The statewide COVID-19 website is a one stop shop that consolidates information from state agencies, and provides up-to-date information and guidance regarding COVID-19. DHS has also offered information on their website on How and Where to Get Tested.
If you're not busy, please make a call, send a card, or write a letter to someone you know who lives alone or may need assistance.
Bless each of you during this difficult time of uncertainty and suffering. Take good care!
Please note that this is the last week to complete my Summer Survey. We will be taking the survey off the website this Friday. Please consider taking the survey if you have not already!
Wisconsin Supreme Court Rules on Green Party Ballot Access
Following a over a month of uncertainty over who might appear on Wisconsin's ballot as presidential candidates, yesterday the State Supreme Court ruled in a 4-3 decision that the Green Party Candidate, Howie Hawkins, would not appear on the ballot.
The majority, composed of Justices A. W. Bradley, Dallet, Karofsky, and Hagedorn, determined that the plaintiffs had waited too long to bring their legal challenge.
Concern had been growing that the case, if not decided quickly, could disrupt the printing of absentee ballots to be mailed to voters who had requested them, and possibly cause the state to miss the deadlines for mailing out the absentee ballots. This Thursday is the state deadline for mailing out the ballots to approved applicants, and Saturday is the federal deadline to mail ballots to overseas voters, including military voters.
Another candidate for president, Kanye West, has appealed a Brown County judge's ruling that would keep him off the ballot to the State Supreme Court as well. The Wisconsin Elections Commission and the Brown County Judge have determined that West filed his nomination papers after the filing deadline. Yesterday's ruling in the Supreme Court seems to indicate how they might rule if they were to accept West's appeal. Read more
Clerks Face Crunch to Get Ballots Out On Schedule
In the November Election, absentee ballots are expected to be the method of choice for a significant number of voters. Estimates from Milwaukee election officials find that up to 60-70% of voters may choose to vote using an absentee ballot. Currently the City of Milwaukee has about 100,000 absentee ballot requests.
Although smaller municipalities are reporting smooth operations for preparing their absentee ballots, larger cities like Madison and Milwaukee are working around the clock to meet the deadline this Thursday. Despite working around the clock to process the requests, Milwaukee Elections Commissioner Claire Woodall-Vogg told the Cap Times that Milwaukee likely won't be able to meet the state's deadline for mailing out the initial round of ballots. Read more.
Options for Voting Absentee
If you would like to vote using an absentee ballot, you can place your request using MyVote.wi.gov
If you are having difficulty using this website or with any other part of the voting process such as registration, your municipal clerk can help you find the method that will work best for you! Below is the contact information for the municipal clerks in the 3rd Senate District:
When requesting and returning your ballot, it is critical to follow the USPS recommendation allow for one week delivery time in both directions. This means that requests should be placed as soon as possible and no later than October 19th. If you are concerned about the chances that your ballot will make it through the mail on time to be counted, there are drop off locations in every municipality. Using these drop off points before 8pm on Election Day will ensure that your ballot is collected in time to be counted.
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact your municipal clerk for the most accurate info for your vote!
The CDC Has Issued a Temporary Halt to Residential Evictions
Effective September 4th through December 31, 2020 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued an agency order stating: "Under this Order, a landlord, owner of a residential property, or other person with a legal right to pursue eviction or possessory action, shal not evict any covered person from any residential property in any jurisdiction to which this Order applies during the effective period of the Order."
It is important to note that the order does not apply automatically. Tenants must provide their landlord with a declaration containing specific assurances:
That the individual used best efforts to obtain all government assistance for rent/housing.
That the individual either (i) has an income less than $99,000 in 2020 ($198,000 for joint filers), (ii) was not required to report income in 2019, or (iii) received a CARES stimulus check.
That the individual is unable to pay full rent because of a substantial loss of work/income/hours, or extraordinary out-of-pocket medical expenses.
That the individual is making best efforts to make timely partial payments.
That an eviction would likely leave the individual homeless or forced into a congregate living setting because they lack another available housing option that would not increase their housing costs (i.e. there is not a cheaper rental option)
Declaration forms are submitted to the landlord, renters should keep documentation of their declaration with evidence of the date of their submission if possible.
It is important to note that the eviction moratorium does not:
Relieve the renter of payments
Prevent late fees/penalties
Prevent eviction for other reasons
Affect foreclosure actions
Protect people residing in hotels/motels or like properties
Read more (example language to use for such a declaration is included under "Attachment")
Alverno College Named the Midwest's Top University
In its 2021 America's Best Colleges guidebook, the U.S. News and World Report ranked Alverno College as the Midwest's top university for undergraduate teaching.
The characteristics that keep Alverno at the top of these rankings are its innovation, ethnic diversity, economic diversity, social mobility and first-year student experience. This is the third time that Alverno has been ranked number 1 in this survey and the third year in a row that Alverno has made the list of "Best Value Schools."
The HealthCare.gov Marketplace is Available for Those Who Have Lost Health Insurance
Wisconsinite who have lost their health insurance coverage at any point this year can visit HealthCare.gov to enroll in healthcare coverage that works for them.
The national emergency presented by COVID-19 allows people who lost coverage through their employer and were previously prevented from enrolling to apply for coverage through an extended special enrollment period.
If you need help understanding your options, free help is available by calling 2-1-1 or visiting www.WisCovered.com
Milwaukee Health Commissioner Has Resigned
Jeanette Kowalik has resigned from her position as Milwaukee's Health Commissioner. Kowalik will go on to join the Trust for America's Health.
In a written statement, Kowalik explained:
"It is with mixed emotions that I have submitted my resignation to Mayor Tom Barrett to join the Trust for America’s Health (TFAH), a national leader in health policy. As much as I love my hometown, I believe that I am limited due to factors that are out of my control. This was evident at multiple points in time through our pandemic response. From access to testing, promotion of masks/face coverings, gathering limits, orders, messaging and outreach for communities of color, and various threats to Health Officers. I have decided to redirect my energy and skills to upstream approaches that will improve the health of millions of Americans..."
FEMA Reduces Funding for PPE for Public Institutions
Public institutions including: schools; courthouses; prisons; and others will no longer be receiving FEMA funding for personal protective equipment. FEMA will still be issuing funding for first responders and healthcare workers.
With 1,300 new cases, Wisconsin is currently facing a new surge in COVID-19. This trend is especially prevalent among people ages 18-24, and in areas with colleges and universities. Read more
New West Allis Leash Law
Following two dog-biting incidents, the West Allis Common Council unanimously approved a new ordinance requiring dogs to be leashed on streets, sidewalks, alleys, school grounds, public parks and other public grounds, leashes will also be required when on private property without the permission of the owner.
