Tag: elections

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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/

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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).

Grow the Vote
Grow the Vote

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.

Dane Legistar
TMJ4: Milwaukee County Board committee unanimously approves marijuana referendum
Grow the Vote July event
Cannabadger