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Monday, October 31, 2011

TODAY, October 31, 2011 - 7 Billion



The World - Today, October 31, 2011 is the day named for the 7 billion person to be born.

Since mega numbers seem to allude the normal thinking, we do know that the number suggest a lot of people on the planet earth. The rate of birth has increased more in third world contries, even though pockets, cultures and age groups of our country, America, have increased rte of births over the years.

Elizabeth Leahy Madsen has an interesting article for viewing. For more about what she has on the subject, CLICK.

Schacknow - TODAY'S PRIMER , October 31, 2011



Peter Schacknow, Senior Producer, CNBC Breaking News Desk

Wall Street is on track to post some impressive October numbers ahead of the month's final trading day, though creeping doubts about the European debt crisis solution could scale back some of those milestones in the day ahead
.
At this point, the Dow is poised to post its best monthly point gain on record and its best monthly percentage gain since January 1987.

The S&P 500 is on track for its second best monthly gain ever, trailing only October 1974.

The week ahead promises to be an eventful one, with another flood of corporate earnings, as well as a two-day Fed policy meeting and the October employment report.

For today, the economic calendar is light, featuring the Chicago Purchasing Managers index at 9:45am ET and the Dallas Fed Survey at 10am ET.

Humana (HUM) and Lowes (L) top a relatively light earnings calendar for this morning, while Allstate (ALL) and Anadarko Petroleum (APC) lead the list of after-the-bell reports.

Bank of America (BAC) and Wells Fargo (WFC) are among our stocks to watch today, following the announcement that Wells Fargo is canceling a planned monthly debit card usage fee, while B of A is scaling back similar plans. The fees have been the subject of protest by consumers.

Sony (SNE) is announcing plans to split its struggling TV business into three separate units, focusing on LCD TVs, outsourcing, and next-generation TVs.
The fate of MF Global (MF) could be known today, with reports saying it's near a deal to file for bankruptcy and sell assets to Interactive Brokers Group (IBKR).
Honda (HMC) is also on our watch list, as it reports a sharply lower second quarter profit and withdraws its annual guidance.

Honda cites uncertain currency markets and the impact of the Thai floods, which shut down a chunk of its worldwide production.

The dollar has hit a three-month high versus the Japanese yen this morning, following intervention by the Bank of Japan.

Today's 4 percent+ increase is the biggest one-day move by the dollar against the yen in three years. The rising dollar has also helped to push the price of oil lower this morning.

2.8 million homes in the Northeast remain without power this morning, following the unusual October snowstorm this weekend.

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

M-P-A/Milwaukee Professionals Association supports Public Hearing in Milwaukee on SB 207 and Franklin Public Hearing

Supervisor Eyon Biddle Sr., 10th District

MILWAUKEE, WI - Milwaukee County Supervisor Biddle released a press release regarding the decision of state legislators to host a public hearing in Milwaukee for Milwaukeeans to voice their opinions on SB 207.

"My office see this as a RIGHT NOW initiative for each Milwaukeean of age, said Mary Glass, Chair/CEO, Milwaukee Professionals Association." "We need to go on record as to the way we feel and any specific option open to us at this time." "Wake up Milwaukeeans."

ETHOS
Milwaukee Professionals Association/M-P-A ethos centers around "citizen participation". It is necessary for leadership, citizenship and problem solving.

Supervisor John Weishan, Jr. - 16th District

Franklin
Our neighbors in Franklin were denied a public hearing by County Executive Chris Abele. This would be an EXCELLENT opportunity to invite fellow citizens up from Franklin in a joint effort of support against the denial of the state legislators. We can maximize the time and space to support Supervisor John Weishan Jr., 16th District, and the people of Franklin the right to be heard.

What do you think?
Support the effort with a "donated" space and/or giving Supervisors Biddle(278.4265) and Supervisor Weishan(278.4255) a support call.

NOW IS THE TIME. Thanks a bunch.

Milwaukee Professionals Association/M-P-A Questioned Ethos due to Lack of People of Color


MILWAUKEE, WI - Mary Glass, Chair/CEO, Milwaukee Professionals Association, was the lone ranger representative for "the People/ Neighborhood/Community" of the City of Milwaukee. She Welcomed the international and national visitors on behalf of African American, People of Color and the Work Challenged in the City of Milwaukee.

She spoke of the exclusion of African American, People of Color and the Work Challenged as stakeholders in the planning by UW-Milwaukee School of Freshwater Sciences, the Milwaukee Water Council and Nature Conservancy.

UW-Milwaukee is the host; and, one of the the lobbyist for Milwaukee is the Milwaukee Water Council. The Milwaukee Water Council is a group that is primary if not 100% Caucasian and it has UW-Milwaukee Chancellor Michael Lovell and Chairman of the Research Foundation Dan Bader (Bader Foundation) to name two.
================
CLICK to hear comments by Glass on WUWM - Working toward a Water Stewardship Standard.Below is the Latin America/Caribbean Coordinator with Glass.

Mary Glass, Chair/CEO - Milwaukee Professionals Association and Ricardo Monsivais, Alliance for Water Stewardship
Latin America/Caribbean Regional Initiative Coordinator/The Nature Conservancy

Schacknow - TODAY'S PRIMER, October 26, 2011



Peter Schacknow, Senior Producer, CNBC Breaking News Desk

Today's EU summit remains the focus of investors ahead of the Wednesday trading session on Wall Street.

Many see an indecisive conclusion ahead, which may or may not help extend the Tuesday losses that ended a modest Wall Street winning streak.

Ahead of that, the German parliament will vote on a proposal to boost the European bailout fund, with that vote expected at about 8am ET.

While investors await the summit conclusion, economic data and earnings will once again occupy their attention this morning.

The government is out with durable goods orders for September at 8:30am ET, with economists looking for a drop of 1.0% following a decrease of 0.1% in August.

At 10am ET, consensus forecasts call for a 1.7% increase in September new home sales, partially reversing a 2.3% August decline.

And the Treasury will sell $35 billion in 5-year notes, with the results of that auction available shortly after 1pm ET.

Dow component Boeing (BA) leads this morning's quarterly earnings list, with the company expected to issue its numbers at 7:30am ET.

We'll also see numbers from Ford (F), ConocoPhillips (COP), Dr Pepper Snapple (DPS), Lockheed Martin (LMT), Medco Health (MHS), Wellpoint (WLP), and Wyndham Worldwide (WYN). Visa (V) is among those releasing after today's closing bell, along with Symantec (SYMC), Norfolk Southern (NSC), Aflac (AFL), and Akamai (AKAM).

Dow component IBM (IBM) is a stock to watch this morning, on news that global sales chief Virginia Rometty will succeed Sam Palmisano as CEO in January.

Amazon.com (AMZN) is under pressure, after posting disappointing earnings and dropping 18% in the after-hours session. Amazon earned 14 cents per share for the third quarter, 10 cents below analyst estimates.

Dreamworks (DWA) beat estimates with profits of 23 cents a share, but the stock dropped in after-hours trading.

Broadcom (BRCM) fell 3.7% after-hours as the chipmaker issued a pessimistic revenue forecast, while Panera Bread (PNRA) saw a 7% jump as its third quarter earnings and sales beat projections.

In addition to its earnings report this morning, Boeing saw another milestone today with the completion of the first commercial flight of its 787 Dreamliner.

Monday, October 24, 2011

Abele, Holloway and Mayo Need to Fine-tune Transit Funding



October 24, 2011

MILWAUKEE – Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele, County Board Chairman Lee Holloway and Supervisor Michael Mayo, Sr., on Friday praised the unanimous recommendation by three regional advisory committees to allocate approximately $12.7 million in federal funds to Milwaukee County to create new express bus routes.

If the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WISDOT), which makes the final decision, follows the recommendation, the Milwaukee County Transit System will offer new express routes starting next year between N. 124th Street and the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee along Capitol Drive, and another from Bayshore Town Center Mall to Mitchell International Airport.

COME ON WITH THE COME ON
Our leaders must step up with "NEW" and "direct service" due diligence for continuity to the citizenry that keep paying the BULK of the freight. Turning a blind eye, being coy and engaging in "by-design" concentrated poverty is a pre-requisite for outrage, then "removal" from office by the citizenry.

We just got a ray of hope with the recent Biddle/Lipscomb Jobs Initiative(CLICK)for training and employment. It would make sense to provide needed transportation to enhance this program and already needed transportation to accomplish family needs. The Biddle/Lipscomb initiative speaks of Milwaukee Public Schools and Milwaukee Area Technical College. Get focused.

Therefore, the negotiation, bargaining, update and fine-tuning of County Executive Abele, Chairman Holloway and Supervisor Mayo should be first to the citizenry that do not have vehicles OR they do not have a driver's license; but, depend on the transit system for family services as well as commuting to their 2 and 3 jobs.

The proposed express routes are design for those with means, primarily Caucasians, to come into the city and reap the benefits desperately needed by those already caught in the net of despondency - of the already impovished and by-design citizenry in enduring concentrated poverty.

UW-Milwaukee and Bayshore
First of all, the University of Wisconsin is under review with a federal Open Complaint for the massive funding received and the "Caucasian ONLY" format as well as other discriminatory practices.

In order for UW-Milwaukee to weigh-in on this opportunity, they need to be annexed to the "Work Initiative" by Supervisors Biddle and Lipscomb. Secondly, the No. 62, 15, 10 and UW-Milwaukee Freeway flyers are already providing enhanced customer care. Additionally, UW-Milwaukee has yellow bus service, BOSS transit and COACH-Badger as the norm.

Shared sacrafice is an option for solving a crisis. This is preferential treatment - discrimination - indifference - disrespect - unfair. Why do African American, People of Color and the Work Challenged given such "discourteous" customer care?

Both Supervisor Holloway and Mayo have been around for a moment and should "lead" not follow such decisions.

Speak up and Speak out
Contact newly elected County Executive Chris Abele, County Chairman Lee Holloway and Supervisor Michael Mayo and let them know that it can not be, "BUSINESS AS USUAL".



Start with:
Chris Abele - County Executive - Jeff Bentoff, 414.278.5281, chris.abele@milwcnty.com
Lee Holloway - 5th District ▪ (414) 278-4261 ▪ lee.holloway@milwcnty.com
Michael Mayo, Sr. - 7th District ▪ (414) 278-4241 ▪ michael.mayo@milwcnty.com

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Milwaukeeans Show Discontent with U.S. Postal Closings Targeted ONLY for the Inner City



October 20, 2011

Alderwoman Milele Coggs, 6th District, expressed her appreciation for the impressive turnout on a rainy and windy evening.

State Senior Spencer Coggs, 6th District, spoke of how important it was for the People to express their concerns through the surveys and comments. He spoke of being a supporter of "shared sacrafice" when we must solve problems. However, he said that his district, District 6, was the only district receiving the closings.

Supervisor Willie Johnson, 13th District, echoed the importance of the constituents taking this opportunity to make their voices heard.
=================================

MILWAUKEE - On October 19, 2011, approximately 125 people attended a Community Meeting regarding the "possible" closing of the MLKing site located at 2650 N. MLKing Drive and the Teutonia site located at 2656 N. Teutonia.

It was clear after the Opening statements of Paul Nistler, Acting Post Master, and two staff members engaged in the overview of the Proposal to Close - cost, lease-own sites, internet impact, use, surveys and compilation of data for the federal office; that the Milwaukeeans - residential, commerical, social, were not pleased.

Some of the many comments regarding the way the closings have been designated were:
-- Why would you harm the community?
-- We have seniors who depend on the postal service.
-- Taking the postal is taking the dignity from the neighborhood.
-- The majority of the people in the two postal areas do not have access to computers.
-- Why isn't it a shared effort where each place (city-town-etc.) loses a postal - not just the African American areas on the northside of Milwaukee?

Mr. Stribley(spelling of name ?) - veteran and long time resident, 55 years on 7th Street, stated it was plain and simple, "biased".

-- Ms. Rose said that the numbers did not add up.

The meeting was held October 19, 2012 at:
HeartLove
3229 N. MLKing Drive
6-8pm
Topic: Closing of MLKing and Teutonia sites
=======================


On Monday, October 18, 2011, U.S. Congresswoman Gwen Moore had a press conference and noted-pointed out that all the closings were concentrated in African-American neighborhoods.

She asked the constituents of the areas to show up to one of three public hearings and voice their opinion.

Other dates
October 20, 2011
HeartLove
3229 N. MLKing Drive
6-8pm
Topic: Closing of MidCity and Parklawn

October 27, 2011
Villard Square Library - Milwaukee Public Library
5190 N. 35th Street
5:45 p.m. to 7:45 p.m.
Topic: Closing of Hampton Station

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

COGGS PUBLIC "POSTAL" Announcement - OCTOBER



MILWAUKEE - Alderwoman Milele Coggs has three (3) meetings scheduled to address United States Postal closings on the northside.

The postals are crucial to the constituents in the area because so many depend on the U. S. Mail, since the majority of the homes are not able to access the internet conveniently, if at all. Therefore, paying bills, banking and internet functions for improved quality of life information is not an option.


Dates
CLOSING: MLKing and Teutonia Stations

Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Heartlove
3229 N. ML King Drive
6-8pm

CLOSING: Parklawn and Mid City Stations
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Heartlove
3229 N. ML King Drive
6-8pm

CLOSING: MLKing and Teutonia Stations
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Hampton Station
Villard Square Branch - Milwaukee Public Library
5190 N.35th Street
5:45-7:45pm

BACKSTORY - Larson Report - October 13, 2011



Maintaining Rights of Senior Voters
I am signing on in support of legislation that would protect the voting rights of Wisconsin's senior citizens. LRB 2992/2, would exempt registered voters who are 65 years of age and older from being required to show a current government-issued ID in order to vote.

This past May, Scott Walker and Republican legislators passed one of the most restrictive ID requirements on voters in the country. Many legislative offices, including mine, have been receiving calls from elderly neighbors sharing their difficulty in obtaining a state-issued ID card. These senior citizens often have not had driver’s licenses for years. When trying to obtain a state ID at the DMV office, some of these seniors have been refused due to changing their name from what is on their birth certificate, or lacking ready access to birth records.

This bill would resolve this issue for the many seniors who have voted for years, but may have barriers to do so in the future due to circumstances beyond their control. Under LRB 2992/2, the current statewide voter registration list, which already keeps voter birth date information, would be adapted to indicate all individuals over the age of 65 and mark them as exempt from the having to follow the new ID requirement recently places on Wisconsin's voters.

To view a copy of this bill, please CLICK HERE.

Schacknow - TODAY'S PRIMER, October 19, 2011

Peter Schacknow, Senior Producer, CNBC Breaking News Desk

U.S. stock futures are pointing to a lower opening on this 24th anniversary of the famous 1987 stock market crash, following disappointing earnings from Apple (AAPL) after Tuesday's closing bell.

Investors are also keeping close watch on earnings and the latest developments out of Europe.

The Dow has now alternated between gains and losses for nine consecutive sessions, though it has gained nearly 6% over that span.

Several high profile earnings reports are out this morning, including Dow components Travelers (TRV) and and United Technologies (UTX) and Wall Street giant Morgan Stanley (MS).

We'll also get the latest numbers from Abbott Labs (ABT), Bank of New York Mellon (BK), BlackRock (BLK), PNC (PNC), and Freeport-McMoRan (FCX), among others.
American Express (AXP), eBay (EBAY), E*Trade (ETFC), Xilinx (XLNX), Wynn Resorts (WYNN), and Western Digital (WDC) are among the companies releasing quarterly numbers after today's closing bell.

Apple (AAPL) clearly leads our list of stocks to watch after posting its first quarterly earnings miss since 2004. Apple posted fiscal fourth quarter earnings of $7.05/share, 34 cents below estimates, with revenue also falling short.
Intel (INTC) shares jumped after hours, as the company posted record third quarter profits and gave an upbeat outlook for the fourth quarter.

Yahoo (YHOO) saw third quarter earnings fall 26%, but the stock rose after hours as Yahoo beat the Street's lowered expectations.

Also seeing bullish after-hours activity: Intuitive Surgical (ISRG), as its sales of robotic surgical equipment soared.

We'll also watch shares of JetBlue (JBLU), as chief financial officer Ed Barnes resigns.

Also on the watch list today: Dow component DuPont (DD) and Monsanto (MON), as DuPont sues Monsanto for alleged patent infringement regarding a process that helps genetically modified corn seeds germinate.

One stock we can't yet watch - but may be able to soon - is Groupon. Multiple reports say the daily deal company will launch its IPO roadshow next week, with an initial public offering likely to value the company at $11 - $12 billion.

Following Tuesday's larger than expected jump in the Producer Price Index, we'll be watching the Consumer Price Index carefully when September figures are released at 8:30am ET. Economists expect CPI to be up 0.3%, with the core rate rising 0.2%. In August, CPI was up 0.4% with the core rate higher by 0.2%.

Also at 8:30am, economists look for September housing starts to post a 4.2% rise, following a 5.0% August drop.

And at 2pm ET, the Federal Reserve is out with its latest Beige Book, the region-by-region assessment of the U.S. economy.

Today will also bring the usual Wednesday weekly readings on mortgage applications from the Mortgage Bankers Association at 7am ET, and oil and gasoline inventories from the Energy Department at 10:30am ET.

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Occupy Milwaukee - A Protest for Abridged Rights


Photo clip by Mary Glass, Milwaukee Professionals Association

MILWAUKEE - Saturday, October 15, 2011, The protesters for Occupy Milwaukee marched from Zeidler Park, 301 W. Michigan Street to Wisconsin and Water - Chase Bank - then continued to Water and Wells for M&I Bank.

The diverse group - age-race-gender-varied organization-union-activist-issues, were pumped and chanting. Take a look at the video and see the signage and participants.

Friday, October 14, 2011

Movies @ DRYHOOTCH on Brady



Time: October 7, 2011 at 5:30pm to December 30, 2011 at 8pm
Location: Brady Street Dryhootch Upstairs meeting room
Street: 1030 E. Brady Street
City/Town: Milwaukee, WI 53202

Website or Map: http://dryhootch.org/
Phone: (414) 763-2785
Event Type: movie, night
Organized By: Matt Ruta
==============================

Milwaukee Professionals Association supports Dryhootch.org - a neighborhood level organization.

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Protest @ Senator Ron Johnson's Milwaukee office yields 19 arrests - October 12, 2011



October 13, 2011

MILWAUKEE - On October 12, 2011, individuals protested and 19 were arrested who sought an audience with Ron Johnson, Republican Senator of Wisconsin, who voted against the JOBS bill. The citizenry called for the senator to "look-them-in-the-eye" and justify his voting against the Job Bill.

For more

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

BAD DEBT - snags Capital city of Pennsylvania

Harrisburg, PA

CLICK for video

In an unexpected move, the Harrisburg City Council voted late Tuesday night (October 11, 2011) to file for Chapter 9 protection from creditors, Michael Aneiro reports on Markets Hub.

The city, which faces $300 million in debt over a failed trash-incinerator project, filed the paperwork in U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the middle district of Pennsylvania, in Harrisburg. The city is projected to run out of cash to pay bills and cover payroll costs in the fourth quarter.

For MORE
========================

Hint. Hint. Milwaukee and Wisconsin

Melloy - Behind The Money

John Melloy, Executive Producer, Fast Money

Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley may shed the ‘bank holding company’ classification, which made them eligible for emergency Fed lending during the financial crisis, in order to skirt the Volker rule banning propriety trading with the firm’s own capital, according to Susquehanna Financial Group analyst David Hilder.

“The regulators have proposed a massive new compliance burden on banks to prove that their market-making activities are just that and not proprietary trading in disguise,” wrote Hilder in a note to clients. “There will be large additional costs imposed on banks as market-makers that will not apply to market-makers not owned by banks. We would expect that to draw capital to non-bank market-makers, and cause Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley to examine whether it makes sense for them to exit the banking system.”

The Dodd-Frank act provision named for former Fed Chief Paul Volker was released Tuesday in a rather lengthy form by the Fed and the FDIC for public comment. Comments can be submitted until January.

“Only in Washington could a simple idea - ban banks that accept insured deposits from short term trading for their own account - become a proposal that runs to 298 pages and asks for comments on 394 specific questions,” wrote Hilder. “We would add to positions in positive-rated names that could potentially exit the banking system, GS and MS.”

This exit may draw the ire of everyone from legislators to the Occupy Wall Street crowd as Goldman and Morgan Stanley changed their status during the height of the financial crisis following the collapse of Lehman Brothers in Sept. 2008 in order to get access to emergency funds not provided for non-commercial banks.

The Fed rushed through these applications on a Sunday, saying in a statement that in order “to provide increased liquidity support to these firms as they transition to managing their funding within a bank holding company structure, the Federal Reserve Board authorized the Federal Reserve Bank of New York to extend credit to the U.S. broker-dealer subsidiaries of Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley against all types of collateral that may be pledged at the Federal Reserve's primary credit facility for depository institutions or at the existing Primary Dealer Credit Facility.”

The Volker rule gained popularity as many critics of the banks believe that the monster, levered proprietary trading done by these institutions helped exasperate the crisis and worked against their clients’ best interest.

Goldman and Morgan Stanley are set to report earnings next week and according to analysts the lack of profitable trading will weigh heavily on these results.

“Given third quarter weakness across trading and investment banking that extended through the end of September, further equity market declines and wider credit spreads we reduce our GS EPS estimate from a 10-cent gain to a 65-cent loss,” wrote Citigroup’s Keith Horowitz on Monday.

The analyst went on to cite “regulatory risk” as one of the factors that could derail a comeback by the shares.

“Goldman operates several businesses including financial and physical commodity trading, private equity or derivatives that could face greater regulation, or in a severe case, require Goldman to divest some business units,” the analyst said.

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Milwaukee Professionals Association adds "POSSE" group

October 11, 2011

MILWAUKEE - ALL Hands on Deck, WE, Not Me Initiative continues to expand the possibilities and bolster opportunities for UNCOVERING “hidden talent” (students all ages), “emerging” and “submerging” businesses to promote development, wealth-building and sustainability in the City of Milwaukee.

The latest explansion is connected to Safety Matters Response Network/SMRN. SMRN was created to address the outbreaks of revolts/protests of youth-teens-young adults in the Milwaukee area in a proactive way that called for "involvement" and "leadership-citizenship-problem solving" by youth-teens-young adults.

The first outgrowth of SMRN is the Safety Matters Exploratory Team lead by college level students.

"To connect the youth-teen commitment, we are today adding: POSSE", said Mary Glass, Chair/CEO, Milwaukee Professionals Association.

SMRN POSSE is an incubator approach. It is modelled after other Posse programs; i.e., The POSSE Foundation Inc. and UW-Madison Posse program. Our approach is to recognize potential and add value that includes mentoring that will help the student to gain a diploma, certificate, internship, fellowship, honor roll, apprenticeship and any other stepping stone to success. We seek students with proven potential as well as students with potential but lacking in communication skills. The benefit is for those mentoring (college-level) and youth-teen students.

For the next 12 months, October 10, 2011 – October 9, 2012, we will provide the framework while initiating the “incubator” track.

Our primary target students are from the public schools in the City of Milwaukee. We seek to “impact behavior" through linked-connected-committed public education provided by Wisconsin law - Milwaukee Public Schools, Milwaukee Area Technical College and University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee.

We will use "CASE LEARNING”, and neighborhood-level volunteerism. FOR updates.

Milwaukee Professionals Association supports Occupy-Wall Street Protest in Milwaukee

Kanye West & Russel Simmons walk through Zuccotti Park - Lower Manhattan, NY (Photo via Twitter)

"The 99% is Me Campaign is building steam and that's a good thing", said Mary Glass, Chair/CEO, Milwaukee Professionals Association.

October 11, 2011

New York - Upper East Side - Today the Occupy Wall Street Protesters visited the Millionaires to give yardage to their seriousness. They traveled upper East Side to the homes/neighborhoods of JP Morgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon, billionaire businessman David Koch, financier Howard Milstein, News Corp. CEO Rupert Murdoch and hedge fund expert John Paulson.

On yesterday, October 10, 2011, Rev. Al Sharpton, took his Keeping it Real show to Zuccotti Park for 3 hours to support the movement and representation of African American. Rev Sharpton and other clergy will protest on October 23, 2011.

Tomorrow, October 12, 2011, the SEIU 32BJ will provide support in a protest in the Financial District of Wall Street. SEIU 32BJ is the largest private sector union in the country.


Milwaukee
On Saturday, October 15, 2011, Zeidler Park, 301 W. Michigan (11:00am - Occupy Milwaukee Rally) and 12:30pm at Chase Bank, 111 E. Wisconsin.
===================

Milwaukee Professionals Association supports the Rally and protests in New York and across th country. The good news is the people are not allowing the opposing media to pigeon hole or drive the discussion.

Monday, October 10, 2011

Larson Weekly Report - October 7, 2011

WI Senator Chris Larson - 7th District

Governor Turns Back on Most Vulnerable
Just one week ago, Governor Walker’s administration announced it would cut $554 million from Wisconsin’s health safety net that children, working families and seniors desperately need. Gutting funding from this vital state program will trigger an immediate and unexpected health care catastrophe for many Wisconsinites. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) anticipates that 50,000 people will have their coverage suddenly taken away completely, while at least an additional 200,000 individuals will see a dramatic decrease in their quality of coverage.

Kicking the Unemployed While They're Down
The number of individuals enrolled in the state's Medicaid programs has been steadily increasing in recent years due to the ongoing recession, making it one of the worst times to consider additional cuts to our health safety net. Those who lose their jobs, and as a result their health insurance, generally only have three options -- purchase private insurance, apply for Medicaid or go without insurance. Unfortunately, for most unemployed individuals the last two choices are usually the only viable options. Wisconsin owes it to our dislocated workers to support the programs that they currently rely on during their job search.

Introducing the Wisconsin Jobs Initiative
I am introducing legislation called the Wisconsin Jobs Initiative, which is aimed at getting at least 35,000 Wisconsinites back to work. This legislation will replace the $34.2 million that Governor Walker cut from the Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) in the 2011-2013 biennial budget. It also provides $35.8 million for grants to our technical colleges for programs that reduce unemployment and put people back to work. Areas with the greatest unemployment rates will be given preference for receiving these grants.

Governor Walker's 30% cuts to our state's technical colleges forced these schools to scale back important job training programs. This has resulted in waitlists of one to six years for most, if not all, of our job training programs, including those for nursing, welding, automotive maintenance, and accounting.

As a result, local businesses in our community have family-supporting jobs available but lack the qualified skilled workers to fill them. Many local business leaders, including those at Caterpillar and Molded Dimensions, believe that investing in our technical colleges will help workers that are skilled enough to fill the vacant positions these companies currently have.

Wisconsin currently has a 7.9% unemployment rate and has moved backwards in recent months while trying to recover the 171,400 jobs that were lost between January of 2008 and January of 2010. Even though enrollment is at an all-time high for these programs, Governor Walker’s misguided budget eliminated $34.2 million from the WTCS.

We need to get Wisconsinites back to work immediately, which is exactly what the Wisconsin Jobs Initiative aims to do. This legislation will help in the short-term by providing Wisconsinites with vital job training to get our neighbors back to work and provide our local businesses long-term with the qualified, skilled applicants they need for years to come.

CLICK HERE to view a copy of the Wisconsin Jobs Initiative.
========================================

For More of Senator Larson's report (chronic illnesses, a pattern of apathy, public health protection, go to: www.SenatorChrisLarson.com

Schacknow - TODAY'S PRIMER - October 10, 2011

Peter Schacknow, Senior Producer, CNBC Breaking News Desk

Monday is likely to get off to a bullish start, after Germany's Angela Merkel and France's Nicolas Sarkozy vowed that a comprehensive response to the European debt crisis would be finalized by month's end.

That - combined with a rescue plan for Franco-Belgian lender Dexia - is improving the mood of investors by a considerable margin.

Wall Street is coming off a relatively calm day of modest losses Friday, with a streak of nine consecutive triple-digit moves by the Dow broken during that session.
The Dow had a second straight weekly gain for the first time since early July.

Today's action may be lighter than usual, with many businesses and the bond market closed for the Columbus Day holiday, and no government economic data on the agenda.

The earnings calendar is similarly blank, though earnings season officially gets underway tomorrow with the release of Dow component Alcoa's (AA) earnings.

AT&T (T) could be a stock to watch, after the company said it had 200,000 pre-orders for the newest iPhone in the first 12 hours it was available.

The company called it the most successful iPhone launch it's ever had.

We'll also watch shares of Sprint (S), which also says it had a successful iPhone launch, but whose stock was extremely volatile Friday as the company was holding an analyst meeting.

Complete Production Services (CPX) is on our watch list as well today, after Superior Energy Services (SPN) agreed to buy it for $2.7 billion in cash and stock, representing a 61 percent premium to Friday's closing price.

Yahoo (YHOO) remains in the spotlight today as well, on reports that CEO Jerry Yang is eyeing a deal with private equity firms to take the company private.

Investors will be keeping an eye on Washington this week, as Congress is expected to take up both the controversial China currency bill - intended to pressure Beijing to allow its currency to rise - and three free trade bills.

Sunday, October 9, 2011

We Are THE 99% - Rally & Protest



MILWAUKEE - Milwaukee Professionals Association supports , "We Are THE 99% Movement". It is the genesis of Occupy Wall Street in Liberty Square, New York City.

About
Occupy Wall Street is leaderless resistance movement with people of many colors, genders and political persuasions. The one thing we all have in common is that We Are The 99% that will no longer tolerate the greed and corruption of the 1%. We are using the revolutionary Arab Spring tactic to achieve our ends and encourage the use of nonviolence to maximize the safety of all participants.

October 15, 2011
On Saturday, October 15, 2011, there will be a Rally and Protest in Milwaukee.
11:00am - Zeidler Park
301 W. Michigan Avenue

12:30pm - Chase Bank
111 E. Wisconsin Avenue
===================

Occupy together on this day and represent YOU and YOUR FAMILY against the greed and "enduring concentrated poverty" here in Milwaukee.

For more about the organizing group's efforts, CLICK

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This is a clip from SLAVOJ ZIZEK AT OWS PART1.
Take a listen - listen closely and THINK.

Friday, October 7, 2011

3 Women are Nobel Laureates for 2011 - Congratulations!



- President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf - Liberia
- Tawakkul Karman - Yemen
- Leymah Gbowee - Liberia


The Nobel Peace Prize for 2011 was awarded jointly to Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Leymah Gbowee and Tawakkul Karman "for their non-violent struggle for the safety of women and for women’s rights to full participation in peace-building work".

It was only the second time that three individuals have won the prize in a given year, and the Nobel laureates will split their $1.5 million prize.

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf - Liberia
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is the sitting President of Liberia. She is the first and only democratically elected female head of state in Africa. The 72 year-old's resume also includes the founding of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 2006, drastically reducing Liberia's debt and reconciling with the Ivory Coast.

Born: 29 October 1938

Prize motivation: "for their non-violent struggle for the safety of women and for women’s rights to full participation in peace-building work"
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Tawakkul Karman is a human rights activist and politician in Yemen, a country currently experiencing a large-scale popular movement against the government. Karman organized student rallies in the capital of Sanaa, after which she was arrested. When she was released, she immediately went back to protesting.

Tawakkul Karman - Yemen

Prize motivation: "for their non-violent struggle for the safety of women and for women’s rights to full participation in peace-building work"
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Leymah Gbowee - Liberia

Leymah Gbowee is a Liberian peace advocate. As the founder of the Women of Liberia Mass Action for Peace, she became a non-violent force against civil war.

Prize motivation: "for their non-violent struggle for the safety of women and for women’s rights to full participation in peace-building work"
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The Noble winners of Peace are 3 women of great works. CONGRATULATIONS!

Diversity Conference Focus on "Community" - African American and Latino Males in Madison, WI


"The forum is a great chance for us to not only give an update on diversity issues at the University, but to focus into diversity topics and initiatives of critical importance," says Dr. Damon A. Williams, UW–Madison Vice Provost for Diversity and Climate. "This year's forum and the focus on the educational crisis facing male youth of color, the barriers to opportunity for undocumented students and issues involving LGBTQ community and campus climate are of critical importance.",

MADISON, WI - The 2011 UW-Madison Diversity Forum was held Thursday, October 6, 2011, 8:30am - 4:30pm at Union South in Varsity Hall on the 2nd Floor.

The Diversity Department has a NEW focus of CREATING COMMUNITY - Promoting Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at UW–Madison.

The efforts of the Diversity Department focuses on all areas of diversity, it includes:
- Continued learners
- Disabled learners
- Gender
- Nationality
- Race/Ethnicity
- Religion
- Veterans
- others

This year's highlight was on the urgency of providing Educational opportunities for African American and Latino males who have data supporting an enduring and concentrated level of poverty - a huge gap of access-literacy-fluency.


Kenote Speaker - Dr. Pedro Noguera, Sociologist Professor from New York University.

His scholarship and research focuses on the ways in which schools are influenced by social and economic conditions in the urban environment.

He has published over 150 research articles, monographs and research reports on topics. He is the author of 5 books. He has taught in the public schools in Rhode Island and California; as well as held tenured faculty appoints at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Dr. Noguera appears as a regular commentator on educational issues on CNN, National Public Radio and other national news outlets.

The presentation given by Dr. Noguera presented hands-on points for awareness and actions for reform. He received a standing ovation.

One of his first points was that the "Crisis" in males of African American and Latino heritage is an "American Problem". However, it is presented as an African American or Latino problem with blaming the victim of things beyond his control.

Secondly, that the problems of African American and Latino males have been misdiagnosed, therefore it has grown and is more debilating.

There is need for a counter-narrative to break the cycle of failure.

Thirdly, that there is "so little outrage" - That the discourse is either driven by phobia and/or fettish - extreme thinking. On the one hand, African American men are portrayed as a danger. However, when it comes to Sports (because of the awe - success), African American males are respected with devotion. For the Latino male, he is seen as "invisible".

Dr. Noguera spoke of the crisis conditions that have engulfed the African American and Latino male as a "syndrome" likened to the AIDS (Acquired-Immune-Deficiency-Syndrome) virus. The immune system has been attacked and there are no buffers - no antidote.

That the needs must be met - child developmental needs put in place - Maslow law of hierarchy of needs are needed for preparing for life.

He gave the names of schools that have shown exemplary progress with African American males, such as Urban Prep and Thurgood Marshall in Harlem.

He also spoke of how we, the educators are complicit in the problem of driving up the negatives for non-empowerment. He gave a story about an assistant principal prejudging an African American student with "adjustment" issues. The assistant principal said, " the little boy would wound up in prison like is father and his brother because he was a behavior problem." However, when he was asked what he was doing to prevent or offer intervention to his prediction, he was surprised. For he felt the child was not his problem. In other words, he was a casuality - doomed. The assistant principal was African American.

We must make choices that influence a more positive outcome and not be menacing.

"I found him fantastic,right-on target, said Mary Glass, Chair/CEO, Milwaukee Professionals Association. "We look forward to him being our 2012 Keynote speaker for Safety Matters 2012 Diversity Conference in Milwaukee."
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Kaleem Caire, CEO, Urban League of Greater Madison, provided an interesting and data-driven powerpoint presentation about the specifics of the crisis in Madison - Dane County.

Mr. Caire is known for his work with youth. As part of the solution, he is in the process of building a single-sex (male) charter school in Madison - Madison Prep.

He received pledged support from the floor to help provide "research" data to support his present efforts with the Madison School Board.

Employment of African American and Latino Males
Employment was one of the strong points of deficits he mentioned that speaks to the "gap" of disparity.

One salient point related to UW-Madison's procurement that is glaringly missing to African American and Latino males.

He pointed to the fact that the NEWLY built Memorial South building that we were having the Diversity Forum in had a Caucasian-only viewing of workers. In other words, African American and Latinos were not part of or seen working on and taking part in the erecting of UW-Madison Memorial South.
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Arturo "Tito" Diaz, UW-Madison Student, was the first half of the luncheon speakers. Arturo is an award winner for his outstanding services and academic achievements.

In addition to being selected to attend the national diversity conference held in California; he is an Academic Advancement Program Scholar and a member of and serves as Vice President of Lamba Theta Phi Latin Fraternity.

He was named Outstanding Freshman of the Year: Class 2014.

Arturo is a graduate of Case High School in Racine, Wisconsin.

He summarized points of how he has navigated the system and his efforts going forward.
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Dr. Damon Williams, Vice Provost & Chief Diversity Officer is driving a NEW agenda to implement an integrated inclusion and diversity program at the University of Wisconsin - Madison. It is apparent one of his dynamics is his inter-culture and cross-culture awareness efforts.

He gave a due diligence powerpoint presentation that shared updates on his campus-wide efforts. It is an integrated approach rather than a centralized or de-centralized approach. His department is looking for ways of, "How they can be MORE engaged".

Dr. Williams shared efforts brought about at the University of Michigan that included Supreme Court legal decisions.

To view the 2011 Diversity Forum full powerpoint slide show, GO TO.

"I see many points to share in both the Diversity and Inclusion of Dr. Williams leadership; and, I look forward to discourse for our upcoming 2012 Diversity Conference in Milwaukee," said Glass.
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Thanks to Carl Hampton
Carl Hampton, JD, Special Assistant to Dr. Damon Williams, is well-known for his efforts in the political arena working with elected officials at the state and federal level, was most hospitable before and on the day of the event.

"We look forward to working with him in the future as we connect with undergraduate and graduate students for the Safety Matters Exploratory Team and our upcoming Diversity Conference in 2012," said Glass.

Schacknow - TODAY'S PRIMER - October 7, 2011



Peter Schacknow, Senior Producer, CNBC Breaking News Desk

Wall Street's ever-changing mood has swing back in a positive direction, but whether it stays that way will depend largely on where this morning's September employment report comes in.

Stocks have risen for three straight sessions, putting the week in the plus column for the major averages and negating October's extremely shaky start for stocks this past Monday.

That jobs report is out at 08:30am ET, with consensus forecasts calling for nonfarm payroll gains of 60,000, with the unemployment rate remaining steady at 9.1 percent.
Though they'll be largely overshadowed by the employment numbers, there are two other government reports out today - August wholesale trade at 10:00am ET, and August consumer credit at 3:00pm ET.

Wholesale inventories are seen rising 0.7 percent following July's 0.8 percent increase, and consumer credit is expected to have risen by $7.0 billion following an August jump of $12.0 billion.

The corporate earnings calendar is virtually blank today, the calm before the earnings season storm begins with the release of Alcoa's quarterly numbers next Tuesday.

Oracle (ORCL) could be a stock to watch this morning, after agreeing to pay the U.S. almost $200 million to resolve GSA claims that it failed to meet contractual obligations in a software agreement struck back in 1998.
The company denies that it ever committed fraud, and settled the suit to avoid the cost and distraction of a trial.

We'll watch shares of European banks that trade in the U.S. today, after Moody's downgraded a dozen UK banks and nine Portuguese banks.

Firearms maker Smith & Wesson (SWHC) is also on the watch list, rising more than 4% in after-hours trading after saying it will divest itself of its security business.

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Jay DeDapper - IPHONE 5 Release Buzz



October 4, 2011

IPHONE Release - Jay DeDapper, BUZZ: 60

On Tuesday, the newest edition of Apple's Iphone was released hear what Jay says about its "marketing" feature.

For Video,
touch "click", GO DOWN THE PAGE to video that has: No Apple Iphone But New 4S Rocks Cool Artificial Intelligence. CLICK

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Also, view Apple Introduce iOS5 VIDEO

Monday, October 3, 2011

Dear Harry! HARRY KEMP - Visual Griot in Milwaukee


October 3, 2011

MILWAUKEE - This morning a colleague shared the surprising news that Mr. Harry Kemp was no longer here. That he took a SPECIAL journey on Thursday, September 28, 2011, with no return.

I immediately became sadden since I had just thought of Harry just a day or so ago - wondering how he was. I have not seen Harry in a while - the last time I saw him was on the #30 bus with his camera.

We would every so often meet up at METRO Mart and chat in the sitting area while eating. I always talked about the current events and conditions of our city, especially the unacceptable enduring concentrated poverty of the majority population - African American, People of Color and Work-Challenged population.

Harry was usually philosophical and showing vintage in wisdom. We would laugh and have an interesting discourse. He was always the professional. He reminded me of the "college professor".

Happy Trails
I know we have sent our friend, brother, loved one and professional "Visual Griot" of Milwaukee to take his lifetime video of years of photos while here as well as photos on his journey to the permanent resting place.

I owe Harry a special thanks for his services to Milwaukee Professionals Association and a favor - I look forward to fulfilling it before I take the journey. You be well my friend and know that you are missed greatly.

Mary Glass - Activist

Editorial by Mg - Mary Glass, October 3, 2011 - 15 Minutes of Fame, Continues Racial Bigotry and Confidence Game

Mary Glass

Shawn Lewis, President of Young Republicans and members of the group at UC Berkeley is keeping the White-only Bigotry, Willie Lynch and Confidence Game alive.

The Oh Poor Me is not befitting since he and those who can pass as Caucasians are given every "pass" under the sun for privilege - that is for the MOST part the reason they have such an advantage.

For the People of Color that are rallying the "con", it is not about SB 185. You know, or should know, your history of "access-literacy-fluency". Also, pitting one race against another is the Willie Lynch racket. Please note, ALL Asians are not fairing well in the economy. All Asians are not excelling in the top percentile of academics. They like all, want to have more of what this nation is said to be about - rather than the trumped-up satire Shaw and all are running.

"Critical mass" of the Caucasian race have massively benefitted through the racial Confidence games and ruthless white-only behavior that has systematically and infrastructurally robbed generations and century-old legacies of People of Color.

The Confidence game - Con, is what Shawn and his organization is counting on from the public. It gets him and the "group" in the public square. And, if they are successful, they will hit 2-3-4 News cycles for even more national and international hype.

However, the damage - the collateral damage, intended or not, is so damaging. It continues to "pick-with-wounds" or "open-wide bleeding wounds to gushing wounds".

It allows bullying and making fun of, snide remarks that can not be tolerated.

Acess-literacy-fluency
Today's young and young adults, the coming young and young adults, will not buy the bull that Shawn and others are peddling. We see the protests/revolts in the states and over the world.

The issue is access-literacy-fluency, PERIOD.

If one has "access-literacy-fluency", they can create their sustainability - their wealth-building. Without same, they endure concentrated poverty that brings baggage that dominates the environments.

Grandfather in
Shawn and those supporting his thoughts, primarily Caucasians must be responsible, pull-themselves up by the bootstrap - they are the ones with the bootraps. "Be made to understand" that their privilege will be a deficit going forward.

It is time to "grandfather-in" those who have been systematically and by-design left out; those great-grand and grandchildren - whose great-grandparents, grandparents and parents worked hard labor, deprived of education - deprived of legacy assets - deprived of wealth-building, day-in and day-out, year-in and year-out working 2-3-4 jobs to stand the test of time and racism.

Bake Sale
Did he say $2.00 for Caucasian - that's too cheap; and ONLY Caucasians should pay. The cost is a minimum of $2,000 per bakery item, 1 cookie. Muffins, brownies and the like are $2,500 dollars each.

It is reported that 300 bakery items were sold. Shawn and group should be forced to pay the difference of what they charged with the "historic payback cost" of $2,000-$2,500 per item - bargain rates. The proceeds should be sent to UC Berkeley public relations office to recruit more People of Color to UC Berkeley.

We must get the benefit, the interest on the privilege, arrogance and greed he's pushing.

Shawn and the Young Republicans are taking privilege to greed, to arrogance, to expected advantage, to thought-of-as a “right”. The ME-ME blinders. It is thinking that the world is made only for Caucasians, for him and those he care for.
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I wonder if Shawn, the Young Republicans and followers think the above is "satire", is funny, appropriate and respectful of their Bake Sale? I am serious. The cost is much too low at $2,000 - $2,500.
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It has nothing to do with SB 185
We can not allow Shawn or the other individuals that are protesting this bill to exclude it at a time when it is more than ever clear that People of Color have been scammed by the system; at a time (2011) when there are more individuals in or headed for poverty; at a time when education and global competitiveness will determine USA ranking in the world; and, at a time when the USA is scoring low on the totem pole academically. Wake up Shawn and others lost. It is a global issue of sustainability. Guess who are controlling - the BRICS (Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa/Nigerian nations), not European/Caucasian.

SB 185 if done rightly, it will help with access-literacy-fluency - Something that is so needed to improve the economic climate that is in the toilet.

Schacknow - TODAY'S PRIMER

Peter Schacknow, Senior Producer, CNBC Breaking News Desk

October 3, 2011

US stock index futures pointed to a lower open for Wall Street on Monday as European shares fell following news that Greece will miss a budget deficit target for this year that was set only months ago.

Draft government figures released on Sunday showed a deficit of 8.5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) for 2011, compared with a 7.6 percent target.

On Monday, Deputy Finance Minister Pantelis Oikonomou said that Greece persuaded experts in the so-called "Troika" – made of the International Monetary Fund, the European Union and the European Central Bank – that the slippage was chiefly because of a deeper-than-expected recession.

Asian stocks also fell, on concerns that a European crisis would drag down global growth.

The contraction in manufacturing in the euro zone quickened in September, with new orders shrinking at their fastest pace since June 2009, a survey showed Monday.
In the US, a law firm said at least four shipping companies are likely to restructure or face bankruptcy over the next year as the freight industry faces consolidation because of low freight rates and an abundance of new vessels.

The ISM Manufacturing index for September will be released at 10 am New York time and is expected to come in at 50.5 according to Briefing.com, slightly lower than August's 50.6. ISM Manufacturing numbers below 50 indicates a possible recession.
Construction spending data for August will come out at the same time, and Briefing.com analysts expect it to have fallen by 0.5 percent in August from July's 1.3 percent slump.

Goldman Sachs wrote in a note to clients that risks are rising that the US may fall into a shallow, yet prolonged and painful recession that could lift the country's unemployment to 12 percent.

Finally, Citigroup is being probed by Japan's markets regulator the Financial Services Agency for various failings, a source told Reuters.

Saturday, October 1, 2011

Larson Weekly Report - September 29, 2011

Senator Chris Larson - 7th District/Wisconsin

Ensuring Truth on Our Property Tax Bill

Earlier this week my Milwaukee colleagues and I sent a letter to the Milwaukee Common Council, Mayor Barrett, Treasurer Whittow and Comptroller Morics requesting that they make our annual tax documents more transparent by separating the tax levy associated with the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program (MPCP) from the tax levy for Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS). Milwaukee’s taxpayers deserve to know exactly how much of their money is going to fund private and religious schools through the MPCP. Inclusion of the information requested would amount to a simple act of truth in advertising and transparency in government.

In 2010, state law compelled MPS to levy over $50 million in taxes to subsidize the private and religious schools that make up the voucher program, over which MPS has no authority or control. This amounts to 17% of the total MPS tax levy going to non-MPS schools. New legislation at the state level has expanded the voucher program in Milwaukee to allow private schools outside Milwaukee to participate, while also removing all enrollment caps on the program and raising the income limits on participants. Due to these policy changes in the state’s 2011-2013 biennial budget, the cost of the MPCP will rise significantly and likely exceed the state’s official 2012 estimate of $53.4 million.

All of these changes come at a time when our public schools statewide are forced to make do with $1.6 billion less in state aide over the next two years, while spending on programs like the MPCP continues to balloon. In truth, Milwaukee taxpayers are now being billed for both the largest school district in the state, MPS, and the sixth largest, which is what the MPCP has grown to be with more than 21,000 students. The tax levy for the MPCP already exceeds the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) by nearly $10 million and is expected to exceed that of Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) in the next few years.

Milwaukee's taxpayers deserve to know which programs are being funded with their hard-earned money. This is matter of public accountability, transparency and good government, which is why I remain committed to the request that local government separately displays the tax levy associated with the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program separately from the tax levy for Milwaukee Public Schools on all annual tax documents sent to tax payers.

To view a copy of the letter on property tax transparency submitted to the City of Milwaukee, please CLICK HERE.

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Fairness for All Students
I am supporting legislation that was introduced this week to make instructional materials available to all students attending our universities, colleges or technical schools. Currently many students enrolled in Wisconsin's higher education institutions who are blind, visually impaired or have a learning or reading disability do not have access to the textbooks and written materials needed to complete their coursework. This places many of these students at a disadvantage to their classmates.

This bill would enable schools within the UW System or Technical College System to request that a publisher provide textbooks and other materials in electronic format at no additional cost to the school or student. These digital texts can then be converted into a variety of additional formats, such as Braille, large print texts, audio recordings, digital texts, or any other format needed to meet the needs of our students. This service is in place for K-12 students and would simply be expanded to include continuing education students.

This legislation will empower students with disabilities by ensuring they have the same opportunity to succeed in their academic pursuits as their classmates. It will also help keep costs down at schools within the UW and Technical College Systems, while also enabling these educational institutions to better serve their students.

To view a copy of this bill, please CLICK HERE.
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Wisconsin Voter Rights Targeted Again
This past Tuesday, Republicans set the stage to roll back the ability of Wisconsin Students to use their college ID to vote and prohibit the use of certain technologies in recall elections. Click on the video below for more information.

While Scott Walker and his rubberstamp legislators have been working to silence Wisconsin's voters, I have been working hard to keep Wisconsin's voters informed of their rights. I have created a simple handout answering some of the most frequently asked questions surrounding Wisconsin's new voter restrictions. To view this handout