Milwaukee Courier Article re: voting on April 1st referendum

Voters should be aware of referendum question on ballot to reduce supervisor’s salaries

29 MARCH 2014

By Cassandra Lans

On Tuesday, April 1, 2014 Milwaukee residents will have an opportunity to go to the polls and vote. In addition to an vacant aldermanic seat left open by former alderman and common council president Willie Hines, there will also be some judicial races as well.

But, a key vote that has not been talked about much since late summer and early fall is a special referendum that will appear on the ballot that will be the final decision on whether or not the salary of County Board Supervisors gets slashed.

The following is the Binding Referendum that will be on the April 1 ballot: “Shall that portion of 2013 Wisconsin Act 14 which limits the compensation of members of the board of supervisors of Milwaukee County other than the chairperson of the board and chairperson of the finance committee to receipt of an annual salary of not more than the annual per capita income of this county, which in 2012 was $24,051, and which limits the compensation of the chairperson of the board to not more than 150 percent of that amount and the chairperson of the finance committee to not more than 125 percent of that amount, subject to limitations and adjustments specified by law; and which prohibits supervisors from receiving any compensation or benefits not specifically authorized or required by law become effective in this county on April 18, 2016?”

Voting “yes” on this referendum would mean that the current County Board and the way it works which is on a full-time basis would be reduced to a part-time position. Voting “yes” would reduce supervisor salary from $50,679/year to $24,051 salary for the supervisors.

People who are for this reduction claim that the board needs to downsizing based on the manner in which other supervisors across the state work. Many of these individuals are not necessarily representing the interests of average Milwaukee residents.

Voting “no” on this referendum would keep the salary and position the same, a full-time position. People who have spoken out to keep these positions full-time state that you cannot compare Milwaukee County and the manner in which it operates with the rest of the state, because of the size and populations that are being served by the Milwaukee County Board supervisors are much larger than county districts across the state.

County Board Supervisor Willie Johnson has served as a supervisor since 2000 took a bold stand this week, and purchased print advertising in the local community newspapers to encourage residents to vote “no” on this referendum.

He states that fighting for families, living wages and economic development for Milwaukee’s residents takes more than part-time attention, and part-time pay.

Residents should also be aware that part-time representation means a part time voice on important issues that effect their day to day lives and needs.

Referendum on April 1st, 2014

If you do not understand the referendum, please ask someone to explain.  Read the posted signs.  Here's the referendum:

QUESTION

“Shall that portion of 2013 Wisconsin Act 14 which limits the compensation of members of the board of supervisors of Milwaukee County other than the chairperson of the board and chairperson of the finance committee to receipt of an annual salary of not more than the annual per capita income of this county, which in 2012 was $24,051, and which limits the compensation of the chairperson of the board to not more than 150 percent of that amount and the chairperson of the finance committee to not more than 125 percent of that amount, subject to limitations and adjustments specified by law; and which prohibits supervisors from receiving any compensation or benefits not specifically authorized or required by law become effective in this county on April 18, 2016?”

Yes       No

EXPLANATION

A No vote means the limits on salaries and benefits will not take effect.

A Yes vote will limit salaries and benefits for the Milwaukee County board of supervisors beginning in April 2016. A supervisor’s salary and authorized benefits will be capped at the annual per capita income of the county, which was $24,051 in 2012. Compensation will be limited to 50 percent more than the supervisor’s amount for the Board chairperson and 25 percent more for the finance committee chairperson.

CBDG Funds Survey- complete survey and send it in.

Give your input on where federal dollars should go and where.  Give your input in words and checks.  Write what you feel.

The link below is to the CDBG website…the survey was just put on the site to complete online (click on the text in red).

http://city.milwaukee.gov/CommunityDevelopment310.htm#.UzM2hU1OWUk

Coffee and Culture Chat with County Board Chairwoman Marina Dimitrijevic--invite by Leif Ottesen, Community Organizer

COUNTY BOARD CHAIRWOMAN MARINA DIMITRIJEVIC

TO HOLD "COFFEE & CULTURE" DISCUSSION MARCH 28

AT THE CHARLES ALLIS MUSEUM

Chat Session Designed to Discuss County Cultural, Recreational and Entertainment Needs

Milwaukee County Board Chairwoman Marina Dimitrijevic will hold a "Coffee & Culture" chat session at10 a.m. on March 28 at the Charles Allis Museum, 1801 N. Prospect.

Dimitrijevic is a member of the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce's 48-member Committee on Cultural and Entertainment Capital Needs, which is holding a series of public meetings to determine how to best serve the needs of the region's arts, entertainment and cultural institutions.

"This is a discussion that will greatly affect the future of our community for decades, and it is important I get the chance to listen to the residents of our county about their vision for our cultural, recreational and entertainment amenities," Dimitrijevic said.

"Milwaukee County has a long, proud tradition of being a major supporter of parks, recreation and the arts. However, we cannot do it alone. These regional assets need regional support from our partners in other counties. Milwaukee County residents voted in support of dedicated public funding for parks, culture and transit via an advisory referendum in 2008. I am excited to be at the table of this important discussion and plan to have an open mind with a vision for moving our region forward.

"I invite everyone to participate in these chat sessions as the community continues this important conversation."

Dimitrijevic, who held informative chat sessions at the Milwaukee Art Museum and the Milwaukee Public Museum earlier this year, plans to have future chat sessions at other county-supported amenities such as the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts and the Mitchell Park Domes.

​ 

Driver's Ed Classes from Org. Talibah Mateen

Subject: Free April Driver's Ed Class at The Milwaukee Urban League

To all our supporting affiliates,

Our next free class will be held at The Milwaukee Urban League. Those who are not driving legally or need to gain legal driving status should register for this highly successful program.  Every participant completing our program is eligible for a rebate to offset the cost of their permit.

Only those that meet our qualifications and register by phone, or in person, by 10:30 on Tuesday April 8th will be seated. To register by phone, call 414 374-5850 xt 100. We always seat on a 1st come/1st served basis. 

The classroom instruction, from 11 am through 2:30 pm each day, begins on Tuesday April 8th and runs through Friday April 11th. 

THERE WILL BE ON-SITE TESTING FOR THIS CLASS.

We have attached a Flier to print, post and distribute to others that can benefit from driving legally. 

$15 Rebate toward the Purchase of the Permit:

To qualify for our rebate, participants must complete the program, 

Pass the state exam,

Purchase their Permit and 

Show their state issued Permit to The  Milwaukee Urban League office, 

located 435 W. North Ave 

To qualify for seating, each participant must:

> Be at least 18 years of age with NO outstanding tickets or fines, 

> Register in person by 10:30 am on the first day of class,

> Bring a pen and THE MOST CURRENT Wisconsin Motorist Handbook, which is free and available at any DMV station to class.

The DMV does not issue permits to anyone with outstanding fines or tickets.

For more information, call our 24 Hr Information Line: 414 344-5788 ext 23. 

You can Post and/or Print this number on your community bulletin boards, calendars, brochures, pamphlets and appropriate agency literature.

Our program continues to be the BEST OPTION for those who need assistance in passing the written state exam. 

Thank You.

Ron Lee

Program Director

"Helping 1000's of Adults to drive legally in the shortest period of time."

Heat and Eat Program--Rep Goyke

Good Afternoon – Below and attached is a media advisory for a press conference Rep. Shankland and Rep. Goyke will be holding at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 27^th at Hunger Task Force. Please consider for coverage and/or distribution. Thank you for your interest!

For Immediate Release                     Contact: Rep. Katrina Shankland, (608) 267-9649

March 25, 2014                                                             Rep. Evan Goyke, (608) 266-0645

**MEDIA ADVISORY**

Rep. Shankland, Rep. Goyke, and Anti-Hunger Advocates to Announce Plan to Preserve FoodShare Benefits for 255,000 Households

MILWAUKEE – On Thursday, Rep. Katrina Shankland (D-Stevens Point) and Rep. Evan Goyke (D-Milwaukee) will host a press briefing announcing their plan to protect low-income Wisconsinites from the 2014 Farm Bill’s impending cuts to food stamps.

Wisconsin participates in the federal “Heat and Eat” program, which allows low-income households to receive a boost in FoodShare benefits if they receive at least $1 in low-income energy assistance. The 2014 Farm Bill raised the Heat and Eat energy assistance minimum from $1 to $20 per household, effectively cutting FoodShare benefits for 255,000 Wisconsin households.

Rep. Shankland and Rep. Goyke recently introduced legislation to raise the annual amount of federal dollars Wisconsin allocates for Heat and Eat assistance from $1 to $21 per household. The State Assembly has now adjourned without taking action on the bill, but Governor Walker retains the authority to implement the same measure with an Executive Order.

According to the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau, allocating $5.4 million of federal funds to the Heat and Eat program would preserve $276.2 million in FoodShare benefits for Wisconsin families. No state money would be used.

What: Press conference urging Governor Walker to take action to protect 255,000 low-income Wisconsin households from FoodShare cuts.

Who:   Rep. Katrina Shankland (D-Stevens Point)

            Rep. Evan Goyke (D-Milwaukee)

            Sherrie Tussler, Executive Director of Hunger Task Force

            Jonathan Bader, Wisconsin Community Action Program Association (WISCAP)

When: Thursday, March 27, 2014

            2:00 p.m.

Where: Hunger Task Force

            201 S. Hawley Court

            Milwaukee, WI 53214

job Fair-Wed. March 26, 2014--Maximus

JOB FAIR!!!

Site Staffing and Wisconsin Hospitality Group (WHG) job fair at Maximus – 4201 N. 27th Street, Milwaukee.

Job fair, hosted by WHG, will be held on Wednesday, March 26th from 10am-2pm. They will be recruiting for all Applebee’s and Pizza Hut locations in the Milwaukee Metro Area: Glendale, West Allis, Wauwatosa, Franklin, Greenfield, Waukesha, Pewaukee and West Bend. They currently have 100 positions that are available from entry level to upper management. Interviews will be given on the spot!

PLEASE updated resumes and appropriate business attire on per the employers request.