GOVERNMENT SHOULD POSTPONE ELECTION
GOVERNMENT SHOULD POSTPONE ELECTION
BY ROBERT MIRANDA, CONTRIBUTING COLUMNIST AND CHRIS JOHNSON, EDITOR OF KINGFISHMKE
APRIL 6, 2020
How many African Americans have to die before corporate Republicans State Senator Scott Fitzgerald and State Representative Robin Vos declare its time to think about human life and act to do what Governor Tony Evers is asking them to do?
How many Wisconsin families will have to grieve because of losing a grandparent, mother or father, son or daughter or friend from Coronavirus (COVID-19) complications, before the Governor decides enough with playing political checkers with the GOP and act to use his executive power to close polling sites to save lives?
There is no question that voting is critically important in our democracy, but during this pandemic is it more important than life?
The pandemic planning by our government has failed at the federal, state and local level. Clearly the actions witnessed by many of us over the past few weeks give rise to the notion that it does not appear government response has been collaborated responsibly given the numerous missteps at every level of government in implementing a plan and facing the reality of the situation on the ground for communities.
Given the confusion and political pandering taking place in Madison, Milwaukee’s Health Department must act to protect lives.
Wisconsin Statute 252.03 allows the local public health officer to make that decision. In Milwaukee, that person would be Commissioner of Health Jeanette Kowalik.
Wisconsin Statute 252.03 (2) states: “Local health officers may do what is reasonable and necessary for the prevention and suppression of disease; may forbid public gatherings when deemed necessary to control outbreaks or epidemics and shall advise the department of measures taken.”
Given that Milwaukee polling sites expect 40,000 – 50,000 in-person voters on Tuesday, April 7, 2020; also given the fact that there are extremely limited number of polling sites, five to be exact, expecting 5,000 or more voters at each site waiting in line to vote, the need to act is now.
J. KOWALIK
It is worthwhile mentioning again that Milwaukee Commissioner of Health Jeanette Kowalik has the authority, according to Wisconsin Statute 252.03 to, “
promptly take all measures necessary to prevent, suppress and control communicable diseases.” For the health and sake of all of the men, women and children in the city of Milwaukee, Commissioner Kowalik step-up to the plate and show the city what real leadership looks like. We are literally dying for you to do so, literally!
Of the 36 people killed by the virus in Milwaukee County, 27 were African American, as of this weekend according to a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel database. The victims are two women and three men, ages 69, 71, 74, 80 and 90, according to a report in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. On Saturday alone, five more African Americans in Milwaukee County died from the coronavirus, according to the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner.
As we eventually wait for the peak of pandemic COVID-19 deaths in Milwaukee to arrive, we can only hope our public officials have the courage and humanity to act and close the polling sites thus postponing in-person voting to a later date.
The risk to life is so high.
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If you agree that City of Milwaukee Commissioner of Health, Jeanette Kowalik, should exercise her authority to postpone Tuesday’s election, please call and tell her at (414)286-3521 or email her.
