Larson Weekly Report - March 29, 2012

Senator Chris Larson, 7th District

Dear Friend,

This week we review the events of the recently concluded 2011-2012 Legislative Session. Also, please remember to exercise your right to vote on Tuesday, April 3.

As usual, please feel free to contact me with any questions, concerns or opinions you may have about our community or our state.

Sincerely,

Chris Larson
State Senator, District 7
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Larson Report Update
The Legislature has concluded it 2011-2012 session. In anticipation of fewer legislative obligations in the Capitol, Representatives and Senators will be spending more time in their local community and less time in their Madison offices.

Because of these changes, I will be altering the distribution of the Larson Report. Beginning this week, the Larson Report will be sent out every other week, rather than every Thursday. These biweekly reports will continue to keep you apprised of local events, provide timely news updates, answer some of the most frequent questions asked by neighbors, and include interesting information about our community and state.

In addition to providing you with a newsletter every other week, I will periodically send out email updates when important issue arise. The normal weekly distribution will resume when legislative activities pick up again in November.

Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions about these temporary changes.

Legislative Session Sends Wisconsin, Our Community Backwards

The 2011-2012 Legislative Session will go down in our state history books as the most divisive and dishonest legislative session ever. Rather than focusing on job creation and economic growth, those in control used their power to push a backwards, ideological agenda that neglects the needs of our family, friends, and neighbors.

Below we will take an in-depth look at just how our community and state have been harmed by the Walker administration's radical policies and devastating cuts in the areas of jobs, education, health care, public transit, the environment, accountability and transparency, and taxes and investment in our communities.

JOBS & ECONOMY
Although Governor Walker and Republican legislators promised to focus on jobs this session, they utterly failed to follow through. The numbers do not lie. While the nation has added jobs every month for 17 straight months and neighboring states all posted job gains this past year, Wisconsin fell tragically behind under Governor Walker's leadership. A new nationwide report released by the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics shows Wisconsin lost 12,500 jobs from January 2011 to January 2012, more than any other state over the past year. In fact, Wisconsin is one of only six states to lose jobs in the past year, and our job losses are more than three times higher than the next state on that unfortunate list.

Click here to view the report and a chart showing the state-by-state breakdown.

Despite the pleas of people across Wisconsin who are in desperate need of jobs, Governor Walker and Republican legislators put partisanship above progress right away by rejecting federal job creation money that then went to other states, helping their economies. Continuing this painful partisanship, Governor Walker and Republican legislators left Democratic employee training and jobs proposals untouched. Below is a list of just some of these proposals that Republicans refused to act on to get Wisconsin moving on job creation:

Expand the Workforce Advancement Training Program and create grants to assist local businesses with expanding and diversifying (SB 316/AB 431).

Create grants for technical colleges to provide additional training in advanced manufacturing skills (SB 40/AB 97).

Direct the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation to develop, implement, and fund a program to link businesses that need more qualified workers with Wisconsin's technical colleges so they can provide the necessary training for those businesses to grow (AB 575.

Give the Wisconsin Economic Development the authority to award grants to Wisconsinites trying to qualify for income and franchise tax credits to improve or expand their business (AB 90.

Increase the amount of tax credits available for dairies to continue modernizing facilities and employ workers for these projects (SB 120/AB 186).

Unfortunately, this session has also been about picking winners and losers. In order to help the big corporations and special interests further their backwards agenda, Governor Walker and Republican legislators have sacrificed Wisconsin’s jobless, children, and women by choosing:

-- To provide big corporations with $2.3 billion in tax giveaways, Governor Walker cut $1.6 billion from neighborhood schools that educate our children.

-- To create a $196 million slush fund with little oversight, Governor Walker made over $1 billion in cuts to our health safety net being used by children, displaced workers, and the elderly.

-- To make up for increasing spending by over $1 billion in his budget compared to the previous one, Governor Walker cut funding for basic women's health care, shared revenue for local governments, public transit, and recycling and stewardship programs.

We need to get Wisconsin moving in the right direction with the rest of the nation. Unfortunately, the job-killing policies implemented by Governor Walker and Republican legislators this legislative session will do nothing to help our state out of this crisis.


PUBLIC TRANSIT
Massive highway expansion projects were highly prioritized this session over repairing our local roads and investing in our public transit infrastructure. This assault began with the rejection of $800 million in federal funds to create jobs and a high speed rail option connecting Chicago, Milwaukee, Madison, and additional communities.

The attack continued with the elimination of the new Regional Transit Authorities and extensive cuts to public transit in Governor Walker's budget. According to a recent study by the Wisconsin Public Interest Research Group, Wisconsin taxpayers are footing roughly $2 billion to fund questionable and unnecessary transportation projects in the budget rather than putting those funds towards local roads and public transit. In addition to a loss of $77 million in shared revenue, the following communities saw cuts to state transportation funds in the amounts listed below:

Cudahy = $98,181
Milwaukee = $2,546,188
Oak Creek = $164,524
Saint Francis = $65,933
South Milwaukee = $90,118

As a result, local governments have been forced to shift funding, raise fares, change or eliminate routes, and reduce vital services. Many of these changes were seen by riders in our own community. On January 1 of this year, the Milwaukee County Transit System was forced to increase fares for TransitPlus users by 75 cents, raising the cost of each bus ticket to $4. The system also had to eliminate some bus services.

During the legislative session, I worked to remedy this dire situation for our neighbors by supporting a number of public transit initiatives. Once such proposal was the Workforce Mobility Act, legislation I authored with Senator Jessica King.

The Workforce Mobility Act seeks to prevent further cuts by reinvesting in our state’s public transit infrastructure to ensure that our family, friends and neighbors are able to commute to and from work. According to the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau, a recent re-estimate of the transportationfund indicates that an additional $32.9 million remains available for use. This bill would have used $9.6 million of this funding to restore the cuts to our mass transit systems ensuring that our workforce can get to their jobs each day. Unfortunately, progress on this was rejected by Governor Walker, his administration, and Republican legislators.

Having a well-supported public transit system is vital to maintaining and creating jobs in our community. According to the Milwaukee County Transit systems, on average 140,000 rides are provided daily. Of these, 39% are commuters traveling to and from work, another 5% are heading to job interviews, and 11% are students making their way to classes to learn valuable skills for their future careers. Therefore, I will continue to do what I can to support key public transportation initiatives.
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Office Phone: (608) 266-7505
Toll-free Phone: (800) 361-5487

Email: Sen.Larson@legis.wi.gov

Mailing Address:
State Capitol
P.O. Box 7882
Madison, WI 53707

Web Site:
SenatorChrisLarson.com
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Larson Weekly Report - Part II
Thursday, April 5, 2012
-- EDUCATION
-- ENVIRONMENT
-- HEALTH CARE

DRYHOOTCH.org - Creating Writing - Therapeutic Intervention

Date/Time: April 4, 2012 from 1pm to 2pm
Location: Dryhootch Brady Street
Organized By: Rebecca

Event Description:

The purpose of this 8-week qualitative study will be to discover how self-expressive writing can be used as a therapeutic intervention. This research study serves veterans, family members and health care professionals.

During the writing sessions, you have the opportunity to reflect, build self-confidence, share your thoughts, and gain friendships. The self-expressive writing sessions encourages you to reflect and discover meaning in your life. This is a chance to explore one-self through a variety of fun writing activities.

The writing sessions will take place every Wednesday starting April 4th, from 1:00 until 2:00PM located at DryHootch.
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Milwaukee Professionals Association supports VETS Place Central and Dryhootch.org Brady - neighborhood level organizations.

COMING on OWN - Sweetie Pie's - March 31, 2012

OWN/Oprah Winfrey, March 31, 2012, 9/8 central time.

Miss Robbie's house hits maximum capacity when Tim and Jenae move into her place with baby TJ, and construction on the new restaurant has tensions between Robbie and Tim running high. Is mother and son working and living together a recipe for disaster?

Watch the first 5 minutes of the spring season premiere before its television debut, then, tune in for the spring premiere of Welcome to Sweetie Pie's on Saturday, March 31st at 9/8c, only on OWN.

Sneak Peek: Watch the First 5 Minutes of Welcome to Sweetie Pie's

Miss Robbie's house hits maximum capacity when Tim and Jenae move into her place with baby TJ, and construction on the new restaurant has tensions between Robbie and Tim running high. Is mother and son working and living together a recipe for disaster?

COMING on OWN - Shaquan Duley's Interview - April 1, 2012

OWN/Oprah Winfrey Network - In her first television interview, one week before being sentenced, Shaquan Duley sits down with Oprah Winfrey behind bars at the Orangeburg-Calhoun Regional Detention Center in Orangeburg, South Carolina.

Plus, Oprah talks with the Duley family. Watch a sneak preview now; then, tune in Sunday, April 1, for the complete conversation.

First Look: Oprah's Interview with Shaquan Duley

In her first and only television interview, one week before being sentenced, Shaquan Duley sits down with Oprah Winfrey behind bars at the Orangeburg-Calhoun Regional Detention Center in Orangeburg, South Carolina. Watch the first 30 seconds of the show; then, tune in Sunday, April 1, at 9/8c for the complete conversation.

OOPS! Pre-mature Post - One Month in Advance

MILWAUKEE - Mary Glass, Chair/CEO, Milwaukee Professionals Association apologizes for the PRE-MATURE posting of the 1 Year since hand-delivering "Open Complaint of Discrimination" to State Attorney General JB Van Hollen. Instead of March 26, 2011, it was April 26, 2011.

Title: 1-year Anniversary of Open Letter Complaint - WI Attorney General JB Van Hollen
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1-year Anniversary of Open Letter Complaint - WI Attorney General JB Van Hollen

MILWAUKEE - Yesterday, March 26, 2012, marked 1-year since the Open Letter Complaint of Discrimination against the University of WI Regents and University of WI - Milwaukee. It was hand-delivered to State Attorney JB Van Hollen in Madison, Wisconsin.

It was a rainy day and Mary Glass remembers taking the bus and seeing both Senator Chris Larson, 7th District and Representative Elizabeth Coggs Jones, 10th District. It was also a quick moment that Glass shared quick comments with Senator Larson regarding the "discrimination" at UW-Milwaukee and how it must change.

Updates
Three hundred and sixty-six days later, we are now sharing our concerns with the U.S. Office of Justice via U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder's office. We have broaden the scope to include many of the elected-appointed-hired-volunteered and donor-for-hire individuals and organizations.

The research observation has uncovered and connected behavior that is just mind-boggling.

The in-your-face and business-as-usual standard operating procedures seem to be centered around some of the same players that have connections, federal, state and local levels.

We have continued to layout many of the wrongdoings, seek approaches to eradicate Enduring Concentrated Poverty, Call for Actions to re-define, re-brand and "un-trap" Milwaukeeans; launched and amended the Master Initiative - All Hands on Deck, WE, Not Me Initiative.

We are confident that we are moving toward, re-defining, re-branding and un-trapping "hidden talent" and "hidden vested businesses" at the neighborhood level of the iconic city of Milwaukee.

Broad-sweeping
The 5-Year Signature Plan (2005-2010) was the genesis of bringing together the information that provided the generic grouping of those responsible for widespread greed, manipulation, conflict of interest, oligopoly form of take-over of the city of Milwaukee by the mayor, Milwaukee Metropolitan Commerce Association, Milwaukee 7, Greater Milwaukee Committee and Milwaukee Economic Development Corporation for starters.
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Centerpiece
The Centerpiece of the Discrimination Complaint is at the decision making body, UW Regents, UW System, UW-Milwaukee 7th and 8th Chancellors - Carlos Santiago and Michael Lovell, Chancellor's cabinet, foundation officers, alumni committee and other decision making committees.

It takes into consideration the partnerships around Senate Bill 514, all strategic plans, partnerships with neighboring universities, private companies, relationships with the Water Council, Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewage District, Milwaukee City Development, Milwaukee Public Works, Milwaukee Neighborhood Services and government officials in office and those gone. CLICK - WI Senate Bill 514.

Stay tuned.

What's for Dinner? How about Spaghetti?

Barefoot Contessa - Food Network video
Enjoy.

Why African Americans can not "Accommodate" Racism

MILWAUKEE - Today is Tuesday, March 27, 2012 the key word in the title of this blog is "accommodate". It means to serve, aid, assist, help, abet - Dictionary.com.

In other words, when we, African Americans see/hear/feel/read any level of RACISM, it is our duty to confront in a manner that will help expose and remove the source - EXPOSE and REMOVE the source.

Too often, there is the "benefit-of-doubt", "source-imbalance of power", "don't-want-to-rock-the-boat", "fear-of-reprisal" and "lack-of-fight". Yes. Fight.
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African Americans have paid their fair share and the FAIR OF PRIVILEGED Americans and non-Americans. They have had generations-after-generations get "unjust" treatment.
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We were captured and brought to the American shores and through FORCE-often brutal force, made sub-servient. Over the centuries, we have been able to continue to RISE and STAY in the Game under some of the "worst conditions" - to RISE with dignity, education, professionalism, civility, honor, legacies, as well as victims of crime and wrongdoing. Nevertheless, we have continued to put unmatched SKIN-IN-THE-GAME.

We have taken low, when it should of been high.
We have tried many approaches to "set-us-FREE".

We have built, created from nothing, invented, and brought to market for thievery by those who are suppose to be our brothers - fellow human, fellow citizen.

We have been relegated to separate parts of towns, cities with sub-level housing and quality of life issues.

We have worked long-long hours and produced top grade but given meager earnings by our brothers - fellow human, fellow citizen.

We have been FORCED to be man- and woman-servants while our families "go lacking".
We have been FORCED to "look-down" and "not-in-the-face" of our brothers - fellow human, fellow citizen.

We have been met with harsh treatement, unfair treatment, and laws designed to make us "slaves" and caught in a trap of high priced prisons.

We have our men and women sent off to prison for little to NO reasons but our brothers - fellow human and fellow citizen are not.

We have had our land and share-cropper agreements taken by our brothers - fellow human and fellow citizen.

We have been "beaten" with whips, chains, ropes, straps, batons and sticks by our brothers - fellow human and fellow citizen.

We (our men) have been "hung-by-the-neck" till death for looking at our brother's female counter-part - even though she may have initiated the look.

We (our women) have been RAPED over-and-over for the pleasure of our brothers - fellow human and fellow citizen.

We have (women) NURSED our brothers children.

We have been accused of crimes WE HAVE NOT DONE, but railroaded and trapped in the incarceration system, created by our brothers, fellow human and fellow citizen.

We have been FORCED to not be able to learn to read-write-talk correctly by our brothers - fellow human and fellow citizen.

We have (men, women and children) created the major economy of COTTON for the USA but the spoils always went to our brothers, fellow human and fellow citizen.

We have been FORCED in "conditions" that have bred crab barrel and criminal behaviors that have reached high levels but NO hands on therapeutic address.

We have/are DEMONIZED/stereotyped for not being up-to-par when we have NEVER HAD PAR.

We have been murdered by our law enforcement brothers, fellow human and fellow citizen.
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So, back to the beginning, if there is to be CHANGE African Americans can not provide cover for bad behavior - bad behavior on everybody's part.

As WE (all of us) move more into a BLENDED color society - races mixed - creating a color of NO race but maybe looking like this race more than this race. However, when you ask, I will tell you, I am African American.
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I see it in my family - my daughter, my nieces, nephews and family members.
They are multi-racial - African American, Latino, Asian, Caucasian and American Indian. They are all called African American.

We do not want for ourselves or the generations to come, to continue down the road that makes us less than our character dictates.

Therefore, we can not and will not "ACCOMMODATE" behavior perpetrated by our Caucasian brother, fellow human and fellow citizen.

BREAKING NEWS - GLASS adds "Southeastern Wisconsin REGIONAL Plan"

U.S. Department of Labor - WIRED - Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development for U.S. Office of Justice Investigation

MILWAUKEE - Mary Glass, Chair/CEO, Milwaukee Professionals Association announced this afternoon that her office has added the "WIRED/Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development" for Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning for scrutiny and widespread "DISCRIMINATION" of Milwaukeeans, especially African American, other People of Color and the Work Challenged (un-, under-employed; un-, under-degreed and certificated; un-, under-financed neighborhood-level business; disabled; and re-entry - especially those returning from WAR, INCARCERATION, BOOMERANG EMPLOYMENT, BOOMERANG RETIREMENT and DEGREED students without employment). The requested focus is on the Milwaukee 7, Greater Milwaukee Committee and Milwaukee Metropolitan Association of Commerce involvement in this initiative.

Glass said, "There were/are specific guidelines and a specific criterion to assure INCLUSION. It is clear that as far back as 2009, I made specific contacts to the Department of Labor - Janet Sten, Chief, Division of Workforce System Support, ex-governor Jim Doyle, Mayor Tom Barrett, Roberta Gassman - Deputy Assistant Secretary of Employment and Training - U.S. Department of Labor, was Wisconsin Secretary of Workforce Development under ex-governor Doyle, Michael Mortell, Regional Project Manager - Souhtestern Region Wisconsin (also staff member of Waukesha Community Technical College) and others to seek input as to INCLUSION for Milwaukeeans, especially hidden talent at the neighborhood level for employment, training and business development. Michael Mortell and other local representatives refused to respond."

Secretary Grassman, Mayor Tom Barrett, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee Economic Development Corporation, Tim Sheehy - Milwaukee Metropolitan Association of Commerce and Milwaukee 7 were involved in questionable "special" funding through secretary Grassman's office Workforce Development that excluded Milwaukeeans, especially African American and other People of Color at the neighborhood level. Mayor Barrett would not respond.

Roberta Gassman - Deputy Assistant Secretary of Employment and Training Administration.
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Schacknow - TODAY'S PRIMER, March 26, 2012

Peter Schacknow, Senior Producer, CNBC Breaking News Desk

The final week of the month and the first quarter is upon us, with the Dow and S&P 500 limping to the finish line after a mostly upbeat first three months of 2012. Last week saw the biggest losses of 2012 for both, but the Dow, the S&P 500, and the Nasdaq are all finishing Q1 on the plus side, with the Nasdaq poised for its biggest quarterly percentage gain since the second quarter of 2009.

Today marks the 6 consecutive session that investors will see a key report on the housing industry: at 10am ET, the National Association of Realtors releases pending home sales for February, a measure of home sales contracts signed but not yet closed. Economists are looking for a 1.0% increase following January’s 2.0% rise. Fed chairman Ben Bernanke continues his recent busy schedule of public appearances this morning with an appearance at the NABE economic policy conference in Arlington, VA at 8am ET.

This morning’s earnings calendar is a light one, with egg producer Cal-Maine (CALM) among the few companies set to report this morning, with for-profit education company Apollo Group (APOL) on the short list of after-the-bell reports today.

Dow component Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) is a stock to watch this morning, as the company’s board authorizes at 10% increase in the quarterly dividend to 13.2 cents per share from 12 cents. The increase does not go into effect until after the previously announced dividend payout due April 4 for shareholders of record as of March 14.

We’ll watch shares of biotech company Illumina (ILMN), as Switzerland’s Roche extends its $5.7 billion cash bid for a second time. Analysts do expect Roche to eventually raise the $44.50 per share offer, but it has not yet done so, and only about 0.1% of Illumina’s outstanding shares have been tendered so far.

Yahoo (YHOO) has appointed three new members to its board, ahead of a proxy fight with major shareholder Third Point. The hedge fund has nominated four for board membership, but Yahoo has only agreed on one of those nominees, turnaround specialist Harry Wilson.

Shares of Lions Gate (LGF) will once again be on the watch list, as “The Hunger Games” debuts with $155 million in ticket sales in North America, the third highest opening and history, and the biggest for any movie that isn’t a sequel. Only last year’s “Harry Potter” finale and the Batman movie “The Dark Knight” have had bigger openings.

Amgen (AMGN) shares may benefit from news that monthly injections of an experimental Amgen drug cut cholesterol levels by up to two thirds in a clinical trial. That could make it a strong competitor to a similar drug now under development by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals (REGN).

Armstrong World Industries (AWI) could be a mover today, as the building products maker declares a special dividend of $8.55 per share. Armstrong shares had risen earlier this month after its board said it was considering such a move.

BARRETT & HINES, Pot and Kettle

MILWAUKEE - The election is right around the corner - April 3, 2012.

The citizenry of Milwaukee should look at the two top positions at the city level and hire-on-the-merits or reject-on-the-merits; but, never again allow either one to continue to enjoy a FREE RIDE on their backs.

They definitely need to give Mayor Tom Barrett and Common Council President the "door".

Mayor Barrett's two terms have been in:

1. Outsourcing" assets - Waukesha and nearby villages, towns have been his beneficiaries.

2. Organizing real estate barons, donor-for-hire, building eliteness and takeover of Milwaukee 7 - Gale Klappa (We Energies - $million purse), enabling Julie Penman to rein as a czar with UW-Milwaukee real estate and Master plan, power brokers and cronies - non-resident of Milwaukee.

3. Supporting takeover and oligopoly efforts with the theme of Southeastern WI labeling but EXCLUDING African American, other People of Color and Work Challenged (un-, under-employed; un-, under-degreed and certificated; un-, under-financed neighborhood-level business; disabled; and re-entry - especially those returning from WAR, INCARCERATION, BOOMERANG EMPLOYMENT, BOOMERANG RETIREMENT and DEGREED students without employment).

4. Highjacking labor opportunities for Milwaukee through the WIRED/Department of Labor Southeastern WI formats.

5. Using Tim Sheehy and Milwaukee Metropolitan Association of Commerce/MMAC as the proxy and decision makers for all businesses in Milwaukee.

6. Using Julie Taylor and the Greater Milwaukee Committee/GMAC members as decision makers or proxy for Milwaukee Public School parents and Milwaukeeans.

7. Using Milwaukee Economic Development Corporation/MEDC as strategic planners and deciders of major funding and projects for the city.

8. For allowing and contributing to conflicts of interest by the overreaching of authority of individuals and corporations of M-7, GMAC and MMAC in lobbying and other efforts.

9. Allowing major funding from our city coffers for Manpower to get prime real estate, get a $million parking structure and tax breaks with NO REAL tie-in of accountability and give-back to the city.

10. For allowing real estate barons like CG Schmidt, Barry Mandel, Gorman Properties and Gary Grunau to continue to utilize the massive benefits of the public coffers for personal projects with NO real tie to ACCOUNTABILITY for job stability, "quality of life" and "economic stimulation" of the overall wealth for the city - wealth for them individually but not the city as a whole.

11 Working with UW-Milwaukee in pet projects of cronies that "discriminate" against African American, other People of Color and the Work Challenge.

12. Failing to "honor" his 2004 pledges in his 2004 Inaugural address.

13. For making the majority populations of Color "more at-risk".

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Common Council President Hines has just been "absent without leave" - a kind of "playing leadership but failing to rise to the occasion". Also, failing to embrace practices that subscribe to knowledge of the issues and ability-willingness to lead.

For allowing his face to be seen in front of the Milwaukee 7 while they put major 'disrespect', 'discrimination', 'takeover of major government funds', and 'exclusion' of the people he represent.

For sitting idle and allowing M-7, GMAC and MMAC become the proxy for decisions of the City of Milwaukee.

For sitting idle and allowing the Emerging business office (Disparity debacle) and MEDC to help everybody but those businesses in his district and the contiguous neighborhoods.

For aiding and abetting wrongful acts of Steve Mahan and the Community Development Block Grant.

For not exhibiting leadership to close the "digital divide" for which his constituents are without.

For allowing Midwest Fiber and others to make "backdoor decision with Mayor Barrett" and the mayor and cronies return time-and-time again.

For failure to ensure that the Wisconsin Center District is doing its share to be INCLUSIVE and ACCOUNTABLE to Milwaukee jobs and economy for Milwaukee - Most WCD employees are members of such bargaining units as the International Association of Theater & Stage Employees, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, the International Union of Operating Engineers, the Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters, the International Brotherhood of Painters & Allied Workers, and the Service Employees International Union.

For failure to respond to questions and inquiries about District 15 - quality of life and economic development.
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Barrett and Hines have contributed to the skeletons we have seen throughout the neighborhoods of Milwaukee - they use the advent of JOBS to bait but never delivered - it could be 300 - 600 jobs but they turn out to be for others and little to NO jobs for Milwaukeeans - the trumps played by them is "everybody need to be trained and/or they are all on DRUGS."

UW-Milwaukee Chancellor and Vice Chancellor Luljak are contributors

MILWAUKEE - University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee is now looking for a replacement of ex-Coach Chris Whalley for his "racist" comments. However, his behavior is a byproduct of the ongoing DISCRIMINATION/discriminating attitude that is pervasive in the "culture" of UW-Milwaukee.

I also need to note that the facts seem to indicate that this has gone on for some time and it means that the African American soccer athletes have had to endure for some time degrading comments - but kept their mouths closed for fear of reprisal - this I have seen in my research time-and-time again on campus with other African American and other People of Color that are faculty (tenured and non-tenured) other staff and students.

Bottom line Clarity needed
It is the expected protocol to replace Whalley.
It is a "zero tolerance" policy point.

This is one of the main reason that my office sought first the State Attorney General's office and now the U.S. Attorney General's office.

My research says over-and-over that the "culture" at the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee is widespread DISCRIMINATORY with denials, disregard, disrespect and cover-ups.

UW-Milwaukee Chancellor Michael Lowell and UW-Milwaukee Vice Chancellor Tom Luljak Communications and Media can make statements to the public square to quell bad press and to provide "damage control" but the problem is at the "core". They both promote in-your-face and subliminal racism through policies and standard procedure operations; so it is no wonder when the faculty, senate, students, staff, donor-for hire and alumni act accordingly.

Which is another reason for a massive investigation by a governmental body with arms, time and authority to bring results - U.S. Office of Justice.

You can not have it both ways. So, what is said in the meetings of the "good ole boys", in the selection committees, strategy meetings, hiring practices and acceptable practices that sent the message for ex-Soccer Coach Chris Whalley (hired in 2010) to feel comfortable with racial slurs such as, "keep the thinking up to the white people". We must stop at the offices of Chancellor Lovel and the UW Board of Regents for accountability.

According to Channel 12, UWM Vice Chancellor Tom Luljak said, "At the end of the day, we determined it was in the best interest of the university to dismiss the coach and move on."

At the end of the day, Vice Chancellor Luljak, needs to look at the "all Caucasian department that he is the leader of" - UW-Milwaukee Communications and Media, and the UW-Milwaukee Alumni office say that a message is clear of what that says to those that are Milwaukeeans and People of Color that provide bulk financing framework for UW-Milwaukee.

That same message of "exclusion" is also sent to the staff, students and public square - your partners and donor-for-hire contributors.
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Chancellor Lovell - Missed Opportunity
In a statement on Channel 12, Chancellor Michael Lovell said, "We have a tremendous responsibility to ensure that our student athletes are treated with dignity and respect at all times. Going forward, we will take steps to ensure that members of our men's soccer team train and compete in a positive environment."

Again, what is meant here?
Chancellor Lovell seems to indicate, before the deplorable conduct of Whalley, there was not a concern for Code of Conduct for the athletic department - I would say the soccer group is not the only place in the sports this is heard.

Moreover, this was a "missed opportunity" by Chancellor Lovell. It was a time to send the STRONGEST MESSAGE of how this is a "zero tolerance" behavior for all staff and that ALL students are expected to be in an environment that is free of discriminatory and racist behavior.

What is meant by a "positive environment"?
What does that mean in relationship to the racist comments by Whalley?

As for UW-Milwaukee "tremendous responsibility", that is the issue. There are state statutes, 36.01(2) that speaks to Code of Conduct but are not enforced in operation and fairness on the campus. Therefore, the enforcement is lacking and individuals see, hear, make policies and act on same.

When it takes the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents over 1 1/2 to respond to public information request, when there are visible wrongdoings by both the Board of Regents bias practices and above the law behavior in selecting Chancellor Lovell, endorsement of NEW PROJECTS that exclude African American and other People of Color, going to China (6506 miles) for Chinese students but failure to provide state mandated education for student of Color and partner with businesses 2.1 mile away on King Drive, University Chancellor Santiago and Lovell indifference to People of Color as well as staff members and there is NO change - the message is what we see.

It is clear, the U.S. Department of Justice is needed post haste.

To help encourage the Office of Justice to do a thorough job, we ask you to SIGN.
CLICK
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CLICK for VIDEO of Chris Whalley, Channel 12.

BE HEALTHY Campaign - March

BSmith and husband, Dan Gasby - Be Healthy Campaign.
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March is Kidney awareness month. March 8, 2012 was the highlight.

LIFESTYLE changes for "HEALTHY kidneys".
CLICK for more info about your kidneys

LARSON Weekly Report - March 22, 2012

State Senator Chris Larson - 7th District

Dear Friend,

Check out my floor speech from the final day of session. You can also continue reading for updates on redistricting maps, our health safety net, and the new member composition of the State Senate.

As usual, please feel free to contact me with any questions, concerns or opinions you may have about our community or our state.

Sincerely,

Chris Larson
State Senator, District 7
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Using Power for All the Wrong Reasons
During this legislative session, Republicans controlled all branches of Wisconsin's government. They held a majority in both houses of the Legislature, maintained power in the Office of the Governor, and had a 4-3 advantage in the Supreme Court. Unfortunately, rather than choosing to use their newfound power to better our state through job creation and economic development to get Wisconsin moving in the right direction, Republicans instead wasted this opportunity by opting to pursue an extreme ideological agenda.

The numbers do not lie. While the nation has added jobs every month for 17 straight months and neighboring states all posted job gains this past year, Wisconsin has fallen tragically behind under Governor Walker's leadership. A new nationwide report released by the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics shows Wisconsin lost 12,500 jobs from January 2011 to January 2012, more than any other state over the past year. In fact, Wisconsin is one of only six states to lose jobs in the past year, and our job losses are more than three times higher than the next state on that unfortunate list.

Click here or on the video below to watch my floor speech from the final day of session.

This session has also been about picking winners and losers. In order to help the big corporations and special interests further their backwards agenda, Governor Walker and Republican legislators have sacrificed Wisconsin’s jobless, children, and women. To provide big corporations with $2.3 billion in tax giveaways, Governor Walker cut $1.6 billion from neighborhood schools that educate our children. Governor Walker also chose to create a $196 million slush fund with little oversight, while making over $1 billion in cuts to our health safety net being used by children, displaced workers, and the elderly. Then, to make up for increasing spending by over $1 billion in his budget compared to the previous one, Governor Walker cut funding for basic women's health care, shared revenue for local governments, public transit, and recycling and stewardship programs.

We will examine the effect of the 2011-2012 Legislative Session on our state and local community in more detail next week.
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Courts Rule Republican Redistricting Maps Violate Voting Rights Act
Earlier today, a three judge panel confirmed that Republicans crafted unconstitutional legislative maps. According to the judges, the maps for Assembly Districts 8 and 9 violate the federal Voting Rights Act because of how they minimized the voice of minority voters. The Legislature has been ordered to quickly redraw the maps as elections are fast approaching. My Democratic colleagues and I stand ready and willing to work to fix the maps so voters are not disenfranchised.

Click here to view a copy of the judges' decision.

The redistricting process employed to develop these illegal maps illustrate why Wisconsin should look into changing its current redistricting model. In the most recent redistricting process, Republican legislators spared no expense to hire attorneys with $400,000 in taxpayer money to craft a secret plan to protect their jobs and create a one-party monopoly in Wisconsin for at least the next decade. Shortly after passage of the redistricting maps, a legal challenge was filed.

In September, a federal three-judge panel was assembled to hear the challenge. The panel, two of whom are Republican appointees, includes J.P. Stadtmueller of the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Diane P. Wood of the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals and Robert M. Dow Jr. of the Northern District of Illinois.

Republicans introduced several legal motions attempting to keep the process used to craft the maps secret. Not only did the three-judge panel rule against these attempts, but they issued a scathing opinion saying the following: "Quite frankly, the Legislature and the actions of its counsel give every appearance of flailing wildly in a desperate attempt to hide from both the court and the public the true nature of exactly what transpired in the redistricting process."

It is unfortunate that Republicans let the power get to their head and ultimately created a bill to disenfranchise those they have sworn to serve. I will continue to keep you updated on the details of this issue as they unfold.
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Office Phone: (608) 266-7505
Toll-free Phone: (800) 361-5487

Email: Sen.Larson@legis.wi.gov

Mailing Address:
State Capitol
P.O. Box 7882
Madison, WI 53707

Web Site:
SenatorChrisLarson.com

WE contribute to Trayvon Martin's Death and all other Wrongdoing of Racism by remaining SILENT

The over-and-over tragedy of MURDER and malicious PHYSICAL abuse of African American people is an abhorrent deed in the USA by those in law enforcement - on-the-ground, within police automobiles and within our jails/places of incarceration.

It hurts ALL and continues to create a DIVIDE that is NOT in the interest of peace; and, subject to global and technology congruency.

Why it is not in check?
For the most part, it is a "culture-of-thinking" that one group of people are less than another - African American in this case, being less than Caucasian. By the way, this is fostered by Caucasians and perpetuated by all when we allow it TO CONTINUE and not address it when we see-feel-are around it.



Trayvon Martin, son of Tracy Martin and Sybrina Fulton - loving parents that are "in grief" for the rest of their "alive" days.


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CASE I - Ms. Elliot - Riceville,IA
Jane Elliott, International speaker and ex-3rd Grade school teacher of Iowa, speaks to it in her Frontline presentation with her 3rd grade class and with adults. CLICK - MARCH 26, 1985.

Here are some "right-on-the-money" points from Jane Elliot in an interview:
An Unfinished Crusade - An Interview With Jane Elliot

Because we are still conditioning people in this country and, indeed, all over the globe to the myth of white superiority. We are constantly being told that we don't have racism in this country anymore, but most of the people who are saying that are white. White people think it isn't happening because it isn't happening to them.

Invariably, when I do a presentation anywhere in this country, the issue of affirmative action comes up. People say that white males are the ones who are being discriminated against in this country today. So I say, "Fine. OK. Will every white person in this room who would like to spend the rest of his or her life being treated, discussed, and looked upon as we treat, discuss, and look upon people of color, generally speaking, in this society, please stand?"

And I watch. And wait. And the only sounds in the room are those made by people of color as they turn in their seats to see how many white folks are standing. Not one white person stands. And I just let them sit there. Then I say, "Do you know what you just admitted? You just admitted that you know that it's happening, you know that it's ugly, and you know that you don't want it for you. So why are you so willing to accept it for others? The ultimate obscenity is that you deny that it's happening."

I think white people aren't aware that racism isn't just wearing white hoods and burning crosses. It's also fixing the system so that black votes don't get counted. [When black votes were less likely to be counted in Florida 2000, it was because of a higher rate of voter errors in black precincts.] It's refusing to open the polling places in precincts where most of the eligible voters are people of color. It's outlawing affirmative action at the state level even though it has proven successful. [Successful for whom?]

It's building more prisons than we build schools and guaranteeing that they will be filled by targeting young men of color with things like the "three strikes" legislation in California, and the DWB -- "driving while black." [While there may be something to the idea that police are more suspicious of a young black driver, Heather Macdonald has shown that black motorists are stopped more or less in proportion to their tendency to speed.] These are problems encountered by young black men all over this country. It's the fact that there are more children attending segregated schools [None of which are segregated by law; all this means is that children are going to school with their neighbors.] in the U.S. today than there were previous to Brown vs. Board of Education.
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CASE II - In Milwaukee
Milwaukee, WI is known for its deep, deep prejudices, segregation, discriminations, demonizing and wrongdoings of law enforcement officers in many ways - wrongdoings that have gone uninvestigated and NOT allowed to go through DUE PROCESS. The norm is seen by African American that there are cover-ups, lost evidence and disregard.

Today, there are two such questionable cases in the public square - one with two young African American males and one African American female.

Scott Ferguson was arrested last month on the north side of Milwaukee. He said the arresting officer crossed a line once he was placed in handcuffs.

"When I got the cuffs on, he patted me down," Ferguson said. "But he rushed his hand, he rushed his hand up my butt."

He said he wasn't doing anything wrong when he was confronted by police on Feb. 26, and that officers did not find any drugs in the search. He said that after the search, an officer choked him and put a gun to his head.

Ferguson said the search left him with injuries. He decided to step forward after learning from news reports that Milwaukee police are investigating several other officers for potential sexual assaults and civil rights violations.

Greg Williams told 12 News that he experienced a similar search from the same officer that Ferguson named.

Williams said he was also rectally searched, and that the officer then carried out a similar search on his friend. Williams said the officer was not wearing a glove at the time of either search.

When asked for documentation to help support their allegations, both men produced booking papers from the Milwaukee County Jail. The jail records show no medical treatment for rectal bleeding.

"No medical attention," Ferguson said. "That's why as soon as I got out, I went straight to the emergency room."

Ferguson did have papers that documented his examination and treatment by a doctor at a local hospital.

Ferguson and Williams also allege that officers took several hundred dollars in cash from each of them.

"I tell them I've got money in my pocket," Williams said. "He tells me I don't deserve the money and that 'we're going to see if you're going to get this money back.'"

Williams said the money was from a tax refund, and that police have yet to return the cash.

"It's disrespectful," Williams said. "They just let them come down here and they treat us like however they want to treat us. It's like we're dogs on the street."
=====================

VIEW THE VIDEO with the law enforcement cars for "balance" input by both the chief as well as the citizen victims.
=====================

Given the climate seen daily in the African American neighborhood - by the way, for the efforts of DISCLAIMER, "Every African American is not on drugs - do not sell drugs" - and, if they were, DUE PROCESS and the Constitution is ALWAYS in order.
=====================

In the neighborhood of Glendale, Shorewood, Whitefish Bay, Waukesha - would we find police officers "jamming the buttocks of a Caucasian male"? I do not think so.

And, if a cavity search was necessary, there would be proper protocol that included sanitation - sterilized gloves; sterilized gloves for EACH citizen searched.

For the record, "Yes. Caucasians are heavily into all types of drugs".
=====================

It is a regularity that African American and other People of Color are STOPPED just on GP/general principle - under the guise of miscellaneous reasons. However, it is acted upon indiscriminately - in the eye of the law enforcer - if the law enforcer has "racial and cultural biases", the numbers will automatically go up; and, you will have incidents escalate - right/wrong/indifferent.
=====================

The fact that "no matter what is done", the officer was correct, sends the wrong message first to the officer; and perpetuates BAD conduct. Some officers are brazen enough to make statements like, "who will they believe, me or you"?

This makes it bad for ALL. It compromises quality of life and quality control.
It also creates a more "risky" environment.

It creeps into behaviors seen by the unbelievable acts/beating of Frank Jude and the behavior in the death/shooting with no arrest of Trayvon Martin (skittles and tea shopper) and so many others in the City of Milwaukee.
=====================

Also, since African Americans are "stopped-arrested-found guilty-incarcerated" as a matter of GP, an more likely to have a record (records often unjustified); it is WRONG for the media, the mayor, chief or anyone to so suggest that "the person arrested/stopped/incarcerated" had a number of issues with law enforcement or they are "suspicious characters" as the trailer comment to justify wrongdoing by officers.

We know that law enforcement on the street is dangerous.
We know our society mandates having safety enforcement.
We know our safety enforcers are brave and take considerable risk, daily.
But, we do not give them a free ride to "lawlessness". That will cause a breakdown in "due process" and justice for all - including the officer on duty.

They must know that to get RESPECT, you must give RESPECT.
=====================

CASE III - SENT by Ieshuh Griffin
Sent: Wednesday, March 21, 2012 10:45 AM
Subject: Assault and battery/false imprisonment of Ieshuh Griffin

On March 19, 2012, I was assaulted and unlawfully seized, unlawfully restrained, unlawfully detained, unlawfully arrested, and unlawfully confined as well as falsely imprisoned by your subordinates.

As a direct result, I suffered wanton, intentional and unnecessary infliction of pain and injury by the direct actions of Sheriff Deputy Mark Metz, whom kneed me in my vaginal area, causing such area to bleed as well as violation of Fourth, Fourteenth Eighth and Ninth Amendment rights as secured by the United States Constitution by Mark Metz as well as other staff members.

Further, your personnel have committed theft of my property as there continues to be an unlawful retention of my purse and its contents, my jeans in which contain a significant amount of blood, and my bra, in which a male deputy told me I had to remove. Pursuant to Wis. Stats. § 940.29; ‘any person in charge of or employed in a penal or correctional institution or other place of confinement who abuses, neglects or ill-treats any person confined in or a resident of any such institution or place or who knowingly permits another person to do so is guilty of a Class I felony…”

I am making a formal request to you as I am making such formal request on other governmental levels, including federally that Mark Metz is criminally charged with assault and battery. At no time had I committed any criminal offense, and was lawfully sitting in a public courtroom exercising my constitutional rights. I was abruptly attacked and injured by your male staff members.

At no time did Metz identify himself or his authority and at not time did he inform me pursuant to what authority and law he alleged to have been acting under. At no time had your agency read me my Miranda rights, at no time had any member of your staff given me notice and an opportunity to be heard, at no time was I given any paper work, at no time when I repeatedly asked that the employees whom subjected me to seizure provide me with their full name and badge number as repeatedly requested provide me with such.

I was put in a secluded area in which Quinten S. Peterson, the male inmate who has over 15 battery actions against him was allowed to view me being subjected to my body being frisked and groped. At one point he repeatedly stared at me and made threatening facial gestures when we were left alone. I will be sending your agency an official open records request that will be cc’d third parties, however, I make the request as well to you that I wish to know the names and ranks of all personnel that were involved in detaining me, frisking me, strapping me down, observing my body parts, making derogatory comments, withholding my property and so forth.

These are very serious matters to me, and as confirmed by federal law, I am entitled to a remedy when wrong. I further request the full name of correctional officer Henneken, whom without a subpoena, or consent has possession of my medical papers that she told the doctors at the hospital they had no choice but to give them to her, which is a clear violation of federal law, including HIPPA.

I also am requesting the full name of Lt. Thompson, whom fabricated a claim that I was biting my fingers to produce blood, he also tighten the straps around my stomach on the gurney in which I was placed by an all male entourage. Again, I am requesting the names of all personnel involved in the violations of my constitutional as well as human rights on March 19, 2012, and request copies of all open records as it relates.

I also would like to state for the record that on March 20, 2012 I personally went to several departments at the Milwaukee County Sheriff division, and all denied me service in relation to obtaining assistance in this matter.

Above is an email sent to MPA Justice Matter in the Public Square by Ieshuh Griffin of Milwaukee. We are adding to today's blog for your consideration.

We will keep an eye on AND ask that you too be watchful as to what takes place with the Trayvon Martin's case - arrest and due process of George Zimmerman; as well as, the return of property and medical attention services to Milwaukeeans Scott Ferguson, Greg Williams and medical attention and compensation of Milwaukeean Ieshuh Griffin.
=======================

A right delayed is a right denied.
Martin Luther King, Jr.

He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it.
Martin Luther King, Jr

DISCRIMINATION - A Class Divided Video, Ms. Jane Elliott

=============

ALL HANDS ON DECK, WE, Not Me Initiative
As we continue to share for REAL growth and awareness - research, discussion, argument, blogging, outreach, legislation, reform, and where necessary, INVESTIGATION and class-action suits; we seek necessary change.

TREAT YOURSELF to: "A Class Divided" - 1995, Ms. Jane Elliot, 3rd Grade Class - Reunion and exercises to train adults. You may want to watch the entire Frontline presentation in one sitting - Over an hour long - or by segments.

Whatever manner, do it and see how you RESPOND.
Blue eyes vs brown eyes - prejudices and discrimination.

======================
CLICK - 5 Parts
=======================

Ms. Elliot is internationally known.
For MORE

Schacknow, TODAY's PRIMER, March 22, 2012

Peter Schacknow, Senior Producer, CNBC Breaking News Desk

The stock market’s recent rally is in pause mode: the Dow has fallen in three of the past four sessions, the S&P 500 has lost ground for two consecutive days, and even the Nasdaq, which posted a small gain Wednesday, has alternated between gains and losses for five sessions.

Today is the week’s busiest day for economic stats, starting with the Labor Department’s initial jobless claims report at 8:30am ET. Economists are looking for 355,000 new claims for the week ending March 17, compared to 351,000 the prior week.

At 10am ET, the Conference Board’s Index of Leading Economic Indicators is expected to post a gain of 0.6% for February following January’s 0.4% increase. At the same time, the FHFA is expected to report a 0.3% increase in home prices for January vs. December, following December’s 0.7% advance.

This marks the fourth straight day this week that a housing related stat will be issued – a streak that will continue tomorrow with the release of February new home sales. And finally, the EIA is out with its weekly look at natural gas inventories at 10:30am ET.

FedEx (FDX) leads this morning’s corporate earnings calendar, with ConAgra (CAG) and Gamestop (GME) also set to report. After the bell, we’ll see the latest numbers from Accenture (CAN), Micron Technology (MU), and Nike (NKE).
Dow component McDonald’s (MCD) leads our stocks to watch list, following CEO Jim Skinner’s announcement that he’ll retire on June 30th. Current president and chief operating officer Don Thompson will succeed Skinner, who has served as CEO since 2004 and has been with McDonald’s for 41 years.

Raytheon (RTN) is also a stock to watch today, as the defense contractor raised its quarterly dividend to 50 cents from 43 cents, a 16.3% increase.

Diamond Foods (DMND) will be watched for reaction to several pieces of news: it’s reached an agreement with lenders to amend its credit agreements and give it access to funds through June 18th. It will make its loan payments, suspend its dividends, and look for ways to strengthen its balance sheet. At the same time, the Wall Street Journal is reporting that Diamond is talking to private equity firms about a possible minority investment.

Retailer Urban Outfitters (URBN) is also in the news after the announcement that chief financial officer Eric Artz is stepping down. He’ll depart April 3, with chief accounting officer Frank Conforti replacing Artz. It’s the second prominent executive resignation this year, with CEO Glen Senk having departed in January after five years on the job.

Payment processor Vantiv (VNTV) debuts on the New York Stock Exchange today after its IPO was priced at $17 per share, in the middle of the expected range of $16 to $18.

Sony (SNE) will reportedly name film unit co-chairman Michael Lynton to head its U.S. operations in a management reshuffling, according to the Financial Times.

Apple (AAPL) is in the news once again, with South Korean media reporting that the company’s next iPhone will have a bigger 4.6 inch “retina” display and will be launched during the second quarter.

TURN-UP-THE-HEAT Week for SignOn Petition - JOIN US

MID-WEEK REQUEST TO SIGN

Howdy!

This week is "TURN-up-the-HEAT" for more signs for U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to Investigate the lawless DISCRIMINATION in Milwaukee - starting with the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee.

Help get 30 more signatures for starters by Friday.

A message from MARY, PAT, JOYCE, RICK and SEAN. CLICK TO sign


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Candidate Eyon Biddle - The PEOPLE'S Candidate for District 15

MILWAUKEE - Milwaukee has an opportunity to put-in-office at the 15th District, a "CHANGE AGENT" for 21st Century growth and development for Milwaukeeans in the city of Milwaukee. Candidate EYON BIDDLE SR.
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Candidate Biddle was a Milwaukee Professional Association 2011 Drum Major recipient.
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MEET Candidate Biddle - The People's Candidate
He was elected April 5, 2011 - a little over 11 months ago to the 10th District, Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors. He replaced the remainder of time left for the position (1 year) held by Supervisor Elizabeth Coggs Jones.

He has shown what can be done with MORAL WILL - with INNOVATION, citizenship and sustainability in mind at the county level. The last 11 months have been filled with power-plus leadership by Candidate Eyon Biddle, Sr.

Some of his achievements are:

BIO/Background,
CLICK

98 PRESS RELEASES - 77 in 2011 & 21 in 2012, CLICK

BIDDLE NEWSLETTER, CLICK
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Candidate for Alderman
He is a man on a Misson to make our city a more wholesome and "poverty" free place for quality of life and economic bounty.

Therefore, he is now running for Alderperson of the 15th District. It is here in the City Hall that he feels he could truly impact at the neighborhood level.

We must support him.
We must ELECT him on April 3, 2012.
*March 29, 2012: This is the last day (5:00 pm) for electors to request absentee ballots by mail for the Spring Election.
=====================

Candidate Biddle is a husband, family man and father.
His wife is Corry Biddle. They have a daughter - Maya, 5 years; a son - Eyon Biddle, Jr., a little over a year old; and, a girl on the way this June, 2012.

Candidate Biddle is 30 years old, a BOLD leader, visionary and professional with a background in Organized Labor; a passion for Job Development, Economic Development, People of Color owning their own resources in Milwaukee, infant mortality, and the eradication of poverty - for starters.
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Candidate Eyon Biddle Sr will be at the CANDIDATES FORUM below.

MONDAY, March 26, 2012
Washington Park Library
2121 N. Sherman Boulevard
Milwaukee, WI 53208

Time: 6:00pm - 8:00pm

FREE to the public.

SEE YOU THERE!

Oprah's Next Chapter - America's Most Unusual Town

Sunday at 9/8c

Every day in Fairfield, Iowa, thousands of residents rush to to golden domes to meditate. Join Oprah on her journey to the place some call "TM Town."

Find OWN on your TV, CLICK

Milwaukee Urban League Young Professional Candidate Forum - Monday, March 26, 2012

MILWAUKEE - Kenneth Blacks, member of Milwaukee Urban League Young Professional Candidate Forum invites you to their 2012 city and county candidates forum.

Here is our opportunity to see, hear and ask the REAL questions of those who seek a decision making position in our city and county government.

MONDAY, March 26, 2012
Washington Park Library
2121 N. Sherman Boulevard
Milwaukee, WI 53208

Time: 6:00pm - 8:00pm

FREE to the public.

Questions:
Kenneth Blacks, 414.793.1995
Email: kenneth.blacks@gmail.com

See you there!
==============

Milwaukee Professionals Association supports the national Urban League Young Professionals.

Kohl's Newsletter - March 20, 2012, BLOG 1

U.S. Senator Herb Kohl - Wisconsin's senior senator

Health Coverage for Young Adults
This spring, many families are preparing for an upcoming graduation. As you or your loved ones get ready for this momentous and exciting occasion, I want to make sure you know about changes that allow children to remain covered under family health insurance policies until they turn 26 years old.

This is essential because it can be difficult for young adults to find health insurance. Many entry level jobs don’t provide health benefits, and the jobs that do offer insurance often don’t provide great coverage at an affordable cost.

Additionally, some young adults simply don’t think about health insurance or the need for it. As a result, young adults are persistently the least likely to have health coverage of any age group. This is a problem not only for young Americans without health insurance, but also for overall health care costs because they are more likely to forego preventive services and end up in the emergency room for more expensive care that drives up expenses for all of us.

This problem is improving. In fact, as of a year ago, roughly one-third of all young adults between the ages of 18 and 25 were uninsured. Fortunately, that percentage is steadily dropping as a result of this new benefit. Now 2.5 million more young Americans are covered by health insurance, including more than 27,000 in Wisconsin, and I want to make sure that you know the necessary details of the provision.

Children under the age of 26 qualify for this benefit even if they are married, not living at home, or not claimed as dependents for tax purposes. The provision extends to adult children whether they are enrolled full-time in school or not, and in most cases, parents can add children to their plan even if their kids are offered health coverage through their own employer. If you need additional information about health coverage for young adults—or for anyone else—I would encourage you to visit www.healthcare.gov. On this website you can also find additional information about other new protections and laws that hold health insurers accountable. For example, the new law also bans insurance companies from dropping young adults when they get sick or have an accident. And, for young adults in new plans there’s free coverage of key preventive services.

Sincerely,
U.S. Senator Herb Kohl
======================

Milwaukee Professionals Association welcomes the regularity of informative news from U.S. Senator Kohl.

When Clarity Prevails with the Elected Milwaukee Delegation - Lock-Step WRONG will Disappear

Below are the above members of the State Milwaukee Delegation, with their affiliation to the UW System and their High School

STATE SENATOR TIM CARPENTER – UW-Milwaukee (Pulaski HS)
STATE REP ELIZABETH COGGS – UW-Milwaukee (Lincoln HS)
STATE SENATOR SPENCER COGGS – UW-Milwaukee (Riverside HS)
STATE REP DAVID CULLEN – UW-Madison (John Marshall HS)
STATE SENATOR ALBERTA DARLING – UW-Milwaukee
STATE REP TAMARA GRIGSBY – UW-Madison (Madison Memorial HS)
STATE REP DAN KNODL – UW Madison (Menomonee Falls East HS)
STATE REP KRUSICK – UW-Milwaukee (Hamilton HS)
STATE SENATOR CHRIS LARSON – UW-Milwaukee (Thomas More HS)
STATE REP JIM OTT – UW-Milwaukee (Washington HS)
STATE REP SANDY PASCH – UW-Madison (Bay View HS)
STATE REP JON RICHARDS – UW-Madison (Waukesha North HS)
STATE REP CHRISTINE SINICKI – UW-Madison (Bay View HS)
STATE REP ANTHONY STASKUNAS – UW-Milwaukee (West Allis Nathan Hale HS)
STATE SENATOR LENA TAYLOR – UW-Milwaukee (Rufus King HS)
STATE REP BARBARA TOLES – UW-Madison (West Division HS)
STATE SENATOR LEAH VUKMIR – UW-Madison (Brookfield East)
STATE REP LEON YOUNG – UW-Milwaukee (Rufus King HS)
STATE REP JO CASTA ZAMARRIPA – UW-Milwaukee (St. Joan Antida HS)
STATE REP JOSH ZEPNIK – UW-Madison (Rufus King HS)
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MILWAUKEE STATE DELEGATION - with ties to the University of Wisconsin System (UW-Milwaukee and/or UW-Madison); It is the First day of Spring 2012, Mary Glass, Chair/CEO, Milwaukee Professionals Association, ask that each of the members of the Milwaukee Delegation stand tall and help the citizenry of Milwaukee (their constituents) correct the "blind obedience" and "authority-of-dominance" conventions that have created and maintained Enduring Concentrated Poverty.

We are starting with the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents and University of Wisconsin Milwaukee for accountability. For over 1 1/2 year, Milwaukee Professionals Association have sought public records, request changes based on the facts of "Discrimination" against the citizenry of Milwaukee, especially African American, other People of Color and the Work Challenged. For specifics, CLICK.

Background
For decades/generations, the level of two cities - have/have nots that is rooted in "racial transgressions" is spelled out. We offer a beginning for this blog to begin in President Lyndon Johnson's Kerner Commission to figure out the reason for urban riots in the 1960s (some of you should remember), recent protests - youth/young adult flash disruptions, Occupy Wall Street, Arab Spring, mounds of working papers, white papers, case studies, news reports, and special government studies. Yet, it is business as usual - turning a blind eye - lack of moral will and failure to make and enforce laws that will impact.

Do you not see the problem (s)?
If you do not, the information below should be revelational.

It is seen in the "broken families/homes" of African Americans, other People of Color and the Work-Challenged(un-, under-employed; un-, under-degreed and certificated; un-, under-financed neighborhood-level business; disabled; and re-entry - especially those returning from WAR, INCARCERATION, BOOMERANG EMPLOYMENT, BOOMERANG RETIREMENT and DEGREED students without employment.

It is seen when our "hidden talent" in Milwaukee is allowed to wonder and flounder.
It is seen when the time of education and technology attainment for competitiveness - the flock of coming Milwaukeeans will not and are not properly prepared.

It is seen in the "lack of hope" daily on the streets in the 15 districts, 190 neighborhoods, 18 Community Development Block Grant neighborhoods; especially in the Amani, Harambee, Lincoln Park, Lisbon Avenue Neighborhood Development, Metcalfe, Midtown, near South Side, Sherman Park, WAICO/YMCA and Williamsbury Heights.

It is seen in the long-term exploitation of resources and lack of enforced legislation - often legislation to further empower "bad behavior".
It is also seen in Milwaukeeans preying on Milwaukeeans and violence being the center of attention.
It is seen in any racial group when the People are not represented by those elected-appointed-hired in government in a committed, respected and concerned fashion.

Milwaukee is majority People of Color.
Milwaukee's largest race is African American.
Milwaukee has a population of over a half-million people.
Milwaukee has a resilient population that house "hidden talents" and "vested years-families of entrepreneurship".

Milwaukeeans bring $$MILLIONS each year to the city and the conditions get worse.

Working Paper - Observation
In October, 2005, the Smart Growth Signature Plan (2005-2010) was launched at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, 812 North Jackson, Milwaukee, WI 53203, by Mary Glass, Chair/CEO, Milwaukee Professionals Association with the guest elected state representatives: State Representative Tamara Grigsby and State Representative Jason Fields.

Our findings include a repeated fact, the major problem was/is the Code of Conduct of elected/appointed/hired/volunteered and donor-for-hire individuals and organizations.

What was acutely observed was a "group behavior" that was cannablistic and borders depraved indifference.

Whereas there are several ways of reform and sustainable change; on January 23, 2010, Glass launched the All Hands on Deck, WE, Not Me Initiative. Essentially, this is every man, woman and child has a responsibility of citizenship that calls for "red-fining", "re-branding" and "un-trapping" Milwaukeeans.

Calling upon the State Delegation for Milwaukee is part of the ongoing campaign to help eradicate Enduring Concentrated Poverty that is a "by-design" lawlessness.

The state delegation Oath of Office for the State of Wisconsin and our U.S. Constitution call for "justice for all".

Prime steps
We ask that the Milwaukee Delegation at the state level include the following for immediate change. They are:

-- Show election worthiness in legislation enforcement and change where needed - start with enforcement of State Statute 36.01(02) - University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, Milwaukee Area Technical College and Milwaukee Public Schools.

-- Require transparency, public noticing - public education - neighborhood partnerships to receive funds that requires points for accountability.

-- Require "neighborhood level" representation on all boards and advisory groups for balance and information sharing.

-- Build optimism, TRUST and points-of-information from the People, by co-hosting joint bipartisan Milwaukee Delegation events twice a year (Frontier Center - Wisconsin Center District - State Fair).

-- DISMANTLE AND review legislation that NO LONGER is relevant and impedes progress in the 21st Century.

-- Quickly mandate "closing the digital divide" in the neighborhoods of Milwaukee.

-- Stay current in global and national ideas that will link Milwaukeeans in self-empowerment and competitiveness.

-- Help neighborhood leaders create a "bottom-up" economy with vested and hidden talent.

-- Remove "barriers" that keep neighborhood business from being competitive and able to capacity build - hire knowledgeable employees, create suppy chain, create critical mass, etc.

-- Create quarterly joint meetings with city of Milwaukee Alderpersons, Milwaukee County Supervisors, mayor, county executive, boards/regents of all three state-supported schools.

-- Update the governance, criteria of selection and length of tenure for UW Regents and the President of the UW System, UW-Milwaukee selection process (chancellor, provost, deans).

-- Review/evaluate the Discrimination and civil rights procedures - this could be in a self-audit for the public annually during the Annual meeting of the UW Regents and UW-Milwaukee - this may be an effort that should be throughout the UW System.

-- Review/evaluate bills and authorization of large sums of funding such as Bill 514 - start with Bill 514.

-- Outreach what you are doing each week to let the constituents know - i.e., the Weekly Report by State Senator Chris Larson.

-- Make Homeland Security - Emergency Diaster Preparedness a top priority and help Milwaukee Professionals Association connect with your constituents.

-- LEAVE OFFICE if you can "no longer" be effective.
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Milwaukee Professionals Association is in the process of "Listening Sessions" and releasing a website for the MKE Neighborhood Preparedness Plan.