Grants Approved To Help With Elections and Coronavirus Relief

MILWAUKEE, WI— The Common Council approved three new measures Tuesday to support the election and provide coronavirus relief funds.

The first is file #200755 is a resolution to formally allow the Election Commission to accept and spend the Center for Tech and Civic Life grant.

The $1,255,000 grant will provide funding for additional election apparatus, tabulators, drive-up voting sites, and additional personal protective equipment for election workers.

A second measure approved Tuesday, File #200749, is a resolution directing department
heads to recruit staff who are willing and able to be assigned to work for the Election
Commission during the November 2020 election. The file intends to use City of Milwaukee staff to supplement any shortage in election workers that exists.

The trio of files were all sponsored by Common Council President Cavalier Johnson

“We are three weeks away from Election Day, and these files will help provide additional
support for supplies and manpower so the Election Commission can run the smoothest, safest and
most efficient election possible,” Alderman Johnson said.

The Common Council also approved file #200758 – a substitute resolution expressing the
City of Milwaukee’s support for enacting new federal legislation to provide direct financial relief
funding to local governments and provide economic stimulus - including rent assistance,
mortgage deferrals, small business loans and enhanced unemployment support.

The file is cosponsored by Alderman Ashanti Hamilton and Alderman Michael J. Murphy.

“COVID-19 is continuing to impact citizens across the country and in particular here in Wisconsin. It is time the federal government act in the interest of those who need support now more than ever, and provide aid to local governments who are on the front line combating this virus,” Alderman Johnson continued.