Issue Paper 11: Why Hoosier Workers Need a Strong Voice in Indianapolis Now More Than Ever

On the first day of this month we celebrated “May Day.” Also, known as International Workers' Day, or International Labor Day, May 1^st, is a date globally where we celebrate the international labor movement. In this era of transition and great need, it is also a time to reflect on what living in a “Right to Work State” means for Hoosiers.

(ID: Labor Day Logo)

The COVID-19 crisis has defined a new classification of essential workers, unlike many traditionally deemed essential, this new group makes lower wages, and have far less benefits (such as paid sick leave, emergency training, nor access to protective equipment).

(ID:Grocery workers in action.)

We need to bridge our local hiring gap to ensure all of Indiana House District 3 is afforded access to 21st Century Jobs and stand by our laborers when they fight for their quality of life. This is needed from both a philosophical stance of what is best for the people of Indiana and also as a better economic policy for our state.

(ID: Jessica Renslow advocating for equal pay with the League of Women Voters.)

• On average, workers in states with right to work laws make $6,109 a year (12.1%) less annually than workers in other states ($44,401, compared with $50,511). 

• Median household income in states with these laws is $8,174 (13.9%) less than in other states ($50,712 vs. $58,886).

• 29.6 percent of jobs in right to work states were in low-wage occupations, compared with 22.8% of jobs in other states. (Source Economic Policy Institute  “Right-to-Work” States Still Have Lower Wages)

(ID: Jessica Renslow Speaking about the positive impact of creating life long communities for all Hoosiers at Transit Day in Indianapolis. )

This lack of benefits and salary leads to a lower quality of life as well as less disposable income to help infuse Indiana’s economy. This gap impacts Hoosier businesses, discourages people from buying property and a myriad of other issues such as crushing debt.

(ID: The N.U.L. Diversity Career & Networking Expo at the National Urban League Conference was a wonderful opportunity to discuss equal opportunity employment and transportation equity for all.)

If elected, Jessica Renslow will fight to:

• Increase jobs and economic development by monitoring/ maintaining compliance of our local and targeted hiring programs.

• Bring back the outreach and pride of the labor movement into our schools by facilitating mentorship opportunities to help bridge the disconnect between our educational institutions and our regional employers.

• Promote business investment in INHD3 that is complementary to creating life-long communities.

• Revoke Right to Work Legislation

• Champion better training, access to benefits and wages for all essential workers.

• Continue to propose equal pay for all working families. (You can read more about Jessica Renslow's stance on equal pay in her 5th Issue Paper: Equal Pay Affects all of Indiana House District 3)

• Advocate for entrepreneurial education and financial literacy across INHD3 via community partnerships with local financial institutions/ business incubators.

How to Register to Vote: Check Your Voter Registration Status Online

Today, Monday, May 4, 2020 (@11:59PM) is the last day you can register as a new voter or check your registration status. Please take a few minutes to do this before 11:59pm. You can check out this short video I made with a step-by-step guide on How to Register to Vote/ Check Your Voter Registration Status Online.

March Corona Virus Update for INHD3

March was a month of many changes. There is a ton of misinformation about the Coronavirus circulating. My team and I have compiled useful information that is specific to Indiana House District 3 (1/3 of Gary, all of Lake Station, New Chicago and NW Hobart) to help our community in this time of crisis. We have been updating the info weekly. Last week there were a ton of schedule changes on the state level involving the 2020 primary, voter registration and absentee ballot procedures. 

Voter Registration Date changed to 5/4/20

Register to vote/ check your registration here: https://indianavoters.in.gov/

Primary Date changed to 6/2/20

General Information on Absentee Ballots
For the first time in many years ALL Hoosiers have the ability to vote by mail for the primary.

Access the online vote by mail application through the state's voter registration system at indianavoters.com

You must request a ballot by May 21, 2020. (You can do it by phone, fax, or online)
Lake County Board of Elections:
(219) 755-3795

Click on https://www.renslow4rep.com/coronaviru to find local, state and national info specific to #INHD3.

Stay safe. Check your facts.
#WeAreDistrict3

Issue Paper 10: Why Green Investments are Good for the Economy and the Environment

It seems every day we get bombarded with a new environmental disaster. Some prime examples include Arcelor Mittal being accused of intentionally manipulating their data and poisoning one of the USA’s largest bodies of drinking water, formally once-a-century-type storms now occurring on an annual basis and massive fires like the one in Australia that left 24 people and 480 million animals dead.

Indiana House District 3 is host to a globally rare environment and some of the world’s manufacturing giants. Our dance between environmental activism and industrial revolution economics has always been complicated.

(ID: Factories silhouetted by Lake Michigan.)

However, there is room for opportunities and ways to steer our economy closer to being greener. An example is NIPSCO’s recent commitment to transition from coal. They are planning to retire four units at the R.M. Schahfer station in Wheatfield by 2023 and the 5^th (final coal unit) in Michigan City by 2028 at the latest. Their move towards wind and solar could provide jobs for Hoosiers, but will these employment opportunities be equitable?

(ID: Solar installers inaction)

As our industrial giants are required to move towards becoming greener we will need leadership on the state level to hold them accountable, as well as to promote job training across Indiana to ensure that all Hoosiers get a chance to benefit from this push to lower Indiana’s carbon footprint.

If elected, Jessica Renslow will fight to:

• Hold our NWI industrial giants accountable for their actions on the state, local, federal and international level by partnering with government agencies and local advocates to help ensure the safety/ quality of life for Hoosiers.

• Create and implement an INHD3 tourism strategic plan and marketing campaign that will give our area presence on the national/international level.

• Protect our environmental jewels like the Hobart Marsh area, promote well-designed infrastructure that connects our cities and properly develop under-served resources like Lake Street Beach.

• Increase green jobs and economic development by monitoring/ maintaining compliance of our local and targeted hiring/ business incubation programs.

• Foster sponsorship relationships between area businesses and industries to help infuse tourism initiatives, support active transportation, improve infrastructure and protect our environment, so that the burden of funding is not on INHD3 residents.

• Advocate for business investment in INHD3 that is complementary to promoting life-long communities.

• Connect our trail gaps to unite the Calumet Region and all of Lake County. Pursue local businesses to start prioritizing active and passive tourism in all seasons as an economic driver.

• Promote private or environmental groups to develop preserves, solely funded via their revenue sources, on the edges of our already protected areas. This approach will benefit INHD3 by retaining our scenic beauty/ wildlife, reducing our blight situation and it will better guarantee our environmental jewels be allowed to retain their value.

• Ensure that INHD3 tourism revenues and benefits stay in Gary, Lake Station, New Chicago and Hobart.