<div dir="ltr">Gerry, while I was visiting home in Michigan, I took a ride down 8 Mile Rd. in Detroit to see what I could recognize from my childhood.<div><br></div><div>I stopped into McDonald's for the usual reason.</div><div><br></div><div>Unlike most McD's where the decor attempts to invite pleasant thoughts about the locale, at this one you place your order through one-inch bulletproof glass. You receive your meal via a box made of the same material. A sign warns you NOT to open your side of the box until the server closes their side.</div><div><br></div><div>I guess we'll have to get used to living in an armed society.<br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><div><br></div><div><img src="cid:ii_iko47jl40_152e57902529bdb9" width="524" height="393"><br><br><div><br></div></div></div></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Mon, Feb 15, 2016 at 8:35 AM, Gerald Flakas via Lekooks <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:lekooks@lekook.org" target="_blank">lekooks@lekook.org</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><font color="black" size="2" face="arial">
<div><font style="background-color:transparent">Another example of our national priorities. I applaud CG's efforts on this, but it reminds me of something I heard on the radio (an ESPN call-in show) during our travels a couple days ago. </font></div>
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<div>The state of Louisiana is in financial crisis, apparently due to the Legislature slashing taxes (in hopes that this would stimulate their economy and increase tax revenues - the so-called Laffer Curve from Reagan days). Guess what...the revenues went down so now they have a big budget shortfall. So the (Democratic) Governor is threatening to cut state funding for many programs, INCLUDING LSU FOOTBALL, in hopes of stimulating the Legislature to restore the taxes. This has led to a great public outcry to impeach the Governor - over LSU football, not over any other proposed program cuts.</div>
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<div>Just shows our priorities as a nation, doesn't it?</div>
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<div>Gerry F.</div>
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<div>PS another experience on our trip. Went to a McDonald's in Missouri for a coffee, a guy in line had a gun on him. Who would think it's a good idea to bring a gun to a McDonalds? Just another example of our country becoming a armed madhouse.</div>
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<div style="color:black;font-family:arial,helvetica;font-size:10pt"><div><div class="h5">-----Original Message-----<br>
From: Kerry Duma via Lekooks <<a href="mailto:lekooks@lekook.org" target="_blank">lekooks@lekook.org</a>><br>
To: lekooks <<a href="mailto:lekooks@lekook.org" target="_blank">lekooks@lekook.org</a>><br>
Sent: Sat, Feb 13, 2016 5:26 pm<br>
Subject: [Lekooks] Make a difference in Milwaukee<br>
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<div dir="ltr">Dear LCUUC friends,
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<div>I imagine that many of us are happy to live near Milwaukee, with our Great Lake, and a lot of great sports, parks, restaurants and cultural attractions. But I think we are all aware that Milwaukee is one of the most segregated cities in the country, with the highest black male incarceration rate, huge challenges with the schools, and some neighborhoods that are filled with crime.</div>
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<div>You probably also know that the City of Milwaukee recently gave $80 million to the Bucks to build a new stadium. </div>
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<div>Common Ground is an organization that works to develop solutions to the toughest problems in our area through Issue Campaigns. They partner with churches and community groups to determine what people care about, and then create ways to tackle those problems. </div>
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<div>Common Ground has a platform to ask the City of Milwaukee to invest $80 million to rebuild and invest in its neighborhoods - repair deteriorating infrastructure, revitalize the business district in the central city, build and improve athletic facilities, and create community gardens and public art.</div>
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<div>Phil Smith and I are the new co-chairs of LCUUC's Social Justice Committee. We recently attended a gathering of 250 people where Common Ground laid out a platform called "Milwaukee Neighborhoods Now" - a plan to get Milwaukee to commit to investing in the city. They need people like us to help out. They are looking for people to go on Neighborhood Walks to talk to people in the city and make them aware of this platform, and to get them involved. Residents of Milwaukee will be encouraged to register to vote in the mayoral and aldermanic election on April 5.</div>
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<div>Phil and I are looking for a few people to join us to commit to a 4-hour shift on a Saturday or Sunday in Feb /March to talk to people in Milwaukee. There will be training and lots of support. </div>
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<div>If you recognize that people in the city of Milwaukee could use some help in being inspired to vote and take charge of their neighborhoods, email me. We'll get a few groups together from LCUUC and help make a difference!<br>
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<div>In action,</div>
<div>Kerry</div>
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