CCDC Issues Committee
The Issues Committee monitors the activities of town and county government, tracks issues within the towns and the County, and develops reports for the CCDC with information and research that allows for meaningful discussion of issues and recommendations for actions. (See individual Working Groups for recent reports.)The Issues Committee meets on the second Saturday of every month at 10 AM, via Zoom. Any Democrat registered to vote in Columbia County is eligible to become a member of the Issues Committee or to attend a meeting. If interested, contact the Chair:
The subcommittees are listed below. New subcommittees may be added as needed.
Reports approved by the Issues Committee and the CCDC can be found on the IC Reports Page.
Subcommittees
Social Justice
Chair: Joyce Thompson
The Social Justice subcommittee seeks to identify and work toward eradicating systemic social inequalities in Columbia County. The subcommittee will propose and advocate for governmental action to achieve racial and economic fairness, to eliminate bias in a measurable way, and to improve the quality of life for County residents. The group will research issues, develop reports and forward recommendations to inform healthy public discussion and promote implementation of recommended actions. The group meets on the first Saturday of every month at 10 AM via Zoom.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Chair: pending
The AI subcommittee will research areas of concern related to AI, including data centers, privacy, and existential threats, especially as it concerns residents of Columbia County. Meeting times and frequency have not yet been established. Reports will be submitted to the full committee for discussion and review.
Women's Reproductive Health
Chair: Stephanie Sussman
The Women’s Reproductive Health subcommittee will monitor issues and legislation related to women’s access to reproductive health services and their ability to choose reproductive health services appropriate to their personal needs. The group will develop reports with research that will allow for informed discussion of recommended actions.
Broadband
Chair: Robert Honeywell
The Broadband subcommittee will monitor issues related to the ability of all residents of the County to obtain fast, affordable, reliable internet services compatible with the current and future business, educational and medical needs of the community. The group will develop reports with research that will allow for informed discussion of recommended actions. The group meets via weekly phone calls.
Housing Affordability
Chair: Peter Johnson
The Housing Affordability subcommittee will monitor issues related to improve the ability residents of the County to obtain affordable housing consistent with the current and future economic and business needs of the community. The group will develop reports with research that will allow for informed discussion of recommended actions.
Open Government
Chair: Susan Bane
The Open Government subcommittee will monitor the activities of town and County government and develop issues related to open, transparent government with the goal to making recommendations for improvement throughout the County. The group will develop reports with research that will allow for informed discussion of recommended actions.
Healthcare
Chair: Carl Atkins
The Healthcare subcommittee will monitor issues related to all aspects of healthcare throughout the County, including universal access to healthcare, mental health, prevention and treatment of substance use disorders, and adequate funding for public health infrastructure. The group will develop reports with research that will allow for informed discussion of recommended actions. The group meets via ad hoc emails.
Transportation
Chair: Carl Atkins
The Transportation subcommittee will monitor issues related to improving public transportation in the County to ensure adequate access to basic needs of residents, including transportation for work, education, and healthcare. The group will develop reports with research that will allow for informed discussion of recommended actions.
Environment & Climate Action
Chair: [open]
The Environment and Climate Action subcommittee will monitor issues at the state and local levels related to climate disruption and degradation of the environment; particularly government programs and funding in response to the climate crisis pertaining to mitigation and adaptation. The group will develop reports that will allow for informed discussion of recommended actions.
Zero Waste
Chair: Stephanie Sussman
The Zero Waste subcommittee will monitor issues related to recycling and re-use with the aim to creating a zero waste community. The group will develop reports with research that will allow for informed discussion of recommended actions.