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Date: 3/6/2022
Subject: LWV-Wake Update March 7th 2022
From: League of Women Voters of Wake County



LWV-Wake Update 3/7/2022

 
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Dear ~~first_name~~,
 
Greetings from LWV-Wake.
 
March is Women's History Month (declared by Congress in 1987) and there are many trailblazers and important March moments to honor and remember. Among them:
  • March 3rd, 1913 - The Women’s Suffrage Parade took place in Washington, D.C. where more than 8000 women marched to demand a constitutional amendment guaranteeing their right to vote.
  • March 8th, 1910 - International Women's Day is recognized as an international holiday after 17 countries agree to German activist Clara Zetkin's suggestion during the International Conference of Working Women in Copenhagen.
  • March 22, 1972 -  The Equal Rights Amendment was passed in Congress. 35 of 38 states swiftly passed resolutions needed for ratification. And still we wait.....
If you are interested in channeling some women's history vibes and getting inspired, here are 9 great (and short) podcasts that highlight the work of some amazing women "warriors".
 
In addition, UN Women has designated the theme “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow” with a call to action for climate change for this year's International Women's Day celebration. As they explain on their website:
 
"Women and girls experience the greatest impacts of the climate crisis as it amplifies existing gender inequalities and puts women’s lives and livelihoods at risk. Across the world, women depend more on, yet have less access to, natural resources, and often bear a disproportionate responsibility for securing food, water, and fuel".
 
UN Women will be hosting an online event on March 8th where speakers will discuss the need for gender equality for a sustainable future. For more information, click here.

Timely Topic Welcomes State Treasurer Dale Folwell on March 24th for State of the State
Our March Timely Topics will be our last VIRTUAL presentation as we will be holding April's Timely Topic IN PERSON. I know many of us are excited at the prospect of gathering in-person again. Please scroll down to our upcoming events section for more details about our March Timely Topics event. Also, please share the link to our program with others as this is a public event open to non-members. 
 
 Timely Topics: Save the Date April 21, 2022, 12:00 PM - Registration open soon
Join us as speakers Regina Petteway, MSPH, Retired Director of WCDHHS and Michelle Laws, Ph.D., Chief Experience Officer, North Carolina Medical Society present:  Intersection of Race, Stress and Health - Focusing on the impact stress has on the many health conditions that disproportionately impact African Americans and Hispanic/Latinx populations.  

Redistricting News
There are some interesting new developments in both state and local redistricting. Please scroll down for more details. 
 
Donate Button Added
You may have noticed the addition of a DONATE button at the top and bottom of these League Updates. It is provided so those who don't visit our website frequently, but appreciate the information provided in these League Updates, can support the League. Although we rely on our volunteers to carry out a lot of our work, some advocacy efforts have costs involved or cannot be fully staffed by volunteers. Membership dues alone do not cover our operating costs. We hope you will consider supporting our organization in addition to membership.
 
COMING SOON: We will soon have the capability through our website to offer recurring donations. This is a great way to support LWV-Wake without having to think about it! Sign up once and your set donation will be sent to the League on the same day each month. 
 

LAST CALL: HAVE YOU COMPLETED YOUR SURVEY???
Deadline is March 15th
If you have not yet completed our survey, PLEASE help the League by providing your input for this year's strategic planning. We need to hear from you even if you have not attended events since COVID or are not actively engaged with the League. Your impressions of our advocacy work, volunteer engagement and impact are important to us!
 
 
 

 

Upcoming LWV-Wake Events
  • March 8th 5:00pm-6:30pm - DEI Roundtable: Invisible No More: Missing & Murdered Native American Women - Missing and murdered Native American women is a human rights crisis. During National Women's History Month, we hope that our Roundtable Discussion will increase awareness of the disproportionate violence experienced by our Native American sisters and give us tools to become allies. Register here.
  • March 17th 2:00pm-3:00pm - League Lit Raleigh - Will discuss Proud Shoes: The Story of an American Family (Black Women Writers Series) by Pauli Murray. From Amazon: "First published in 1956, Proud Shoes is the remarkable true story of slavery, survival, and miscegenation in the South from the pre-Civil War era through the Reconstruction. Written by Pauli Murray the legendary civil rights activist and one of the founders of NOW, Proud Shoes chronicles the lives of Murray's maternal grandparents." Register here.
  • March 24th-5:30pm - Timely Topics: State of the State - Join North Carolina State Treasurer Dale R. Folwell for a State of the State overview. Treasurer Folwell will discuss the challenges of managing the $122 billion state pension fund, which provides retirement benefits for teachers, law enforcement, and public workers; and the State Health Plan, which provides medical and pharmaceutical benefits to over 750,000 current and retired workers. Register here.
  • April 19th - 3:00pm-4:30pm - League Lit Western Wake - Will discuss Our Time Is Now by Stacy Abrams. From New York Times bestselling author of Lead From The Outside and political leader Stacey Abrams, a blueprint to end voter suppression, empower our citizens, and take back our country. Register here. 

LWVNC Events & Council
To see all upcoming LWVNC sponsored events, please view their Events Calendar
 
 

LWVNC Council - All Members Invited
This year LWVNC is heading to the beach! Well, kind of. Morehead City is the location of this year's 2-day retreat. It is an opportunity to meet other Leaguers and have fun while discussing League activities. The program kicks off with dinner on April 1 near the hotel and continues with sessions on April 2 at the Carteret Community College. LWVNC has secured a discounted rate of $109/night at Hampton Inn. We would LOVE to see a good turnout from LWV-Wake members! Please remember to book your hotel early and pay the $30 registration fee, which is a separate link from the registration form. Registration ends March 10th. After registering, please send me an email as I am tracking attendance for LWV-Wake members. It is sure to be a fun event, esp. since we are being asked to perform! We would love to have your participation. LWVNC is handling all registrations through their website here.

State & Local Government
NCGA building for newsletter
State Redistricting Litigation Update
NCGA Leadership Appeals Ruling to SCOTUS for Congressional Map
Plaintiffs Respond
  
Update: 
March 2nd: SCSJ files response asking the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday to deny a request by legislative defendants to throw out the new Special Master drawn Congressional map. Press release here.
February 25th: NC Republicans appealed the redistricting case (Congressional map) to U.S. Supreme Court. The request for a stay argues the state courts usurped the legislature’s authority. The stay request was sent to Chief Justice John Roberts, who handles emergency appeals originating from North Carolina. Justice Roberts asked for plaintiff's response. 
February 23rd: NC House and Senate maps are approved by the NC Superior Court three-judge panel. The Congressional map was rejected in favor of a map drawn by the "Special Masters" (Ross, Orr, Edmunds). See article here. Both sides immediately appealed and the NC Supreme Court upheld the ruling of the trial court. 

Recap: 
February 17th: The NCGA passed new maps one day ahead of the deadline. While the NC House map was passed with broad bipartisan support, both the NC Senate and congressional maps were passed along party lines.
 
February 4th: In a 4-3 decision, the court ruled in favor of the plaintiffs. The ruling required lawmakers to first determine whether “racially polarized voting is legally sufficient in any area of the state such that Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act requires the drawing of a district to avoid diluting the voting strength of African American voters.” The ruling ordered the General Assembly to redraw and submit new plans to the Wake County Superior Court by 5 p.m. on February 18, 2022. Comments on the submitted maps must be filed with the court by 5 p.m. on February 21, 2022. The trial court will then decide on approval of the submitted plans by 5 p.m. on February 23, 2022. 
    

Local Redistricting Update
City of Raleigh Final Public Hearing Completed
New District Map Approved

Update:
A new City of Raleigh Council map (Option 2) was approved at the conclusion of the public hearing on March 1st. 
 
March 1st 7pm: The final public hearing for Proposed Redistricting of City Council Districts Map Option 2 following 2020 Decennial Census was held. There were several speakers who voiced opposition to map option 2 over concerns of minority vote dilution from minority precincts being moved from district B to district A, even though current majority-minority districts had been maintained. LWV-Wake did not provide public comments during this final public hearing and did not make a recommendation for or against any particular map option. Our interest was to encourage an open and transparent process and to encourage civic engagement. We did this throughout the process, attending meetings and providing comment at the beginning and during this process.
  • Documents from the meeting can be found here.
  • Video recording of the March 1st public hearing can be found here.
Note: The Raleigh City Council have returned to in-person meetings. Meetings are held at Raleigh Municipal Building, 2nd Floor, 222 W. Hargett St. Raleigh on the first Tuesday of each month at 7pm.
 
Recap:
February 1, 2022: During the February 1st City Council Meeting (afternoon session), council members listened to Attorney Catherine Lawson of the Study Group on Council Terms/Compensation/Redistricting, present the group's Final Report on Redistricting. The Council then voted to approve the Option 2 Redistricting Map and hold a post-redistricting public hearing scheduled for March 1st ahead of the March 31, 2022 deadline.
  • Watch the February1st Raleigh City Council meeting here.
  • Read the Study Group's Final Report here.
  • Access the Study Group's Final Presentation here. 
 
Wake County Board of Education 
Final Virtual Information Session Held
School Board Requests Feedback 
Update: 
The Wake County School Board continues to solicit public comment on the redistricting map options. Feedback can be provided via a link on their website here.
Feb. 23 - The final virtual information session was held. Mitchell and Esselstyn presented the map options and answered many questions. 
  • The public hearing can be viewed here.
Recap:
February 1, 2022: Mitchell and Esselstyn made a presentation including mapping criteria and three map proposals.
December 7, 2021: Attorney Adam Mitchell from Tharrington Smith, LLP, and Blake Esselstyn from Mapfigure Consulting, presented Redistricting Principles, which can be viewed here. In this presentation, updated census numbers for the districts are provided. Of the 9 districts, only districts 2 and 7 remain in compliance with a +-5% population range. Possible criteria, labeled as "discretionary principles", are also presented.
Sept. 21, 2021: The Wake County Board of Education began discussing redistricting at their work session on September 21. Attorney Adam Mitchell from Tharrington Smith, LLP, presented The Basics of Redistricting, providing information on current district sizes, legal requirements, and potential redistricting criteria. Read Mr. Mitchell’s presentation here.


Support the LWV-Wake with Amazon Smile donations
LWV-Wake is now listed as a 501(c)3 charitable organization on Amazon Smile! This means you can now select our League as your charity of choice and support LWV-Wake at no cost to you. A portion of all your Amazon purchases will be donated to LWV-Wake by Amazon. To learn more about Amazon Smile and how to sign up, click here. Once you have signed up and chosen League of Women Voters of Wake County as your charity, you can bookmark the Amazon Smile page. This is an easy way to support the League!

In Memoriam of Linda Maxa
LWV-Wake member Linda Maxa passed away on February 18th. Linda had been an LWV-Wake member since 2011 and was involved with the Women's Equality Day committee for several years, bringing her technical and database skills to the committee. Even after she no longer served on the committee, she continued to show her support as an event sponsor. A memorial service was held on March 5th and flowers were sent on behalf of LWV-Wake members. Her obituary can be found here. 

Looking for information from a past newsletter? Previous League Updates can now be viewed on our website's home page. Look for the "League Updates" blue tab on the top menu.
Thank you for continuing to support the League of Women Voters of Wake County. 
Sincerely,
Cheryl Tung
President
The League of Women Voters of Wake County is a designated 501(c)3 nonprofit charitable organization by the IRS. Donations and membership dues are fully tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
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