“Don’t matter if you on drugs, 5 kids, feeling tired you can still be somebody!” This powerful statement was said at the end of the interview, but I placed it at the beginning why? Simply because it defined Danielle McClendon as a human, great human being.
Board of Supervisors
County Board Endorses Chairwoman Nicholson’s Call for Criminal Justice Reform
MILWAUKEE – The Board of Supervisors endorsed federal legislation today that would begin to repair the harmful, ineffective, and wasteful aspects of mass incarceration – linked to the passage of the 1994 federal crime bill – by transforming the nation’s criminal justice system to promote shared power, freedom, equality, safety, and human dignity.
Chairwoman Marcelia Nicholson proposed the county resolution in support of a federal bill from Massachusetts Representative Ayanna Pressley, known as the People’s Justice Guarantee (H. Res 702, 116th Congress, 1st Session). Pressley’s bill calls for wholesale reform of the criminal legal system, including mass decarceration at the local, state, and federal levels, and for repealing the failed policies of the so-called war on drugs and 1994 crime bill.
“The effects of failed policies like the 1994 crime bill are plain to see: billions of dollars wasted on building prisons, millions of lives ruined by unjust prison sentences, and countless families torn apart by mass incarceration. It’s long past time to shift our public dollars away from building prisons and locking people up, and towards education, school counseling, after-school programs, and restorative justice,” said Nicholson.
Nicholson’s resolution highlights the fact that the 1994 crime bill led to billions of dollars in spending on prison construction, “putting tremendous pressure on State and local municipalities by adding additional budgetary constraints,” and much less spent on preventing violent crimes against women or funding drug courts, mental health clinics, youth programs, supportive housing, or promoting employment and entrepreneurship.
The adopted resolution calls upon the US Congress to pass, and the President to sign, the People’s Justice Guarantee, “legislation that would acknowledge the harms and ineffectiveness of mass criminalization and mass incarceration, and begin to repair the damage wrought by the 1994 Crime Bill, and the punitive, expensive, violent, and racist systems of criminalization, by investing in the health and well-being of communities and our nation.”
Marcelia Nicholson Elected Chairwoman of the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors
By a 11 to 7 vote, the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors recently elected Sup. Marcelia Nicholson to lead the body as chairwoman for the 2020-2022 term.
Sup. Willie Johnson Jr., who has served on the County Board since 2000, also ran for the position. Nicholson is the first Afro-Latina elected chairperson of the Board of Supervisors. Her father is African-American and her mother is Puerto Rican.
Nicholson thanked her colleagues for their support and expressed optimism about the future.
“I thank my colleagues for their support, and I pledge to make the 2020-22 term one that is marked by a renewed spirit of collaboration. We have many challenges ahead, but I know that each supervisor is ready to get to work, and to work together. I pledge to do my best to empower this body to develop solutions to our most challenging problems and to serve the people of Milwaukee County with honor and integrity,” said Nicholson.
The 18-member Board of Supervisors, five of whom are serving their first term of office, also elected Sup. Sequanna Taylor as First Vice Chairperson, Sup. Steve Shea as Second Vice Chairperson.
“I supported Supervisor Nicholson for Chairwoman because I have seen and know her ability to lead. The legislation she has passed to date demonstrates her track record of getting things done in ways that positively impact the county. I’m excited to move forward with her at the helm the Board of Supervisors,” said Sup. SeTaylor.
“I was honored to cast my vote for Marcelia Nicholson as our new Milwaukee CountyBoard Chairwoman. Chairwoman Nicholson brings positive energy and a proactive vision that will serve us well as we face the future together,” said Sup. Jason Haas.
“Supervisor Nicholson will be an outstanding Board Chairwoman during this pandemic.
Her sharp intellect and level-headed approach will serve us well, and her ability to bring people together and focus on our responsibilities as legislators will ensure that the work of Milwaukee County government is done safely and efficiently,” said Sup. Sheldon Wasserman.
Chairwoman Nicholson was first elected to the Board of Supervisors in April 2016 as the Sup. to the 5th District. She served as First Vice Chair of the Board and Chair of the Economic and Community Development Committee during the 2018-2020 term.
“Chairwoman Nicholson is a creative and effective leader who will ensure that Milwaukee County continue to provide essential services during the Covid-19 emergency. I admire Chairwoman Nicholson’s advocacy for working people and appreciate that she will continue that advocacy in her new role. I look forward to getting to working with our new colleagues and our new leadership on the Board of Supervisors,” said Sup. Eddie Cullen.
Nicholson’s tenure prior to becoming Chairwoman included successfully passing a $15 County living wage ordinance, adopting a racial equity ordinance, and bringing together Milwaukee County, the City of Milwaukee, and Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) to collaborate on service delivery and improving efficiencies across the three-largest local public institutions.
“Milwaukee County faces unique challenges and that may require drastic changes.
Now more than ever we need a Board chair who can be that change agent. I value Chairwoman Nicholson’s open-minded approach and willingness to listen to the advice and guidance of our predecessors,” said Sup. Sylvia Ortiz-Velez.
“I’m excited about the new energy Chairwoman Nicholson will bring to the role, and I look forward to her leadership,” said Sup. Russel Antonio Goodwin.
“I was honored to cast the first vote for Chairwoman Nicholson today. Her background as an educator and her track record as a proven progressive make her well-equipped to lead the Board of Supervisors. I look forward to her leading the way in bold, forwardthinking efforts to make our community stronger,” said Supervisor Ryan Clancy.
“It’s been an honor to work alongside many colleagues at the Milwaukee County Board.
Although the County remains challenged by the need for a better solution to fund local government, the administration and the Board are in a good place. I extend congratulations to Supervisor Nicholson and her colleagues for their trust in her leadership to lead the Board to a stronger, more unified place that reflects the diversity of the residents in Milwaukee County,” said County Executive Chris Abele.
On April 7, Nicholson was elected to a third term as the County Board Supervisor representing the 5th District, which includes neighborhoods to the north, east and south of Washington Park, the Merrill Park area, portions of the Marquette University campus, and the east side of downtown Milwaukee, from Juneau Avenue to the Third Ward.
Nicholson is a former MPS educator and works for the Milwaukee Area Service and Hospitality Workers union. She is 31-years-old and earned her bachelor’s degree from UW-Milwaukee.
She was born and raised in the 53206 zip code and is a proud graduate of MPS schools, including BenFranklin, Morse Middle School, and the Milwaukee School of Languages.
Source: Milwaukee County Board of County Supervisors Press Release
Lipscomb Proposal to Double Resources for Voter Registration and Education Adopted
MILWAUKEE – The Board of Supervisors adopted (14-3) a proposal from Chairman Theodore Lipscomb, Sr., today to double funding for voter registration and education efforts in the wake of recent attempts to purge approximately 200,000 Wisconsin voters from election rolls.
“We must do everything we can to protect the right to vote, especially in the wake of ongoing voter suppression efforts in Wisconsin. With these additional funds we can help ensure voters know their rights and are registered to vote,” said Lipscomb.
The potential purge and the confusion it could create led Lipscomb to propose boosting previously planned efforts – budgeted at $50,000 – with an additional $50,000.
In advance of the 2020 elections, the Milwaukee County Election Commission was already planning to reprise its 2016 “Bring It to the Ballot” voter participation and education effort.
That campaign communicated registration requirements via advertisements on county buses and bus shelters, in movie theaters, local newspapers, and on broadcast radio.
Milwaukee County and the City of Milwaukee are also already collaborating on the placement of voter registration kiosks at public facilities throughout the county, including Milwaukee City Hall, all City of Milwaukee public libraries, all County senior centers, some suburban public libraries, and in the jury management room at the County Courthouse, among other locations.
Potential voters can use the kiosks to print registration forms and receive instructions on how to submit the required documents and register to vote.
Lipscomb’s resolution also directs the Milwaukee County Election Commission to report to the Board of Supervisors in advance of the 2020 elections about additional efforts that could be made to improve voter registration and education.
Additional measures could include direct mailings to potentially purged voters with instructions on how to update their voter status, additional voter registration kiosks, partnerships with voter outreach groups, and voter registration drives.