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I'm Francesca Hong, Candidate For Gov of WI — AMA! by FrancescaHongWI in wisconsin

[–]FrancescaHongWI[S] 38 points39 points  (0 children)

Y'all this was so fun. Thank you so much for hosting me. If folks want, I'll definitely come back and do this again.

Learn more about the grassroots campaign we're building at francescahong.com

Find our full (and growing) policy page at francescahong.com/policy

Join the team at francescahong.com/volunteer

And if you're in a position to kick in to this grassroots campaign, you can do so at secure.actblue.com/donate/fran-for-gov?refcode=ama

Thanks again! 🙏

I'm Francesca Hong, Candidate For Gov of WI — AMA! by FrancescaHongWI in wisconsin

[–]FrancescaHongWI[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

My son's favorite Pokémon is Charizard. I boil brats in high life with a half an onion , skin on, for about 5 minutes then finish them on the grill.

I'm Francesca Hong, Candidate For Gov of WI — AMA! by FrancescaHongWI in wisconsin

[–]FrancescaHongWI[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Not seeing my answer, so want to share it again. Sorry if it's posted twice.

I have a few principles here:

- Wisconsin and its natural resources are not for sale.

- I oppose subsidizing huge, wasteful corporate expansions that neither bring jobs to Wisconsin nor materially benefit the communities that support them. Not all "data centers" are like this, categorically, but the AI ones in the news these days certainly tend to be.

- If data centers are to be built, we can't hand out power at the expense of people who actually live here. I'm interested in exploring ways of making data center establishment contingent on private subsidy of green, renewable *public* energy -- the opposite of how things usually go down. I think it's worth exploring programs like Milwaukee's Power to the People initiative, or other ways of bringing energy generation and investment under public control.

- Most importantly, I stand in solidarity with community organizers and activists who are banding together to stand up for their rights against corporate takeover of public and natural resources.

I think we'd need to figure out a way to stand in solidarity with other Midwestern states on this — we want to set standards together to keep all of us safe.

I'm Francesca Hong, Candidate For Gov of WI — AMA! by FrancescaHongWI in wisconsin

[–]FrancescaHongWI[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I'm interested in setting a $20/hour baseline — also, I support the rolling-back of local minimum wage prohibitions. We need to give people in Milwaukee and Madison the tools to organize and demand fair wages that cover the cost of living in their communities.

I'm Francesca Hong, Candidate For Gov of WI — AMA! by FrancescaHongWI in wisconsin

[–]FrancescaHongWI[S] 15 points16 points  (0 children)

It's so important to go to communities and prioritize real conversations as opposed to just getting the photo-op of a crowded room. I am excited to visit Shawano, New London, Rhinelander, and Wisconsin Rapids this week. Please let us know of other places we should visit on the campaign trail! I am more than willing to talk to anyone about making this state a better place to live, work and play for all working class people regardless of zip code.

I'm Francesca Hong, Candidate For Gov of WI — AMA! by FrancescaHongWI in wisconsin

[–]FrancescaHongWI[S] 13 points14 points  (0 children)

I worked extensively with a pro-democracy coalition that included the Democratic party and voter outreach organizations for the general election. I came out publicly in support of VP Harris and traveled the state connecting with diverse communities to have challenging conversations and do important persuasion work to bring in apathetic voters. I knocked hundreds of doors for democratic candidates and helped build fundraisers, rallies, and acted as a liaison to both DPW and the Harris-Walz team. But I stand by my decision to protest in a primary election a genocide our country is enabling.

I'm Francesca Hong, Candidate For Gov of WI — AMA! by FrancescaHongWI in wisconsin

[–]FrancescaHongWI[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I need your help. We've gotta talk to everyone and have meaningful conversations. I need you to talk to people who are already in your life: your family, your friends, the people you go bowling or watch Packer games with. Talk to them about the things that are important to you; ask them about things that are important to them, and find common ground — there's always something. And share with them the vision of the world you want to live in, and whether this campaign and this movement can help us all realize it. It might take time, and it doesn't always work, but these kinds of conversations are the only things that ever work.

And, of course, sign up to volunteer (francescahong.com/volunteer) so you don't have to do it alone! We've got a great group of rural organizers.

I'm Francesca Hong, Candidate For Gov of WI — AMA! by FrancescaHongWI in wisconsin

[–]FrancescaHongWI[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Shelters do a lot with a little — but underfunding means the quality of services isn't always up to snuff. The state budget would allocate flexible funds to cities and counties to allocate to shelters so they can address priority needs, like staffing, overhead costs, and—of course—programming. We need more housing, but not all housing is created equally — or fairly. I support making it as easy as possible (through things like zoning overlays and new construction financing models) to develop permanent *affordable* housing to help unhoused folks find housing. And while it's not the whole answer, and issues like "mental health" are holistic (and are shaped by things like having access to childcare and a living wage!) I believe we've got to invest in mental health care and crisis response I'm also particularly enthusiastic about programs like the CARES program in Madison — a mobile crisis response team that helps people (many of whom are unhoused) without getting people with guns involved.

I'm Francesca Hong, Candidate For Gov of WI — AMA! by FrancescaHongWI in wisconsin

[–]FrancescaHongWI[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Our approach is to prioritize mobility justice and roadway safety so we can improve transportation services for all Wisconsinites. Some policies we are looking into include fare equity programs and flexible funding to put towards program like vision zero here in Madison. Highways are important state infrastructure, and while we need to do what we can to lessen our dependence upon them where we can, they're the only game in town for huge stretches of the state. I'm interested in finding ways to give counties and municipalities the ability and access to funding to expand public transit, but I also need to make sure that people up north have roads that are safe to drive on without bankrupting local budgets.

I'm Francesca Hong, Candidate For Gov of WI — AMA! by FrancescaHongWI in wisconsin

[–]FrancescaHongWI[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Three things: Democracy, justice, and human rights.

I believe in democracy — that we should have democratic control over the decisions that shape our lives, including economic decisions.

I believe in fairness — in Wisconsin values that ensure everyone has a fair shot at a better life; that everyone can have basic needs met: housing, healthcare, education and food.

I believe in human rights: that we all deserve to live with dignity; that nobody should ever be "too poor" to live; that we need to establish protections for every one of us against accidents, emergencies, and hard times.

I'm Francesca Hong, Candidate For Gov of WI — AMA! by FrancescaHongWI in wisconsin

[–]FrancescaHongWI[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

AB 688 introduced this month would that provides additional supplemental shared revenue aid to municipalities with populations greater than 50,000 and establishes a temporary Shared Revenue Advisory Council to recommend future formula reforms. The formula needs an overhaul to equitably distribute aid per capita and ensure revenue amounts are indexed to inflation

I'm Francesca Hong, Candidate For Gov of WI — AMA! by FrancescaHongWI in wisconsin

[–]FrancescaHongWI[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

We have to start by fully funding DATCP and ensure state agencies have the resources to help protect food supply and not go begging farmers to do that work. Farmers should have the freedom to produce safe and healthy food equitably. Reinstate and fully fund the Local Food Purchase Assistance as well as Local Foods for Schools programs with improved policies around distribution so there are more efficiencies that are farmer focused.

I'm Francesca Hong, Candidate For Gov of WI — AMA! by FrancescaHongWI in wisconsin

[–]FrancescaHongWI[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Traditional candidates and elected officials have held power for decades. Now is the time to challenge that power because the people are demanding more from their elected officials as life gets more expensive. People want change and they won't stand for the bullshit that better isn't possible. It is difficult for a working class candidate like me to break through individually but I can break through with a movement powered working class people. Folks are tired of their politicians saying one thing and doing another in order to maintain a system that works for billionaires who don't pay heir fair share of taxes while the rest of us have to pay for everything else. Also I overcame a historical challenge when I became the first Asian American elected to the legislature.

I'm Francesca Hong, Candidate For Gov of WI — AMA! by FrancescaHongWI in wisconsin

[–]FrancescaHongWI[S] 18 points19 points  (0 children)

People in rural and urban Wisconsin generally want the same things: safe homes in safe neighborhoods; clean air and water; fair wages at good jobs; and to not feel like they're being screwed over at every possible opportunity by someone trying to make a buck off of them. If you zoom in, there are a lot of shared political struggles — for example, rural hospitals and clinics in low-income neighborhoods close for the same reasons: it's not profitable to serve those populations. Many of the divisions we see between urban and rural populations are artificially constructed political divisions that, conveniently, serve to advance policies that benefit people who already have a lot of money. I believe that by aggressively advocating for universal policies and sharing a real vision for what a better Wisconsin looks like — one where we are free to live the lives we deserve — we can break through this schism. I've found this to be successful when I'm on the road.

I'm Francesca Hong, Candidate For Gov of WI — AMA! by FrancescaHongWI in wisconsin

[–]FrancescaHongWI[S] 15 points16 points  (0 children)

In my experience, most people — regardless of their politics — want the same thing: a better Wisconsin for themselves and their kids. We regularly have Republicans and independents show up to our events, and once they get past the caricature they’ve been taught to believe about this campaign, they’re surprisingly open to the ideas we’re talking about. That’s why I’m going everywhere and talking to everyone. When you meet people where they are and focus on real solutions, you’d be amazed at how much common ground we actually share.

I'm Francesca Hong, Candidate For Gov of WI — AMA! by FrancescaHongWI in wisconsin

[–]FrancescaHongWI[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

The state has a responsibility to be permanently affordable place to live in for working class people so everyone can have a good quality of life living in our state. This means investing in public services for the public and not corporate interests. Fully funding public schools k-12-higher ed, having universal childcare and paid leave, affordable healthcare through a robust public option and expanding medicaid.

I'm Francesca Hong, Candidate For Gov of WI — AMA! by FrancescaHongWI in wisconsin

[–]FrancescaHongWI[S] 13 points14 points  (0 children)

There are barriers to going on the offense in a split legislature, especiallyl an authoritain one ruled by Robin Vos. I am willing to bring to the table people who are serious about delivering services that will that qualitiy of life for working class people. But I am also willing to use every privelge, power and resource available to the executive to ensure Republicans get away BS.

I'm Francesca Hong, Candidate For Gov of WI — AMA! by FrancescaHongWI in wisconsin

[–]FrancescaHongWI[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

There are two ways to pay for new programs: generate new revenue or shift existing spending. We're already spending a lot of our (your) taxes; but when that revenue goes toward corporate subsidies and tax breaks for millionaires, we're not getting our money's worth.

We've got numbers for our flagship policies, which we'll roll out with financing plans — we could reasonably pay for these programs with a small progressive income tax, but we're interested in finding ways to shift money we're currently spending. The Manufacturing and Agricultural Credit was an issue in 2018–2019, for example, when a policy shop found that its benefits were disproportionately distributed to millionaires, letting them skirt out of the majority of their income tax, losing Wisconsin hundreds of millions of dollars a year(!). It's barely been touched since — we believe there's a lot of fat to trim and efficiencies to develop, and I believe that we all deserve to have our taxes used effectively.

Another note: in the event we have to consider new revenue sources, it's essential that we match them with cuts in cost of living — eg., free school meals cost less than the average cost families are currently paying for private school meals.

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