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Huge
turnout at JFC hearings This week, we had HUNDREDS
of Wisconsinites turn up at public hearings around the state. My colleagues
and I on the Joint Committee on Finance went to Platteville, Milwaukee, and
Berlin this week, and I can’t tell you how excited I was by the energy I saw!
Of the hundreds of people who registered to speak at this week’s hearings, more
than twice as many said they were against the budget than for it! Wisconsinites were loud and
clear in their message to Governor Walker: they will not stand for this
irresponsible budget! We must keep up the good
work. If you weren’t able to make one of the past hearings, don’t worry,
there will be three more opportunities: Tuesday, April 18 – Spooner High School,
Spooner (10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.) Wednesday, April 19 – Ellsworth High School,
Ellsworth (10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.) Friday, April 21 – Marinette High School,
Marinette (10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.)
Tuesday's
spring election: the good and the bad Thank you to everyone who
turned up to vote at Tuesday’s spring election! We reelected State
Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Evers, and down here in Milwaukee,
we reelected Municipal Judge Val Hill. This was a good day for Wisconsin, and
I congratulate Tony and Judge Hill on their reelections! But there’s some bad news. Voter
turnout was only 16%! I know you hear this a lot, but every election is
important. Every time you vote you have your voice heard. If you don’t know
when to vote, just remember that you have to be a #1 Vote FAAN. FAAN stands
for when you have to vote – February, April, August, and November. Voting is critical. We face
a lot of problems as a city. But you don’t have to accept these
circumstances. You can be the change maker Milwaukee needs. All you have to
do is get out and vote! Senate
passes bill to privatize water rights Republicans in the Senate voted unanimously this week to pass SB 76 which would take away the DNR’s
ability to review and regulate high-capacity wells. Let me tell you why this
is a big deal. High capacity wells pump 70 gallons a minute. Modern laundry
machines use at most 40 gallons. This creates a system that pits the haves
against the have nots. People with high-capacity wells will be able to suck
up all the groundwater without any care or consideration for the impact on
the local environment and community. The fact of the matter is Senate
Republicans just picked winners and losers on our most vital resource: water.
They will have to live with this legacy. If you are concerned about
our water resources, call your Representative and tell them what you think
about SB 76 and AB 105! There’s still time to stop this bill. Equal pay
for ALL You’ve probably heard the
statistic that women make 79 cents for every dollar that men make, but did
you know that number is even lower for women of color? Black women
make 65 cents to the dollar, while Latina women make 58 cents to the dollar!
I bring this up because this past Tuesday was Equal Pay Day, and when we talk
about closing the gender pay gap, we seem to just talk about the 79 cent
statistic. We need to fight for the equality of ALL women. That’s a
non-negotiable. It’s upsetting to me that in 2017 we women still have to
demand equal pay. But we must resist and persist, and equity shall be
reached. A
healthier outlook on life Milwaukee was once the
healthiest city in the country. It won the award so many years in a row that
they stopped the contest. That was in 30s and 40s. Things are much different
now. The latest Milwaukee Health
Report
by the Center for Urban Population Health found that “dramatic” health
disparities exist in Milwaukee, with those with a lower socioeconomic status
experiencing worse health outcomes than the average American. Let me break that down for
you. Living with poverty and
racism is stressful. It’s been scientifically
proven.
Chronic stress can affect your blood pressure and immune system, elevating
your risk of heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and other chronic diseases. So
when you spend so much time in a high pressure environment, your health
begins to suffer. We hear about racial
disparities in our courtrooms and classrooms, but rarely when it comes to our
communities’ health. That’s why I introduced a resolution in the Senate this
week to declare April 2017 Health and Wellness Month so that we can draw
attention to these intense disparities. The resolution passed unanimously. But we need to go one step
further. We have to walk the walk too. That’s why I’m introducing my
LOVE&FAITH initiative, a big component of which is urban agriculture. You
can find more info about LOVE&FAITH here. With a little
investment and some training, we can grow Milwaukee into a place where we can
compost and grow our own food. Urban agriculture will help eliminate food
desserts and increase health outcomes with access to healthier food. Everyone
deserves a healthy and happy life, and we all need to be invested in breaking
down the disparities in our community. |
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Quote
of the Week: “There is no obstacle in the path of young people who are poor or
members of minority groups that hard work and preparation cannot cure.” -Former Congresswoman (TX) Barbara Jordan This is an official
government communication from Sen. Lena C. Taylor. If you no longer wish to
receive these emails, click here to send
me an email to unsubscribe. |
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