ADVOCACY & POLICY INITIATIVES

Chair and Vice President for Public Policy: Barbara Zucker

ADVOCACY June 2008 Urged State Board of Elections to conduct audits to ensure all votes are counted accurately; Urged NYC Board of Elections to include baseline and comparative statistics in its annual reports. June 2008 Wrote City Council urging members to restore Human Service Cuts. December 2007 Testifies in support of Voter Assistance Commission December 2007 letter asking Homeless Services Commissioner to provide updated information on DHS Advantage Programs, interagency coordination, shelter eligibility criteria November 2007 letter to Governor Spitzer regarding Governors Island

The PUBLIC POLICY COMMITTEE (PPC) coordinates the policy and advocacy activities of the Women’s City Club and its civic committees, develops policy initiatives in areas not covered by the committees and helps facilitate the presentation of policy motions to the Board of Directors.

PPC meets monthly. Its members, who are policy generalists and specialists, are appointed by the committee chair and WCC’s president and are approved by the WCC Board of Directors.

2007-2008 PRIORITIES

MAINTAIN CLOSE WORKING RELATIONSHIPS WITH ELECTED & PUBLIC OFFICIALS
• Monitor and advocate for positions that are consistent with WCC issues and concerns
• Enhance WCC's presence at all levels of government
• Organize series of meetings with our government representatives

REFORM ALBANY
• Participate with other good government groups to promote reform in the areas of Campaign Finance and Redistricting
• Monitor effectiveness of public authority reform legislation

MONITOR & PARTICIPATE IN THE CITY & STATE BUDGET PROCESS
• Study the city and state budget process to respond in an informed and appropriate manner
• Educate members and the public about the magnitude and impact of the state debt

DEVELOP WAYS TO INCREASE THE SUPPLY OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING
• Assess progress of Mayor’s New Housing Marketplace
• Update report on affordable housing
• Review new housing incentives – revised Sec. 421-a law
• Revitalize WCC Housing and Planning Committee

MONITOR NYS & NYC PROGRESS ON ELECTION MATTERS
• Monitor New York ’s implementation of the Help America Vote Act (HAVA)
• Review selection of new voting machines
• Lobby for improved poll worker training and supervision

URBAN PLANNING & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
• Oversee progress in Governors Island public space planning through participation in Governors Island Alliance
• Monitor development in newly rezoned areas of the city

SOCIAL PROGRAMS AND SERVICES
• Monitor the effectiveness of the New York City Department of Homeless Services’ 2007 reforms, including the Work Advantage Program designed “to support work and promote economic stability” among homeless families and individuals
• Advocate for programs that will lift and keep people out of poverty including:
• Raising federal income levels used in the determination of poverty
• Revising allocation formulas for programs such as Medicaid and TANF that disadvantage poor New Yorkers
• Working collaboratively with local and broader nonprofit social service and civic organizations

COLLABORATE WITH WCC CIVIC COMMITTEES
• Establish task forces to study issues outside the domain of existing civic committees