Mark Your Calendars!

Scarsdale Village Election

Tuesday, March 21, 2023

6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Scarsdale Public Library, Scott Room

Mark your calendars - the 2023 Scarsdale Village Election will be held on Tuesday,

March 21, 2023 from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. All Election Districts (Numbers 1 through 19) will be voting at the Scarsdale Public Library, 54 Olmsted Road, in the Scott Room.

Follow this link for more information, including about how to register to vote and how to obtain an absentee ballot.

TRY Brochure: They Represent You

The TRY brochure, the directory of elected and appointed government officials published by the LWVS, has recently been updated and is available on our website.

https://lwvs.org/they-represent-you/

I hope that this letter finds you well. Throughout the year, the League of Women Voters of Scarsdale encourages civic engagement and helps to inform the community so that voters can be knowledgeable and active participants in our democracy. The LWVS observes and studies the local governmental processes for the purposes of more fully understanding local government and informing the larger community through carefully considered consensus statements. In addition, as part of the larger LWV organization, we follow and educate the community on certain state and national issues. 

On the state level, we are following the prospect of the passage of an Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) to the NYS Constitution recognizing sex as a protected class under the law. In July 2022, the Legislature took the first step in a long process to amend the NYS Constitution by passing the NYS ERA in July 2022.  And, just a few days ago, the Legislature passed the measure a second time, clearing the way for the NY ERA to be considered by voters in a public referendum.

The NY ERA is unique in that it expands protection under the law to several new identity classes, including ethnicity, national origin, age, disability and sex, including sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, and pregnancy outcomes.  In order for this amendment to become part of the NYS Constitution, it must be supported by a majority of voters in a public referendum set for November 2024. To educate the public about this amendment and to advocate for its passage, the LWV of NYS established an NYS ERA Advocacy Taskforce composed of League volunteers from all over the state. The LWVS looks forward to keeping the community informed about this important measure. 

On the local level, the LWVS held its Information and Consensus Meeting on the SBNC Election System in January. SBNC Administrative Committee Election Chair Susi D'Ambra Coplan joined us to speak about the SBNC election process and answer questions.

At the end of the month, we were finally able to hold our Winter Cocktail Event and Fundraiser in person. It was wonderful to be able to mingle with elected officials, Leaguers, community members, and old and new friends. Thank you to Janice and Ira Starr for graciously hosting this event.

Coming up in February, we will hold our annual Local Program Consensus Meeting, during which we will choose our local work for the 2023-24 year. At the start of this meeting, we will also discuss the LWV of Westchester and the LWV of New York State programs and offer our comments and suggestions. In March, we will hold our annual School and Village Budget Information and Consensus Meetings. Please join us for all of these important informational events!

I continue to be inspired by all of the work our community takes on, whether on a local, state or national level, to make our world a better place. I thank all of you for your ongoing work.

Upcoming LWVS Events:

• Monday, February 6 at 10:00 a.m., Local, County and State Program Consensus Meeting, Scarsdale Public Library
• Wednesday, March 22 at 10:00 a.m., School Budget Information and Consensus Meeting, via Zoom
• Friday, March 24 at 10 a.m., Village Budget Information and Consensus Meeting, Scarsdale Village Hall

Best wishes,

Alissa Baum

February 2023

• 2/6, Monday:
• 9:15 a.m. Board Meeting
• 10:00 a.m. General Membership and Consensus Meeting (Local, County and State Program), Scarsdale Public Library

March 2023



• 3/13, Monday:
• 7:00 p.m. Board Meeting
• 3/21, Tuesday:
• 6:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. Village Election, Scarsdale Public Library, Scott Room
• 3/22, Wednesday:
• 10:00 a.m. School Budget Information and Consensus Meeting, via Zoom
• 3/24, Friday:
• 10:00 a.m. Village Budget Information and Consensus Meeting, Scarsdale Village Hall

April 2023

• 4/10, Monday:
• 9:15 a.m. Board Meeting
• 4/23, Sunday:
• Book Discussion, Private Home

LWVS General Membership and Consensus Meeting: 

2023-2024 Programming for our 

Local, Westchester County, and State Leagues

Monday, February 6, 2023

10:00 a.m. at the Scarsdale Public Library

Please join the LWVS on Monday, February 6 at 10:00 a.m. for a general membership and consensus meeting to discuss programming for LWVS and suggestions for programming for the Westchester County and State Leagues for the upcoming 2023-24 year.

The recommended program for LWVS will be proposed for adoption by League members at the Annual meeting in May 2023. Suggestions for the Westchester County League and State League programs will be communicated to the respective League Boards.  

Those who intend to participate in the consensus meeting are strongly encouraged to review the following materials in advance:

• LWVS: Current Local Program for 2022-23
• LWVW: Current County Program for 2022-23 (starting on page 24)
• LWVNYS:
• 2023-25 Program Planning Packet for LWVNYS Convention
• LWVNYS 2022 Impact on Issues
• LWVNYS 2022 Summary of Policy Positions

Please contact Alissa Baum at [email protected] with any questions or for additional information.

Students Inside Albany

Application Deadline: Monday, February 6

For the twelfth consecutive year, Students Inside Albany, a four-day conference, will be held in Albany, New York, from May 21-24, 2023. The LWVS will select one student to participate in this interactive conference. Any Sophomore, Junior, or Senior who attends Scarsdale High School or resides in the school district is eligible to apply. 

Students Inside Albany is designed to increase students’ awareness of their responsibility in a representative government and provide the tools necessary for meeting that responsibility. This conference will bring together high school students from across the state to learn about New York State government and the process by which citizens can participate in the policymaking arena. As part of this program, students will also tour the Capitol and observe both the Senate and Assembly in action by spending an afternoon shadowing their legislators.

The cost of the conference, including hotel and meals, will be co-sponsored by the League of Women Voters New York State Education Foundation, Inc. and our Scarsdale League. Applications are available on the Scarsdale LWVS website. Completed applications are due Monday, February 6.

For more information, see Youth Programs under the League of Women Voters of New York State website, or contact Cindy S. Yau at [email protected] or Jessica Zellner at [email protected].

LWVS General Membership and Consensus Meeting:

2023-24 School Budget

Wednesday, March 22

10:00 a.m. via Zoom

At the Board of Education Meeting on January 9, 2022, Dr. Drew Patrick, Interim Superintendent; Stuart Mattey, Assistant Superintendent for Business and Facilities; and Carol Priore, Interim Assistant Superintendent for HR & Leadership Development, presented the 2023-24 budget development and staffing recommendations.  These recommendations are available on Scarsdale Board of Education's BoardDocs website.  

The League encourages members of the public to participate in the school budget process. Upcoming Budget Study Sessions are scheduled for the following dates:



• Monday, February 13
• Monday, March 6
• Monday, March 20 

The LWVS will hold its Information Session and General Membership Consensus Meeting on the 2023-24 School Budget on Wednesday, March 22, at 10:00 a.m. via Zoom. A Zoom link will be shared prior to the meeting.

Village Budget Portfolio Update

The Scarsdale Village Board of Trustees, the Village Manager, and the Village Treasurer have begun the process to assess the Village’s finances and evaluate revenue and expense projections while preparing the budget for 2023-24.  

The first draft (or pass) of the budget, which includes all of the departmental budget requests, has a gap of $7.4mm. This large gap (last year it was $6.4mm at this juncture) is partially attributable to increases in pension costs and health care expenses in the new year, which are fixed. To arrive at a viable budget, the Village will have to determine which budget requests to fund and which to cut. In addition, the Village will consider whether to appropriate a portion of the unassigned fund balance, use any of the current year’s budget surplus (projected to be $1.6mm), and/or increase the property tax levy. More work will be done in the coming weeks to determine the definitive courses of action.

The continuing budget sessions are open to the public and public participation is encouraged at all Village Trustee Working Sessions and Board Meetings during the public portion of the agenda:

• The next meeting to discuss the budget is Tuesday, February 7 at 6:00 p.m.
• The official second pass budget review meeting will occur on Tuesday, February 14 at 5:00 p.m. Find meeting details and Zoom links at the Board of Trustees website.
• The public hearing on the tentative budget is slated for March 28.
• The final budget is scheduled to be adopted on April 25.

The LWVS will hold its Information Session and General Membership Consensus Meeting on the 2023-24 Village Budget on Friday, March 24, at 10:00 a.m.

Questions? Email LWVS Village Budget Portfolio Chairs Tracy Tang or Shilpa Spencer at [email protected].

Please join us for our

LWVS Book Discussion

Dinners with Ruth: A Memoir on the Power of Friendships

by Nina Totenberg

Sunday, April 23, 2023

7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Location, Private Home

We look forward to meeting in person for a lively discussion about Dinners with Ruth: A Memoir on the Power of Friendships, a memoir in which journalist Nina Totenberg reflects on her relationships with family and prominent friends, including her longterm friendship with Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.  

The book is an extraordinary account of two women who paved the way for future generations by tearing down professional and legal barriers. It is also an intimate memoir of the power of friendships as women began to pry open career doors and transform the workplace. Dinners with Ruth also weaves together compelling, personal portraits of other fascinating women and men from Nina’s life, including her cherished NPR colleagues Cokie Roberts and Linda Wertheimer; her beloved husbands; her friendships with multiple Supreme Court Justices, including Lewis Powell, William Brennan, and Antonin Scalia; and Nina’s own family—her father, the legendary violinist Roman Totenberg; and her “best friends,” her sisters. 

Bronx River Books in Scarsdale Village is offering a 10% discount on the purchase of the book when you mention you are participating in the league of Women Voters of Scarsdale Book Club. 

We look forward to seeing you on April 23rd!

LWVS Information Session and Consensus Meeting:

School Election System

On Friday, January 20, the LWVS convened its General Membership and Consensus meeting regarding the School Board Nominating Committee election which occurred on January 10. Jyoti Ruta, the LWVS School Election System Chair, conducted the meeting.

Ms. Susi D'Ambra Coplan, Election Chair of the SBNC Administrative Committee, prepared a statement in advance and shared an overview of the Administrative Committee's work during the 2022-23 election cycle. Highlights of the discussion included Member Participation, Recruitment, Publicity, Voting and Finances.

The League statement on the SBNC election is published on our website and can also be accessed here.

LWVS Issues Consensus Statement on the 

Village Election System

On Monday, December 5, 2022, LWVS held its annual information session and membership consensus meeting regarding the Citizens Nominating Committee (CNC) election and referendum on the Non-Partisan Resolution amendments. Procedure Committee Chair Michelle Sterling and Vice Chair Peri Zelig presented and answered questions. 

The resulting LWVS Consensus Statement is posted on the Local Programs and Positions page of the LWVS website.

Program Planning

LWVS will review the current LWVW Program at the Program Consensus Meeting on February 6 to assess priorities for County efforts in 2023-24. LWVW has the opportunity to recommend what the LWVW retains, edit what is in the program, and make suggestions for LWVW to consider adopting. Following the LWVS meeting, the LWVS will forward its recommendations to the LWVW for consideration in developing the proposed 2023-24 LWVW Program.

The current 2022-23 LWVW Program (starting on page 24) is available for review.

Youth Engagement

The LWVW is forming a College Campus Program to engage students in the 18-24 age range at various area colleges. The program seeks to train students in voter registration, advocacy and lobbying. The hope is that this program becomes a permanent, student-run initiative. Interested League members are encouraged to volunteer in this effort.

Annual Finance Drive

Please support your local league by donating to the

League of Women Voters of Scarsdale!

Please be generous - your contribution will directly support our programs:

Candidate Forums

Voter Information

They Represent You

Students Inside Albany

Speaker Programs

and

Our studies on local issues and budgets

To donate by mail, please make checks payable to:

LWV of Scarsdale

P.O. Box 495

Scarsdale, NY10583

If you would like to make a tax-deductible contribution, please make your check out to LWVNYS Education Foundation and mail to the address above.

Thank you for your support!

LWVS Nominating Committee 2022-23

The LWVS Nominating Committee 2022-23 is calling for nominations to fill League Board Officer and Director positions for the 2023-24 year. The LWVS Nominating Committee will also fill off-board member positions on the Nominating Committee 2023-24.

If you would like to nominate yourself or a friend to be considered for the League Board or the LWVS Nominating Committee 2023-24, kindly contact Nominating Committee Chair Elissa Ruback at [email protected]. 

Here is a list of our 2022-23 Nominating Committee members, all of whom are able to receive nominations for discussion and consideration:

Elissa Ruback* (Chair)

Leah Dembitzer*

Kerry Hayes*

Diksha Mudbhary

Cindy Yau

*Off-Board members were approved at our annual meeting in May, 2022.

Thank you

The LWVS thrives on the work and dedication of our community of volunteers. I would like to extend my sincerest thanks to the League volunteers who contributed their time and creativity during the month of February.

Thanks to Jyoti Ruta for her thoughtful and detailed work on the SBNC Election Information and Consensus Meeting. 

Thanks to Diane Baylor for her precision in recording our Board minutes, maintaining and updating our website, and preparing an expertly-crafted Village Election Consensus Statement.

Thanks to Dana Matsushita for her careful attention to the LWVS Bulletin and for her work, with Heedan Chung, keeping our community informed with numerous eblasts and social media postings.

Thanks to Anne Lyons for her dedicated work on the Winter Finance Drive and helping to plan a joyful Winter Fundraiser. Thanks to Erika Rublin for keeping track of the Board financials and overseeing the finance drive. Special thanks to Janice and Ira Starr for graciously opening their home for this fundraiser and ensuring a wonderful time was had by all.

Thanks to Donna Conkling and Beatrice Sevcik for their continued work on Voter Service.  Thanks to Jenny Tabak for keeping our membership records up-to-date.

Thanks to Dalya Khan and Nan Eileen Mead for their thoughtful and detailed work on the School Budget Portfolio. Thanks to Shilpa Spencer and Tracy Tang for their careful analysis of the Village Budget.  

Thanks to Cindy Yau and Jessica Zellner for their work on Students Inside Albany.

Thanks to Kitt Rosenthal for serving as Liaison to the League of Women Voters of Westchester.  Thanks to Diksha Mudbhary and Jen Zola for their important Board work and wise counsel.

Thanks to Heedan Chung and Nan Eileen Mead for serving as the LWV of New York State’s ERA Task Force and keeping our membership informed of the status of the measure.

Thanks to SBNC Administrative Committee Election Chair Susi D’Ambra Coplan for participating in our School Election Information Session. The League appreciates the time and thought she put forth in helping to inform our membership about local government.  

I enjoy the opportunity to work with all of you and look forward to all of the great work that lies ahead!

All my best,

Alissa Baum

Village of Scarsdale

As of January 31, 2023

Board of Trustees

Jane Veron, Mayor

  Term ends April 2023

Randall Whitestone, Deputy Mayor

  2nd term ends April 2024

Sameer Ahuja

  1st term ends April 2023

Karen Brew

  1st term ends April 2023

Jeremy Gans

  1st term ends April 2024

Jonathan Lewis

  2nd term ends April 2023

Ken Mazer

  1st term ends April 2024

Board of Education

Amber Yusuf, President

   1st term ends June 2023

Ronald Schulhof, Vice President

  2nd term ends June 2025

Colleen Brown

  1st term ends June 2025

Jim Dugan

  1st term ends June 2024

Robert Klein

  1st term ends June 2023

Suzie Hahn Pascutti

  1st term ends June 2025

Jessica Resnick-Ault

  1st term ends June 2024

League of Women Voters of Scarsdale

2022-23

Officers

President: Alissa Baum

[email protected]

First Vice President: Jenny Simon Tabak

Second Vice President: Anne Lyons

Recording Secretary: Diane Baylor

[email protected]

Corresponding Secretary: Dana Matsushita

[email protected]

Treasurer: Erika Rublin

[email protected]

2022-2023 Elected Board Members

Heedan Chung

Donna Conkling

Dalya Khan

Nan Eileen Mead

Diksha Mudbhary

Jyoti Ruta

Beatrice Sevcik

Cindy Yau

Jessica Zellner

Appointed Board Members

Debbie Miller

Kitt Rosenthal

Shilpa Spencer

Tracy Tang

Jennifer Zola

Advocacy: Alissa Baum and Diksha Mudbhary 

Audit: Amber Yusuf 

Book Group: Donna Conkling

Budget: Nancy Michaels (Off-Board) 

Communications:

• Bulletin Editor: Dana Matsushita 
• Eblast: Dana Matsushita  
• Publicity: Heedan Chung 
• Social Media: Heedan Chung 
• Website: Diane Baylor 

Development/Finance Drive: Anne Lyons

Hospitality: Kitt Rosenthal

Local Budgets:

• School Budget: Dalya Khan and Nan Eileen Mead 
• Village Budget: Shilpa Spencer and Tracy Tang 

Local Election Systems:

• School Election: Jyoti Ruta 
• Village Election: Diane Baylor 

Luncheons: Anne Lyons

LWVW Liaison: Kitt Rosenthal

Membership: Heedan Chung 

• Membership Statistician: Jenny Simon Tabak 

Nominating Chair: Elissa Ruback (Off-Board) 

Program/Education: Cindy Yau

Voter Service:

• Candidate Forum(s): Donna Conkling and Beatrice Sevcik
• Naturalization Court: Donna Conkling and Beatrice Sevcik
• Voter Registration Drive(s): Alissa Baum and Beatrice Sevcik

Youth Engagement:

• Civics Jeopardy: Jessica Zellner and Jen Zola
• Mock Election: Jessica Zellner and Jen Zola
• Students Inside Albany: Cindy Yau