http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/kenosha-business-damaged-2020-s5.jpgBusinesses may receive up to $50,000 for clean-up, restoration, and repair costs

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/robin-vos-is-safe-to-vote-s5.jpgWe see politicians use a “Do Nothing” strategy to avoid responsibility or point fingers, says Sen. Smith in his weekly column.

MADISON, Wis. – Today, the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin (LWVWI) is joining the country in celebrating National Voter Registration Day in advance of Election Day on November 3, 2020.

“The first step to participating in our democracy is registering to vote, and we want this process to be both exciting and accessible for eligible voters,” said Eileen Newcomer, LWVWI voter education manager. “We are proud to be a part of this celebration of voting and hope to continue this energy through November.”

With a historic presidential election approaching, every eligible Wisconsin voter should be able to exercise their voice at the ballot box, and communities across the country are planning to use National Voter Registration Day to increase voter engagement. Partner organizations will coordinate hundreds of events on and offline nationwide, and leverage #NationalVoterRegistrationDay in all social media platforms to drive attention to voter registration.

The League encourages all voters to ensure they are registered at their current address by checking their registration status at www.myvote.wi.gov. This is especially important for first time voters, voters who have recently moved, voters who have not voted in a while and/or voters who have not voted since their voting rights have been restored after completing a felony sentence.

LWVWI is not letting the pandemic stop us from providing registration assistance this fall. Many Leagues across Wisconsin have socially distant registration drives planned for National Voter Registration Day or are taking part in virtual voter registration events. Find an event near you and learn more about opportunities to join us and volunteer here.

Wisconsin voters can register and vote on Election Day because Wisconsin has Election Day registration; however, the League recommends voters register in advance. Wisconsin residents can register to vote online at myvote.wi.gov, or by mail, until October 14, 2020.

The League invites Wisconsinites to join us in celebrating National Voter Registration Day by checking their registration status, attending a registration event and asking their friends and family if they are registered and ready to vote. We also encourage people to reach out to the League of Women Voters to find out how they can help with voter registration and join the voter service teams in their community.

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The League of Women Voters of Wisconsin is a nonpartisan political organization that advocates for informed and active participation in government. There are 20 local Leagues in Wisconsin. More information at lwvwi.org.

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers announced today that he is appointing attorney and former state representative Jon Richards and long-time attorney with the State Public Defender’s Office Reyna Morales to the Milwaukee County Circuit Court. The appointments fill vacancies created by the departures of Judges Jeffrey Conen and David Hansher, respectively.

“It is critical that we have judges who understand the unprecedented challenges facing our state and nation. Both Jon Richards and Reyna Morales have long, distinguished careers addressing systemic problems and fighting for justice,” Gov. Evers said.

Morales has been an attorney with the State Public Defender’s Office since 1997. She has represented thousands of indigent clients on a variety of matters, including felonies, misdemeanors, termination of parental rights, mental health commitments, guardianships, juvenile cases, and civil cases handled by the Public Defender’s Office. In addition to her commitment to her clients she has spent a significant amount of time mentoring, training, and working within the community in a variety of roles.

“I am profoundly grateful to Gov. Evers for the extraordinary opportunity to serve all the people of Milwaukee County as circuit court judge. I pledge to administer justice with integrity, fairness, and impartiality,” Morales said. 

Morales has served as a board member for the Wisconsin Hispanic Lawyers Association, Felmers O. Chaney Advocacy Board, and Marquette University Law School Alumni Association. She also volunteers her time participating in Law Day activities at local schools and as a judge for mock trials.

“It is fitting that during National Hispanic Heritage month Gov. Evers appointed accomplished public defender Reyna Morales, who will bring experience, fairness, and diversity to the bench,” said Justice Rebecca Frank Dallet.

Richards has practiced civil law for more than 25 years, representing working families, non-profit organizations, and small businesses. He is a partner with Ziino, Germanotta, Knoll & Christensen in Milwaukee. From 1999 to 2014, Richards represented Milwaukee in the Wisconsin State Assembly, including serving on the Joint Committee on Finance and chairing the Assembly Health Committee. He was the lead Assembly author of the statewide smoking ban and worked with the families of victims of gun violence to expand background checks for gun purchases. His work has been recognized by the State Bar of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council, Association of State Prosecutors, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Planned Parenthood and Equality Wisconsin.

“Now more than ever, we need to address the racial disparities in our justice system and recognize that there are barriers that stand in the way of justice,” Richards said.  “I am honored to be appointed by Gov. Evers to apply the law both accurately and fairly while ensuring that constitutional rights are protected. I believe everyone who appears in court should be treated with dignity and respect, and I will do so as a judge. We need to make greater use of alternatives to prison, such as drug treatment courts and other diversion courts, and address the root causes of crime and violence. I look forward to bringing to the bench the understanding I have developed through 25 years of private practice, as well my time as a lawmaker, of how economics and power shape the issues and people appearing before the court.”

Richards is highly involved in the community; as a volunteer attorney for tenants through the Eviction Defense Project and for survivors of human trafficking through Lotus Legal Clinic, as the director of the Take Back Meds coalition to prevent drug abuse and the contamination of Lake Michigan, as a “big brother” with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Milwaukee, as a member of the American Constitution Society and through serving on the boards of the Medical Society of Milwaukee County, Woodlands School and the  Brady Street Area Association.

“Jon understands the needs of vulnerable people in Milwaukee County and has been doing important work, both as a lawyer and as a member of the community, to address the challenges so many Milwaukee County residents face,” said Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley. “I am confident that Jon will be a judge who takes his responsibility to the community seriously and who will work effectively with others to create the changes in the justice system that Milwaukee County needs.”

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers on Friday ordered the flags of the United States and the state of Wisconsin to be flown at half-staff in honor of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, pursuant to 4 U.S.C. § 7(m). Gov. Evers today formally issued Executive Order #89 requiring flags to be flown at half-staff at all buildings, grounds, and military installations of the state of Wisconsin equipped with such flags until sunset on the date of interment.

“Justice Ginsburg was a stalwart public servant who spent her life working to hold our country accountable for our promises of equity, equality, truth, and justice. What a devastating loss,” said Gov. Evers.

Executive Order #89 can be found here.

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/caleb-frostman-lvp-s5.jpgResignation effective immediately, DOC Deputy Secretary Pechacek to lead transition.

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/voting-2020-538-s5.jpgVOTE411 is a “one-stop-shop” for nonpartisan election information, allowing voters to have access to unbiased candidate information.

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/vote-47-mb1-s5.jpgIn Wisconsin, residents filed a lawsuit against state officials who forced in-person voting in April. The RNC and the Republican Party of Wisconsin back the defendants.

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/gb-police-s5.jpgBill would help Green Bay Police Department hire local DACA resident as a police officer.

College graduates had a reasonable expectation of employment, but even before the pandemic, that expectation was on the decline, as the economy changed. We need workers who can think and adapt.

Brookfield, WI – Americans value hard work and take pride in a job well done.  As automation and artificial intelligence move ever forward, and as Americans lose their jobs, what jobs will replace them? Democrat Tom Palzewicz knows this will be an issue for Wisconsin's Fifth Congressional District.

"That's the ultimate question," Palzewicz said. "Milwaukee used to be the tool and die making capital of the country.  Now all of those jobs are gone. Allis Chalmers is gone. A.O. Smith is gone, American Motors folded, our Chrysler plants closed.  Jobs in the future might be more about thinking than doing.  After working in risk management for banks, I transitioned to teaching.  Now I teach managers how to manage people."

"As globalization expands, there will be a tremendous shift.  It will not be about what I produce, but what I think about and the creation of ideas.  The biggest shift in the future will be in getting value out of doing work. It's almost an existential crisis, on the same level as climate. If we don't handle it correctly we will pay a dear price. If we let capitalism decide this one, we're going to be in huge trouble because the playing field is far too skewed toward capital versus labor."

People need to earn a living wage, where universal basic income comes into play, as jobs diminish.  But there are problems in advancing that idea.

"My conservative friends might be thinking when you're talking about universal, basic income,' If you don't work, you don't eat, and I don't owe you a living.'  That's one of the significant hurdles we're going to have to get over.  But it's happening. We've already begun that process. We're producing more people with college degrees, but that doesn't translate into the workforce's needs.  How do you take what you learned and put it into something that resembles work?"

"A liberal arts education is often overlooked in favor of specialized areas of learning.  However, it develops a well-rounded, thinking individual.  In so many industries there are hiring freezes.  I went into banking and risk management.  My degree was in accounting, but I had to make the adjustment to meet the needs of the industry.  Later on, I created my own business."

In years past, college graduates had a reasonable expectation of employment, but even before the pandemic, that expectation was on the decline, as the economy changed.

"It's not like people will have a job. People will do things in exchange for money and add value where they can, but it might be several things," said Palzewicz. "And it might be dozens of things over somebody's lifetime that they move in and out of and provide value to. But this whole idea of chasing a job that has benefits and a retirement plan is absolutely gone at this point."

Palzewicz wants to level the playing field and bring capital and labor closer together, to share in the American dream.