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Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Father's day is right around the corner! Happy Father's day to all fathers, father figures, and those who serve as mother and father in you family.

On June 19th we celebrate Juneteenth, the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. There will be virtual events throughout the week and weekend to celebrate. You can find more information about these events here. (Scroll to the bottom of the page for details on each event). Additionally, you can find a schedule of events here.

June is LGBTQ Pride Month, to learn more information about the celebration click here. For LGBTQ resources click here and here.  You can learn more about Pride marches in Madison by clicking here. You can find out more about Disability Pride here.

June is also Internet Safety Month. The OCI wants to remind people to stay safe online as 2020 has proven that online work and life activities are more popular and necessary than ever. Find information about protecting yourself from scams, security tips for remote workers, and a digital de-clutter checklist below. Visit Be Internet Awesome for a list of tips for parents and a game for teaching kids digital safety.

It’s Not Too Late To Complete The Census! If you have not completed your survey - there is still time. For more information click here.

 

George Floyd & Police Brutality

George Floyd’s death, along with the passage of Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and now Rayshard Brooks in Atlanta, brings back memories of our own losses. Most prominently the loss of Tony Robinson on March 6th, 2015. We continue to march for justice and police reform even as our hearts weigh heavy with these tremendous losses.

The Wisconsin Legislative Black Caucus has called for a special session of the legislature to take place on June 19th, and Assembly Democratic Leadership joins us in that call. We await to see if the special session will be called.

In this special session we wish to convene to discuss and enact pertinent legislation aimed at reforming our justice system at the state level.

 

The bills I’ve authored regarding criminal justice reform include: 2019 Assembly Bill 930, which decriminalizes small possessions of marijuana up to 28g and prohibits establishing probable cause for arrest based on odor; 2019 Assembly Bill 933, which aims to keep young people who’ve committed nonviolent crimes out of jails and prisons through community restorative courts; and 2019 Assembly Bill 920, this bill is the “End Racial Profiling in Wisconsin Bill,” which creates a civil cause of action for racially-motivated police calls.

I introduced 2019 Assembly Bill 768; this bill creates a Council for Equity and Inclusion. Additionally, I introduced 2019 Assembly Bill 384, which prohibits the consideration of a job applicant’s conviction record. These bills aim to reduce the disproportionate number of Black Americans incarcerated for small, nonviolent crimes and to bring racial equity to our criminal justice system. 

 

Other important bills needed to reduce police brutality include AB 1013, regarding requiring the state to collect data on use of force incidents and see trends, AB 1014 which requires training in de-escalation and other non-force tactics and AB 1015 to require that all use of force policies be posted on the internet and accessible to the public.

 

 COVID-19 &  The Department of Corrections

You can learn more about the DOC's most recent steps to increase testing capacity at Waupun Correctional Institution here: Update: Mass Testing for COVID-19 at Waupun Correctional Institution, as well as the DOC's move to continue limiting visitors to correctional facilities hereWisconsin DOC Continues to Limit Visitors to Correctional Institutions.

You can find out more about COVID-19 and persons in the correctional system here. You can also find the latest updates about COVID-19 and DOC here. 

You can contact the DOC by calling (608) 240-5000, or by filling out a DOC contact form found herehttps://doc.wi.gov/Pages/ContactUs/ContactForm.aspx. 

 

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 We're All In Grant Application Open!

The We're All In small business grant application portal opened today! The application portal  is scheduled to close on June 23rd until 11:59pm.  The application is live on WEDC's website. You can find more information here.

A business may apply for the We're All In Small Business Grant if it:

  • Was in business in February 2020. Businesses that started in 2020 are not eligible;
  • Is Wisconsin-based and for-profit;
  • Employs 20 or fewer full-time equivalent (FTE) employees, including the owner; and
  • Has more than $0 but less than $1 million in annual revenues.
  • Businesses will not be eligible for the grants if they are:
  • Part of a national chain, unless the business is a third-party franchise;

Industries covered by other Wisconsin CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Fund programs are ineligible for this program. These are:

    •          Crop Production
    •          Animal Production or Aquaculture
    •          Lessors of Residential Buildings and Dwelling

 

Gov. Evers Appoints State Representative Chris Taylor to Dane County Circuit Court

June 11th, 2020

Gov. Tony Evers announced that he appointed State Representative Chris Taylor to the Dane County Circuit Court. The appointment fills a vacancy that will be created on August 1, 2020, by Judge Jill Karofsky’s election to the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Taylor has served five terms in the Wisconsin State Assembly, where she co-authored more than 250 bills and resolutions, including a law requiring independent, outside investigations of law enforcement-involved deaths. For more information click here.

 

Gov. Evers Appoints Jacob Frost as Dane County Circuit Court Judge

June 5th, 2020

Gov. Tony Evers announced his appointment of Jacob Frost as Dane County Circuit Court judge on June 5th 2020. The appointment fills a vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Richard Niess. “Frost is an excellent attorney and I am confident he will serve Dane County well as a fair and impartial judge,” said Gov. Evers. For more information click here.

 

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Click here for the most up-to-date-information on COVID-19 From DHS. Click here for the most up-to-date-information from Forward Dane & Madison County's COVID-19 Dashboard.

We are in Phase II:  Public Health Madison & Dane County

Public Health Madison & Dane County released Forward Dane, a plan for the phased reopening of Dane County. Forward Dane includes metrics we will use to guide our gradual reopening of Dane County and lays out what requirements will be in place during each reopening phase. Order #5 puts us in Phase 2. See their latest news releases here. Also,See their latest blogs by clicking here.

 

 W.R.A.P Rental Assistance Program 

If you need help paying your rent due to COVID-19, please contact Community Action for South Central Wisconsin, Inc. at (608) 237-1255! You can find more information about how to apply by clicking here. You can find out more information on this infographic as well. 

 

Dane County & The Tenant Resource Center

Beginning June 15th, Tenant Resource Center will be accepting online applications. Please call 608-257-0006 or visit their website for more information: https://www.tenantresourcecenter.org/.

Dane County is partnering with the Tenant Resource Center to administer a $10 million eviction-prevention fund using money from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to meet the needs of the newly unemployed or underemployed.

The effort also delivers $500,000 in new eviction-prevention funding to neighborhood-based Joining Forces for Families offices, and spends $390,000 on limited-term housing assistance staff and rental aid by expanding an existing program provided by Catholic Charities of Madison.

If you are facing eviction and need legal assistance, please contact Legal Action of Wisconsin. If you receive a notice of termination or eviction court papers, please call Legal Action’s intake line 1-855-947-2529 or email hmw@legalaction.org for eviction support.


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Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation

Applications open today (June 15) for $75 million We’re All In Small Business Grants!

If you operate a small business and have been impacted by the COVID-19 shutdown, I encourage you to apply for a grant under Wisconsin’s “We’re All In” program. Between Monday, June 15th through Sunday, June 21st, applications will be accepted for grants of up to $2,500 to be distributed to 30,000 small businesses.

To be eligible, you must: 

  • Be a Wisconsin-based, for-profit business.
  • Employ 20 or fewer full-time equivalent (FTE) employees, including the owner.
  • Earn greater than $0 but less than $1 million in annual revenues (gross sales and receipts).
  • Have started operating prior to January 1, 2020 and have been in business in February 2020.

All of the information you need to know is available on the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) website HERE. Click here for additional COVID-19 Business Resources.

 

Wisconsin Department of Health and Human Services

More Wisconsin Residents Can Now Qualify for Food Assistance

On June 8th, the DHS announced that more households will now be able to get food through The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). Households with incomes below 300% of the federal poverty level (FPL) are now eligible to receive a monthly share of locally grown, Grade-A foods that include meat, vegetables, fruit, juice, and more from a TEFAP food pantry.

For a household of one, that income threshold is $38,280. The larger the household, the higher the income threshold. For more information click here.

DHS Offers Direct Payments to Long-Term Care Service Providers and Facilities, Emergency Medical Services, and Clinics Affected by COVID-19 Pandemic

On June 5th, the DHS began accepting applications from specific types of health care service providers for funding from $110 million allotted to the state under the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The funds will be used to make payments to offset the losses and expenditures these providers have experienced due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information click here.

 

Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection

DATCP Announces Details for $50 Million Wisconsin Farm Support Program

On June 5th, the DATCP announced the timeline and eligibility requirements of the Wisconsin Farm Support Program, which will provide $50 million in direct aid payments to Wisconsin farmers who have experienced losses due to COVID-19. Applications for this funding, administered by the Wisconsin Department of Revenue, will be accepted starting June 15. For more information click here.

 

Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction

DPI Awards $4.1 Million to Wisconsin Charter Schools

On June 11th, the DPI announced that it approved six federal grant awards totaling more than $4 million for the purpose of planning, opening, or expanding charter schools in Wisconsin. This is the third round of funding from a five-year grant program awarded to Wisconsin by the U.S. Department of Education to support charter school activities. For more information click here.


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You can find the latest data about unemployment cases from the Department of Workforce Development by clicking here.

 

Helpful Links
Filing Problems with DWD
Guidance on New PUA Benefits

Unemployment Claim-Filing Tips

A Worker's Guide To Unemployment Insurance
CARES Act Unemployment Benefits in General

 

Having Trouble Receiving Unemployment Benefits?  

 

If it has been at least three weeks since you submitted your application and you have not received your benefits, my office may be able to help you. We are able to pass along your concern to DWD.

If you are experiencing a different issue with your application, please email Rep.Stubbs@legis.wisconsin.gov with the following information:

  • Full name
  • Phone number
  • Home Address
  • Date of Birth
  • Last 4 Digits of your Social Security Number
  • Issue that needs to be resolved
  • Status of your application
  • Did you apply online?
  • What date did you submit it?

My staff will send this information to DWD and request that they promptly look into your case. I understand that this is a difficult financial time for many, and I am committed to helping you receive your benefits in a timely manner.

 

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Madison Metropolitan School District

Please click here to read their newsletter from June 12th. It has a lot of information!

MMSD COVID-19 Updates 

 

MMSD Summer Food Program

The MMSD Summer Food Program provides free, nutritious meals during summer vacation. Children can eat breakfast, lunch and snack for free Monday - Friday starting June 22nd. Meals vary by location, and no application is required. All sites will be closed on Friday, July 3rd. All children 18 years of age and under can receive up to two free meals per site. 
 
We will be following best practices for social distancing at all our sites. Meals can be picked up by parents and/or students to take off site with them. No meals will be eaten on site. Breakfast and lunch will be provided at the same time. You can find more information online using the summer meals map, call 2-1-1, or text 'food' to 877-877.
Click here for more information.

La Follette High School Area Pop-Up Mobile:Click here for more information

  • The first Drive-Thru Mobile Pantry will be Tuesday June 16, 2020. 
  • Distribution will start at Noon and will end around 1:30 pm or until the food is all distributed
  • Location will be the drive thru in front of La Follette High School at 702 Pflaum Road, Madison.
  • This will be a drive-thru Mobile Pantry every week to distribute food.

Any changes to times or locations for mobile pantry distributions will be communicated via our new texting service. To receive a text message when there is a change to the regular schedule, text FOODDANE to 555888.
 

 New Pop-Up Mobile Food Site at Leopold Elementary

Click here for more information

  • The first Drive-Thru Mobile Pantry will be Tuesday, June 16th. 
  • Distribution will start at 11:00 AM and will end at 1:00 PM.
  • Location will be the side parking lot of Leopold Elementary School - 2602 Post Rd, Madison.     
  • This will be a drive-thru Mobile Pantry every week to distribute food.

Any changes to times or locations for mobile pantry distributions will be communicated via our new texting service. To receive a text message when there is a change to the regular schedule, text FOODDANE to 555888.

As a reminder, there is also a pop-up mobile food site on the east side, located in front of the East YMCA at 711 Cottage Grove Road.

 

Madison College

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resources and Updates

President Daniels issues open letter on unrest and racism

 

The University of Wisconsin-Madison

"Badger Talks" Program

Check out The University of Wisconsin's  “Badger Talks” program. They are offering virtual presentations and talks on a variety of interesting topics. Badger Talks takes experts on our campus and connects them to local communities and groups across the state who request a talk. Anyone can check out the list of experts and topics on the Badger Talks website HERE and request a speaker through the online request portal HERE.

 

Resources: Help Support Marginalized Students, Staff & Faculty

On June 10, researchers around the world undertook deliberate efforts to challenge systemic anti-Black racism in science and academia. And in light of recent events, which follow patterns going back to the earliest days of our nation, people are seeking, with renewed vigor, ways to elevate and support the voices and contributions of Black people, Indigenous people and people of color. Click here to learn about resources that can be useful in working to support marginalized faculty, staff and students.

 

Libraries Launch “Pickup by Appointment” Service, increasing access to some requested physical materials

June 10th, 2020

Pickup by Appointment option for materials begins on June 15, as part of a gradual, phased reopening of campus. The Pickup by Appointment service offers the opportunity to begin accessing some of physical library collections through a low-contact, health-conscious method. For more information click here.

 

Photo Gallery: Black Lives Matter Solidarity March

June 7th, 2020

Click here to see photos of the thousands of demonstrators who gathered on campus for a “Finishing the Work: Black Lives Matter Solidarity March” on June 7.

 

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I hope this e-newsletter is helpful. Thank you for your feedback on our e-newsletters! My staff and I always appreciate your feedback. As always, if you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact me at my office or at rep.stubbs@legis.wisconsin.gov. Though my staff and I are working remotely, we will make every effort to address your questions and concerns as soon as possible.

Sincerely,

 

Shelia

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