Meet Your New G1-20 Precinct Committee People

I'm honored to announce that I was just appointed to Gary's Precinct Organization. 

Gary has six districts.

(Map of G1-20A)

After almost five years of collaborating with the First District Precinct Organization they've asked me to cover G1-20. This precinct covers a large portion of Glen Ryan and a little bit of Aetna and Miller. I look forward to serving NWIndiana in this new role.

(State Senator Eddie Melton, Precinct Committeeman Mike Chirich, Crystal Melton & Jessica Renslow at Mike's 75th.)

What is a precinct committee person?
 A precinct committee person helps inform his/her constituents how to learn about registering to vote, upcoming primaries/general elections, and how to become active in the political process. S/he also helps work with neighborhood groups, local businesses, houses of worship and governmental entities to help improve the quality of life for his/her precinct. This is a volunteer position that is elected. If a precinct person retires, one can be appointed by the District Chairperson. The rules state that if a precinct captain is a woman then they need a man as their vice (2nd in command), and vise versa if the roles are reversed. (This is an old rule that is in place to help balance power.) Every municipality in the state of Indiana has a precinct organization. If a elected role becomes vacant, the precinct committee people hold a caucus and vote a new candidate to fill the position. (This recently happened when longtime Lake County Councilwoman, Elsie Franklin, passed away.) Last year, Lake County's precincts were targeted in a consolidation executed by the Secretary of State. You can read my thoughts on this matter here. This consolidation has led to Gary losing over half of our precincts. We have less than one precinct per geographic square mile and have had to merge polling places, creating a very chaotic atmosphere at times. As an organization we are working to streamline this process. If you're not sure if your polling place has changed you can find out here.

A Little More Info: 
My name is Jessica Renslow and I’m the new precinct committeewoman for G1-20.

(Jessica Renslow in front of the "Fight the Good Fight" mural on Lake Street.)

Precinct G1-20 covers a good portion of Glen Ryan and parts of Aetna. I’m from Gary’s first district and I have a large blended family.

(Jessica Renslow's family poses for a Christmas picture.)

I grew up in Gary’s Miller Community, went to public school, put myself through college/grad school, worked abroad and across the country.

(My sister Mandi and I when we were little. She teaches middle school science in Glen Park now.)

My career has focused on education, technology, and community advocacy. In 2015 I returned to The Region to pilot the Neighborhood Spotlight Program. Since its kickoff, this grassroots initiative has successfully implemented a strategic plan co-created from community stakeholders and local institutions. The grant officially ended in 2018, but I believe so much in the progress we are making that I stayed on as a volunteer to continue all the Neighborhood Spotlight efforts. (We now have 72 community partners committed to helping Gary raise its quality of life. A community partner can be a nonprofit, business, or governmental entity.)
                   

(Jessica Renslow giving a tour to young leaders from Leadership NWI and conducting a community bike ride as part of the Take Bike the Streets Program.)

By day I create online courses for Columbia College-Flashpoint and translate multimedia from Japanese to English. My hobbies include hiking, quilting and creative writing. I co-host a weekly radio show on WLTH 1370AM/92.7FM from 6-8pm every Wednesday evening.

(Jessica pictured with her WLTH 1370AM/92.7FM cohosts.)

I love living in Gary. One of my favorite things to do is explore our parks with my fella, Shawn, and my eight year old pomchi, Charlie.

 

(Jessica with Shawn at his 40th Birthday at Anna's Cafe on Lake Street. 
Mandi and Jessica with their dogs on New Year's Day on the beach. Both pups are adopted from different groups.)

(Jessica Renslow with President of the MCC, George Rogge, City Life Center's Patrick Ken Barry 

and Algren Society Chair Sue Rutsen.)

What is my contact info?
Phone: (219) 292-2200
Email: jessierenslow@gmail.com
Facebook: Renslow4TheRegion
Instagram: Renslow4TheRegion
Blog: Renslow4TheRegion.blogspot.com

(Jessica Renslow, Zully JF Alvarado and Gretchen Sipp accepting the 2018 Urban League Of Northwest Indiana Inc.'s Award for Diversity and Inclusion. )

*Please contact me if you need an absentee ballot. 
Click here to find out more about who qualifies to vote absentee. 

Who is my vice precinct committeeman? 
Meet Aldwin Livingston!

(Aldwin and his family.)

Aldwin is a small business owner with a passion for mentoring young people. He is the father of three grown sons and a proud grandfather.

 

(Kimmie Gordon, Jessica Renslow and Aldwin Livingston putting up a deocrative board up at a blighted house in Gary's Emerson Community. Aldwin and Jessieca acting at The Miller Historic Society's Halloween Event.)

I met him four years ago at a community clean up. He and his lady, Katie, had just moved to Gary. They both chose The Steel City because they love midcentury modern architecture, our proximity to the Southshore, access to the highways and our beautiful natural amenities. Since moving to Gary in 2015, Aldwin has volunteered with me on several projects. He is a bicycle enthusiast, tinkerer of gadgets, and all around wonderful addition to our city.

(Aldwin mentoring a young man at Build a Bike.)

What's next:

When and where can I vote? 
(If you live in G1-20.)
11/5/19 from 6am-6pm at The Glen Ryan Park Pavilion 
4220 E 6TH PL
Gary, IN 46403
*You can double check your polling place location at https://indianavoters.in.gov/

Where and when can I vote early? 
Genesis Center  on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays
9:00am-3:00pm from October 8th-Nov. 1st 2019
***Closed 10/14/19 for Columbus Day

(Local businesswoman, Gretchen Sipp, and Jessica Renslow at a Gary Poetry Project Event.)

Cougars and Community Rally for Coach Fisher

Thanks to all our guests for joining Issues and Answers on WLTH 1370AM 92.7FM on Wednesday September 12, 2018. (You can watch the entire show here.)

(West Side parents and alumni discussing on WLTH the sudden firing of Coach Rod Fisher.)

We discussed the controversial firing of Coach Fisher from West Side Leadership Academy. Our guests are current parents and alumni of West Side's successful Girls' Basketball program, which Fisher coached until very recently. 

Facts:

After 35 years of service, 19 sectional wins,a shot at winning state and one of the best basketball records in Indiana, Coach Rod Fisher was fired via email this September. There was no justification given for the firing and the team, parents, donors and sponsors were not notified. 

If you want to sign the petition to get Coach Fisher reinstated click here.

If you would like to vocalize your opinion on this matter the organizers ask that you please remain positive when advocating for Coach Fisher.

Contact:

Courtney L. Schaafsma

Executive Director

Distressed Unit Appeal Board

cschaafsma@duab.in.gov

Office: 317.234.2273

Mobile: 317.503.3670

Principal Marcus Muhammad

West Side Leadership Academy 

900 Gerry Street

Gary, IN 46406

(219) 413-9870

(Tune into Issues and Answers every Wednesday 6-8pm on WLTH 1370 AM and 92.7 FM)

Comp Plan Health, Wellness and Safety Committee Survey

As the volunteer chairperson for the Health, Wellness and Safety Committee for Gary’s new comprehensive plan, I'm helping get a legion of community members give their unedited feedback on Gary’s future. We will meet with community groups across all 6 districts of Gary.You can also take the survey online too. Follow Reinvest in the Magic City - City of Gary Comprehensive Plan for more updates.

Health, Wellness and Safety Committee Survey

Precinct Consolidation: Not a Partisan Issue, a Matter of Civil Rights

Precinct consolidation is not a partisan issue, it is a civil rights issue. The proposed precinct consolidation is disturbing for many reasons, the main three being; Lake County’s sole targeting in this proposal, no concrete definition of “active voter” in House Enroll Act 1383 and no mention of a transition plan to keep the state in compliance with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act if this consolidation progresses. 

(Jessica Renslow, Zully JF Alvarado and Gretchen Sipp accepting the 2018 Urban League Of Northwest Indiana Inc.'s Award for Diversity and Inclusion. )

Indiana Secretary of State Connie Lawson has given Lake County residents until July 13, 2018 to send her input about the changes she will enforce by August 1, 2018. She can be contacted via email at sos@sos.in.gov or telephone at 317-232-6532.

Indiana has one of the lowest voter turnouts in the nation and it is true that Lake County’s turnout is in align with this terrible trend. My question for the Secretary of State, Representative Salger (R), Representative Hatfield (D), Representative  Richardson (R) and Senator Niemeyer (R) is why is Lake County the only county with precincts being targeted when it is not the only one with population shifts? 

If this were truly about being fiscally responsible every county in Indiana would have to prove that all their precincts have 600 active voters to stay intact. Additionally, House Enroll Act 1383 is so vague it does not define what an "active voter" even is. Who and how is this going to be determined? Will this proposed consolidation actually be financially beneficial? Have all the laws and facts been taken into consideration?

Has anyone reviewed the financial strain this consolidation might lead to? The assumption is it will reduce costs during elections. It does not sound like anyone has considered the rise in costs. Access to polls, no matter the number of polling places there are, is protected under Title II of the ADA.

Title II (State and Local Government) The Department of Justice’s regulation implementing Tittle II, subtitle A, of the ADA which prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in all services, programs and activities provided to the public by State and local governments. It clarifies the requirements of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended for public transportation systems that receive federal financial assistance and extends coverage to all public entities that provide public transportation, whether or not they receive federal financial assistance. It establishes detailed standards for the operation of public transit systems, including commuter and intercity rail.

Currently, our para transit does not have the ability to support the influx of population this consolidation would require. With an estimated 1 in 5 homes in the US having a person with a disability residing in it, a county the size of Lake would be dramatically affected by a precinct consolidation.

Such disregard for Title II of the ADA is a little shocking coming from both Representative Salger and Senator Niemeyer. These two legislators were instrumental in getting House Enrollment Act 1144 (the controversial double tracking and West Lake corridor improvement project for the South Shore Line) pushed through. As someone who testified in favor of 1144, due to the level of access and code alignment it would bring to Gary, I find this duplicity hypocritical.  The authors of this proposal are preying on Lake County voters who have limited access to resources. Voter suppression, or even repression may seem like a thing of the distant past, but sadly it is blatantly coming back to life in Indiana.

 Jessica Renslow is a community advocate, economic infuser and educator. 

You can follow her at 

https://www.facebook.com/renslow4theregion

https://www.instagram.com/renslow4theregion/

http://www.renslow4theregion.blogspot.com 

Jessica Renslow is cohosting a weekly radio program on WLTH 1370 AM with Cliff Caldwell and Jeremy Yancey. Issues and Answers airs live Wednesdays from 6-8pm. You can call in by dialing (219) 794-1371. They promote civil discourse and spirited discussions about local, state and federal topics.