Greater Milwaukee Green Party: YES for MPS!
GREATER MILWAUKEE GREEN PARTY SUPPORTS “YES” VOTE ON MPS REFERENDUM
The Greater Milwaukee Green Party calls on Milwaukee residents to vote Yes on the Milwaukee Public Schools’ (MPS) funding referendum on April 7.
Education is a right for all people. The $87 million per year that this referendum will raise is just a start towards repairing the damage successive Wisconsin legislatures have done to MPS in its drive to privatize public education.
Since the “school choice” program to send public money to private schools began in the 1980s, corporate interests have dominated education policy. It’s time for public school students and teachers interests to come first.
This referendum is a step in the right direction on the path to better public schools. Though it will not stop private interests from continuous siphoning of public school funding through voucher programs and Tax Incremental Funding districts), it is a necessity. Much like running a generator while the power lines are down, this referendum ensures we still accommodate our students as we work to bring other public dollars back to MPS.
This referendum will help MPS fund technical education and library services to give kids a better chance of understanding the world around them, and the tools to make change.
The art and music programs that this referendum will fund are not frills. They are essential to helping young people express themselves and create change.
Greens support the nationwide push for better teacher pay, better health care and library services, and better support services for children in every school district.
It is no accident that the attack on public schools is focused on urban districts where students most often experience the effects of racism, poverty, structural unemployment, and the violence that ensues where hope for the future is lacking.
We need public schools to help the next generation lead the fight against the climate crisis, systemic racism, and corporate domination. Public schools are democratic institutions essential in the fight for a broader democracy. We need the schools our kids deserve!
Vote YES for MPS!
For more information, go to the referendum campaign site: https://www.voteyesformps.org/
Help Adam Kassulke Canvass For Greenfield School Board – March 23
Join Greater Milwaukee Green Party in canvassing for Adam Kassulke for a seat
on the Greenfield School Board!
When: Saturday, March 23, 2019 at 12:00 PM
Where: Briarwick Apartments, 9050 W Waterford Sq S, Greenfield, Wisconsin
See Here for more info : https://www.facebook.com/events/346919869245454/ …
Governor Forum #2
Original post from mwhite4gov (Candidate Forum).
There is a forum this afternoon at Edgewood High School, in the Krantz Center (2219 Monroe St, Madison, WI 53711), at 4:00 pm. If you are in the area or love to drive, stop by to give support to Michael White and listen to the wonderful discussion the candidates have.
If this is anything like the previous forum, it will be a calm, pleasant, and enjoyable discussion among the candidates.
Governor Forum
- Maggie Turnbull (Independent)
- Phillip Anderson (Libertarian Party)
- Michael White (Green Party)
- Arnie Enz (Wisconsin party)
Cannabis Referendums Making Progress
Updated: Includes Milwaukee County referendum
Various counties in Wisconsin are working to get cannabis legalization referendums on the November 6th ballot: Dane, La Crosse, Brown, Winnebago, and Rock county.
Dane county approved one step in the Executive committee with a unanimous vote. It will be taken to the next County Board meeting on July 12th.
La Crosse is in the same position (including a transportation funding referendum). They are already working on the wording of the question:
“Should cannabis (marijuana) be legalized in Wisconsin for use by adults 21 years or older, and be taxed and regulated like alcohol?”
Brown County will add an advisory referendum (as opposed to binding), meaning it will merely gauge the opinion of citizens.
Winnebago did not collectively agree to introduce the advisory referendum, but will reconsider it in July.
Rock County is still working on an advisory referendum. It will need to be approved by August 28th to make the November ballot. They are drafting the question as well:
“Should cannabis be legalized for adult use, taxed and regulated like alcohol, with the proceeds from the taxes used for education, healthcare and infrastructure?”
Marathon County is working on plans for their advisory referendum but is further behind than the counties above.
As reported by TMJ4 in May, a Milwaukee County Board Committee unanimously approved a proposal for an advisory referendum (again, not binding) on the November ballot. This still requires approval by the full board (confusing, right?).
The question proposed would allow citizens 21 or above to “engage in the personal use of marijuana, while also regulating commercial marijuana-related activities, and imposing a tax on the sale of marijuana.”
Notice it does not say “medical”. It says “personal”. As a reminder, TMJ4 mentions that the following states allow recreational cannabis usage: Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Colorado, Alaska, Vermont, Massachusetts and Maine.
If you’re in Milwaukee County or nearby, remember to participate in the groups striving to get cannabis on our referendum. Grow the Vote has a meeting July 12th, 7pm, at the Riverwest Public House Cooperative (calendar).
Let these moments of progress sink in and give you the extra push to help someone else’s cause (or your own). All hope is not lost. The people (you) make change.
Sources and links:
Dane Legistar
TMJ4: Milwaukee County Board committee unanimously approves marijuana referendum
Grow the Vote July event
Cannabadger
Petitioning Successful
We successfully got two of our candidates onto the ballot for August and November. Michael White is running for Governor, and Tiffany Anderson is joining him as Lieutenant Governor. Unfortunately, Nathan Pelkey (Treasurer) and Brad Karas (Secretary) didn’t make it on the ballot.
Many thanks to each petitioner who helped on this. Special thanks and gratitude to those petitioners who gather hundreds of signatures.
Onward to the campaign!
Petitioning Tips for Candidate Nomination forms (from Veteran Petitioners)
By Barbara Maniotis
Edited by Jon Henrich
Nomination Forms
More Tips
Calendar/PETITIONING OPPORTUNITIES
Opening lines; what to say.
PDF flyer of candidates.
For first-timers 🙂
- Use a clipboard with a rubber band holding the bottom, so the wind doesn’t catch you off-guard.
- Use a cover sheet in a plastic slip, with a picture of the candidate and a little information. (Put finished sheets away when completed.)
- You are allowed to fill out spaces, except for the signature space, if the elector has trouble with writing. The information has to be legible.
- Put the candidate forms back to back. Have them sign each, but only put the address on the first. You can finish the rest. (Filling out multiple forms can be frustrating for them.)
- Wear a button, T-shirt, etc. to identify as a Green Party worker.
Where to Petition
Festivals, parks, universities, community events, libraries, bus stops, anywhere people gather in public in large numbers.
The most effective spots are where people are waiting around for something. I have gotten some of my largest numbers in front of food trucks.
Door to door is okay, but that’s probably a max of 10 signatures an hour as opposed to a max of about 50 signatures an hour.
Make sure to get all your family and friends to sign. They are easy yes answers for you.
Don’t be timid if anyone tells you to leave. Sidewalks, street festivals, parks, bus stops, outside University buildings are all fair game. Don’t let any security tell you off because it is one of your first amendment rights.
If they try to debate you, it’s usually best to walk away (They don’t want to sign, and they are wasting your petitioning time.)
Remember the Pillars
Be able to recite a few things about the candidates, and if you are at a loss for words, remember the four pillars:
- Social justice
- Peace
- Ecological wisdom
- Grassroots Democracy
Tips from WIGP Cochair Dave Schwab
My pitch:
“Excuse me, hi! Are you eligible to vote in Wisconsin?”
If yes: “Great, can you help me out quick with a signature to get Green candidates on the ballot and give people another choice?”
I ask them to help me out, because psychologically people are more inclined to help someone who is volunteering on the street than to do something for a cause they likely don’t know much about. The word “quick” reassures them it won’t take long.
Many people support giving people more choices on the ballot, even if they don’t support the Green Party in particular. If they are reluctant, I repeat, “This is just to get them on the ballot and give people another choice, it doesn’t mean you have to support them.”
- Focus on the common ground of agreeing with more choices on the ballot. You will generally work more quickly and effectively this way.
- Remember: it’s a numbers game. Some people will say yes and others will say no, but if we ask enough people then we’ll hit our target.
- Don’t take anything personally, and don’t engage with grumpy people.
- Take inspiration from the supportive people.
- Plan enough time to hit your personal signature goal.
Four clipboards is a bit of a challenge, but it’s doable. I’ve been petitioning with Nathan Pelkey, and if it seems people’s enthusiasm is waning after the first couple of sheets, I mention that my friend Nathan (right over there) is running for State Treasurer. They’re more likely to make the effort if they see you know the candidate, or if they see the candidate is out there working to get on the ballot. Since many of us know at least one candidate we’re petitioning for, this could really help.
- Make sure you can read what they wrote before letting them go, because you’ll need to fill the rest in.
- Go out to events with a buddy or a team to encourage each other and show new petitioners the ropes.
Have fun and be proud of yourself for working for a cause you believe in!
Notes by Tom Rodman
Setup the context quickly in your opening line:
“Help us put Green Party candidates on the fall Wisconsin ballot.”
- We need 2,500 signatures to put the Green party candidates on the fall (November) ballot.
- Consider taking a small cardboard box to hold at least two clipboards each with your nomination forms, and several pens. You can put signs on the cardboard box to explain the goal.
- Carefully use blue Painter’s tape to anchor a sheet for a different candidate on both the front and the back side of the clipboard.
- Have a couple of index cards – if you can not read their printing, have them print their name again on the index card, and then correct the form later.
- Have the signer fill out one candidate’s nomination form in full. Next have them sign and print first and last name for all the other candidate nomination forms; then you fill in the incomplete fields on the other nomination forms, copying from their first entry. They need to sign each form at minimum, since the signature cannot be forged.
- Do not fill in the page number field in lower left. That will be done by other Greens before final submission.
- Do not put the date in, at the bottom, until you are done collecting signatures for that sheet. That date must be the same day or later than any signature on the form.
Prep for Milwaukee 2018 Elections
On Sunday, November 12, 2017 9:10 PM, Mike McCallister wrote:
the Milwaukee County Elections site:Here are some details we need to know:Spring Election:Only the County Board (all 18 seats) and judgeships are are up for this
election. (see http://county.milwaukee.gov/CountyElectionCommission/Elected-Officials-and-Terms-of.htm).
Suburban municipalities may have other offices open (like the Bayside
school board that someone is interested in).A candidate needs 200 signatures to get on ballot for County Board (300 recommended, 400 maximum)Nomination Papers circulate: December 1, 2017 – Due 5:00pm, January 3, 2018Currently registered candidates for the County Board are here:
http://county.milwaukee.gov/ImageLibrary/Groups/cntyElectCommission/Upcoming-Elections/2018-Elections/2018SpringCandidateSpreadsheet1.pdfPretty much everything you need to know to run, including nomination
paper form: http://county.milwaukee.gov/HowtoRunforCountyOff23732.htm+++++++++++++++++++++++++++Let me know if you need anything else on the election.Peace and solidarity,Mike