Save the Date: LWVMC New Leaders Orientation

If you’ve recently begun heading one of our committees, teams, or other groups . . . congratulations and thank you! You may now wish to get more up to speed on League organization, processes, and lingo. An in-person orientation on these matters will be held at Summit Place (Room 2136) on Thursday, July 30, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Please mark your calendar. We urge you to attend live but, if you cannot, you’ll be able to join a virtual orientation early in the Fall.

At the direction of President Trump, the United States Postal Service (USPS) issued a proposed rule earlier this month that would erect barriers to mail voting.

These proposed amendments would create unnecessary barriers to voting that could prevent eligible voters from receiving and returning their mail-in and absentee ballots and could even serve to disenfranchise eligible voters who are unable to vote in person.

Under the amendments, USPS would need to verify that mailed ballots are only being sent to approved voters on a list supplied by states. This gives USPS a role in election administration that rightfully belongs to state and local election officials.

The proposal would also establish mandatory ballot-mail design and tracking requirements, including requiring states to update their mail ballot envelopes to include voter unique ballot-tracking barcodes. 

Everyone agrees that election mail should be secure. But these new federal requirements will create barriers that could prevent eligible voters from receiving and returning their mail-in and absentee ballots in time to be counted.

Voting is a fundamental right for citizens that must be guaranteed. Voting by mail is part of that right and is a critical part of the election process throughout the United States.

The USPS comment period is open until TODAY, July 2, 2026, at 5PM Eastern.

Use this form to file your comment today!

See Your Candidates for the Fall Primary Election on VOTE411.org

 The League of Women Voters of Milwaukee County has published its VOTE411 online Voter Guide for the August 11 Primary Election. We will find information about races for US Congress and Wisconsin State races.  In local races, Milwaukee and Waukesha Counties each have a Sheriff and a Clerk of County Court race. On VOTE411, voters can learn more about the responsibilities of these offices and each candidate's answers to the League’s questions. 

If you see that a local candidate has not answered the League’s questions, please reach out to the candidate. Ask them to answer our questions.  If they say they did not receive the invitation, ask them to check their spam mail. If not there, they can email Sue Leister at voterguide@lwvmilwaukee.org and she will resend the invitation to participate in VOTE411.

Observer Corp Update:

The Observer Corp generates several reports a month of city and county of Milwaukee committees.  My top Observers have offered to provide a brief summary of their reports to share with members.  This week comes from Joan Stewart who watched the Public Health & Safety Committee:

The June 11, 2026 meeting of the Milwaukee Health and Safety Committee included discussions to modify two of the Milwaukee police department’s standard operating procedures: SOP 660 - Vehicle Pursuits and Emergency Vehicles Operations and SOPs regarding the duty to intervene, investigate and report unreasonable uses of force; police action when ICE is in Milwaukee and behaves unreasonably or uses excessive force.

SOP 660

The Fire and Police Commission with community comments suggested focusing on incremental, meaningful changes to the current vehicle pursuit standard operating procedures. Based on national best practices, police pursuits should be extremely rare. Last year Milwaukee had 10 deaths due to pursuits and 700 pursuits for reckless driving. Milwaukee Police Department expressed concern that not pursuing may encourage more of the same behavior. The motion was recommended to place on file.

The duty to intervene, investigate and report unreasonable uses of force

Adding to the Ice Out legislation and preparing the community for ICE activity in Milwaukee the motion requires Milwaukee police, when it is safe and reasonable to take action, to stop the use of unreasonable force. Officers who do not comply will be subject to discipline. There was public testimony from Voces de la Frontera, Milwaukee Turners and Progressive Baptist church in favor of the motion. The Milwaukee Police Association was not in favor of the motion. The motion was recommended for approval.

If you would like to be more involved in local government and be “in the know” join our group of watchdogs!  Email Robyn at r.furger@lwvmilwaukee.org

New Name, Expanded Mission:

Healthcare and Food Equity Task Force

A little less than a year ago, the LWVMC Medicaid/FoodShare Task Force assembled, with the overall objective of helping to mitigate the harmful effects of new work/paperwork requirements imposed on some individuals otherwise eligible for Medicaid (BadgerCare in Wisconsin) and SNAP (FoodShare in Wisconsin). 

This is still a key objective. Since enactment of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) on July 4, 2025 – which added these new requirements – facts and figures on the negative impacts on individuals and on states charged with implementing the requirements have emerged. (It’s galling that these impacts were foreseeable when the OBBBA was enacted.) But we’ve also concluded that we should go broader . . . that, regardless of whether the cause is legislation, economics, or something else, doing without healthcare coverage or suffering from food insecurity is simply unacceptable. Thus, for example, we are now supporting efforts to combat food apartheid in the City of Milwaukee. 

Because of the expansion of priorities, we’ve rebranded as the Healthcare and Food Equity Task Force. We’ll be posting revised information on the LWVMC website soon. For more information now, please contact Deb Bursinger, d.bursinger@lwvmilwaukee.org or  Linda Laarman, l.laarman@lwvmilwaukee.org. We are always looking for new members, ideas, and opportunities. And stay tuned for news of a late-September community forum on healthcare and food access issues in Milwaukee County. 

LGBTQ+: Walking Through Milwaukee's LGBTQ+ History

As we walked through what is now Walker’s Point and the Third Ward, we learned about the many LGBTQ+ gathering places that once flourished throughout the city. These bars provided community, friendship, and safety at a time when serving LGBTQ+ patrons could bring legal consequences. Our guides explained that bar owners lived with constant police scrutiny and the risk of raids or arrests. Yet they also described how enforcement was often inconsistent, with officers at times looking the other way or tolerating the establishments through informal financial arrangements—a reflection of the complicated realities of the era.

We also learned about the legendary Sailor Ann, who operated one of Milwaukee's early "sailor bars"—establishments that became important gathering places and are considered predecessors of the city's later gay bars. During Prohibition and the years that followed, she endured repeated arrests but reportedly joked, "So many arrests—only one conviction." Her determination became part of Milwaukee's LGBTQ+ legacy.

It Is About Human Rights

The walk was a powerful reminder that Milwaukee's LGBTQ+ history is rich, resilient, and worthy of being remembered and shared. Preserving and sharing these stories helps us better understand the importance of protecting the civil rights, dignity, and full civic participation of every member of our community. As League members committed to protecting democracy and equal rights, understanding this history reminds us that progress has always depended on ordinary people willing to stand up for dignity, equality, and the right of every person to live openly and participate fully in civic life.

To stay informed about legislation affecting the LGBTQ+ community and track advocacy efforts, visit Fair Wisconsin’s Bills to Watch page:
fairwisconsin.com/bills-to-watch

To identify and contact your state legislators and relevant committee members, use MyVote Wisconsin: myvote.wi.gov

Speaking up matters.

LGBTQ+ ... All Letters Matter!

Celebrating the Speakers Bureau First Six Months

Thank you to everyone who has given presentations for the Speakers Bureau!   We celebrate having presented 22 presentations since the Speaker Bureau started and 20 presentations from January through May, 2026.  

To keep this momentum going, we need your help to find opportunities for presentations in communities the League of Women Voters of Milwaukee County serves.   Invite the Speakers Bureau to give a presentation at a community organization, club, church, neighborhood organization in your community.

Who needs to hear why voting is important, who can vote, getting registered, different options for how to vote?  It is time for all of us to help defend democracy.  Talk with groups you belong to about scheduling a presentation about voting in Wisconsin.   Here is the speaker request form for a presentation.

Or reach out to Theresa Bellone or Mary Voelker at speakersbureau@lwvmilwaukee.org for more information about the Speakers Bureau and to schedule a presentation.

Unite & Rise 8.5 Milwaukee featured on Adelante

¡Adelante! is a monthly, locally produced series celebrating the rich heritage of Latino people.  Donna Spars, Unite & Rise Milwaukee Chair, appeared on the June 25 episode which can be viewed here Adelante - Unite & Rise 8.5, minutes 8:30-18:30.

Resistance Against the Administration

Bridge Demonstration

Barker Rd. Bridge at I-94

Saturday, July 18, 10:00-2:00, signup for 1 or more hour-long shifts

For more information, signup here Brookfield Bridge Demonstration

*Please note that this event is on the weekend designated this year to honor Congressman John Lewis.  So let’s follow the lead of that great man and make some “Good Trouble”.

Keep Politics out of Science

Call Senators Johnson and Baldwin

Stand Up for Science: Oppose the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) political attacks on scientific research. OMB’s latest proposed rule, “Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance,” would require all scientific grants to be approved by political appointees, stealing approval power from career experts in their fields. Funding would be required to align with “Administration policies and priorities.” Political appointees selecting or approving research proposals destroys the scientific process, which is exactly what this Administration wants. This is a direct threat to scientific independence, public health, and evidence-based decision-making.

Stand Up for Science includes links to the full proposed rule and to two different overviews, a guide to leaving public comments, and a section on how to talk to anyone about the new OMB rule.

The page dedicated to helping you phone your Senators and Representative in Congress includes a form for your name, address, and email. Once you fill that in, you will be provided with the name and phone number of one of your Senators together with a script. The pull-down menu next to that name lets you select the other Senator and the Representative.

Join WIVEC for the third installment of our Faithful Voices in a Critical Hour webinar series as our panelists reflect on America's 250th anniversary celebration and what it means for us as we build toward the election season. Each panelist will share their own experience and the experience of their communities — exploring what this moment in history calls us to as people of faith and engaged citizens.

Confirmed Panelists:

Reverend Willie Briscoe, former President of Milwaukee Inner-City Congregations Allied for Hope (MICAH).

Selena Fox, senior minister and high priestess of Circle Sanctuary, a Nature Spirituality church

This is a conversation about where we've been, where we are, and where we go from here — together.

REGISTER HERE

History Shows Us that Protests Matter

Why do protests matter?

Visible resistance is essential so the government and its supporters see the number of citizens who don’t agree with their actions. Nonviolent visible protest activity encourages those sitting on the sidelines to join in. Here is the link to the listing of ongoing weekly protests: Protest Rallies

Thank You! (And It's Not Too Late)

Thank you to everyone who has donated to the Spring Appeal for LWVMC!!  Your contributions enable the League to continue empowering voters and defending democracy during this critical time of a constitutional crisis!    

Your support helps League volunteers register voters, campaign to maintain voting rights, participate in the fight against undemocratic actions by our government, and advocate for the causes we care about.  One of our increasing costs is the printing and sharing of Get Out The Vote (GOTV) materials with our partners.  Thank you!!

Milwaukee County Historical Society

We The People: Milwaukee Stories of Immigration, Citizenship, and Community 

910 N Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr.

Exhibit Open Now

Is Your Member Profile Up-to-Date?

The Member Portal of our website has resources (including a member directory) just for members. Please login to the website, click Member Resources in the top menu, go to your Member Profile and complete/update your Additional Member Data and Interests (found under Website Functions). Contact roster@lwvmilwaukee.org with questions. Thank you!