a wide variety of affordable housing topics. Learn more about affordable housing financing, tour a senior apartment complex, watch a documentary on homelessness and more.

Affordable housing/homelessness is a program priority for the League, and members are encouraged to broaden their understanding of these complex issues. See list HERE of what is planned.

Permanent sign honors former League president

New outdoor signage on the Rotunda at San Jose City Hall honors the ground-breaking accomplishments of Janet Gray Hayes, the first female mayor of a major American city. Janet was also a past president of our League and one of the first presents of LWV Bay Area. Thank you to the City of San José for this well-deserved recognition of one of our own.

This meeting will focus on an update of LWV Bay Area's

re-study of regional government positions. Register HERE.

Special update on county government

rounds out Women's History Month

Santa Clara County Supervisor Susan Ellenberg, center, with members of the League Membership Committee (from left) Mary Gardner, Carol Watts, Gloria Loventhal, Danette Green, Roma Dawson.

Many thanks to Santa Clara County Supervisor Susan Ellenberg for her special presentation on Santa Clara County government as the League's closing event for National Women's History Month in March. Big bouquets of thanks also to League members Darrin Johnson and Charla Bunton-Johnson for sponsoring the tasty appetizer spread and Bert George of Joseph George Wines for providing the sparkling Proseco. Another outstanding event organized by our energetic Membership Committee.

Would you like to attend the League's State Convention?

The 2025 LWVC Convention will be held virtually this year, allowing more people to affordably participate as a delegate or observer. LWV San Jose/Santa Clara is entitled to five delegates to vote on business matters such as the budget, program priorities and leadership for the coming two years. The convention is also open to non-delegates.

Workshops and events will be held June 17-20 with delegate business scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, June 21-22. If you would be interested in virtual attendance as a delegate or non-delegate, please contact Diane.McNutt@lwvsjsc.org. It is a convenient opportunity to learn more about the League and the impact it makes throughout California.

Solutions for voter participation gap in California

A recent LWV California webinar focused on California’s voter participation gap

featuring a panel of distinguished experts in research and community engagement. They delved into the ongoing challenges of voter participation, especially addressing the persistent participation gap among youth and voters of color as compared to the older, non-Hispanic white population in California. The panelists proposed actionable solutions that can be implemented at both the local and state levels to address this issue. Watch the recording here.