The Times Union Agrees with Us - SEDC

The Times Union Agrees with Us - SEDC Needs to be Transparent

A recently published Times Union Editorial (Jan 16, 2024) (“SEDC, try transparency”) states, “public money means public accountability. Why doesn’t the Saratoga Economic Development Corporation seem to get that?” This need for transparency is the same point that LWV Saratoga County made in its December 2023 statement sent by letter to the editor of the Times Union - see below.

December 2023 Statement of the League of Women Voters of Saratoga County:
The public wins when SEDC is transparent.

The League of Women Voters of Saratoga County is pleased that the Appellate Division of the State’s Supreme Court Third Judicial Department ruled that the Saratoga Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) must comply with the Public Authorities Accountability Act.  This is a win for the public, since the Act requires the SEDC to publicly disclose its finances – to actually be transparent.
The League position holds that any economic development entity created and or funded by the County should be subject to the direction of the County Board of Supervisors and, in order to promote accountability and transparency, should comply with complete and accurate reporting and open meeting requirements. This position, adopted by consensus following a League study, was established in 2007 and revised in 2013, 2016, and 2023 as the entities changed over time. This position also urges that any such entity should be required to provide annual public reports on its accomplishments against the contract deliverables.
When entities like the Saratoga Economic Development Corporation are transparent the public wins.

Call for Immediate Removal of President Trump

League of Women Voters of the United States Calls for Immediate Removal of President Donald Trump

1/8/2021

WASHINGTON – Thursday night, the League of Women Voters board of directors met and voted unanimously to call for the immediate removal of Donald J. Trump from the office of the President of the United States of America via any legal means, including and in order of preference: impeachment with disqualification, the invocation of the 25th amendment, or resignation. Today, the League of Women Voters board of directors issued the following statement:

“Donald Trump must be immediately removed as President of the United States of America and banned from running for federal office ever again.

“The sitting president was the instigator of Wednesday’s domestic terrorist attack on the U.S. Capitol that left five Americans dead and many more injured. He commanded an army of insurrectionists to forcefully overturn our free and fair elections in an effort to maintain power. These are the actions of a tyrannical despot, and they are in direct opposition to American democracy. President Trump continues to present a clear threat to national security as well as the safety and security of the American public.

“For violating his oath to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States, Donald Trump must immediately resign or be removed from office by any measure possible in accordance with the law. Removing President Trump from the office of the president and swearing in Vice President Mike Pence to fulfill the duration of this presidential term will ensure our Constitution is maintained and upheld.

“The League of Women Voters calls on both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate to immediately impeach President Trump with disqualification and remove him from office. Should Congress fail to impeach him, we call on Vice President Mike Pence and the Cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment and remove President Trump from office immediately.”

Dark Day in Our History

This is a dark day in our history. Today should have been a procedural exercise to finalize the 2020 election. Instead, our nation's Capitol is under siege by domestic terrorists bent on violently invalidating the will of the people.

President Trump should concede that the election is over and call for his supporters to stand down, respect the certification process and support a peaceful inauguration on January 20th.

League of Women Voters of the U.S. 1/6/2021