Since our last Action alert, 200 people from all over the state attended a 9 hour hearing (#1 below), WIMAP got its own website (#3), the PMC published its final maps (#4), a statewide writing team was formed (#5) … and I didn’t forget our meeting Monday (#2)!
1. DO ME FIRST — Memo to Legislators. The Senate committee moved their bad maps forward today with a vote. But they will be known by their vote – we are watching. We drafted a memorandum we want EVERY senator and assembly rep to see — Debbie Patel drafted it (with plenty of editors) and we need YOU to send it to your legislators.
- Read the Maps Matter Memo to send to Legislators https://bit.ly/MemoToLegislators
- Sign up to commit to send: https://bit.ly/LegislatorMemoSignUp
- Legislators’ contact info: https://bit.ly/WI_LegList2021
- (Nov 5 update) – include this link to the WIMAP website, it analyzes the maps by the numbers and has graphics that show what a failure the proposed maps are: https://piercecountygro.
org/wimap/#nov-4. - Press release to send to local news outlets letting them know you sent memo to your legislator (PDF also attached): https://bit.ly/LegislatorMemoPressRelease
2. DON’T FORGET OUR MEETING MONDAY (my how time flies):
7:00-8:15 PM Monday November 8 virtual: We Are Part of Something Bigger.
Register at https://bit.ly/NSFMMonthly.
Updated Nov 5: This North Shore Fair Maps meeting explores the national fair maps movement and the current efforts to sabotage elections in Wisconsin and other states. From the WI Legislature’s election investigation debacle and their effort to get another decade of rigged maps, to anti-democratic election efforts in Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Texas, we are part of something going on from sea to shining sea! With Jeff Mandell, founder of Law Forward, and Elizabeth (Lizzie) Ulmer of States United Democracy Center.
Mandell is a voting rights lawyer and founder of Law Forward. He will bring us up to date on attacks on democracy in Wisconsin. Ulmer is the Communications Director of States United Democracy Center. Ulmer will provide an overview of SUDC’s work—and the larger climate—around the country, covering redistricting and democracy issues more broadly.
Law Forward (Madison WI) exists to preserve fundamental democratic principles, revive Wisconsin’s traditional commitment to clean and open government, and promote a progressive vision through impact litigation, administrative process, and public education. https://lawforward.org/.
The States United Democracy Center (Washington DC) was founded in 2020 by three veteran public servants—Joanna Lydgate, Norm Eisen, and Christine Todd Whitman. It is a nonpartisan organization advancing free, fair, and secure elections. https://statesuniteddemocracy.org/.
3. Have fun with the maps – the WI Map Assessment Project (WIMAP) now has its own website!
- Maps Matter Video: https://youtu.be/N5ri5edfITI
- WIMAP webpage: https://piercecountygro.org/wimap/
- Seriously, play around with the maps
4. The final PMC maps are out (and they are better than the Legislators’ maps)
- PMC Press Conference with Governor Evers: https://wiseye.org/2021/11/02/news-conference-gov-evers-media-briefing/
- PMC Report on their process and their maps: https://bit.ly/PMC_RptFinalMaps Link to Princeton Gerrymandering Project grades on PMC maps:
- Assembly: https://gerrymander.princeton.edu/redistricting-report-card/?planId=recHi9RM1d1yEiivc
- Senate: https://gerrymander.princeton.edu/redistricting-report-card/?planId=rec2JHCXbxhLQqedD
- Congress: https://gerrymander.princeton.edu/redistricting-report-card/?planId=recZO66Z2DeLQBCJs
5. Calling all writers – Fair Maps Coalition Writing Group
- Contact Amanda Peterson at amanda@fairmapswi.com to join the writing group.
- Especially needed are people who will submit letters (not necessarily written by them) to local newspapers.