Power of Ten Update
In This Issue:
1. Where Do I Vote?
2. School Board Loses in Court Again
3. Candidates Forum May 3
4. Campaign Volunteers Needed
1) Where Do I Vote?
A printing mishap has left many East Ramapo voters puzzled and irritated about where to go vote on Tuesday May 15. The district is blaming the printer, who they say was the “lowest responsible bidder”, but a quick web search reveals no functional website, only a Facebook page with just five posts since the company president died in 2016. Did anyone from the district review the level of service? Is sending out correct information to voters a priority? Will anyone be held accountable?
Voters can look up their polling place on the district website. The district also says it will send new postcards.
2) School Board Loses in Court Again
The Spring Valley Branch of the NAACP says that the system of voting in East Ramapo is discriminatory. It has joined parents in a lawsuit to force the district to stop using the “at-large” system. At-large voting has historically been one of the tactics most often used to disenfranchise voters of color.
Because the East Ramapo school board refused to voluntarily adopt a system that doesn’t discriminate against voters of color, the NYCLU filed a lawsuit. The board has hired its usual very expensive lawyers to fight to maintain the racially biased status quo. They filed a “motion to dismiss”.
According to the Journal News, the federal judge in White Plains has denied the school board’s motion, and the lawsuit will proceed.
Of course, the board could avoid losing another costly lawsuit by simply following the law and not discriminating against voters of color.
Is that too much to ask?
3) Candidates Forum May 3
Hosted by the Spring Valley NAACP
JAMCCAR, Inc. and HAPAC
Thursday, May 3rd, 2018 @ 6:30PM
Louis Kurtz Center
Main Street/Madison Avenue
Spring Valley, NY 10977
4) Campaign Volunteers Needed
You can help get out the word about our wonderful school board candidates. They are: Sabrina Charles-Pierre, Pastor Jose Cintron, and Miriam Moster.
For more information visit their website at https://eastramapotogether.wordpress.com/