Action and Advocacy

The League of Women Voters never supports or opposes any political party or candidate; League of Women Voters takes action on an issue or advocates for a cause when there is a League position that supports the issue or speaks to the cause.
Positions result from a process of study. Any given study, whether it be National, State, or Local, is thorough in its pursuit of facts and details. As the study progresses, a continuing discussion of pros and cons of each situation occurs. Prior to the results of the study being presented to the general membership, study committee members fashion consensus questions that are then addressed by the membership. Additional discussion, pro and con, takes place as members (not part of the study committee) learn the scope of the study. After the members reach consensus, the board forms positions based on that consensus.
It is the consensus statement -- the statement resulting from the consensus questions -- that becomes a position. Based on our positions, we take action in the public interest, advocating for or against particular policies, legislation, or ballot measures. Without a position on a particular issue, however, we cannot act or advocate. League members review positions annually and vote to re-adopt, modify, or drop the position.
Listed below are summaries of the local positions adopted by LWV San Jose/Santa Clara. For information about League's regional, state and national positions, see these pages: LWV Bay Area, LWV California and LWV US.

LOCAL POSITIONS LWV SAN JOSE/SANTA CLARA (SUMMARIES)

Education - LWVSJ/SC supports:
--- Public education and child development goals.
--- Well-designed programs to alleviate racial imbalance in the public schools which result in the integrated, quality education necessary for all children. For position detail click here: Education
Energy - LWVSJ/SC supports:
--- The adoption by local govenrment of an Energy Policy which stresses conservation and encourages local commerce and industry to establish and implement similar policies. For position detail, click here: Energy
Housing - LWVSJ/SC supports:
--- The inherent right of every person in the United States to enjoy equality of opportunity for adequate housing. For position detail, click here: Housing
Land Use and Planning - LWVSJ/SC supports:
--- The principle that a community should have a master or general plan which is a written policy statement of community goals.
--- Cooperation by the County of Santa Clara and the cities within its boundaries in zoning decisions affecting land use adjacent to or within city boundaries. Such decisions should be compatible with a city's long range plans for land use in its sphere of influence. For position detail, click here: Land Use
San Jose City Charter Revision - LWVSJ/SC supports:
--- The Council/Manager form of government with the administrative responsibility centered in the hands of a professional public administrator and legislative policy set by the entire council. For position detail, click here: San Jose City Charter
Transportation - LWVSJ/SC supports:
--- The need for transportation planning as an integral part of the overall plan for the area. Broad citizen participation should be encouraged to aid in the formulation of goals and plans to meet this objective. For position detail, click here: Transportation
Urban Renewal/Development - LWVSJ/SC supports:
--- Urban renewal/development programs utilizing conservation, rehabilitation and redevelopment --- which should include: conformity to an adopted general plan for the city or the appropriate political jurisdiction, adherence to effective and current codes and ordinances, adequate financing, local government responsibility for relocation, broad citizen participation and efficient and economic administration by qualified personnel. For position detail, click here: Urban Renewal

Earlier Positions and Studies

Local Government (June 2006): Making Decisions in San Jose was accepted by the membership.
Local Government (May 2004): The League completed a study of Local Governmental Ethics
Land Use (Feb 2004): The League completed a study of Development in Coyote Valley.

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