Newsletter Update from Alderwoman Coggs

6th District Alderwoman
Milele A. Coggs
City Hall, Room 205 • 200 E. Wells Street • Milwaukee, WI 53202
(414) 286-2994 • mcoggs@milwaukee.gov • www.milwaukee.gov/district6

Dear Neighbor,

Community involvement is key to maintaining healthy, engaged neighborhoods.  What facilitates that involvement is being empowered with useful information—the sort of useful information that I have included in this newsletter.   The controversy surrounding the death in police custody of Derek Williams
may have reached a temporary conclusion, but a broader investigation into the department is ongoing to determine whether there exists a pattern or practice of discrimination. I have played an active role in demanding greater transparency and institutional change in our police department, and you can
too. Additionally, I am pushing back against proposals in state government that could change the way Wisconsinites vote and do away with the City of Milwaukee’s residency requirement for municipal employees, which has been on the books for 75 years.

There are other stories that fill me with hope and enthusiasm. New businesses are opening, neighbors are taking a greater stake in preventing vandalism to vacant buildings and, most importantly, our young people are learning early on to get engaged and make the world a better place.

Also, I am excited to announce that I now chair the City Information Management Committee and sit on the Neighborhood Improvement Development Corporation Board, in addition to serving as the vice chair
of the Licenses Committee and sitting on the Finance and Personnel Committee, the Library Board of Trustees and the Commission on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault.

As always, please do not hesitate to contact my office with any questions, or to request a neighborhood meeting.

Peace, Love & Justice,


Milele A. Coggs, J.D.
6th District Alderwoman - City of Milwaukee

Committee Assignments
City Information Management - Chair
Licenses - Vice Chair Finance & Personnel - Member
Neighborhood Improvement Development Corporation - Member
Library Board of Trustees - Member
Commission on Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault - Member

U.S. Civil Rights Division Accepting Tips From Milwaukee Citizens About MPD

Residents who believe Milwaukee Police officers have violated their rights now have an outlet for their concerns, with the announcement by U.S. Attorney James Santelle that the Civil Rights Division of the U.S.
Department of Justice has set up a toll-free tip line and email address. The information gathered through these sources will be used to help determine whether Mr. Santelle and the Civil Rights Division should conduct a formal “pattern and practice” investigation of the Milwaukee Police Department.
Anyone interested in providing information can contact the Department of Justice by calling 1-855-544-5132 or via email at community.milwaukee@usdoj.gov. The recorded phone message is in both English and Spanish.

Tip Hotline Means $$ for Reporting Illegal Dumping

The Common Council has approved a tip hotline whereby callers can be eligible to receive reward
money after anonymously providing information on incidents of illegal dumping of debris and/or
hazardous materials. Illegal dumping includes dumping of items, brush, and/or materials on streets,
sidewalks, parking lots, vacant lots, alleys, or at vacant properties.
If you see or know of illegal dumping, call WeTip at: 1-800-78-CRIME
If the information provided leads to a conviction, you may be eligible for a reward up to $1,000.

Freedom Scholarship Essay Winners

In fall 2012, Alderwoman Coggs announced the winners of the 5th Annual Freedom Scholarship Essay Contest.  Alderwoman Coggs said each of the winning entries was exceptionally well-written and struck a
chord about the steep price that has been paid for freedom. “These writers each captured the
importance of tapping into the spirit of our ancestors and our history, because that gives us a fresh perspective on the life and death struggles they persevered through so that we could have many of the freedoms we have today,” Alderwoman Coggs said.

Mikael L. Luter, in his essay, wrote: “To combat and prevent such negativity and inequality, we must begin to educate each other more, as well as more thoroughly on the lifestyles, cultures and spiritualities of the
aforementioned ‘seeds’ of our roots.” He is a 2010 graduate of Dominican High School and now a sophomore at Marquette University.

Imari Conner was also awarded a scholarship for her essay, in which she wrote: “History lessons can be taught, but if no one appreciates or understands the sacrifice ancestors made to make sure there were
opportunities for their children, there will be no progress.” She is a 2012 high school graduate of Ronald Reagan High School and a freshman attending Fisk University.
The annual contest challenges students to put into words what the concept of “freedom” means to them and how they can combat and prevent prejudice, discrimination, and violence in our world today. Both Luter
and Conner have received a $500 scholarship award.

The 6th Annual Freedom Essay Scholarship application will be available in April at:
www.milwaukee.gov/district6

MKE Business Now Entrepreneurship Summit

Back for the second year in a row, the MKE Business Now Entrepreneurship Summit continued in its mission of connecting aspiring entrepreneurs and business owners with the resources
they need to be successful.  Sponsored by Alderwoman Coggs, this year’s event included an
address by Mayor Tom Barrett, a panel discussion with local business leaders, business workshops and representatives from more than 25 organizations that offer assistance and resources
to local entrepreneurs.
For more information about future events, call (414) 286-2994.


Pleasant St. Bridge Continues on Schedule

The rehabilitation of the Pleasant St. lift bridge over the Milwaukee River is continuing on schedule, according to the Department of Public Works. The contractor, Zenith Tech, has already completed much concrete work and has focused attention on deck reconstruction, structural steel and other
components, and sandblasting and refinishing all removed bridge machinery. The Pleasant St. bridge project is scheduled to be completed by August 2013.

Capitol Update from Rep. Sandy Pasch

Capitol Update

Friends and Neighbors,

In this month's Capitol Update, I have an update on the state budget, which was passed by the Republican majority in the State Legislature last week, and will go to the Governor to be signed later this month.
 

As always, I am available by email at rep.pasch@legis.wi.gov and by phone at (608)266-7671 or toll free at (888)534-0010.

I hope you find this information helpful, and please let me know if I can be of any assistance to you.  

Sandy Pasch
State Representative
10th Assembly District
 

Why I Didn't Support the State Budget

The new state budget is a clear sign that Wisconsin Republicans have turned their backs on everyday Wisconsin families in favor of extreme partisan ideology. And while they spent the past several months cutting backroom deals among themselves and extreme special interests, I was here in our community, listening to the concerns and priorities of my constituents.

The message I heard  was clear – our state budget absolutely must support public schools, access to affordable healthcare, and a balanced approach to tax fairness and economic security. Unfortunately, the final product approved by Republicans does the exact opposite.

Republicans had one last chance to make necessary changes to the budget to reflect the priorities of everyday Wisconsinites – not extreme political interests. Unfortunately, they chose to once again ignore the will of the people and rubber-stamp their extreme budget with no substantial changes.

They could have prioritized funding our public schools over the expansion of taxpayer funding to private voucher schools by increasing public school funding by at least $275 per pupil. They could have accepted federal funds to strengthen BadgerCare by insuring nearly 85,000 additional Wisconsin citizens and covering more people on BadgerCare at a lower cost to Wisconsin families. And they could have created a fair tax structure aimed at helping build a stronger middle class.

But instead, the budget that Republicans approved last week expands unaccountable private voucher schools statewide – likely forcing property tax increases and cuts to local public schools in many communities across the state. It includes a health care plan that will cover 84,700 fewer people while costing our families an extra $120 million. It hands out a massive tax break targeted toward our wealthiest citizens instead of providing real relief to Wisconsin’s everyday families or reinvesting in public schools. And it gives special favors to predatory payday loan shops, cable companies, and lead paint makers by rolling back essential consumer protections.

At a time when Wisconsin remains 47th in the nation in job creation, 45th in wage growth, 49th in economic outlook, and dead last in short-term job growth, Wisconsin’s communities can no longer afford to have Wisconsin Republicans legislating their ideology ahead of the best interests of our state. Unfortunately, they chose to pass a budget that puts their extreme political ideology ahead of the best interests of Wisconsinites.

Despite the budget's passage, I will continue my efforts to support our public schools, increase access to quality healthcare, and provide economic stability for our everyday families and communities.

What the Budget Does

Healthcare: The budget reduces Badgercare eligibility from those earning up to 200% of the poverty line to those living at or below the poverty line (an annual income of $11,490 for an individual or $23,550 for a family of four).

Because this is not in compliance with the Affordable Care Act, Wisconsin will lose $119 million in federal Medicaid funding, forcing nearly 85,000 people off of BadgerCare (17,083 adults in Milwaukee County alone) and into a new online insurance marketplace that has yet to be created in Wisconsin, where participants are supposed to find replacement health coverage.

Education: Wisconsin Republicans doubled down on their failed education policies, voting to expand the school voucher program statewide, diverting funding from public schools to subsidize unaccountable private schools while barely increasing per-pupil spending at our public schools. This comes after last session's budget in which Republicans cut a monumental $1.6 billion from our public schools. Instead of supporting our public schools, the budget goes one step further in subsidizing private education by giving a tax credit of up to $10,000 per student to families that choose to send their children to private schools.

Taxes: A tax cut that should have gone toward providing economic stability for our middle class instead benefits the highest earners. The tax break for the median household will be just $109 dollars while households that bring in more than $300,000 per year will receive ten times more, at $1,440.

Rent-to-Own: Because of changes to rules that control the rent-to-own industry, companies will no longer have to tell customers the total price of what they are purchasing, the amount financed, or the interest rate of the transaction. Without these legal obligations, these companies will be further enabled to prey on the low-income citizens of this state by lending at extremely high, predatory interest rates with no transparency for their customers.

Childcare: The budget proposal cuts childcare funding by $35 million over the next two years. The cuts will prevent the Department of Children and Families from stepping up their efforts to improve child care programs in Wisconsin through YoungStar. Rather than reducing the child care budget, we should have invested in YoungStar and increased incentives for quality child care.

 

General Meeting Agenda from June 17th, 2013.

—Opening-Samuel Sims 3Min

—Information for group to consider a proposed business-Bill Blatz and Steve Stewart 5-7Min.  Information has yet to be sent to the group for consideration.

—DNS- Violations and What to do?- Inspector Stacey Tyler 45min

Contact and look for handouts re: permits, what is a violation, and your right to an appeal upon receiving a violation.

—HGNI-J. Allen Stokes, VP Inner City Redevelopment Corp. 30min

Working on a workshop for residents to connect to funding sources for home improvements.

—Dr. Andrew Calhoun, Pastor-Updates and Programs 10 min

Leadership certificates Distributed.  Sports camps for children announced.  Organizational meetings and progress.  Women workshop coming. 

—Thank you to the distribution team:  Gracelyn, Diana,Elsie, Reggie, Dr. Calhoun, Bernard, Betty, Samuel, Churchill, Rick, Rev. Marbley,Kenneth , Grace Fellowship Church, Westside MBC, Pat Ott, Faithful Mission 2, and Julia. 

—Turn in your cocooning sheets to  Betty please.

Also thanks to Betty for door prizes and taking care of attendance sign in.

Employment Opportunities via Victor Huyke-El Conquistador

Summer Camps at Grace-Fellowship Church--Dr. Andrew Calhoun

General Meeting June 17th, 2013

Violations and protecting your property: What to do? What’s happening to the neighborhood? Neighborhood Meeting-Williamsburg Triangle

Monday, June 17th, 6-7:30 PM

Place:  Grace Fellowship Church, Pastor Calhoun

            3879 N. Port Washington Avenue  

Renters, homeowners, landlords, business owners, guests, everyone needs to attend.  Special guests include DNS Inspector Stacey Tyler to talk about the violations in the area and your rights and J.Allen Stokes,  Project Coordinator for Harambee Great Neighborhood Initiative to provide important updates.

Note: please encourage your neighbors and landlords to show and bring your completed cocooning sheet.

 GH-WBT NBC, UA

Human Trafficking Seminars- notice from Bria Grant

• Dept of Natural Resources (DNR) 2300 N Dr Martin Luther King Jr Dr Milwaukee, WI 53212

• This summer, CYD will devote a special series toward raising awareness about sex trafficking. The series titled “FOR YOUR INFORMATION” will run through June & July and will feature discussions & lectures ranging from parenting a human trafficking survivor all the way to protecting one. Series topics include: • Sex trafficking in Milwaukee: What YOU need to Know: by Tracey Johnson, Executive Assistant US Attorney General, United States Department of Justice- Details: June 13, 2013, 5:30pm, Career Youth Development, 2601 N. MLK Drive, Milwaukee, WI 53212 • What ALL parents should know about Sex Trafficking: by Terence Ray, Milwaukee Fatherhood Initiative & Maria Beltran, Advocate, Healing Hearts Details: June 20, 2013, 5:30pm, Career Youth Development, 2601 N. MLK Drive, Milwaukee, WI 53212 • What ALL young girls should know about Sex Trafficking: by Dana World-Patterson, Chairwoman, Human Trafficking Task Force of Greater Milwaukee Details: June 27, 2013, 5:30pm, Career Youth Development, 2601 N. MLK Drive, Milwaukee, WI 53212 • What ALL Clergy should know about Sex Trafficking: by Jason Butler, Pastor- Transformation City Church Details: July 11, 2013, 5:30pm, Career Youth Development, 2601 N. MLK Drive, Milwaukee, WI 53212 • Why Milwaukee Stakeholders should be very concerned about Sex Trafficking: by Claudine O’Leary, City of Milwaukee Health Department Details: July 18, 2013, 5:30pm, Career Youth Development, 2601 N. MLK Drive, Milwaukee, WI 53212 • I Lived to tell My Story: American Actress Brook Bello Shares Her Story: by Actress Brook Bello Details: July 26, 2013, 2:00pm, Mercy Memorial Church, 2477 North 36th Street, Milwaukee, WI 53210