Citizen Action Weekend 2025 Newsletter, Friday, October 17th
Join Citizen Action of Wisconsin Today!
Attend a No Kings 2.0 Event this Saturday, October 18th
Attend Climate and Utility Justice Lobby Day, Tuesday, November 11th
Join Citizen Action of Wisconsin and partners from across the state for Climate and Utility Justice Lobby Day on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, at the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison. Together, we’ll raise our voices for affordable energy, clean air and water, and a climate-safe future that puts people before profits. We’ll meet with legislators to push for the Climate Accountability Act, Green Amendment, and 2% Utility Rate Cap, while uplifting additional priorities from our partners working for justice and sustainability.
This is our moment to show the power of a statewide movement fighting for a livable future and real accountability from utilities and decision-makers. A free bus from Milwaukee and carpools from other parts of Wisconsin will make it easy to join us in Madison.
Come be part of a growing movement for clean energy, equity, and democracy in action. To learn more or get involved, contact kat.klawes@citizenactionwi.org.
Citizen Action members talking to voters.
Citizen Action of Wisconsin wins “Data Dream” Award
Citizen Action’s Val Ricks and Kat Klawes presented this week in Milwaukee about the housing/IRA work we are doing in Wisconsin at Data Day. Citizen Action was voted the winner of the Data You Can Use “Data Dream” Award at the event.
The award brings technical support and tools to build practical dashboards and maps that help us prioritize blocks, measure impact, and make stronger policy and funding cases.
Attend Citizen Action Health Care Town Hall in Eau Claire, Wednesday, November 5th, 6pm
Citizen Action of Wisconsin’s Northwestern Organizing Cooperative is hosting a Health Care Town Hall community call to action event in Eau Claire on Wednesday, November 5th from 6:00pm-7:30pm in the Riverview Room of the L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library (400 Eau Claire St). Citizen Action of Wisconsin is leading the fight in Wisconsin to stop devastating healthcare cuts from the Big Ugly Law (HR1) and to create a system where everyone has access to affordable healthcare. FREE and open to the public!
RSVP appreciated but not required.
Contact Jeremy Gragert for more information: jeremy.gragert@citizenactionwi.org
Citizen Action Southeast Organizing Co-op Update
Our movement is growing stronger every week — from Milwaukee to Kenosha, we’re organizing for justice in health care, climate, and our communities. Here’s what’s coming up:
🏥 Health Care Team – Wednesday, October 22 at 6 PM (Citizen Action office)
Our Health Care Team is planning a Town Hall on November 18, where we’ll discuss how to expand and protect access to Medicaid and quality care for everyone. Your voice matters — come help shape our next big action!
🌿 Climate Team – Thursday, October 30 at 6 PM (Citizen Action office)
Our Climate Team meeting has been moved to this new date! We’ll build on last month’s discussion about public transportation and clean energy investments, and continue planning local action for climate and utility justice.
🚪 Canvassing
Our canvassing teams are thriving — getting outside, talking with neighbors, and gaining new members every week. It’s fun, social, and powerful. Join us for a day in the community and help make change happen face-to-face!
🏛️ Climate & Utility Justice Lobby Day – November 11th in Madison
Citizen Action members from across the state will gather in Madison for our Climate & Utility Justice Lobby Day! Together, we’ll meet with legislators and demand bold investments in people, the planet, and public health. Don’t miss this powerful day of action.
For more information, contact ruben.aquino@citizenactionwi.org
After More than a Decade of Citizens in Action, Neighborhood Near 3M and Other Industries No Longer Needs to Worry About Industrial Expansion
On Tuesday, October 7th, Wausau residents, including some members of Citizen Action of Wisconsin’s North Central Organizing Co-op, attended the Economic Development Committee meeting for the City of Wausau. There was some concern among many in the city that there could be a discussion about rezoning a residential neighborhood. In the agenda, it stated that the committee would be revisiting 3 proposals for some City owned property on 1300 Cleveland Avenue, which included a proposal from 3M dating back to 2021. A sense of relief came over the crowd, once the Chair of the committee, Carol Lukens, informed them that a rezone was off of the table.
Public comment was a mixture of comments from people living right next to the site, who have endured years of environmental contamination, and residents from the City who care about the issue.
Alderperson Chad Henke suggested that the agenda item regarding these issues be bumped ahead of other agenda items.
The committee agreed, and the Alders unanimously committed to not only keep this area zoned residential, but to oppose any more proposals for industrial expansion.
The Mayor also spoke in support of this. For those that have been advocating for this neighborhood for the past decade, this was a breath of fresh air. The City also remains committed to remediating the contaminated sites in and around the neighborhood. None of this would have happened if it wasn’t for a group of committed citizens, in action, continuing to speak up for what is right. Thank you to all members of the community, Citizen Action of Wisconsin, and other groups that have helped work toward this solution.
To join Citizen Action Northcentral Organizing Cooperative, contact: Joel.Lewis@citizenactionwi.org
Citizen Action in the News
Robert Kriag was on the Earl Ingram Show to discuss the difference between authoritarianism and Americanism, and the state of play in the Trump Regimes attempt to consolidate power.
Listen to “No Kings 2.0” Battleground Wisconsin Podcast
We are back after a week off! We welcome State Representative Vinnie Miresse to the show to discuss new legislation to protect the ‘rights of nature’ and reinstitute a state anti-mining law.
We take stock in the state of American democracy and why Saturday’s No Kings Rally 2.0 will communicate by the number of people who turnout widespread opposition to the authoritarian usurpations of the Trump Regime. We encourage our listeners to attend an event near you. Find No Kings Rallies here.
We look at a current Supreme Court case that could deal a death blow to America’s multiracial democracy by legalizing racial gerrymandering. Robert helps us understand why the United Healthcare and Ascension deal unintentionally lays bare the corruption of hospital and insurance pricing and why it’s long overdue for the hospital industry to be regulated in the public interest. We also discuss the toll of over a decade of austerity in Wisconsin, as a new report ranks Wisconsin 46th in the nation in public college affordability.
We close by highlighting the overwhelmingly approving by the state senate of a bill to require health insurers to cover all necessary breast cancer screenings, including women that are hard to diagnose, without co-pays and deductibles.The bill is named for a Neenah woman who died of breast cancer because of inadequate screenings. Outcome in the Assembly unclear, as the health insurance industry has killed the bill during the last two legislative sessions. But word in the Capitol is that Robin Vos will block it in the Assembly, just as he has done with postpartum care for women and their children.
Listen to the show.
Social media post of the week
