Citizen Action Weekly: Friday, November 8th
Friday, November 8th
Citizen Action members travel to Detroit for Universal Family Care convention.
Citizen action members Lynn Carey and Rita are attending the annual field convening meeting in Detroit to talk about the Universal Family Care movement which includes the issue of long term care.
SAVE THE DATE: Annual Meeting, Saturday, December 7th, 1pm
The Citizen Action of Wisconsin Annual meeting will take place on Saturday, December 7th, 1pm.at the Washington Park Senior Center, 4420 W. Vliet St. Milwaukee.
This year we are trying something a bit different. Each regional organizing co-op will be having a meeting within their region at the same time, rather than asking their members to travel to Milwaukee. We will connect with the meeting in Milwaukee to hear the awards and to hear a synopsis of our work from Executive Director Dr. Robert Kraig, and then turn our meeting back to the regional co-ops. This meeting is open to non-members as well as members.
RSVP for MKE
RSVP for Southwest co-op meeting
La Crosse City Council Judiciary and Administration committee approves solar ordinance
On Tuesday November 5th Southwest Co-op organizer Ben Wilson and co-op member Janette Dean attended the La Crosse City Council Judiciary and Administration committee meeting. The committee voted to move forward with a solar ordinance that will make it much easier for La Crosse homeowners to install solar. It completely legalizes solar installation on roofs or on the ground anywhere in La Crosse. It also changes the classification of solar panels to be considered an accessory which means the permitting process will be much quicker for anyone looking to upgrade. This ordinance helps fulfill the city’s goal of 100% carbon neutrality by 2050 (hopefully much sooner). Janette, along with students from Fridays for Future, spoke in support of the bill. The full council votes on the ordinance next week.
Citizen Action of Wisconsin Southwest Co-op membership update
The Southwest Wisconsin co-op is now more than halfway through our 60 day recruitment drive and we are over halfway to our goal! We are looking for 250 passionate activists to join and so far we have 164! We are getting closer everyday! If you have not fully joined the organizing co-op you can do so right here.
Northeast Co-op Update: Green Bay City Council passes budget that includes Resiliency & Diversity Coordinator
Thanks to the leadership of Mayor (and co-op member) Eric Genrich and members of the city council, Green Bay has taken a critical step towards addressing the growing climate emergency and fighting for a more inclusive city. The final vote was 7-5 in favor of passing the budget, with the yes votes including two co-op members, Barbara Dorff and Randy Scannell. Thank you to everyone who called your alders in support of the creation of these two positions, your voices made a difference in this fight!
Read more on city budget
Read more on Resiliency Coordinator.
Citizen Action Organizing Co-op Informational Meeting
Are you concerned about the way things are going in our country? Do you feel like you have lost your political power? Do you want to do more to fight climate change? Do you want to help create well paying, skilled union jobs right here in our area? Do you care about making sure everyone in Wisconsin has healthcare? Join Citizen Action for our upcoming event!
Citizens Action is hosting small group informational meetings. Come and learn about how you can get involved in a true progressive movement dedicated to creating real change in the Driftless region.
This is a great opportunity to learn how you can be a part of our organizing co-op.
West Salem, November 23rd, 10:30am
Village of West Salem Hazel Brown Leicht Memorial Library
201 Neshonoc Rd
People’s Action candidates and agenda win Tuesday! Setting the stage for a big 2020.
Tuesday was big!
While there were very important high profile victories in the Kentucky Governor race and the Virginia statehouse last night, it is worth highlighting some amazing members of People’s Action affiliates who also won last night. These leaders are committed to co-governing with our organizations to help make our agenda a reality.
These victories should inspire our movement nationally and here in Wisconsin. We at Citizen Action remain committed to continue our organizing to find new member leaders who are willing to run for office in 2020 and beyond to help change our communities, state, and country.
Arizona
- Regina Romero, who has committed to co-governing with People’s Action affiliate LUCHA, was elected as Tucson’s first Latina mayor! She won in a landslide victory! “I’m still savoring the historic community-led victories of last night,” said Alejandra Gomez, executive director of LUCHA. “LUCHA is so proud to have been part of the collective that supported Regina.” Romero ran on a bold agenda to battle climate change, reform criminal justice and improve education and economic inclusion in Tucson. LUCHA worked tirelessly to turn out the vote for Romero.” Read more.
Maine
- Safiya Khalid became the first Somali American elected to Lewiston’s city council, with support from the Maine People’s Alliance
Massachusetts
- Neighbor to Neighbor Action Fund (N2N) is celebrating the victory of member Victor Davila, who won a Springfield city council seat by 39 votes!
Minnesota
- Long-time Take Action MN leader Kissy Coakley, who was a leader in their campaign against Target to Ban the Box, was elected as the first African-American woman to serve on the Minnetonka City Council. “Kissy wants to take what makes Minnetonka a safe, supportive, and thriving community and make it accessible to everyone, “ said Elianne Farhat, executive director of TAMN.“As a leader at TakeAction Minnesota, Kissy has been a champion for criminal justice reform measures—including taking on Target Corporation to change their hiring practices,” Farhat said. “She will bring that same determination and vision to City Council—and will listen and lead with the people to make sure everyone in Minnetonka can live full, joyful lives.”
- Nelsie Yang, a TakeAction Minnesota organizer, will become the youngest member of the Saint Paul City Council ever! She is also the first ever Hmong woman council member. Read more about Nelsie
Michigan
- In Kalamazoo, Michigan People’s Campaign leader Patrese Griffin won her election to Kalamazoo City Council. She was selected by the Kalamazoo City Commission to fill a vacant seat earlier this year, and last night’s vote validates her bold leadership with the voices of the community she represents.
Missouri
- In St. Louis, Rasheen Aldridge – a former leadership team member of Missouri Jobs With Justice who was active in the Ferguson protests, served as a member of the Ferguson Commission and fought to raise the minimum wage, will be joining the Missouri state legislature as a State Representative for the 78th District.
New York
- Omari Shakur won a seat on the City Council in Newberg, NY. Omari is now the first formerly incarcerated council member in the city. Over the past year, Shakur has been actively working with Mayor Torrance Harvey and Councilman Anthony Grice, who won reelection, to hold landlords accountable. Their victories, which were won in a coordinated effort by CVH, the Working Families Party and Democratic Party, solidify a strong council to fight for rent control, local hiring and housing ordinances, as they give the coalition four of seven seats on the council.
- Jumaane Williams, who spoke at the People’s Action’s Convention in Washington, D.C. in April, was re-elected as Public Advocate in NYC. NYTimes Article
Pennsylvania
- Kendra Brooks won a seat on Philadelphia City Council running as a 3rd party candidate on the Working Families Party ticket!
Thanks to People’s Action’s Laurel Wales for contributing to this story.
Movement wins on Election night” Battleground Wisconsin Podcast
We discuss this week’s election results from around the country, and what they portend for 2020. We look at the significance of high profile victories in the Kentucky and Virginia and highlight some amazing members of the Working Families Party and People’s Action affiliates who won elections. We analyze the latest escalation of the Legislature’s partisan war against Governor Tony Evers: the State Senate firing of Agriculture Secretary Brad Pfaff. What does it mean, and who in Governor Evers’ cabinet is their next target? Foxconn wants to omit sprinklers from part of their new factory (what could go wrong?), the special session on gun safety comes and goes with no action, and the top electoral issues, healthcare reform, remains a no show in the legislature, despite GOP vows to do something about pre-existing condition discrimination.
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Facebook post of the week
