WISCONSIN’S SHARED REVENUE PLAN

DON’T TAKE THE BAIT

This month, our focus is on the state legislature’s Milwaukee-specific “shared revenue” plan. We know this isn’t a plan to increase the services and resources our families need but yet another ploy to further swell already bloated police budgets and seize control over local government.

With the bill already slated to hit the floor quickly, we know we must support our partners and build a loud choir around this issue now. Because if our words don’t spread, they don’t work. Thank you for being part of our choir.

DISMANTLING HARMFUL NARRATIVES

1. The opposition is using this primarily as a messaging bill to once again try to point to Milwaukee as their scapegoat for crime when we know that adding cops doesn’t keep us safe.

2. They are doing this to:

• Test the waters and see what they can get away with in prep for 2024

• Galvanize a base that is hurting economically because of their own policies

• Hurt Black and Brown people in Milwaukee for political power

3. We don’t have to get in the weeds of this package.

   • They want us talking about the nitty-gritty so we don’t point out what a power seize this is. Our job is to point out what they are trying to do, why they are trying to do it and remind people of what Milwaukee and the rest of Wisconsin actually want to see from our legislators.

ACTION STEPS

1. Share AART's Press Release and sign their Participatory Budget Petition
   
   

2. Sign LIT’s Stop Putting Cops in Public Schools Petition and share their advocacy form with your networks within the state
   
   

3. Call any of the elected officials listed below and ask them to publicly oppose this stipulation within the shared revenue plan and/or vote against it if possible
   

   • Members of the Legislative Joint Finance Committee- Individual contact info found here

   • Milwaukee Mayor Chevy Johnson - Contact info

   • Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley - Contact info

   • Milwaukee County Board Chair Marcelia Nicholson - Contact info

   • MPS Superintendent Dr. Keith Posley - Contact info

   • MPS school board members - Individual contact info found here

   • Your state senator and state representative - Use the “Who are my legislators” link for find contact info here

WINNING NARRATIVES 

No matter where you live in Wisconsin, our families should have everything they need to thrive: good, clean water, local public schools, neighborhood hospitals, and great-paying jobs.

But a greedy few are trying to redirect resources from our communities to their corporate donors, police backers and the wealthiest in our state.

They stir division based on where we live, hoping we will blame Milwaukee for the hardships these wealthy few create so we don't join together to demand our shared resources deliver the programs, schools and support all of our families need.

Together, we can demand our lawmakers fund our neighborhoods, not the police. Nothing stands in the way of us providing a great life for our WI families.

Optional add-on: Now they stir division based on zip codes and race, hoping others will blame everyday people for the hardships these wealthy few create, so we don't join together to demand our shared resources deliver the programs, schools and support all of our families need.

You can find additional narratives, including ones for Milwaukee-based groups and residents, here.

Sample tweets/graphic captions/short messages

Here are some sample messages you can edit and share! We also have adaptable graphics available here.

• Can you imagine what our neighborhoods would look like if we had ALL that we need? We can fund all of our neighborhoods so that everyone has the resources to make our schools, hospitals, parks & programs all our families deserve. <CTA>

• Instead of listening to us and providing what we truly need, a handful of politicians are using fake unity to try to override our local control and supersede our ability to have our own say in how our cities and counties are run and resourced. <CTA>

• Instead of doing their duty to provide affordable services to struggling Wisconsinites, a handful of politicians are wasting taxpayer dollars on shared revenue plans that continue to harm us. WI cities and towns don’t need more cops; they need clean water, great schools, and local hospitals.

• We know what keeps us safe: living in communities where #AllinWisconsin have fair wages, great schools, and affordable healthcare, where we address problems with proven solutions like social support instead of militarized police.

WHY WE LAUNCHED THIS SERIES

Make it stand out!

Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

This year is a pivotal crossroads for our state and our nation. In 2020, we came out in record numbers. We marched, we voted, we volunteered, and we elected new leaders to govern our interests. 

But now, our time is running out to ensure that every person in Wisconsin knows how much they made a difference. If we cut through the noise, we can ensure they know that they changed the direction of our state, improved our lives, and will do it again. 

Here’s the challenge: our collective knee-jerk reaction to disinformation and incorrect statements is to provide “enough” facts to win the day, argument and voter. But contrary to our instincts, this doesn’t work and can even strengthen our opponent’s narrative! 

When we try to disprove a falsehood, what ends up happening is:

• We deepen the audience’s belief in the lie

• We repeat and reinforce our opponent’s frame

• We expose the lie to folks that might not have heard it before

At the same time, we know we can’t stay silent. This monthly newsletter will help inform how to dispel lies and call out dog whistles without repeating them.