Action items for the week

This week is filled with public hearings and organizational meetings. There are many other great events happening, too, including speakers and films (see the calendar), but the events listed here are opportunities for the people to have direct interaction with the decision-makers.

November 12: 
* At 4 p.m. in the Council Chambers, City Hall, "The City of La Crosse's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program will hold a public hearing. All citizens are invited to comment on its Consolidated Plan, including community development issues and housing needs, overall CDBG performance, and impediments to Fair Housing. Draft results of the community needs survey will also be presented at this meeting and public will be invited to comment on the results of that survey. Comments can also be submitted to: City of La Crosse Planning Department (400 La Crosse Street, 3^rd Floor) or on the City’s website www.cityoflacrosse.org/community."

* At 6 p.m., as noted earlier, "a Public Hearing will be held for any taxpayer on the Proposed 2020 Operating Budget of the City of La Crosse will be held in the Council Chambers, City Hall.  The proposed budget is available for inspection at City Hall Finance Department Monday through Friday from 1:00pm until 4:00pm.  Click here for a summary of the proposed General Fund Budget." This is very important - funds for an update to the city's 2009 Sustainability Plan were to have been in the 2019 budget but were pushed back to 2020. Now, we've heard that those funds will be pushed from the 2020 budget to the 2021 budget. This is unacceptable. In addition, funds for a very important greenhouse gas emissions assessment, which were to have been in the 2020 budget, are also pushed to 2021. Please attend or email our council and Mayor urging the restoration of these funds to the 2020 budget.

UPDATE: We have learned that the council will amend the budget at Thursday's common council meeting to include funds to begin the plan update and the GHG emissions survey in 2020 with the remainder of funds to be in the 2021 budget. This is great news. Thanks to those who contacted the Mayor and council!

November 13:
* At 12:30 p.m. a Town Hall Forum with Neel Kashkari, President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "How does student debt affect La Crosse’s economy? How’s the job market for college grads? Why are wages low? Are we headed toward a recession? Here’s your chance to bring your questions and comments to a man in the middle of all those issues, and more." The event will be held in The Bluffs, UWL Student Union. See link for details.

November 14:
* From 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., a conference on Expanding and Strengthening Inclusive Communities, hosted by the Greater La Crosse Diversity Council, will be held at the Lunda Center, Western Technical College


* From 3:30 to 5:00 p.m., Chancellor Gow will hold an Open Forum in the Great Hall of the Cleary Center at UWL.

* At 5:00 p.m., a listening session with State Senator Jennifer Shilling and State Representative Steve Doyle will be held at the West Salem Public Library


November 16:
* From 10 a.m. to noon, a public interactive presentation, How Did We Get Here? The hidden impacts of racial disparity on the well-being of Wisconsin and La Crosse will be held at the English Lutheran Church, 16th and King.

Again, please check out the other events happening this week. And remember, if your event is not listed, please submit it for inclusion. If you would like to post a longer item about an event or issue you are working on, please email.