Are you free Tuesday? Let’s grab coffee!

In case you missed having coffee with me on Monday or stopping by the open house at my office on Wednesday, I’m hosting one more community event next week. Both of the events this week were incredibly successful—interacting with constituents is what makes my job so fulfilling—and I’m looking forward to seeing familiar faces and meeting new ones this week! Change up your morning coffee routine and swing by Coffee Makes You Black at 2803 N. Teutonia Ave. between 8:30am and 10:00am this Tuesday, December 15^th. Check out all the details for the event on my Facebook page and let me know you’re coming! I’m looking forward to sharing a warm drink with you.

The importance of giving back this holiday season

I’ve always felt that giving back is the most important part of the holiday season, and I think serving others in need is especially important for elected officials like me. After all, I am here to serve you. That’s why I was delighted to be a bell ringer for the Salvation Army yesterday. Seeing the difference our community can make when many come together and chip in, even just a small amount, is uplifting. And it was a privilege to meet and exchange holiday greetings with so many of you. Thank you to all who stopped by the Milwaukee Public Market and to those who were able to donate this holiday season.

Legislation update: 3 bills and 5 ways to stay in the loop

I want to make sure you are up-to-date on the bills coming out of my office. Last week I told you briefly about three of my bills that have received bill numbers and been referred to committee for review. Now I want to show you why these bills are important.

• Senate Bill 377 is one of a series of victim notification bills I will introduce. Far too often, survivors of crime live in fear of the person who victimized them. Providing victims with notification of supervision or parole revocation would help put some of those fears to rest and provide a degree of peace regarding the whereabouts of their criminal offenders.
• I introduced Senate Bill 398 in an effort to protect public safety and also balance the rights of those wrongfully accused of crimes. This bill says that if you are found not guilty or innocent of a crime and your DNA doesn’t match any other unsolved crimes, your DNA must be destroyed. I believe our law should protect innocent people wrongfully accused of crimes every bit as much as it should protect the victims I am looking out for with SB-377.
• The last bill, Senate Bill 399 which I call Taxation by Citation, prevents cities and counties from raising excessive money by writing too many traffic and parking citations. Our local governments should balance their budgets reasonably, just like you and I have to. The unfortunate truth of the matter is that where racial disparities in police enforcement exist, disparities in tickets written also exist. Far too often, over enforcement is the beginning of a dangerous cycle. First a few parking tickets, maybe a speeding ticket. Then someone falls on hard times and the next thing you know, their license is revoked, they can’t get to work and they lose their job. SB-399 aims to stop that cycle before it ever begins.

These are just three of more than twenty-five justice related bills I’m working on. Keep an eye on my column for future updates. People often ask me about the best ways to stay informed on the legislation I’m working on. Here are five easy ways to stay in the loop:

<![if !supportLists]>1.      1)      Email me at Sen.Taylor@Legis.WI.Gov

<![if !supportLists]>2.      2)      Follow me on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SenLenaTaylor

<![if !supportLists]>3.      3)      Follow me on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/SenTaylor

<![if !supportLists]>4.      4)      Follow me on Instagram at www.Instagram.com/Lena.Taylor

<![if !supportLists]>5.      5)      Join the Legislative Notification Service at www.Legis.WI.Gov and click on Notification Service to create your free email alerts on all bills I’m authorizing.

Horrifying allegations at Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake juvenile detention centers

As a champion of corrections reform in Wisconsin, former chair—and present member—of the Senate Judiciary Committee, I was alarmed and saddened when I first heard through the media of the horrifying allegations surrounding Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake juvenile detention centers. In October the Department of Justice began a secret John Doe probe to investigate allegations of child abuse, sexual assault, child neglect and abuse of inmates. Not to mention intimidation of victims and witnesses, tampering with public records and misconduct in public office, even strangulation, suffocation and using pepper spray to cause bodily harm.  I’ve made concern for people both inside and outside of Department of Corrections Institutions a cornerstone of my service as a Senator. Follow me on Facebook and Twitter for more on this disturbing and unfolding story.

Community Events:

 Quote of the Week:

 "Don't tell me what you value, show me your budget, and I'll tell you what you value." -Vice President Joe Biden

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