Action and Advocacy

We are truly a grassroots organization…

League of Women Voters of the Elgin Area is focused on the following issues:

ACTION FOCUS 2020-2021

  1. Women on the Brink (Jennifer F. – Chair)
    • Continue to support Women on the Brink as it seeks to establish itself as a community leader and advocate of critical initiatives that address the crisis of women on the brink of poverty, concentrating on providing quality child care for the children of Elgin, addressing the needs of families who are unable to afford washing their laundry (especially as it impacts children who are being bullied at school or who are not attending school because of dirty, smelly clothes), and on improving working conditions, job opportunities, and affordable housing for women.
  2. Encourage Civic Engagement (Beth K. – Chair)
    • Under the umbrella of LWVUS Making Democracy Work, this program will be action to educate and advocate for increased citizen participation. This will include voter registration; increased voter turnout; workshops and programs on contacting legislators, volunteering, the importance of local government, and more.
    • The long time Running for Public Office program is included in this overall action item. The League typically offers this one-day workshop in partnership with the YWCA Elgin every other year. It is geared toward individuals interested in running for local offices including but not limited to municipal councils and school district, community college, and library boards. As always, we will continue to focus on increased voter registration and increasing voting participation.
    • Observe and report back on the affordable housing situation in the Elgin area and take action where appropriate as per League of Women Voters of Illinois position.
    • At the local level, support the efforts of census 2020 to encourage an accurate count of all people in the Elgin area.
  3. Criminal Justice: Participate in updating the LWVIL Criminal Justice Position by forming a study group to develop a knowledge base that will be prepared for consensus meetings in January 2021.

LOCAL POSITION STATEMENTS

League advocacy begins with members selecting, studying, and seeking agreement on issues of public concern. When we reach a consensus, we have a position. The League uses its positions to advocate for policies, legislation, and ballot measures which our members believe would best serve the public interest and against proposals that are in conflict with those goals. The following positions were reaffirmed in 2020:

LWV Central Kane County & LWV Elgin Area Mental/Behavioral Health and Intellectual/Developmental Disability Position – Adopted by Concurrence in April 2016

Position: The League supports a fully funded comprehensive and coordinated system of treatment, supports, and services for people with mental and behavioral health challenges and/or intellectual/developmental disabilities throughout Kane County. Funding must be adequate to meet the scope and intensity of needs. This funding should include support from state, county, township, and municipal governmental bodies. In addition, affordable housing, affordable and accessible transportation, job training, case management, respite, and social and recreational services need support. Entry into this system should be facilitated by comprehensive and coordinated sources of information that help with finding the most appropriate service providers in the local community. Funding decisions from all sources should be based on data indicating best practice strategies and supports, which lead to the best health outcomes. Alternatives to incarceration must be available for people who have mental and behavioral health challenges and/or intellectual/developmental disabilities. The current crisis in Illinois’ finances is contributing to the needs in these areas.

Kane County Forest Preserve District Position – Adopted by Consensus on September 18, 2013

  • Put a higher priority on restoration of Brunner Forest Preserve, the largest and most expensive purchase ever made by the Forest Preserve District.
  • Support amending the Downstate Forest Preserve Act to ban the extraction and sale of natural resources, including gravel, coal, timber, oil, natural gas and water, from land owned or acquired by a forest preserve district.
  • The core mission of the Forest Preserve District of Kane County is to preserve natural lands. We recommend the Commissioners analyze their priorities and practices to more closely align with this mission.
  • There is an inherent potential for conflict of interest in serving simultaneously on two boards with different missions. Therefore, we recommend the Kane County Board Members/Forest Preserve District Commissioners
    • take steps to deal with that conflict in a forthright manner; and
    • move toward the separation of the two boards with different individuals elected to serve on each.
  • The people have a right to be informed about the conduct of the people’s business. The Forest Preserve District of Kane County must strive to improve compliance with the laws governing public access and transparency.

Ongoing local committees 2020-2021

  1. Walk the Trail (Sandy K. – Chair)
    • This committee conducts periodic workdays to help preserve and protect the nature of Kane County through the Forest Preserve District’s Adopt a Trail program. The LWVEA section is located on the Fox River Trail between Slade Ave. and the Trout Park Canoe Launch.
  2. Forest Preserve (Carol G. – Chair)
    • The Kane County Forest Preserve District Study began with the Study of Potential Gravel Mining in Brunner Forest Preserve in 2010-2012. The follow up Kane County Forest Preserve District Study in 2012-2013 expanded the scope to include compliance with the Downstate Forest Preserve Act, public transparency, and the “mission drift” from the District’s own mission statement and goals. Since then, the study group has functioned as a standing committee to monitor and report on the Forest Preserve District’s policies and practices.
  3. Mental Health (June W. – Chair)
    • Continue to lay the groundwork for our local position on mental health by supporting adequate funding for comprehensive care and services for individuals with serious mental illness. Our current fiscal crisis has caused a crisis threatening the viability of treatment for individuals with serious mental illness.
  4. Voter Services
    • Educating and meeting the information needs of voters is one of the most important roles of the League of Women Voters. This large task requires many volunteers and is broken up into sub-committees to make it more manageable.
    • Voter Services (Carol G. – Chair)
      • Manages and participates in voter outreach and education during election years. This includes Candidate Forums and Voter Guides.
    • Voter Registration Committee (Lois S. – Voter Registration Chair)
      • Coordinate voter registration activities with appropriate partner organizations such as area high schools, senior communities, or community events.
      • Coordinates activities with the Kane County Supervisor of Elections Office
  1. Outreach Programs Committee (Chair needed)
    • The general goals of this committee are:
      • To more fully engage current members
      • To provide opportunities for education and cross fertilization of ideas; and
      • To encourage other individuals to engage with and join the LWVEA
      • Organize regular social gatherings and events (like Drinks & Discussion)
  1. Development/Fundraising (Franklin R. – Chair)
    • The general goals of this committee are to develop and implement a strategy to raise funds for the LWVEA’s general fund.

Past Local Positions

There are many reasons that a local League may not retain a position. These are past positions of the Elgin Area League, organized by year adopted:

1954 – City Council-Manager Government

While it’s unclear when the LWVEA adopted and began working toward this position, according to Elgin: A Women’s City by E.C. Alft, the League of Women Voters played a major role in bringing the council-manager form of municipal government to Elgin in 1954.

1983 – Bluff Spring Fen

The League of Women Voters of Elgin recognizes the Bluff Spring Fen as a unique natural area providing an environment for the growth of many species of plant life that need preservation. It is basically inappropriate for the Metropolitan Sanitary District’s plant because such use would have an undesirable effect on the ecology of the area. It is recommended that the area be designated as a natural area for preservation by the Illinois Nature Conservancy.

Since the area is owned by the Chicago Metropolitan Sanitary District and since the property is contiguous to the city limits, the City of Elgin would be the logical governmental body to annex the property. The MSD has not made any use of this property; the land is recognized as a flood plain by the Corps of Engineers; it is inconveniently on the far fringes of Cook County, and there has been a long-time lack of interest in the area by MSD.

The area is comprised of 170 acres. At the present time, the goal would be to dedicate 90 acres with the Illinois Nature Conservancy and later develop the remaining areas as possible controlled recreation areas.

It is therefore essential that there be a strong coalition of nature groups willing to help the city in recommending protection, preservation, and future development methods for this area.

1985 – City Manager form of Government

After an in-depth study of the three possible forms of government for Elgin, the League of Women Voters of Elgin reached the conclusion that council-manager form of government has served Elgin well and should not be abandoned.

All three forms available to Elgin started as reform types of government:

  • The council-manager form has been representative, accountable, and responsible to all citizens. The voters elect policymakers who can focus their energies on making policy and can employ a professional manager to administer those policies. This form of government takes advantage of the greater number of qualified candidates since it does not require a complete sacrifice of current jobs held by officeholders.
  • A strong mayor form of government is untested and lacks sufficient checks on the mayor during his four-year term. It increases the possibility of political patronage with unqualified personnel holding key positions in city government.
  • The commission form appears unworkable in Elgin and is being dropped by many cities where it is still being used. The most popular form of government in cities of Elgin’s size is council-manager.

1986 – Support of At-Large City Council System

The League of Women Voters of Elgin has taken a position in support of the current at-large election system for the Elgin City Council. League members looked at the issues involved in the at-large versus ward election of Elgin City Council members and determined that the at-large method currently serves the interests of all the residents of Elgin. We urged voters to mark their April 4 (1986) ballot for retention of the at-large election of council members.

1988 – Opposition to Special Use Zoning for Metra Rail Yard

The League of Women Voters opposes the special use zoning for Metra to build a railroad yard south of National Street. The League has a long history of preservation and protection of open space. We have especially encouraged conservation and natural development of the river front. We have testified before the city council on numerous occasions to open up the river front whenever possible as natural lands and park land. We have been most gratified with the development of the Fox River Trail. To build a railroad yard on the banks of the river is an environmental anathema. A rail yard by its very nature is a destruction of natural area and an environmental polluter. We are concerned about pollution of the banks of the river and the waterway from diesel fuels, oils and other matter generated by a railroad yard. The further destruction of wildlife within the area is at odds with League position. The river front should be viewed as an asset to the city of Elgin, not a dumping ground for trains. While the present area south of National Street is certainly of no great beauty, or could even be considered a natural wildlife area, it has the same potential to be developed like the Fox River Trail or as a more natural environment like Voyageur’s Landing. This type of development would enhance the South Grove projects and demonstrate Elgin’s commitment to the revitalization of the central city. At a time when the city is planning the development and improvement of South Grove, building a railroad yard a quarter mile south on the Fox River is a step backward to an earlier time when the Fox River was considered a natural sewer. The city would be once again turning its back on the river. We know that the city’s thinking has progressed far beyond those early times and the city recognizes the Fox River as a natural resource that is an invaluable asset to our community. To build a new rail yard on the river fronts, thus destroying possible recreational or natural use for the enhancement of the city perpetuates the wrongs of the past. This facility is not temporary, but one that will result in the lethal destruction of the area. This area has the same potential as the much admired river fronts of Geneva and St. Charles. We will continue to oppose any development that is such an environmental disaster as a railroad yard on the river bank. Open space and the positive use of the river front as an asset to the city of Elgin is our goal. We encourage the city to continue to work with Metra to accomplish the original goal of moving the present yards out of Elgin and off the river front.

1996 – Kane County Juvenile Justice Center

The Leagues (Kane and DeKalb Counties) support the formation of a Citizens Advisory Committee for the Kane County Juvenile Justice Center that would report to the Kane County Board. The Committee would be a resource suggesting programs and activities that would increase community involvement in the Center. Members of the Committee would come from the judiciary, county board, community organizations, and youth serving organizations. The tasks delegated to the Committee would be determined by its members. The Leagues also support access to physical health services on site at the Center and as needed in the community for the residents. Also, mental health diagnostic treatment and referral services should be accessible on site at the facility. Leagues support innovative educational programs for the residents of the Center. Competitive salaries and ongoing training of Center staff to improve retention rates is supported by the Leagues. Also, adequate funding should be provided for alternatives to incarceration in the Center.

2001 – Homeless & P.A.D.S.

The League of Women Voters of the Elgin Area believes that the Elgin community needs a permanent 12 month overnight shelter for the homeless.

We also believe the permanent shelter shall be a resource center to provide programs and services as a continuum of care.

Further, the Elgin League believes that the League shall take a position on specific sites as determined by the Board in each particular case.

2012 – Gravel Mining in the Brunner Forest Preserve of the Kane County Forest Preserve District

The Elgin Area League of Women Voters completed a two-year Study of Potential Gravel Mining in the Brunner Forest Preserve of the Kane County Forest Preserve District.  The study was approved on March 21, 2012 by a membership consensus meeting.  The expanded scope of study for 2012-2013 was approved at the annual meeting of the LWV Elgin Area on April 30, 2012.
The study was undertaken when, as records show, the Kane County Forest Preserve District began looking at the possibility of mining for gravel in the Brunner property. The LWVEA Committee investigated the questions: What were the economic, environmental, and social policy issues of gravel mining in a forest preserve?

The Kane County Forest Preserve District is entrusted with an important mission:

To acquire, hold, and maintain lands within Kane County that contribute to the preservation of natural and historic resources, habitats, flora, and fauna; and to restore, restock, protect and preserve such lands for the education, recreation, and pleasure of all its citizens.”

The Position Statement, based upon findings reached in the course of this study, were:

  • Gravel mining is inappropriate in Brunner Forest Preserve or any other forest preserve.
  • The extraction and sale of natural resources, whether gravel, coal, timber, natural gas or water, is inconsistent with the mission of the forest preserve.
  • The Downstate Forest Preserve Act should be amended to prohibit mining in forest preserves, while exempting previous or current mining operations.
  • Public access and transparency issues continue to be problematical at the Kane County Forest Preserve.
  • Certain land use decisions by the Kane County Forest Preserve raise questions of  “mission drift” from the stated  goal of preserving and restoring the nature of Kane County that deserve further study.

This study was intended to discern the facts behind the controversy and to examine the possible conflicts of interest illustrated by this case. It is in no way an indictment of the good work done by the Forest Preserve Commissioners and staff. Rather, it is intended to point out a perceived problem and suggest a course correction.

It is our hope that the results of this Study will serve as the basis for a discussion of how to maintain the focus of our forest preserve districts on their mission, which is to preserve and protect natural areas.

League of Women Voters of Illinois

In addition to the local issues, the League of Women Voters of Illinois is focused on issues identified by our members and the public as core League issues. With a strong educational or advocacy component at the state level and/or the potential for community-based action at the local or regional League level, with action design/implementation facilitated by the state League.

For further details see League of Women Voters of Illinois

League of Women Voters of the US

At the national level, the following are the League Legislative Priorities:

  • Campaign Finance Reform— The cost of political advertising has skyrocketed in the past two decades and has played a major role in driving up the expense of political campaigns. Escalating campaign costs drive out potential candidates and require those running for office to spend too much time raising money + too often from special interests.
  • Civil Liberties— Basic civil liberties must be protected as the nation seeks to guard against terrorism and other threats to national security.
  • Election Reform— Registering to vote, educating yourself on candidates and issues, and actually casting a vote are all essential pieces of the election process. The League continues to work to make it easier for you to cast your vote, as it remains one of the most fundamental elements in our democracy.
  • Redistricting Reform— It is time to stop partisan redistricting and develop mechanisms to ensure fair results so that elections determine the shape of our legislatures. Voting Rights Act— In 2006, Congress will consider the reauthorization of the expiring provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The League of Women Voters has a long history of support for the Voting Rights Act. The League of Women Voters believes that the Voting Rights Act should be reauthorized and not weakened in any way by amendments.
  • DC Voting Rights— Citizens of the District of Columbia have no representation in the U.S. Senate and only a nonvoting delegate in the U.S. House of Representatives. A basic principle of democracy is at stake. U.S. citizens living in the capital of the free world deserve to have full voting representation in the bodies that make their laws, tax them and call them to war. Immigration— Study how we should respond to the challenges and opportunities of immigration in the areas of economic policy, social policy, which includes education, and the governmental process.

For further details see League of Women Voters