2024 Presidential Primary Election

TOMORROW, APRIL 2, 2024

Tuesday, April 2, 2024 is the Presidential Primary Election date. To find your polling place, visit https://voterlookup.elections.ny.gov/.

Countdown to 

SCHOOL BUDGET VOTE and SCHOOL BOARD ELECTION 

Tuesday, May 21, 2024

In-person voting from 7:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. 

Scarsdale Middle School 

134 Mamaroneck Road 

The proposed 2024-25 school budget will be subject to a vote (see LWVS School Budget Consensus Statement) and the names of all individuals who have successfully filed timely completed candidate petitions will be on the ballot for election to the School Board. The election will be for the two seats currently occupied by James C. Dugan and Jessica Resnick-Ault whose first terms are expiring.

VOTER REGISTRATION INFORMATION

To be qualified to register to vote in this election, you must:

• be at least 18 years of age by the date of the election,
• be a United States citizen,
• have continuously resided in the Scarsdale Public School District for a period of at least 30 days immediately preceding the date of the election,
• not be in prison for a felony conviction,
• not be adjudged mentally incompetent by a court, and
• not claim the right to vote elsewhere.

You are already eligible to vote if you meet either of the following criteria:

• You are registered with the Westchester County Board of Elections to vote in general elections, or
• You are registered to vote in the Scarsdale Public School District and have voted in a school election within the past four years.

Enter your information in the SUFSD Poll Place Finder/Am I Registered form to find out if you are already registered to vote in this election.

Additional information can be found at the following links:

• Scarsdale Schools Voter Information Page
• LWVS Scarsdale School Budget Vote and School Board Election Page

I hope that you are enjoying the start of spring! The LWVS had a very active March filled with advocacy and civic engagement. We held our School Board Nominating Committee Election, School Budget and Village Budget Information Sessions and Consensus Meetings.

Congratulations to Mason Levy, who will be joining our elected officials for Students Inside Albany in May.

Coming up on April 14, we look forward to our book discussion about North Woods, by Daniel Mason. We will enjoy light refreshments, good company, and a great discussion, all in the comfort of a private home. Please register to attend–all are welcome and we look forward to seeing you.

This issue of the bulletin announces our proposed slate of Officers, Board Members, and Off-Board Nominating Committee Members for 2024-25. In addition, the bulletin includes our proposed 2024-25 Local Programs. We will vote on all business at our Annual Meeting on Friday, May 3, at 10:30 a.m. at the Scarsdale Golf Club. Our speaker at this year’s annual meeting will be Jon Elsen, Scarsdale High School alumnus and Editor-in-Chief and Co-Publisher of The Rye Record, a newspaper in Rye, N.Y. We will have a discussion about the state of local news and democracy. Please join us!

As we approach election season, starting with the April Presidential Primary and our local May School Board and Budget Vote and continuing through the November General Election, the LWVS will continue to register voters and provide essential voter information. In addition, for the third year in a row, the LWVS is working with the LWV of New Rochelle to pre-register and register students in Westchester County high schools. Anyone who wishes to volunteer in this effort should contact me at lwvspresident@gmail.com. Additionally, there will be candidate forums planned for CD-16.

Registration is underway for the 56th Biennial League of Women Voters National Convention in Washington, DC and online, June 27-30. 

I encourage you to be active and engaged in our League as well as the community!

Upcoming LWVS Events:

• Sunday, April 14 at 7:00 p.m., Book Discussion, Private Home
• Friday, May 3 at 10:30 a.m., Annual Meeting, Scarsdale Golf Club

Best wishes,

Heedan Chung

April

• 4/2, Tuesday:
• Presidential Primary Election
• 4/8, Monday:
• 9:15 a.m. Board Meeting, Scarsdale Public Library
• 4/14, Sunday
• 7:00 p.m. Book Discussion, Private Home

May

• 5/3, Friday:
• 10:30 a.m. Annual Meeting and Luncheon, Scarsdale Golf Club
• 5/21, Tuesday:
• 7 a.m. - 9 p.m. School Budget Vote and BOE Election, Scarsdale Middle School Gym

June

• 6/10, Monday:
• 9:15 a.m. Board Meeting, Scarsdale Public Library
• 6/15, Saturday - 6/23, Sunday:
• Early Voting for June Primary
• 6/25, Tuesday:
• June Primary

Please join us for our

LWVS Book Discussion

North Woods 

by Daniel Mason

Sunday, April 14, 2024

7:00 - 8:30 pm

Private Home

We look forward to meeting in person for a lively discussion about North Woods by Daniel Mason. 

Named by the New York Times as one of the 10 best books of 2023, this novel follows the inhabitants of a single house in western Massachusetts over the course of several centuries, beginning with a runaway Puritan couple all the way up to inhabitants from the present day – it's “a time-spanning, genre-blurring work of storytelling magic” (The Washington Post). According to Goodreads, the book "shows the myriad, magical ways in which we’re connected to our environment and to one another, across time, language and space."

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 14th!

League of Women Voters of Scarsdale

Annual Meeting and Luncheon

 Friday, May 3, 2024

10:30 a.m.

Scarsdale Golf Club

Agenda

I. Call to Order and Welcome to All: Heedan Chung

• Introduction of Parliamentarian
• Introduction of Secretary
• Adoption of Order of Business
• Motion for Annual Meeting Minutes to Be Adopted by the LWVS Board

II. President’s Report: Heedan Chung

III. Treasurer’s Report and YTD Budget and Actuals: Erika Rublin

IV. Presentation of Proposed LWVS Budget 2024-25: Nancy Michaels

• Proposed LWVS Budget 2024-25 and PMP Analysis
• Budget Adoption 

V. Presentation of Proposed Bylaws Amendment: Diane Baylor

• Proposed LWVS Bylaws Amendments
• Adoption of LWVS Bylaws Amendments 

VI. Presentation of Proposed LWVS Local Program 2024-25: Jenny Simon Tabak

• Proposed LWVS Local Program with Outlook for Work
• Adoption of LWVS Local Program 2024-25

VII. Report of the Nominating Committee: Alissa Baum

• Presentation of Proposed LWVS Slate for 2024-25
• Nominations from the Floor
• Election and Installation of 2024-25 LWVS Officers, Directors, and Nominating Committee

VIII. Directions to the Board 

IX. Other Business Announcements

X. Upcoming Events

• Sunday, May 19, 2024 to Wednesday, May 22, 2024 in Albany: LWVNYS Students Inside Albany
• Tuesday, May 21, 2024, 7am to 9pm at SMS: School Budget Vote and BOE Election
• TBD in May: Candidate Forums for CD 16
• Thursday, June 6, 2024, 5pm at Manhattanville College: LWVW Annual Convention
• Monday, June 10, 2024, 9:15am at SPL: LWVS Joint Old/New Board Meeting
• Saturday, June 15, 2024 through Sunday, June 23, 2024: Early Voting for June Primary
• Tuesday, June 25, 2024: June Primary
• Thursday, June 27, 2024 to Sunday, June 30, 2024 in Washington, D.C.: LWVUS Biennial Convention

XI. Adjournment

Luncheon Speaker: Jon Elsen,

Editor-in-Chief and Co-Publisher of

The Rye Record

Local News, Community and Democracy:

A Discussion



At a time when our Scarsdale community is greatly missing The Scarsdale Inquirer, we cannot be more excited for our annual luncheon in which we will have a conversation about the state of local news and democracy with Jon Elsen, Scarsdale High School alumnus and the new Editor-in-Chief and Co-Publisher of The Rye Record, a newspaper in Rye, N.Y.

Jon Elsen previously was an editor at The New York Times and New York Post, and a strategic communications advisor. Earlier in his career, Jon was a reporter at several newspapers, including The Hartford Courant and The Journal Inquirer, both in Connecticut.

He graduated from Columbia University, where he was a history and political science major and editor of the student newspaper. He grew up in Scarsdale, N.Y., and Manhattan.

Jon lives in Rye with his wife, Ellen, a school librarian. They have three grown children, a dog, and a cat.

Tickets:

Tickets are $50/adult or $30/student

(adult price increases by $5 after April 29, 2024)

If paying by check:

1. Make checks payable to LWVS.
2. Please write "Annual Meeting" in the memo line along with names of attendees for whom you are paying.
3. Mail payment to:

League of Women Voters of Scarsdale

P.O. Box 495

Scarsdale, NY 10583

Please direct questions to Anne Lyons.

LWVS General Membership and Consensus Meeting: 

2024-2025 Programming for our 

Local, Westchester County, and National Leagues

On Monday, February 5, the LWVS held a general membership and consensus meeting about our LWVS Local Program for 2024-25. Our proposed program will be voted on at our Annual Membership Meeting and Luncheon on Friday, May 3, 2024.

In accordance with and following the consensus meeting, LWVS submitted its approval of LWVUS’s proposed biennial program with comments to inform LWVUS that our local league’s focus is on local issues such as the non-partisan election systems, Village and school budgets, and youth engagement. LWVS submitted two proposed amendments to LWVUS’s bylaws to preserve free student membership and rectify an omission concerning Inter-League Organizations (ILOs). LWVS also wrote a letter offering input to the LWVW on their 2024-25 Program Planning.

LWVS General Membership and Consensus Meeting:

2024-2025 Village Budget

On Friday, March 11, 2024, we convened our General Information and Member Consensus meeting regarding the Village’s 2024-25 budget. Shilpa Spencer, LWVS Village Budget Portfolio Chair, conducted the meeting. Trustee Karen Brew, Mayor Justin Arest, Assistant Village Manager Alex Marshall, and Village Treasurer Ann Scaglione were our panelists. 

The panelists provided information in response to League questions and then took questions from the audience. They provided an overview of this year’s budgeting process in which they discussed the need to address long-deferred capital improvement, the impact of inflationary pressures, the unassigned fund balance policy, the need to smooth out the tax levy to meet the current and future needs of the Village, and a conversation about present and future stormwater management.  

The budget discussed at the Consensus meeting was the "third pass" budget because the tentative budget was not fully available. However, the Village was still able to file the Tentative Budget on Mar 20th, 2024, which was the required statutory deadline for filing. In addition, the Village and Board of Trustees met on Mar 26th to review the Tentative Budget that was filed on Mar 20th.   

Upcoming Village Budget dates: 

• Tuesday, April 9, 8:00pm, Statutory public hearing on Tentative Budget (must be completed prior to Apr 15).
• Tuesday, Apr 30, 8:00pm, Resolution to adopt budget (must be adopted prior to May 01)

Links:

• FY 2024-25 Tentative Budget-25 Tentative Budget
• Video of Village Budget Information Session
• LWVS 2023-24 Information Sessions page

LWVS General Membership and Consensus Meeting:

2024-25 School Budget

On Wednesday, March 20, 2024, we convened our General Information and Member Consensus meeting regarding the School District’s 2024-25 Budget. The League comments were read during public comment at the Board of Education Community Budget Forum on March 25, 2024. Dalya Khan and Nan Eileen Mead, the LWVS School Budget Co-Chairs, conducted the League Information and Consensus meeting.

Dr. Drew Patrick, Superintendent of Schools; Mr. Andrew Lennon, Assistant Superintendent for Business; Dr. Edgar McIntosh, Assistant Superintendent for Instruction/Co-Director, The Center for Innovation; Mr. Eric Rauschenbach, Assistant Superintendent of Special Education and Student Services; Ms. Meghan Troy, Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources and Leadership Development; Ms. Jeannie Crowley, Director of Technology and Innovation, Chief Information and Data Protection Officer; Mr. Ron Schulhof, School Board President; Ms. Suzie Hahn, School Board Vice President; Ms. Amber Yusuf, School Board Trustee; and Mr. James Dugan, School Board Trustee, constituted our panel.

The panelists responded to League-prepared questions and audience questions. They provided an overview of the Budget and discussed the details of certain portions of the Budget including proposed staffing, special education, proposed budget cuts, the tax cap, and the budget development process.  

Upcoming School Budget dates:

• Monday, April 8 at 6:30 p.m., Board of Education adopts the Budget
• Tuesday, May 21, Board of Education Public Budget Vote

Links:

• LWVS School Budget Questions and District Responses
• Video of School Budget Information Session
• LWVS Consensus Statement on the 2024-25 Proposed School Budget
• LWVS 2023-24 Information Sessions page

LWVS Nominating Committee Report



Follow this link to see the 2023-24 LWVS Nominating Committee's proposed slate of Officers, Board Members, and Off-Board Nominating Committee Members for 2024-25.

Running & Winning

Thursday, April 18, 2024

8:30 a.m.

Manhattanville College, Reid Castle

2900 Purchase Street

Purchase New York 10577

LWVW is hosting its anual, unique one-day workshop to bring together female-identifying high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors from high schools across Westchester County for an active and interactive political experience. The goal is to support our young participants’ aspirations to serve in public office, develop their leadership potential, and, at the same time, help our government institutions increase gender parity. The program offers opportunities to learn from elected officials' experiences and practical application. Attendees may also register or pre-register to vote on site.

Visit the LWVW Running & Winning page for more information.



Voting and Disabilities Rights Special Event

The video of the March 14, 2024 LWVW Voting and Disabilities Rights Special Event, "Rise Up People with Disabilities and Vote!" is now available on the LWVW website. The event was co-sponsored by Westchester Disabled on the Move, Inc.

Students Inside Albany

One Scarsdale High School student, Mason Levy, has been selected for his inspiring achievement in his school and community to participate in this year’s Students Inside Albany (SIA) Conference. This is the 13th consecutive year that the League of Women Voters of Scarsdale has selected at least one student to attend the conference. The SIA program generated overwhelming interest at Scarsdale High School, and all applicants had impressive involvement and qualifications. 

This year’s four-day conference will take place in Albany from Sunday, May 19th to Wednesday, May 22nd. The agenda will be packed with tools to instruct students on how to influence public policy decision-making at the state level. Additionally, the opportunity to meet in person with legislators, which is always the highlight of the Conference, will continue.

The League of Women Voters of Scarsdale looks forward to offering the opportunity for Scarsdale students to attend the Students Inside Albany Conference again in 2025.

Thank You

The LWVS thrives with the support and hard work of a community of volunteers. I would like to extend thanks to the volunteers who contributed their valuable time and energy during the month of March.

Thanks for the thorough and detailed work of Dalya Khan and Nan Eileen Mead on the School Budget portfolio as well as Shilpa Spencer on the Village Budget portfolio.

Thanks to Kathy Gray for her work on Voter Service. Thank you to Cindy Yau for organizing Students Inside Albany. Thanks to Abbi Ruane for her work on the ERA Initiative. Thanks to Erika Rublin for her work as Treasurer and Jenny Simon Tabak for her work as Membership Statistician.

Thanks to Dana Matsushita for her careful, thoughtful, and detailed work on the LWVS Bulletin as well as on our eblast communications. Thanks to Diane Baylor for taking such detailed and thorough minutes at our meetings and for her wise counsel and supportive work.  

Thanks to Anne Lyons for her work on the LWVS winter finance drive. Thanks to Kitt Rosenthal for her kind words and for serving as our liaison to the LWVW. Thanks to Jyoti Ruta for her supportive Board work.

Thanks to the LWVS Nominating Committee, Alissa Baum (Chair), Kerry Hayes, Susan Lee, Laura Liu and Diksha Mudbhary, for their work on the 2024-25 Board slate. 

Thank you to members of the School and Village Administration and Boards who joined us for our March Information Sessions – the LWVS appreciates all of your hard work on behalf of our community.

I look forward to all of the positive work that lies ahead.

All my best,

Heedan Chung

Village of Scarsdale

As of April 1, 2024

Board of Trustees

Justin Arest, Mayor

  Term ends April 2025

Sameer Ahuja

  1st term ends April 2025

Karen Brew

  2nd term ends April 2025

Jeremy Gans

  2nd term ends April 2026

Dara Gruenberg

  1st term ends April 2025

Ken Mazer

  2nd term ends April 2026

Jeremy Wise

1st term ends April 2026

Board of Education

Ronald Schulhof, President

  2nd term ends June 2025

Suzie Hahn, Vice President

  1st term ends June 2025

Colleen Brown

  1st term ends June 2025

Jim Dugan

  1st term ends June 2024

Robert Klein

  2nd term ends June 2026

Jessica Resnick-Ault

  1st term ends June 2024

Amber Yusuf

   2nd term ends June 2026

League of Women Voters of Scarsdale

2023-24

Officers

President: Heedan Chung

LWVSpresident@gmail.com

First Vice President: Jenny Simon Tabak

Second Vice President: Anne Lyons

Recording Secretary: Diane Baylor

LWVSrecsecretary@gmail.com

Corresponding Secretary: Dana Matsushita

LWVScommunications@gmail.com

Treasurer: Erika Rublin

LWVStreasury@gmail.com

2023-24 Elected Board Members

Dalya Khan

Susan Lee

Nan Eileen Mead

Diksha Mudbhary

Jyoti Ruta

Shilpa Spencer

Cindy Yau

2023-24 Appointed Board Members

Kathy Gray

Kitt Rosenthal

Abigail Ruane

Committee Chairs

Advocacy: TBD

Audit: Amber Yusuf (Off-Board)

Book Group: Dalya Khan

Budget: Nancy Michaels (Off-Board) 

Bylaws, Policies, and Procedures: Diane Baylor

Communications:

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

Development/Finance Drive: Anne Lyons

Environment/Sustainability: Shilpa Spencer

Hospitality: Kitt Rosenthal

Local Budgets:

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

Local Election Systems:

• School Election: Diksha Mudbhary 
• Village Election: Diane Baylor 

Luncheons: Anne Lyons

LWVW Liaison: Kitt Rosenthal

Membership: Diksha Mudbhary 

• Membership Statistician: Jenny Simon Tabak 

Nominating Chair: Alissa Baum (Off-Board) 

Planning and Zoning: Shilpa Spencer

Program/Education: Cindy Yau

Voter Service: Kathy Gray

• Candidate Forum(s)
• Naturalization Court
• Voter Registration Drive(s)

Youth Engagement:

• Civics Jeopardy: Susan Lee
• Mock Election: Susan Lee
• Students Inside Albany: Cindy Yau

Democracy is Not a Spectator Sport –

Get Involved!

The League of Women Voters

Creating A More Perfect Democracy 

For Over 100 Years

The League of Women Voters of Scarsdale (LWVS) is a volunteer nonpartisan political organization which promotes political responsibility through informed and active participation of citizens in government. The League is nonpartisan in that it does not support or oppose any candidate for public office; it is political in that it takes positions on selected governmental issues after serious member study and consensus.