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LARSON REPORT |
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WEEKLY NEWSLETTER |
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September 15, 2011 |
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CONTACT ME
Mailing Address:
State Capitol
Web Site: SenatorChrisLarson.com
COMMUNITY
EVENTS Supporting our neighbors and being involved in our community is of the utmost importance. Some community events that might be of interest to you and your family are listed below.
Oktoberfest
Heidelberg Park (MAP) 700 W. Lexington Blvd. Milwaukee, WI 53217
Bay View Bash
September
17 from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Enjoy one of
Milwaukee's messiest events of the year. Attend the annual Tomato Romp,
which includes an old fashioned tomato fight and a Bloody Mary
competition. Tomato Fighters must be at least 16 years old to
participate. Everyone signing a waiver and donating $3 to Feeding
America can get in the cage at 3 p.m. in the parking lot between Beans &
Barley and Von Trier. The Best Bloody Mary competition begins at 11 a.m.
and goes through 3 p.m. at the various bars in the district. For $10 you
get 12 5-ounce samples. For an extra $5 you'll get beer chasers provided
by Pabst. The official judging of the winner takes place at 3:30 p.m.
Both Bloody Mary and Fight registration will take place in the Beans &
Barley parking lot.
Call (414) 224-0212 or
CLICK HERE for additional information.
Stop by the 2011 Milwaukee Film Festival, which will feature hundreds of the world's best films. Films will be shown at the Oriental, Ridge and North Shore Cinemas. For a complete list of films, descriptions and showtimes, please visit the festival's Web site by CLICKING HERE.
September 24 In the spirit of Smithsonian Museums, which offer free admission everyday, Museum Day is an annual event hosted by Smithsonian magazine in which participating museums across the country open their doors to anyone presenting a Museum Day ticket for free. Only an official Museum Day ticket is eligible for free entry. Individuals can receive one ticket per household, which covers two people. Tickets do not cover the cost of special exhibits or parking. CLICK HERE for more information and a list of participating museums, many of which are right here in our community.
Bay View Neighborhood Association Beach Clean-Up September 24 from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Join the Bay View
Neighborhood Association for the final beach cleanup of the year. This
is a great opportunity to beautify our community before the snow hits.
Volunteers at the last clean-up in August collected 17 pounds of trash
off the beach, including foil wrappers, plastic cups, and cigarette
butts. Garbage bags and gloves will be provided. The stairway to
the beach is located on Lake Drive just south of Oklahoma Avenue. Look
for the brown Bay View Park sign and one of the Bay View Neighborhood
Association volunteers will be posted nearby to set you up. 3120 S. Lake Drive
Milwaukee, WI 53207
South Shore Park Watch Bluff Weed Out & Planting Day
September 24
from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Oak Leaf Trailhead at South Shore Park (MAP) 2900 South Shore Drive Milwaukee, WI 53207
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Dear Friend,
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Wisconsin Air Quality Threatened |
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Below is a summary of the three bills with a brief description of the impact such legislation would have in our community and across Wisconsin:
Senate Bill 110: This bill prevents the DNR from setting better air quality standards than federal minimal safety limits, turning back the Wisconsin tradition of protecting our citizens by promoting healthy air. Suspended particulate pollution can lead to numerous health-based issues and be detrimental to our plants, soil and buildings. CLICK HERE to view this legislation.
Senate Bill 111: This bill will
overturn current DNR rules that protect our air quality by enabling the
DNR to issue air pollution control permits from indirect sources, such
as massive parking facilities. Without this rule, the DNR will be unable
to monitor and control possible air pollution sources, resulting in
poorer air quality and negative health effects. To view a copy of this
bill, please
CLICK HERE. Senate Bill 138: This bill seeks to allow large agricultural farms to continue using production methods that result in hydrogen and ammonia polluting our air. Large farms often build giant ponds for animal waste, this concentrated manure can create significant hazards to our health. Wisconsin has been a leader in addressing this health concern, as the federal government has yet to act on this issue. This legislation would undue the progress our state has made. A copy of this legislation can be viewed by CLICKING HERE.
Wisconsin statutes allow the Legislature to suspend state protections and rules through a vote by the majority of members of the Joint Committee for the Review of Administrative Rules. Therefore, these rules protecting our air quality will be suspended until the Legislature acts on them or the session ends, which ever happens first.
It is imperative that our state continues to go beyond the bare minimum for air quality standards. I will continue fighting for stronger air quality protections to ensure that our family, friends and neighbors can breathe safely in Milwaukee County and across the state.
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Work Together to Fix Education |
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This past Thursday, State Superintendent Tony Evers addressed hundreds gathered at the State Capitol about the state of Wisconsin education.
Our state superintendent shared a vision for Wisconsin that included measures to ensure greater accountability in our schools and higher academic achievement from our students.
Superintendent Evers also expressed a need to bring everyone to the table to address some of the greater concerns within our education system, including the way we fund our schools. Now more than ever, we all need to work together to help bring about change to our current funding formula. Changing the funding formula for our schools is crucial to ensuring greater parity between school districts and the amount each receive per pupil to guarantee that every child in Wisconsin will receive the quality education that they deserve and have been promised.
I look forward to working with the Legislature, education leaders and our neighbors to help bring about these changes and provide our children with the brightest future possible.
To view Superintendent Evers' speech,
please
CLICK HERE.
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Protecting Victims of Domestic Abuse |
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Current Wisconsin law does not go far enough to protect the victims of domestic abuse. In 2008, there were 29,769 domestic abuse incidents reported to law enforcement and referred to the district attorney's office in Wisconsin. Approximately one-third of these incidents occurred in Milwaukee County.
I recently signed on to support legislation that would help keep the victims of domestic violence protected from their abuser. Under current law, an individual who has been arrested for a domestic incident must avoid the victim's residence and contacting the victim for 72 hours, unless the victim signs a waiver. The penalty for violating the current 72-hour no-contact condition is a civil penalty of no more than $1,000. This meager consequence gives little incentive for abusers to respect current laws, which can place their domestic violence victims in danger.
This legislation criminalizes violations of the 72-hour no-contact condition for domestic abuse offenders, in order to keep the women, children and men that have suffered abuse safe from further harm. Under this bill, those violating the 72-hour no-contact condition would be guilty of a misdemeanor and be subject to a fine of up to $10,000 or imprisonment of up to nine months, or both.
The Wisconsin Coalition Against Domestic Violence (WCADV) and The Wisconsin District Attorney Association are in support of this proposal. This legislation is a positive step forward towards making our community a safer place to live for our family, friends and neighbors.
To view a copy of this bill, please
CLICK HERE.
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Resources for Improving Your Energy Efficiency |
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Milwaukee Energy Efficiency Program (Me˛) Me˛ is a federally funded program to help City of Milwaukee homeowners and businesses finance energy efficiency upgrades to their properties. Me˛ makes it easy and affordable to make energy saving upgrades such as insulation, air sealing, new heating equipment and lighting. With Me˛, you can pay for your upgrades as you save on your energy bills, and in most cases with no money down. Me˛ helps you:
For more information about this neighborhood program, please CLICK HERE.
MATC Business Energy Audits MATC will be conducting FREE Energy Audits for businesses as part of their Green Corridor development program. This is a great opportunity for businesses to learn how they can be more environmentally friendly and also save money on their day-to-day operations. Audits will be conducted with instructors guiding students between September 15 and October 15. Audits could include:
If your business is interested,
please contact Ted Wilinski, the Sustainable Facilities Management
Instructor at MATC, by phone at (414) 571-4570.
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Q&A for ID Voting Restrictions Now Available |
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Milwaukee County to Host Budget Meetings |
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The Milwaukee County Board Budget Committee will hold listening sessions this month to hear from neighbors on the county's 2012 budget. These meetings will be your opportunity to have your voice heard by your local elected officials to ensure that they know what our community values and what services need to be maintain. Next year's county budget faces a potential shortfall of up to $55 million, prompting concerns over possible program cuts. Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele is expected to release his 2012 budget plan on September 29.
The dates, times and locations for these upcoming
listening sessions are listed below. Date: Wednesday, September 21 Time: 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Location: Wauwatosa Library at 7635 W. North Avenue in Wauwatosa
Date: Monday, September 26 Time: 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Location: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Community Center at 1531 W. Vliet Street in Milwaukee
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Petition to Bike the Hoan |
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The Hoan Bridge is crucial to our neighbors as it is the transit artery connecting south side residents to the rest of their community, including downtown Milwaukee and the entire interstate freeway system. Expanding access to the Hoan Bridge would be a positive step forward in cementing our city’s commitment to providing multi-modal forms of public transit, while simultaneously promoting tourism and business. Play the video below to learn more.
If you would like to sign on to the petition to request that DOT create a bicycle and pedestrian lane on the Hoan Bridge, please CLICK HERE. Feel free to encourage your family, friends and neighbors to show their support by circulating this petition throughout your community. CLICK HERE to download or print the PDF for the Petition to Bike the Hoan.
For up-to-date information about the Hoan Bridge project, please CLICK HERE to visit DOT's recently-launched Web site devoted to the project. You can also CLICK HERE to view a PDF document from DOT that outlines the Hoan Bridge rehabilitation project. This document provides additional information on the timing and scope of the project, along with contact information for the project personnel from the DOT. If you are looking for more information about the benefits of a bicycle and pedestrian lane on the Hoan Bridge feel free to visit the Bike the Hoan Web site by CLICKING HERE.
Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or thoughts you have on the Hoan Bridge project, including the proposed bicycle and pedestrian lane.
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Intern at the Capitol |
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I currently have an opening for a
legislative intern in my Madison office. A legislative internship is a
great opportunity for students and recent graduates to learn more about
the legislative process while gaining practical work experience.
With Interns from the Spring 2011 Semester
Intern responsibilities vary, but
include policy research, summarizing proposed legislation, and
responding to constituent inquires. All interns also assist with general
office operations, including answering the phone.
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