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OPINION: The namesake of Ronald Reagan High School worked to deny opportunity to students like me | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Jeven Horton
August 17, 2020
(Photo by Adam Carr)
Editor’s note: Have something on your mind? “Community Voices” is the place to let Milwaukee hear what you have to say. To be considered, we need your name, email address and phone number for verification. Please email your submissions to info@milwaukeenns.org.
Jeven Horton is a former Ronald Reagan IB High School and Marquette University student currently pursuing a career in creative and journalistic writing.
I was somewhat disappointed that a graduating classmate of mine recently wrote an opinion piece that lessened the importance of changing the name of Reagan IB High School.
As my classmate put it, it should be up to the community to decide. As a member of the community and an alum, as she is, I wholeheartedly disagree with what I read.
I attended Reagan IB High school as the only child of a minority household with African American and Mexican parents. My elders viewed this opportunity as a success because I excelled in ways that can be uncommon — unfortunately — where I come from.
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Reagan IB High School pushed me to think and learn in ways that I wouldn’t have otherwise, and that’s what makes the lack of progress in changing the school’s name so distasteful.
True progress isn’t found from maintaining heritage and attaching it to hopeful imagery — it’s found by actually making change, accepting the change and forging a better path for any and all who follow.
A dubious legacy
My classmate is a Latinx woman who has found success at Reagan and beyond, who may have fought the stigma that follows students from Milwaukee Public Schools who seek higher education. I congratulate her on that, but that doesn’t make the namesake of the school something that should be coveted.
The name “Ronald Reagan” holds a hefty weight in America. Among people with a similar background to mine, who experienced his presidency in the 1980s, the feelings are complex at best and hostile at worst. In that era, his attack on low-income neighborhoods would have hampered someone like me from going to the school that bears his name.
The school is named after a president who actively attacked people like me, calling African delegates to the United Nations “monkeys” and laughing with Richard Nixon at the thought of African leaders being “uncomfortable” wearing shoes — a clear suggestion that we’re primal and unintelligent.
He is the embodiment of the racial divide and inequality of a bygone era of America that we love to say doesn’t exist anymore. So why should his name be so prominently seen on one of the most promising schools in Milwaukee?
Reagan’s name should not be attached to the success of young people who would have been deprived of opportunity during his presidency.
Ronald Reagan can be remembered as a former president, but he should not be an emblem for a future America that he did not advocate for, especially when it’s built from the diversity he tried to gut.
We need to do the right thing
To me, “Reagan” was just the name of a building that housed people who actually helped me. The school opened so many doors and gave me so many opportunities — I’d be mistaken to act like the school’s staff and teachers didn’t give me the hope to continue on my path. Without the school, I would not have achieved my dream of going to college.
But that doesn’t mean things couldn’t be better, and Reagan is a microcosm of Milwaukee at its core.
There is a sense of inclusivity at the school, but it stumbles in certain aspects, especially for African American students. While reading my classmate’s opinion article, I couldn’t help but feel a tinge of optimistic ignorance.
It’s indicative of a culture that can be harmful to minorities who cannot access higher, or even adequate education, like one that is available in a school like Reagan. That culture can pit institutions against one another when we should be trying our hardest as a whole community to better one another.
We should not constantly elevate ourselves with academic statistics that reinforce constant and consistent disparity. Those same statistics are rewarded with better resources for the school that buys the most into systemic competition, worsening our disparity. This resembles the system that was forged by Ronald Regan himself, that in turn held down an entire generation of minorities.
This is our community. We are tired of the injustices of a system that gives stagnant responses and sees us as inconvenient when we put pressure on the slightest issue. We’re a generation tired of dealing with bygone “heroes” who are idolized for vilifying people who we were raised by.
I do not want to be a generation that actively tries to fight systemic racism while allowing some of the best students after us—who could be minorities—to go to a school named for a president who developed and enforced a system that would have held them down. It’s hypocritical and shows fear of change, for us—as the graduated class—to be complacent.
A mindset like that was not developed, cultivated and forged in the high school that I went to.
While the pandemic puts a lot of us in inconvenient positions, inconvenience is something that minorities have become accustomed to for years.
Right now, we need to do the right thing for future generations, so they don’t have to waste their time fighting battles like we are doing for generations of the past.
“Honest and earnest criticism from those whose interests are most nearly touched—criticism of writers by readers, of government by those governed, of leaders by those led—this is the soul of democracy and the safeguard of modern society.”
-W.E.B. Du Bois, “The Souls of Black Folk,” 1903

author: Jeven Horton


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
August 16, 2020

source: news-milwaukeenns

license: Creative Commons - Attribution - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

author: Adam Carr


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Post from Community: Spectrum and Sojourner join forces to enhance the safety of domestic violence survivors | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Spectrum
August 17, 2020
Editor’s note: Posts from the Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
Friday, Aug. 14, 2020, leadership from Spectrum presented Sojourner with a generous contribution and donated 200 home safety kits to be given to domestic violence survivors. Sojourner and Spectrum staff distributed Spectrum Safe & Healthy Home Kits to Family Peace Center clients via a convenient, low-contact drive-thru in the FPC parking lot.
Spectrum Safe & Healthy Home Kits feature easy-to-install and -use products to help make homes safer and healthier; such as a first-aid kit, LED night light, smoke alarm, emergency radio, carbon monoxide tester, cleaning solution and more.
“We appreciate Spectrum’s commitment to improving health and safety in our community,” said Sojourner President and CEO Carmen Pitre. “Many of our clients struggle to meet basic needs. The pandemic has caused additional stress and economic hardship for survivors. These kits will be put to great use.”
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Spectrum’s Housing Assist program has helped improve more than 41,000 homes so far this year. The company hopes to improve 50,000 homes by the end of 2020. To learn more about Spectrum Housing Assist, visit www.corporate.charter.com/housing-assist.
Pictured from left: Carmen Pitre, President & CEO – Sojourner, Margaret Bailey-Stewart, Senior Manager Government Affairs – Spectrum

author: Spectrum


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spectrum-donation.jpg | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
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August 14, 2020

author: Name *


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The NNS coronavirus update: What Milwaukee residents need to know the week of Aug. 17 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Bridget Fogarty
August 17, 2020
(Photo by Adam Carr)
Here’s the latest update on COVID-19 in Milwaukee and the resources you need to combat it.
MCTS increases number of passengers who can be on buses
On Friday, Milwaukee County Transit System, or MCTS, adjusted its passenger limit from 10 to 15. The new capacity rate stems from an increase in mask usage on buses. Since the MCTS issued a mask requirement Aug. 1., transit leaders  estimate mask usage went from 33 percent to 85 percent of passengers complying.
With the pared-down Democratic National Convention, or DNC, taking place this week at the Wisconsin Center,  MCTS officials announced Friday that passengers can expect changes in service due to detours.
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The following route changes will be in effect, according to MCTS:
Milwaukee Health Department releases reopening guidance for K-12 schools
The city announced Phase 4.1 at the start of August, which allows K-12 schools to open at a 50 percent capacity rate with a COVID-19 Health and Safety Plan  approved by the Milwaukee Health Department. Last week, department officials announced how they will review school plans.
The guidance highlights how schools should handle suspected or confirmed positive cases of COVID-19.
According to the guidance, any coronavirus cases that occur in a school located within the City of Milwaukee must be reported to the Health Department by a COVID-19 coordinator, a school-appointed individual responsible for contacting the department. From there, individualized advice and guidance will be given.
If two cases are reported within 14 days or less in the same classroom, the affected cohort will transition to virtual learning, and the classroom must be cleaned.
If a school sees more than 3 percent in positive COVID-19 tests, students and teachers will transition to virtual learning and the facilities will undergo a deep cleaning. After at least a 14-day quarantine, the school will consult with the Milwaukee Health Department and reopen per its guidance.
Milwaukee Public Schools have already announced it will begin the school year virtually, with the school board voting last month on a reopening plan.
In addition, many of the city’s private and charter schools are going the same route. Read: Neighborhood private and charter schools make virtual plans as COVID-19 cases create safety concerns
Where to get free masks
Over a month into the MKE Cares mask mandate, everyone is required to wear masks – indoors and outdoors when within 6 feet of others – in Milwaukee.
To obtain a free mask, residents can visit these sites:
NNS reporters also gathered a list of where to buy locally made masks if you’re looking to show some local business love when masking up.
To report business violations of the mask laws, residents can call 414-286-3674 or email cehadmin@milwaukee.gov. Complaints will remain anonymous.
Check the City of Milwaukee Health Department’s website for the most updated facts and answers to questions about the mask ordinance.
Health commissioner appears on CNN
Health Commissioner Jeanette Kowalik appeared on CNN last week to discuss the city’s response to COVID-!9. Read about how Kowalik and her chief of staff, Lilliann Paine, both Milwaukee natives, are leading during this unprecedented public health crisis.
Resources to know
Look here for up-to-date statistics on COVID-19 in the county. More precautions on how to stay safe and information on COVID-19 can be found on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website.
Contact your health provider, call IMPACT 2-1-1 or take a look at the county’s testing site map to find a testing center near you. The free community testing sites at UMOS, 2701 S. Chase Ave., and Custer Stadium by Barack Obama School, 4300 W. Fairmount Ave. continue to operate.
Check out our continuing coronavirus coverage.
Looking for more personalized direction to resources and information during the coronavirus crisis? Get connected with News414, a texting-based news resource from Milwaukee NNS, Wisconsin Watch and Outlier Media. You can text MILWAUKEE to 73224 and begin to receive free, personalized data via text messages.

author: Bridget Fogarty


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Post from Community: Democratic National Convention hosts policy roundtable discussion on gun violence in America | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
City of Milwaukee Health Department
August 18, 2020
Editor’s note: Posts from the Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
As Milwaukee and cities across the country reckon with a historic rise in non-fatal shootings and homicides, the issue of gun violence is an important topic at this year’s DNC. According to the DNC website, the Milwaukee 2020 Host Committee and Business Forward have organized a series of virtual, hour-long round table briefings with senior campaign advisors, elected officials, business leaders, philanthropists, community organizers, and state and local officials around key policy issues. Inspired by the needs of communities across the country, these briefings will examine the critical challenges America faces, including our country’s response to the severe hardships amplified by the COVID-19 crisis.
Reggie Moore, Director of the City of Milwaukee’s Office of Violence Prevention will provide opening remarks and participate in a virtual policy roundtable discussion titled: Ending Gun Violence in America on Wednesday, August 19, 2020 from 1:30pm-2:30pm CST
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This discussion will feature leaders in the gun violence prevention movement who are working to combat this crisis across the country.
Panelists include:

author: City of Milwaukee Health Department


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OPINION: What I want my patients to know as the school year begins | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dr. Bryan Johnston
August 18, 2020
(Photo by Adam Carr)
Editor’s note: Have something on your mind? “Community Voices” is the place to let Milwaukee hear what you have to say. To be considered, we need your name, email address and phone number for verification. Please email your submissions to info@milwaukeenns.org.
Dr. Bryan Johnston, a family physician working on the North Side of Milwaukee, returns again to offer advice for students and families for the approaching, unprecedented school year.
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The COVID-19 pandemic shows no signs of abatement as the school year approaches. Left with imperfect options and impossible decisions, what can we as families and communities do?
I’ve had many conversations with patients and colleagues about how to approach starting the school year in a pandemic. Inspired by these conversations, here is what I would like my patients to know.
Data from spring school closures shows that students lost out on learning when schools went remote. This gap was most apparent for students of low socioeconomic status, Latinx and Black students, students with disabilities and younger students. It is estimated that the “achievement gap” widened with schools going remote in the spring.
Learning is far from all that is missed. School is an important aspect of childhood nutrition in our society, furnishing millions of needed calories daily and taking financial burden off of families. Social development is hard to replicate remotely, especially for younger students.
The increased family burdens, normally shouldered by in-person school, also include the following: increased childcare burden, more intensive need for homework and other learning assistance, technical support and lack of healthy breathing room within the family unit.
As a grim reflection of this increased burden, abuse rates have risen with more concentrated time at home.
A major risk is spreading infection, of course — to and from children, families, other contacts and the community at large.
Perhaps because children generally do not get as sick as adults, there is some sense that children are immune to COVID-19. This unfortunately does not appear true.
In the last two weeks of July, nearly 100,000 American children tested positive for COVID-19. While it is true that a young child becoming very ill or dying from COVID-19 is rare, around 600 children have been reported to develop a severe inflammatory syndrome.
We also are learning that when infected, children have similar viral loads to adults, indicating they are quite capable of infecting others. Whenever schools go in-person, we can expect increased transmission within schools and the community.
Milwaukee Public Schools will be starting remotely with a staged reopening approach based on infection control metrics.
In the setting of unavoidable risk, a harm reduction mindset can be helpful. As a family physician, I often use a harm reduction approach in working with my patients on their health goals.
A harm reduction approach to managing diabetes mellitus says, “We acknowledge that you may occasionally decide to have a slice of cake. Let’s make plans to minimize the harm from this.”
A harm reduction approach to negotiating a pandemic says, “What are the risks of an activity or exposure, and how can we minimize them? What are the benefits and how can we maximize them? Am I comfortable that the benefits outweigh the risks?”
The approaching school year demands many new decisions from families. Some districts are asking parents to choose whether and when their child will attend in person, whether to participate in sports teams and after-school or weekend programs.
This is in addition to the many family-level decisions and approaches to home learning, homework, out-of-school contact with classmates and other family members—especially those in high-risk groups—and many other areas.
As the pandemic looms over our decisions in the coming months or years, one constant to bank on is that families will be confronted over and over with new decisions.
When approaching a new and complex COVID-19-related opportunity or decision, I find it helpful to write things down.
Here is a method I’ve used with my own family that might help illustrate what I mean:
Here is an example of what I came up with for my family as we consider returning my daughter to daycare (pardon the poor handwriting):
At the end of this exercise, I see some opportunities to reduce risk, and some areas of potential harm to others that I hadn’t been thinking about. Overall, I feel more empowered as a parent to approach this decision and find myself feeling more comfortable with her return.
National failure to control the pandemic, and in some cases prioritization of the right to disregard public health guidance, has placed impossible decisions in front of the families in our community. As we move together through this murky period of risk, let us work to prioritize reducing harm incurred by our families and young people.
OPINION: What I want my patients to know about COVID-19 right now
OPINION: What I want my patients to know right now: Two months later
OPINION: Eight ways you can stay safe while protesting during the pandemic

author: Dr. Bryan Johnston


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DrBryanNotes | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
August 17, 2020


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Post from Community: MATC announces plans to offer a mixture of online, in-person and hybrid/blended courses for the fall semester: receives Health Department approval | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Area Technical College
August 18, 2020
(File photo by Andrea Waxman)
Editor’s note: Posts from the Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
With a focus on health and safety, Milwaukee Area Technical College has released “Stormer Safe + Ready: MATC’s Plan for Safety and Learning During COVID-19.” The college plans to offer online, in-person and a mixture of online/in-person courses this fall at all campuses.
Approximately 60% of courses will be offered entirely online. Another 10% will be offered with a mixture of online and in-person instruction (known as hybrid or blended courses). Twenty percent of courses that require hands-on training with specialized equipment will be offered in person. The remaining less than 10% of courses include clinicals and apprenticeships and will be held off campus, either in person or online.
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Courses will be offered in the traditional semester-long format and in eight-week sessions. Based on changing health conditions and public health recommendations and requirements, course type, location, dates or times may need to be changed. Students enrolled in courses will be notified if changes are made.
The Milwaukee Health Department provided MATC with the necessary approval to offer limited in-person classes and student services at the Downtown Milwaukee Campus, the Education Center at Walker’s Square and the Health Education Center on Friday, Aug. 14. Limited in-person classes and student services also will be held at the Mequon, Oak Creek and West Allis campuses.
In addition to assisting students remotely, MATC is offering in-person office hours for admissions, financial aid, advising and student employment/career/transfer. Services are available at the Downtown Milwaukee, Mequon, Oak Creek and West Allis campuses. Visit matc.edu/fall for details and hours. (The services will not be available from Aug. 17-20 at the Downtown Milwaukee Campus due to the Democratic National Committee convention which will be held near the campus.) Students can also access services including admissions, registration, financial aid and other areas virtually. See the fall plan for details.
“The health and safety of our students and staff is our greatest priority,” said Dr. Vicki J. Martin, MATC president. “MATC instructors and staff have worked tirelessly to find the safest way to offer high-quality instruction during the pandemic. We know that our community and students depend on MATC to train workers for essential jobs that require hands-on, in-person instruction in fields such as healthcare, police, fire, emergency services, manufacturing and truck driving. We are taking every precaution to safely offer in-person training for workers in those types of programs. We also have developed effective online instruction for other programs that do not demand in-person learning. We are committed to preparing our students for good jobs that offer family-sustaining wages in the safest way possible.”
In addition to implementing deep-cleaning protocols, the college has developed safety training for students and staff and worked to rearrange space to ensure social distancing. MATC is limiting entrances to allow for health and temperature checks upon entering. Face masks are to be worn at all times and face shields are made available as needed. Wipes and antibacterial stations are strategically placed throughout each building. In addition, protocols have been developed for reporting positive tests and for contact investigations.
All plans are subject to change as COVID-19 conditions warrant. For more information or to see the full “Stormer Safe + Ready: MATC’s Plan for Safety and Learning During COVID-19,” visit matc.edu/fall.
Wisconsin’s largest technical college and one of the most diverse two-year institutions in the Midwest, Milwaukee Area Technical College is a key driver of southeastern Wisconsin’s economy and has provided innovative education in the region since 1912. Nearly 35,000 students per year attend the college’s four campuses and community-based sites or learn online. MATC offers affordable and accessible education and training opportunities that empower and transform lives in the community. The college offers more than 150 academic programs; and transfer options leading to bachelor’s degrees with more than 35 four-year colleges and universities. Overwhelmingly, MATC graduates build careers and businesses in southeastern Wisconsin. The college is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

author: Milwaukee Area Technical College


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24721719457_90cb3f3e6e_o | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
August 18, 2020


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Post from Community: MATC hosts in-person fall registration event for GED, HSED, adult high school and English as a Second Language programs Aug. 21 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Area Technical College
August 18, 2020
Editor’s note: Posts from the Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
An in-person registration event for students who want to learn or improve their English or earn a high school credential will be held at all four Milwaukee Area Technical College campuses and the Education Center at Walker’s Square from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday, Aug. 21.
Students can register for English as a Second Language (ESL) Adult High School, GED (General Education Development) or HSED (High School Equivalency Diploma) programs. MATC courses begin as early as Monday, Aug. 24.
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Downtown Milwaukee Campus, 700 W. State St.
Education Center at Walker’s Square, 816 W. National Ave., Milwaukee
Mequon Campus, 5555 W. Highland Road
Oak Creek Campus, 6665 S. Howell Ave.
West Allis Campus, 1200 S. 71st St.
Students should bring a photo ID. They may need to take a test, which can take approximately two hours.
Strong health and safety protocols are in place. Temperatures will be taken at the door. A mask  that covers the mouth and nose must be worn
For more information, call (414) 297-6282.
Wisconsin’s largest technical college and one of the most diverse two-year institutions in the Midwest, Milwaukee Area Technical College is a key driver of southeastern Wisconsin’s economy and has provided innovative education in the region since 1912. Nearly 35,000 students per year attend the college’s four campuses and community-based sites or learn online. MATC offers affordable and accessible education and training opportunities that empower and transform lives in the community. The college offers more than 150 academic programs; and transfer options leading to bachelor’s degrees with more than 35 four-year colleges and universities. Overwhelmingly, MATC graduates build careers and businesses in southeastern Wisconsin. The college is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.


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We asked students how they feel about schools reopening in the fall. Here’s what they said. | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sam Woods
August 18, 2020
In what is shaping up to be a fall none of us will soon forget, we check in with Milwaukee students to see what’s on their minds as they begin the school year.
Their answers, submitted through parents and school staff, reveal how nuanced returning to classes can be in the midst of a pandemic. Some students prefer virtual learning regardless of COVID-19, but others can’t wait to get back into the classroom.
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Here’s what some Milwaukee students told NNS:
How do you feel about starting the year virtually?
Celia Rivera is a sophomore at Pius Catholic High School (Photo provided by Celia Rivera)
Celia Rivera, sophomore at Pius XI Catholic High School:
“I’m sad that school is starting online this year. Being able to go to school and see my friends was one of my favorite parts of school, and now I won’t be able to see them in my classes, which is pretty upsetting.
“It’s also harder to ask teachers questions and for them to explain through the screen. I personally learn better when it’s being shown to me in person.”
Jamayhra Rosa Rodriguez, Reagan High:
“I don’t really like doing virtual stuff. I like hands-on and in-person,” so it’s going to “be hard for me.”
Kimahry Rosa Rodriguez, Vieau:
“I think it’s better virtual, because if we go to school it will be hard for teachers to keep us socially distanced from each other.”
Estela Soto is a fourth grader at Rocketship Southside Community Prep (Photo provided by Maria Soto)
Estela Soto, fourth grader at Rocketship Southside Community Prep:
“I didn’t want to go into school this year, because I really don’t want to get sick. I like that we are starting the year virtually because we get to try new things.”
Do you think it would be best for your family for school to start virtually or in person?
Perla Ruiz, junior at Cudahy High School:
“I think it’s the best . . . to go back to school in person. I feel like we will all be safe if the school enforces all the rules like wearing our mask and social distancing, and if someone shows symptoms to just stay home and get tested if needed.”
Perla Ruiz is a junior at Cudahy High School (Photo provided by Perla Ruiz)
“I think virtually, because my mom has to work and my grandma sometimes has appointments, so it would be difficult for them to drive to my school, then drive all the way to my sister’s school.”
Jamirrah Northern, HOPE Christian School Semper:
“Virtual, because COVID is getting real serious. And my mom does not want me to get it.”
Celia Rivera, sophomore  at Pius XI Catholic High School:
“Virtual learning would probably be best for my family, because they wouldn’t have to figure out rides to and from school due to their busy work schedules.
“Although some of my work is difficult, and when I have to ask my parents for help, I think that’s when they’d rather have the in-person learning.”
Darrell Campbell is a senior at HOPE Christian High School (Photo provided by Darrell Campbell)
Darrell Campbell, senior at HOPE Christian High School:
“For my family, either option works for us, because we all already have been working through this pandemic as essential workers. What’s the harm of being an ESSENTIAL LEARNER?”
Do you think it is possible for your school to enforce mask wearing and social distancing? Why or why not?
Natalee Hernandez, Rocketship Southside Community Prep:
“It is possible, but there are some kids that don’t really want to listen, and also some parents that don’t want to listen or respect these rules.”
Margarita Henriquez is a fourth grader at Rocketship Southside Community Prep (Photo provided by Rosa Maria Turcios Velazquez)
Margarita Henriquez, fourth grader at Rocketship Southside Community Prep:
“I think that students would be a little bit upset, because they aren’t used to wearing a mask all the time. Before, at school, we didn’t have to wear it, so some students won’t want to wear it.”
Jamirrah Northern, HOPE Christian School Semper:
“I think my school could try to enforce mask wearing and social distancing, but it’ll be difficult. Social distancing may work for classrooms, but then there’s an issue with hallways in-between classes. Plus it’ll be hard to try and monitor all parts of such a big school and make sure people are staying six feet apart.
Darrell Campbell, HOPE Christian High School:
“I think for my school, this would not be a problem, because we do have classrooms within our building that last year or the year before were not fully utilized.”

author: Sam Woods


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
August 17, 2020


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Adam Carr
August 17, 2020


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Adam Carr
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‘It’s hard to make everyone happy’: Morales’ exit draws mixed reaction in Milwaukee’s Latinx community | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Edgar Mendez
August 19, 2020
Former Milwaukee Police Department Chief Alfonso Morales received a mixed reaction during a community listening session at UMOS in January. (Photo by Edgar Mendez)
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to correct the spelling of the last name of Olivia and Ernesto Villarreal.
In March 2018, Alfonso Morales greeted a large crowd gathered at Ascension Lutheran Church for a South Side Safety Summit.
Although much of that day’s meeting focused on frayed relations between residents and police, the largely supportive crowd gave Morales, who was serving as interim Milwaukee police chief, a warm reception.
“We love to talk sometimes, but it’s important for us as police to listen to you, the residents,” Morales, a Milwaukee native and second- generation Mexican American who spent much of his law enforcement career in the South Side’s District 2, told the crowd. “It might be negative things that we hear from you, but we need to hear it.”
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Morales, who became chief of police in April 2018, announced recently that he’s filed retirement paperwork. His move comes after the Fire and Police Commission demoted him earlier this month to captain. His demotion and departure have drawn mixed reactions among the city’s Latinx population.
Several controversies, including one involving a leaked video that showed a prominent developer being questioned by officers over allegations of sexual assault and one tied to his department’s cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials, have dampened enthusiasm for Morales by some.
Businesswoman Olivia Villarreal, business partner and wife of El Rey co-founder Ernesto Villarreal, still stands by the ex-chief. She said she and her husband were disappointed by the commission’s decision to demote Morales.
“We were telling them he was _good for Milwaukee,” she said.
Villareal said Morales made the Police Department approachable again and that he was honest and visible in the community.
“Very different from past police chiefs,” she said. “He will leave with his head held high.”
Morales’ tenure was marked with tensions in the community. During a January community listening session at UMOS, residents teetered back and forth between criticizing Morales and the MPD and praising the department.
“What strategies are in place to ensure we don’t criminalize and harm specific communities,” Voces De La Frontera organizer Giselle Vera asked at one point. Vera’s uncle Erick Gamboa Chay was detained in an Immigration and Customs Enforcement raid in Milwaukee in 2018 and released after being held for six months.
Vera questioned Morales specifically about Relentless Pursuit, a federal initiative to combat violent crime that was launched in Milwaukee and six other cities in December.
Morales said MPD officials don’t make laws but are obliged to enforce them. He said some of the questions from the audience that day were politically motivated.
“We can’t allow organizations to politicize the role of the Police Department,” he said, drawing cheers and jeers from an overflow crowd of more than 150.
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Tanya Hernandez, who lives on Milwaukee’s South Side, said she believes Morales tried to do his best for the city.
“I really think had he been given the proper chance and support, he’d probably do great things for this city,” she said.  “He has a personal connection to this city, and I didn’t really agree with that all of the list of 11 items [the FPC] gave him as an ultimatum,” Hernandez said, adding that she supported his decision to retire.
Those directives included requirements to share written and video reports on investigations, provide an update on the department’s compliance with the ACLU “Stop and Frisk” settlement, and to provide a report detailing the MPD’s rationale for using tear gas during recent civil unrest related to the death of George Floyd.
Ald. JoCasta Zamarripa counts herself among those who used to support the ex-chief. She released a statement hours before his demotion, calling for Morales to be fired.
“It is true that I supported Chief Alfonso Morales when he was first appointed,”  Zamarripa said in a news release. “But today, I can no longer support Chief Morales.”
She said some in the community were upset with her comments, adding that others also were displeased with her initial support of Morales.
“My perspective as a Latinx representative is that the community was split, and it’s hard to make everyone happy,” Zamarripa said.
Amanda Avalos, senior civic engagement leader for Leader Igniting Transformation, a youth group that focuses on social and racial justice issues, said Morales should have been fired rather than demoted by the commission.
“He had 2.5 years of missed opportunities to make good on his promises of listening to the community and enacting positive change,” she said.
She said despite their common Latinx heritage, she didn’t share the same beliefs and values as Morales.
“Morales chose to align himself with Latinxs who support Trump and showed it by cooperating and assisting ICE as well as escalating the militarization of the Milwaukee Police Department,” Avalos said.
Avalos said she expected that Morales would leave the department.
“It’s unfortunate that he left without even attempting to fulfill the 11 directives from the FPC but again not surprising,” Avalos said.
In an interview with WTMJ-AM (620), Morales said he and his attorney Frank Gimbel were exploring whether to pursue legal action related to his demotion.
Community organizer Andrea Rodriguez said the ex-chief didn’t prioritize multiple requests from residents to work together on solutions.
She also criticized Morales mentioning the loss of pension funds as a rationale to retire.
“Knowing pay is more of a priority to him than serving people, he may exit with our blessings,” she said.

author: Edgar Mendez


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
August 18, 2020


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NNS Spotlight: Meet the woman behind Milwaukee’s newest source for positive news | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
PrincessSafiya Byers
August 19, 2020
Nyesha Stone is the woman behind Milwaukee’s newest source for positive news. (Photo provided by Justin Gordon)
Editor’s note: This story is part of an  occasional series that highlights groups and people worth knowing in Milwaukee. To nominate a person or a group, email info@milwaukeenns.org and put “Spotlight” in the subject line.
After working as a journalist for several years, Nyesha Stone came to this conclusion: Her profession could be too negative at times.
So in 2017, the 23-year-old started Carvd N Stone because she wanted to cover news from a different lens.
Carvd N Stone, she said, is an intentionally positive news entity dedicated to reporting stories other media do not. The articles range from stories about Black businesses opening to things happening in the community.
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“I didn’t know initially that I wanted it to be positive news,” Stone said. “I just knew I wanted to cover the things that weren’t being covered.”
As a student at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Stone became heavily involved in her school’s media. She wrote for Media Milwaukee, UWM’s digital news source,  and served as co-president of the school’s minority media association. In that role, she was responsible for conducting monthly meetings, creating and organizing events for other members and reaching out to prominent members in the media to speak to the group.
Along the way, she served as an intern for  Milwaukee Magazine, the Waukesha Freeman and the Milwaukee Press Club. She also freelanced for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and the Shepherd Express.
Still, upon graduating in 2018, she felt the jobs being offered to her left something to be desired. After spending over two years working as an editor and reporter at the Milwaukee Courier, Stone decided to dedicate her time to Carvd N Stone.
‘New ideas and innovation’
Roemel Brown, the editor at the Courier,  said Stone left her mark at the weekly newspaper that serves Milwaukee’s African American communities.
“She always brought new ideas and innovation to the table,” Brown said. “One thing she pushed hard for was the need for writers to be able to upload their own stories on to the website, and we will be implementing that soon.”
Most recently, carvdnstone.com has featured stories by Stone about a mobile bookstore, the Niche Book Bike, and a storytelling collaboration between Milwaukee’s Vel Phillips School and Ex Fabula.
Carvd N Stone also throws free events, gives out scholarships and grants and does educational programming.
The community service aspect of the organization is what got Dylan Deprey, a UW-Milwaukee alumnus and assignment editor at the Milwaukee Courier, involved.
“Nyesha is such a positive person,” Deprey said. “She was always hosting cool events like neighborhood cleanups, and I liked that community service.”
Deprey initially met Stone while writing a story about her for the Milwaukee Courier in 2017.
“It’s insane how many hours she puts in,” he said. “Even when she couldn’t pay me, I wanted to write stories for her because I knew this was a good project.”
Stone said her experiences have helped propel Carvd N Stone.
“I just brought everything with me from the work I’ve already done,” Stone said. “Like at the Milwaukee Press Club, I helped write grants, and I just use that same format for Carvd N Stone.”
Although Carvd N Stone gets donations and grants, its income comes from CNS Services,  which plans events, sells merchandise  and offers public relations services.
Stone said reaching out and networking are as important as her professional experience to her organization’s success.
“I’m never embarrassed to ask for something,” she said. “When we got the Bucks sponsorship, it was because I was covering something for work, and I found a way to slip in that Carvd N Stone would like to partner.”
Though Carvd N Stone has made many leaps in three years, Stone, who runs the outlet from her home in the Long View neighborhood of Milwaukee, said there is much more to do.
“I still have to get consistent funding, and I am still in the process of hiring reporters,” she said. “I also want to get an actual office space.”

author: PrincessSafiya Byers


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
August 19, 2020


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UPDATE: Moratorium on utility shut-offs extended to Oct. 1 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Matt Martinez
August 20, 2020
A group of activists from North Side Rising drape a “Keep The Lights On” banner over the Brady Street Bridge. (Photo provided by Dana Kelly of North Side Rising)
Citing coronavirus concerns, the Public Service Commission voted Thursday to extend the moratorium on utility shut-offs to Oct. 1.
The 2-1 vote mirrored the commission’s July 24 decision, with Chairwoman Rebecca Cameron Valcq and Commissioner Tyler Huebner voting to extend the moratorium and Commissioner Ellen Nowak voting not to.
Valcq pointed to COVID-19 numbers in the state, with positive cases in Wisconsin doubling since the PSC’s last vote.
“When I look at the data and I view it holistically, I don’t think we have a choice,” Valcq said.
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Nowak said she’s worried about the precedent the commission is setting with Thursday’s decision. She said she favors more targeted measures instead of a broad solution.
“I think everywhere you turn, there’s already an answer,” Nowak said. “Now applying a very broad exemption to the entire state no matter how much money you make is the wrong answer.”
The commission will vote to consider extending or ending the moratorium on Sept. 17. Extending the moratorium into November would coincide with the annual winter moratorium, effectively preventing utility cutoffs until April 2021.
The moratorium, which went into effect because of health and economic concerns from COVID-19, prevents utilities from disconnecting customers who cannot pay their bills.
Before Thursday’s vote, leaders in Milwaukee said the moratorium needed to be extended.
“In light of the twin public health and economic crises facing Wisconsin’s residents, a Commission order allowing disconnections to commence on September 1 would be unjust, unreasonable, and harm the interests of the public,” Milwaukee City Attorney Tearman Spencer wrote in an Aug. 10 letter.
Dana Kelley addresses the community during a rally for green jobs. She leads the citizen-led charge to extend the utilities moratorium. (Photo provided by Dana Kelley of North Side Rising)
Ald. Khalif Rainey, who authored a letter on behalf of the Milwaukee Common Council in July seeking an extension of the moratorium, said utility consumers still needed more time.
“The sun is shining, the birds are chirping, but we’re still in a pandemic,” Rainey said.
The Rev. Dana Kelley, lead organizer for North Side Rising, urges people to call the PSC to voice their concerns. North Side Rising is a nonprofit organization that advocates for residents who live on the North Side.
Kelley said in an interview before the PSC vote that she wants to see the moratorium extended to Nov. 1.
“The PSC is doing their due diligence, but they’re not doing their best,” Kelley said.
Kelley said North Side Rising plans to meet with We Energies to discuss new ways to help those struggling to pay during the pandemic. One idea is to ask the company to create a donation option that would match bills dollar-for-dollar for those in need.
“We’re asking for so little, I think,” Kelley said.
Brendan Conway, a spokesman for We Energies, said in an interview with NNS before the PSC decision that disconnections will remain a last resort for the company.
Conway urged customers to call (800) 842-4565 to set up a payment plan or to ask for energy assistance.
Tom Content, executive director of the Citizens Utility Board, said he hopes to see utilities come up with innovative ways to help those struggling. The utility board is a consumer-advocate group that represents the interests of customers.
“We want to see a granular look and analysis of which customers are facing the biggest energy burdens,” Content said before the vote.
Content acknowledges this is not an easy time for utilities, but with more customers experiencing hardships, he thinks the moratorium is the best way forward for now.
“Many people have described this as the tsunami that follows the earthquake,” Content said.
Resources
Citizens Utility Board
READ: How to keep your utilities on if you are behind in payments

author: Matt Martinez


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Where to find back-to-school resources this week (and how to help students get them) | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Bridget Fogarty
August 20, 2020
Safe and Sound partnered with Owen’s Place, 4510 W. Fond du Lac Ave., for a back-to-school drive-through giveaway on Wednesday, Aug. 19. (Photo by Bridget Fogarty)
Getting back to school looks anything but ordinary for Milwaukee families this year. Milwaukee Public Schools students are starting the year virtually, and many neighborhood private and charter schools are going the same route.
No matter what your school’s reopening plan looks like, there are still affordable ways for families to find supplies for this year–– and opportunities for anyone to help students prepare, too.
1. Back-to-school event for Native youth: Thursday, Aug. 20
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The Gerald L. Ignace Indian Health Center and the Milwaukee Indian Education Committee will host a drive-through school supply fair from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 20 in the center’s north parking lot, 930 W. Historic Mitchell St. To pick up supplies, parents must have their Tribal ID and proof of their child’s grade and school such as report cards, class schedules or enrollment letters. For more information, families can contact Alicia Terry, the community support specialist, at (414) 316-5051.
2. Fuller Collegiate Academy hosts giveaway: Saturday, Aug. 22
Howard Fuller Collegiate Academy, 4030 N. 29th St., will host a back-to-school giveaway from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 22. The event will connect students in kindergarten through eighth grade with book bags and school supplies. Students of all ages can grab haircut vouchers from Gee’s Clippers, fresh produce from Pete’s Fruit Market and health education resources from other sponsors.
3. Brunch of Books 2020
The Black Child Development Institute will once again host Brunch of Books – and this year it’s gone virtual. Families can register for the Zoom event by Monday, Aug. 31 to receive their book box Friday, Sept. 4 or Saturday, Sept. 5. On Sunday, Sept. 6. Lisa Goodman will read the featured books as children and guardians follow along at home. See here for more information.
4. Discussion on kids’ mental health: Friday, Aug. 21
As children head back to school in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, Children’s Wisconsin will host a live Q&A session from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 21. The discussion will focus on children’s mental health and behavioral health and feature Children’s Wisconsin colleagues Dr. Jenny Walczak, the clinical director of mental and behavioral health, and Shanna Sullivan, the child and family counseling training supervisor.
5. Wi-Fi Hotspots for MPS students
MPS families looking to access a Wi-Fi Hotspot to complete virtual learning this fall can fill out this form. Once families have completed the form, staff from the MPS Library Department will reach out to schedule time to pick up the hotspot.
1. House of Peace back-to-school drive:
Capuchin Community Services is gathering back-to-school supplies, especially backpacks, to distribute to families at the House of Peace site, 1702 W. Walnut St., on Aug. 25 and Aug. 26. Donors can use the organization’s Target Registry or Amazon Wishlist, which will ship donations right to the Capuchin Community Services.
Other donations can be dropped off or mailed to the House of Peace site, 1702 W. Walnut St., by Friday, Aug. 21.  Donations should be dropped off at the 17 Street door. Drop-off times run Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to noon and from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. For more information and a list of supplies needed, see here or call (414) 933-1300.
2. No Empty Backpacks School Supplies Drive
Due to COVID-19, the annual No Empty Backpacks MPS school supply drive is going virtual. Folks wanting to contribute are encouraged to visit the No Empty Backpacks donation website by Aug. 23 to select items that will be useful for MPS families to learn online and from home.
3. Penfield Children’s Center School Supply Drive: Ongoing donations accepted
To prepare for the school year, the Penfield Children’s Center encourages volunteers to host a school supplies and backpack collection or consider making a monetary donation.
Once items have been collected, call (414) 345-6376 or schedule a time to drop off supplies at the Penfield Children’s Center, 833 N. 26 St.


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5 things to do and know the weekend of Aug. 21 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
August 21, 2020
Join the Farmhouse Paint Bar & Banquet Hall for a virtual or in-person step-by-step painting class. (Photo provided by The Farmhouse Paint Bar and Banquet Hall Facebook)
It’s Friday in Milwaukee, and here are some things we think you should know about as the nation grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic.
If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please email info@milwaukeenns.org and put “5 things” in the subject line by noon Thursday.
1. Step-by-step virtual and in-person painting class: Friday, Aug. 21
The Farmhouse Paint Bar & Banquet Hall, 4511 S. 6th St., is hosting a step-by-step painting class from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 21. The theme is starry night. The class is being offered in person and virtually. To purchase tickets, click here. Participants who attend virtually can use their own supplies or order the same supplies as the artist. They will also receive a pre-recorded video of the class upon registration.
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2. Mental and behavioral health discussion with Children’s Wisconsin: Friday, Aug. 21
Children’s Wisconsin and Shine Through are hosting a live Q&A session on the topics of children’s mental and behavioral health as they prepare to return to school. The session is taking place online from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 21. Dr. Jenny Walczak, the clinical director of mental and behavioral health, and Shanna Sullivan, a child and family counseling training supervisor, will be answering the questions.
3. Community rowing with All Hands Boatworks: Saturday, Aug. 22
All Hands Boatworks, 1313 W. Mt. Vernon Ave., is hosting a free community rowing day from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 22. The wooden rowboats were handcrafted by students in the organization’s STEM programs. Before rowing off, participants will be given some instructions on boat safety and rowing tips.
4. Motivating Milwaukee cleanup: Saturday, Aug. 22
Motivating Milwaukee and Jordan Cloyd are hosting a cleanup event at Carver Park, 911 W. Brown St., from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 22. There will be cleaning equipment available, but some items such as gloves are limited. To make a donation, click here. Masks are required and social distancing measures will be implemented.
5. “This is America: The Stitching” wearable arts fashion show: Saturday, Aug. 22
5 Points Art Gallery & Studio and Rachael Nicole Turner are hosting a virtual fashion show showcasing wearable art. The show is titled “This is America: The Stitching” and is a spinoff of the gallery’s current exhibition “This is America.” “The Stitching” features 20 artists of color and over 30 original designs. Tickets cost $15. Zoom and Twitch links will be provided upon purchase.
Bonus: The latest coronavirus coverage from NNS
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service reporters are hard at work bringing readers up-to-date information regarding coronavirus. Stay informed on coronavirus by following us on our Facebook page and subscribing to our daily newsletter. All coronavirus related articles can be found on this landing page. If you have a question or concern about coronavirus, send them in our way. We’re here to serve you.

author: Ana Martinez-Ortiz


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
August 20, 2020


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Post from Community: Charter invests $1 million in the Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corp. to lend to small businesses in underserved Wisconsin communities | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Charter Communications
August 21, 2020
Editor’s note: Posts from the Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
Charter Communications, Inc. today announced the Spectrum Community Investment Loan Fund (Loan Fund) has invested $1 million in the Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corp (WWBIC), which will lend to individuals starting or expanding a small business within Charter’s Wisconsin service area. The Loan Fund focuses on making loans through Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) to small businesses whose goods and services help meet core needs in underserved communities within Charter’s 41-state operating footprint.
“Charter is investing in the communities where our customers and employees live and work, and we are excited to partner with WWBIC to make available vital economic resources to small business owners in Wisconsin,” said Jeff Buller, Charter Vice President overseeing the Loan Fund. “In addition to the capital to fund vital low interest small business loans, Charter is also providing a grant that makes available assistance programs and training for small business owners in Wisconsin.”
WWBIC is a leading innovative statewide economic development corporation that’s been “Putting Dreams to Work” in Wisconsin since 1987. Opening the doors of opportunity by providing access to critical resources such as responsible financial products and quality business and financial education. WWBIC focuses on individuals who face barriers in accessing traditional financing or resources including women, people of color, veterans and low-income individuals.
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“WWBIC is thrilled with this new investment through Charter,” said Wendy Baumann, WWBIC President. “Such capital investments allow WWBIC to continue advancing our access to responsible capital and enable us to grow and serve more entrepreneurs and business owners.”
In February, Charter launched the Loan Fund committing to invest $10 million in capital by the end of 2021. In June, with the addition of investment partnerships with the National Urban League (NUL) and National Action Network (NAN), Charter’s Loan Fund commitment increased to $13 million. Charter previously announced $1 million investments in Pursuit Community Finance in New York, PeopleFund in Texas, and the Economic and Community Development Institute (ECDI) in Ohio, $3 million in the National Urban League’s Urban Empowerment Fund (UEF), and an additional $3 million in low-interest loans directly to CDFIs in partnership with and as directed by NAN. Over the next year, the Loan Fund expects to invest an additional $3 million across CDFIs in California, Florida, and North Carolina.
In addition to the loans, each CDFI receives a grant to fund technical assistance programs and professional training for small businesses to help establish sound business practices necessary for long-term growth and continuity. Some of these grants have recently been earmarked to support businesses impacted by COVID-19.

author: Charter Communications


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Charter-Communications-2020.png | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
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August 21, 2020


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In year of COVID-19, health care professionals put extra emphasis on flu shots | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Matt Martinez
August 21, 2020
Health care professionals are bracing for a challenging flu season amid the COVID-19 pandemic. (File photo by Allison Dikanovic)
This year, getting your flu shot could be more important than ever.
That’s because of the coronavirus pandemic and the upcoming influenza season. This means people could contract two dangerous infections at once.
Greg Stadter, the program director for the Milwaukee Health Care Partnership, a co-op of private and public organizations attempting to improve access to health care for underserved communities, said it’s possible to get influenza and COVID-19 at the same time.
This could result in more hospitalizations. And those hospital beds may be needed to fight COVID-19 during flu season, Stadter said.
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O’Rell Williams, vice president of medical affairs for Ascension St. Joseph Hospital, said getting the flu vaccine is “absolutely critically important” this year. He said the body’s “metabolic machinery” is not meant to fight two infectious diseases at once.
“Imagine your body is occupied fighting a war with influenza and suddenly add on top of that coronavirus,” Williams said.
Williams said the number of deaths from COVID-19 could increase during the influenza season because of co-infection. Flu season generally begins around October and peaks in December and February.
Stadter said his group is collaborating with health systems, the city Health Department and pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens on a flu vaccine distribution plan.
He said leaders are asking: “How do we be innovative and not do it [only] inside of clinics, but make it easy and meet patients where they are?”
Heather Paradis, the medical director for the Milwaukee Health Department, said the city is exploring options to make the flu vaccine more accessible, including offering drive-through and curbside services.
The department, she said, is considering pairing the vaccines with COVID-19 testing.
Meanwhile, St. Joe’s will offer free flu shots, as it has in the past, and plans to expand its outreach efforts, Williams said.
Molly Cousin, a pediatrician at the 16th Street Community Health Centers, said it is considering drive-through vaccination visits as well. The health center will be regularly communicating with its patients via text and social media to make them aware of the flu season as well.
There also will be a drive to get more information to patients and dispel common misconceptions.
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services had a goal to vaccinate 70% of Wisconsinites during the 2019 flu season. Only 42% ended up vaccinated.
Breaking down the numbers further, only 30% of Latinx and 26% of Black Wisconsinites received flu vaccinations in 2019. Stadter said he attributed the lower numbers for minorities partly to medical mistrust, citing the Tuskegee syphilis study on African American subjects as an example.
He also said accessibility to the vaccine might be an issue, particularly the cost of getting a shot.
“Poverty creates barriers to everything,” Stadter said.
There also is a widespread belief that the vaccines give you the flu, said Mary Beth Graham, an infectious disease specialist who works at the Medical College of Wisconsin and Froedtert Hospital.
Graham explained that the flu shot is an inactivated, or “killed” vaccine, meaning that there are no live pathogens in the vaccine. This makes it impossible to get influenza from the vaccine itself.
Jennifer Taylor, a registered nurse at the Gerald L. Ignace Indian Health Center, said many parents who visit the center refuse the shot because of flu-like symptoms they may experience afterward.
“You can have a slight reaction to it,” Taylor said. “Not everyone gets it, but a lot of people do. It can be like a low-grade fever, fatigue minor things that last for a day, maybe two. But that’s not the flu.”
Ultimately, Cousin said, reducing influenza cases this year will help keep people safer as COVID-19 continues.
“If you’ve ever been hesitant about vaccinating, this is the year to do it,” Cousin said.


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OPINION: 5 qualities Milwaukee needs from its next police chief | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Joe’Mar Hooper
August 21, 2020
(Photo by Wes Tank)
Editor’s note: Have something on your mind? “Community Voices” is the place to let Milwaukee hear what you have to say. To be considered, we need your name, email address and phone number for verification. Please email your submissions to info@milwaukeenns.org.
Joe’Mar Hooper is the executive director of Safe & Sound.
Throughout our 22-year history, Safe & Sound has consistently worked to create lasting partnerships that bring needed resources to the residents we serve. With these resources and our unique model of community organizing, we work to empower residents and youth to be a part of change in their neighborhoods.
Serving our residents has always been our primary goal and one of our major partners in this work has been the Milwaukee Police Department. In this partnership, we strive to build relationships that lead to a foundation of collaborative, community-oriented policing throughout the neighborhoods we serve.
I recognize that much of Safe & Sound’s work with MPD in the past has been on the micro level — we have facilitated thousands of direct and meaningful relationships between MPD officers and residents. But, as we move forward, we hear from the community that we need to prioritize reform within our criminal justice system and how we police our neighborhoods.
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Today, we have a unique opportunity in Milwaukee to see that call for reform and hear community voices as we are in the preliminary stages of selecting a new chief of police.
There are many qualities that I hope to see in our next chief, but first and foremost, that chief needs to bring a community-minded perspective to his/her work in Milwaukee. The next chief will be in a position to chart a new course for meaningful change within the institution of policing in our city and will define how the department works with Milwaukee’s residents.
It is imperative that they come with an understanding that residents who live in our neighborhoods are the center of their work and meeting their needs should be at the forefront!
Additionally, it is vital that our new chief possess qualities that include:
1. Openness to change, reform and accountability
The new chief must come in understanding and ready to repair the strained relationship between the community and the department and must be open to acknowledging that policing has traditionally been a racist institution in our country. This acknowledgment must lead to an understanding that policing has been a source of fear and cause for anger in many parts of our community for decades.
The department must be open to moving past the idea of “this is how it has always been done” to bring a more holistic view of policing to the forefront. This includes being open to changing the organizational culture of the department and working with city leaders, the Collaborative Community Committee and other local stakeholders to determine the necessary reforms that build community trust.
This must also include an acknowledgment that policing is just one spoke of the public safety wheel, which must also include expanded community mental health options and violence prevention strategies.
2. Empathy
The new chief must not only come with a mindset ready to understand the perspective of residents, but they must also be empathic to the fears and concerns of our community.
They must understand the historical conditions that have led to the current inequalities in Milwaukee and the ranking of our city as one of, if not the worst, for African Americans. This historical perspective plays into how the community feels and reacts to the police, and the chief must understand and empathize with these feelings.
3. Partnership minded
As we talk about the resources allocated to MPD in the future, it will be important for the new chief to be open to working with partners in the community to facilitate meaningful change.
The chief must be open to building strong collaborations with the Office of Violence Prevention, mental health advocates, housing and services providers and a multitude of community-based organizations (including Safe & Sound) to implement new models of public safety in Milwaukee.
The current model of having MPD work either on an island or on the surface level with organizations has not achieved meaningful change within our communities, and it is important that we bring a new, collective impact mindset to our city’s efforts around policing and public safety.
4. Eye toward efficiency
The new chief will face mounting pressure from the community to re-examine the police budget, which currently eats up the entire city annual tax levy, to find new ways of funding public safety which allocates additional funding to community resources and away from traditional policing.
Additionally, the city is facing mounting fiscal pressure from a continued lack of shared revenue from the state, loss of revenue due to the current COVID-19 pandemic and expected balloons in future pension payments.
With this as a backdrop, current MPD funding levels are unsustainable.
The new chief must be open to looking at how to accomplish the community’s public safety goals in a manner different and more efficient than what is being done currently. Our taxpayers deserve to know that their tax dollars are flowing to a department that demonstrates fiscal responsibility and a willingness to engage thoughtfully on the realities of the city budget.
5. Ability to communicate, listen and learn
Our next chief must not only be a recognized expert in policing, specifically community-oriented policing, but he or she must also understand that residents of neighborhoods in Milwaukee also are the experts at what they need and want around public safety.
Their voices have often been solicited but not often listened to.
The new chief must make it a priority to be a transparent communicator, both verbally and through his or her actions, acknowledge when mistakes are made and be ready to learn from them and apply those lessons to making the department better.
One way a new chief could show an immediate impact in the department would be to expedite data and open records requests from Milwaukee residents and community organizations.
This list is by no means all inclusive of what is needed in our new chief. This will not be an easy job by any measure, but I am confident that if the right person with a community-oriented policing mindset is chosen, MPD can become an institution that will work in conjunction with the community to provide equitable and efficient services to our residents.
My team at Safe & Sound and I will continue to push for the needs of our community through this process and advocate with city leaders for the change that is needed.

author: Joe’Mar Hooper


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PHOTOS: Mural celebrates activists and community leaders | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sue Vliet
August 21, 2020
This story has been updated to correct the spelling of a name.
A mural featuring 21 portraits of activists, community leaders and elected officials has been completed at the corner of North 14 and West Vliet streets.
The artwork covers two sides of a building, featuring the words “An injury to one is an injury to all” and “Give them their flowers now.”
The mural includes images of Vaun Mayes, Markasa Tucker, Tommy Franecki, Elle Halo, Jeremiah Thomas, Khalil Coleman, Sam Alford, Frank Nitty, Tory Lowe, Sedan Smith, Monique Liston, Venice Williams, Andre Lee Ellis, Angela Lang, Dasha Kelly, Eric Von, Thelma Sias, Lena Taylor, Milele Coggs, Sequanna Taylor and Destiny Monae.
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The murals were painted by a collective of local artists.

author: Sue Vliet


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Post from Community: Convergence Resource Center responds to pandemic by taking annual fundraiser online with a virtual event | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Convergence Resource Center
August 21, 2020
Editor’s note: Posts from the Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
The increased use of programs like Zoom and Facebook Live are helping keep friends and co-workers connected in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic. They also were used by Convergence Resource Center (CRC) in place of the nonprofit’s annual fundraising dinner.
“While COVID-19 may have stopped a lot of businesses, it didn’t stop human trafficking or the work we’re doing to help women,” said Debbie Lassiter, D. Div., the nonprofit’s CEO and co-founder. “By taking our banquet online, we’ve made it possible for more people to learn about what we do and the lives we’re changing and assist us in helping more women overcome trauma and rebuild their lives.”
CRC, a faith-based organization that helps women rebuild their lives after incarceration and female survivors of human trafficking, conducted a five-day virtual telethon on Facebook between August 10-14. The half-hour live segments, titled “A Celebration of Changed Lives,” were recorded for later viewing and remain on CRC’s Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/conresctr) and on its website (https://www.convergenceresource.org/virtual-fundraiser-2020).
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During the event, CRC highlighted the story of a woman whose life was changed through CRC programs. Each woman is called a “Work of ART” referring to CRC’s Avoid Recidivism Track that provides counseling and training to help women rebuild their lives and remain out of the justice system.
“We weren’t sure what to expect, but we saw that many people watched the videos after they were posted on Facebook,” said Carla McKiver, CRC’s co-founder and Chief Financial Officer. “One woman messaged us that she’s added Convergence Resource Center to her will after seeing one of the women’s stories.”
McKiver noted that the cancellation of the fundraising banquet could be a blessing in disguise.
“Tickets for our annual banquet cost $75 each. That ticket amount might be out of reach to many people who would like to support the work we’re doing, and we would be limited to how many people could attend,” she said. “With this virtual format, hundreds – even thousands of people – can still join us and make a donation through our Facebook page or our website.”
“We have become a leading service provider for human trafficking survivors and justice involved women, and our HEMAD campaign has transitioned into a movement which addresses the demand side of human trafficking. Looking into 2020 we are prepared to launch several new services that are poised to address gaps in services for human trafficking survivors and we need support from the community,” added Lassiter.
People can still donate by clicking a button on CRC’s Facebook page, its website or by testing “CRCGIVE” to 44-321.
About Convergence Resource Center
Convergence Resource Center (CRC) is a faith-based nonprofit community service organization providing support for men and women rebuilding their lives after trauma with an emphasis on justice involved women and female survivors of human trafficking. It collaborates with more than 50 community service organizations locally and nationally through partnerships and membership in several human trafficking task forces. To learn more, call (414) 979-0591 or visit www.convergenceresource.org.

author: Convergence Resource Center


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CRC-on-Facebook-Live.jpg | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
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August 21, 2020


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‘A big blank canvas’: Milwaukee’s creatives of color talk about the city’s challenges and their triumphs | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
August 22, 2020
(Photos provided by Bronzeville MKE and Latinas Unidas En Las Artes)
Back in April, Community Engagement Reporter Ana Martinez-Ortiz held a virtual conversation with Lilo Allen and Katie Avila Loughmiller.
The goal of the conversation was to amplify the voices of Black and brown female creatives in Milwaukee. During the conversation, Allen and Avila Loughmiller shared their experiences, offered advice for fellow creatives and discussed what it is like to be a creative of color in Milwaukee.
When people think about Milwaukee, its creative space may not immediately come to mind.
In recent years, however, that notion has slowly started to change — in part thanks to groups such as the Bronzeville Collective and the LUNA Collective.
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Both collectives, which feature local Black and brown artists, were created to offer a space for Milwaukee creatives of color.
The Bronzeville Collective, founded by Lilo Allen of Papyrus & Charms and Tiffany Miller of Fly Blooms, became official in October 2018.
Allen and Miller were participants in RISE MKE, a program through the African American Chamber of Commerce that taught entrepreneurs about finances.
“At the end of that program you’re able to pitch your business idea, and it’s really like ‘Shark Tank,’ ” Allen said. “We pitched the idea of the Bronzeville Collective while we were actively testing the model.”
While in the brick-and-mortar, Allen and her fellow entrepreneurs grossed $17,000. The model showed that having a physical space was viable and could be successful, Allen said. Miller and Allen pitched the idea of the Bronzeville Collective and received $3,000, which was enough to secure the physical space at 339 W. North Ave.
LUNA, which stands for Latinas Unidas en las Artes, was founded by Katie Avila Loughmiller and Gabriela Riveros. It unofficially began in June 2017, when Avila Loughmiller and Riveros were working on a citywide project.
Avila Loughmiller, a Milwaukee transplant, noticed that the artists weren’t necessarily representative of the neighborhoods they were working in. Unsettled by the lack of representation, Avila Loughmiller reached out to Riveros.
Through Riveros’ connections, the duo was able to gather a group of Latinx artists. After a year of meeting, LUNA decided to hold an art show.
“We had our first show in the July of 2018, and it just blew up,” Avila Loughmiller said.
Eventually the group formed an LLC and participated in Pop- Up MKE, where it received a physical space for 30 days.
Avila Loughmiller noted that when she came to Milwaukee, she saw a lot of potential to collaborate and be inspired by other artists.
“I feel like it’s a really ripe time for this and that’s why the Bronzeville Collective and LUNA have seen so much success,” she said. “Milwaukee and our neighborhoods, particularly our Black and brown neighborhoods, are hungry for it and are excited to support local artists.”
Allen said that until recently, there wasn’t a space for Black and brown creatives to feel represented much less thrive in. She said she feels obligated to create a welcoming space for younger creatives.
“I like to view this city as a big blank canvas,” she said. “You go to these other cities and there’s these huge art corridors, and we don’t have much of that but its growing and you can see it.”
Part of being a creative is knowing how to hustle. Both Allen and Avila Loughmiller acknowledged that part of their motivation and drive comes from being in a collective.
Hustling is part of a being an artist, which can be scary, Avila Loughmiller said, and the collective offers that necessary support system.
“The great thing is that I have this trust and support and we [the collective] really are friends, it’s not just this business transactional thing,” she said.
Allen agrees.
“But the inspirational piece for me is just having folks come and be a part of what you’re building,” Allen said.
Their advice to other artists is to create when it feels right and to be introspective when it does not.
Right now, Allen said, is a time to be safe.
“It’s your time so don’t feel pressured to be creative in this moment,” she said.
Post-quarantine she recommends making meaningful connections and finding a community that looks like you and honors the work you do.
“I think the collective model isn’t for everybody, but I can’t recommend it enough,” Avila Loughmiller said.
Visit the Bronzeville Collective website or check out the Bronzeville Collective Facebook page.
Visit the LUNA Collective Facebook or the LUNA Collective website.
OPINION: Dear white gallery owner: Here’s how not to erase the narratives of Milwaukee’s black and brown artists
How four artists are flexing their creative muscles during COVID-19


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
August 21, 2020


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5 things to do and know this week in Milwaukee: Aug. 24 to Aug. 29 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
August 24, 2020
If you have not completed the census yet, you can expect a visit from a census taker. (Photo by Sue Vliet)
Editor’s note: This article has been updated to reflect the new census deadline.
It’s Monday in Milwaukee, and here are some things we think you should know about as the nation grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic. If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please email info@milwaukeenns.org and put “5 things” in the subject line by noon Thursday.
1. Mobile food pantry at the Dominican Center: Tuesday, Aug. 25
The Dominican Center, Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin, Northwestern Mutual Fund and Amani United have partnered to bring the mobile food pantry to the Amani neighborhood. The pantry will be at the Dominican Center, 2470 W. Locust St., from 10 a.m. to noon on Tuesday, Aug. 25. The pantry has healthy food options for families and individuals. Those visiting are asked to wear a mask.
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2. Census takers are going door to door
Last week, census takers began going door to door to houses that have not yet completed the 2020 census. Census takers will have a valid ID with a photo, a Department of Commerce watermark and an expiration date. If you have doubts about a census taker, you can call the Chicago Regional Office at 1-800-865-6384. Households have until  Wednesday, Sept. 30 to respond. You can also complete the census online or over the phone. Read: Why the 2020 census should matter to you and Why the 2020 census should continue to matter to you.
3. Virtual preliminary 2021 budget hearing and presentation: Wednesday, Aug. 26
Mayor Tom Barrett is inviting Milwaukee residents to tune into the virtual preliminary 2021 budget hearing and presentation. The meeting will be livestreamed from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 26. Residents can find the livestream on the city’s website or its YouTube channel. Barrett also is asking residents to respond to the budget survey and share their insights through the balancing act budget stimulation.
4. “MKE Through the Lens: Summertime in Milwaukee”: Thursday, Aug. 27
The Milwaukee County Historical Society is presenting “MKE Through the Lens: Summertime in Milwaukee.” Assistant archivist Steve Schaffer will be leading the presentation from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 27. Schaffer will look at professional and amateur photographs that depict past summers in Milwaukee. The presentation will be livestreamed on the Milwaukee County Historical Society Facebook page and later uploaded to its YouTube page.
5. Black wellness retreat with Baobi Yoga: Saturday, Aug. 29 to Sunday, Aug. 30
Baobi Yoga is hosting a Black wellness retreat this weekend. The classes will take place over Zoom and are scheduled from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 29 and from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 30. For the schedule breakdown, click here. The retreat includes meditation sessions and yoga practice. Tickets cost $40. The proceeds will go toward the Black Lives Matter movement.
Bonus: The latest coronavirus coverage from NNS
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service reporters are hard at work bringing readers up-to-date information regarding coronavirus. Stay informed by following us on our Facebook page and subscribing to our daily newsletter. All coronavirus related articles can be found on this landing page. If you have a question or concern about coronavirus, send them in our way. We’re here to serve you.


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
August 23, 2020


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OPINION: Wisconsin’s unjust system of mass supervision remains intact. And that’s the real crime. | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Mark Rice
August 24, 2020
(Photo by Mark Rice)
Editor’s note: Have something on your mind? “Community Voices” is the place to let Milwaukee hear what you have to say. To be considered, we need your name, email address and phone number for verification. Please email your submissions to info@milwaukeenns.org.
Mark Rice is the founder of the #CLOSEmsdf campaign, which seeks to close the Milwaukee Secure Detention Facility and redirect resources to build communities.
Wisconsin’s disastrous system of mass supervision is at odds with our widely shared values of justice, human dignity and compassion. Detaining people struggling with poverty, housing insecurity, mental health issues and addiction issues for alleged rule violations is at odds with common sense approaches to justice. Yet, public officials in Wisconsin have been keeping its prisons and jails overcrowded for many years by doubling down on this unjust practice.
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A new report by Human Rights Watch and the ACLU demonstrates the deep racial injustice and extent of the harm caused by mass supervision in Wisconsin. Wisconsin now detains people for violations of supervision at the third highest rate in the nation.
Seventy percent of prison admissions in Wisconsin now stem from supervision violations. One out of every eight Black men in the state are under supervision, five times the rate for white men. One out of every 11 Indigenous men in the state are under supervision, four times the rate for white men. Black and Indigenous women also are impacted by the supervision system at highly disproportionate rates.
One of the devastating consequences of Wisconsin’s addiction to supervision and detaining people for convictionless rule violations was the creation of the notorious Milwaukee Secure Detention Facility, or MSDF, where human rights violations have regularly occurred since its opening in 2001. At least 18 people have died in MSDF over the last 19 years. MSDF was the first prison in the United States built solely for the purpose of incarcerating people under supervision. Nine out of 10 people detained at MSDF have not been convicted of a new crime. Although only 6% of people in Wisconsin identify as Black, 65% of the people being detained at MSDF identify as Black.
Over 50 local, state, national and international organizations have called on Wisconsin officials to depopulate and close MSDF and invest resources saved in Black, Brown, Indigenous and poor communities. Human Rights Watch is the latest organization to call for the closure of MSDF, stating that “running a correctional facility solely for the purpose of incarcerating people for supervision violations risks creating perverse incentives to incarcerate people under supervision.” Policymakers in Wisconsin must no longer ignore this urgent call to action.
In the fall of 2019, a wide variety of stakeholders, including directly impacted people, high-ranking Department of Corrections officials, the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office, the Wisconsin State Public Defender’s Office and numerous leaders of community organizations came together to form the Task Force to Consider the Future of MSDF.
Widespread agreement emerged that the policies and practices that had kept MSDF overcrowded for years must be changed. The task force split into three work groups and eventually recommended that Wisconsin policymakers must:
•reduce incarceration for supervision holds
•reduce incarceration for convictionless revocations; and
•move treatment programs within MSDF to community-based settings.
Unlike the recommendations of many previous task forces in Wisconsin, the Department of Corrections, or DOC, has begun to implement the recommendations of the Task Force to Consider the Future of MSDF. This has resulted in the population at MSDF being nearly cut in half in recent months. The DOC’s own data shows that the population at MSDF had previously been well above its listed design capacity of 1,038 for years. A total of 591 people is currently being detained at MSDF.
This is a promising start, but now Gov. Tony Evers must follow through with his campaign promise to depopulate and close MSDF as soon as possible so that no human being can ever be caged there again. Evers must also follow through with his campaign promise to redirect resources to the communities that have been most harmed by mass supervision.
In addition to closing MSDF, key recommendations from the Human Rights Watch and ACLU report include divesting from incarceration and supervision and investing in jobs, housing and treatment programs; reducing the use of supervision sentences; shortening the lengths of supervision sentences; and strictly limiting incarceration for violations.
In order to ensure that these policy changes become permanent, Republicans and Democrats must work together to pass legislation. However, while some of these changes will require a cooperative legislature, there are many actions Evers can take immediately with or without the state Senate or state Assembly. The governor has very broad powers to commute sentences. The Department of Administration and the Department of Corrections oversee the revocation process in Wisconsin. Both of these agencies report directly to the governor.
A total of 25% of the people in Wisconsin prisons are there because of a revocation without a new conviction. This is not acceptable. If Evers wants to show us that he is truly the “people’s governor,” then he must start by boldly and urgently following through with his campaign promises to close MSDF and cut Wisconsin’s prison population in half.

author: Mark Rice


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Post from Community: Joint letter from members of the Milwaukee Common Council to Senator Fitzgerald and Representative Vos | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Members of Milwaukee's Common Council
August 24, 2020
Editor’s note: Posts from the Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
Dear Senator Fitzgerald and Representative Vos:
We write to ask you in the strongest possible terms to reconvene as soon as is possible for a special legislative session on issues of police reform and police misconduct.
We join in full support of the special session called earlier today by Governor Evers to take up long-languishing legislation meant to reduce police brutality and address other policing issues. The matter has been made more urgent, we believe, by the police shooting last evening of Jacob Blake in Kenosha.
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Mr. Blake was unarmed when officers reportedly shot him seven times in the back during a call involving a domestic incident. It is reported that M. Blake had arrived at the location to break up an altercation, and was attempting to leave in a vehicle when he was shot (while three of his children were inside the vehicle and witnessed the shooting). Witness video of the incident quickly went viral and unfortunately there was significant public unrest and property damage overnight in Kenosha.
The special session’s legislation would include several police accountability proposals, including a ban on chokeholds by police officers, and a measure to make it more difficult for overly aggressive officers to simply move to a different jurisdiction and get a new job.
In Milwaukee we have been active in passing legislation urging several reforms within the Milwaukee Police Department, including a ban on chokeholds and strangleholds, a weapon-drawn file to record any time a weapon is drawn during a police call for service, and a measure that requires MPD to submit any proposed purchases of militaristic equipment for Common Council review.
In your sworn oath you vowed to protect the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of Wisconsin. We ask that you fulfill that sworn duty by leading your colleagues on both sides of the aisle during this critically important special legislative session, and that you approve vitally important, long-overdue police reform measures.
Most importantly, we ask that you act decisively and for the benefit of the citizens of Wisconsin.
Respectfully,
Alderwoman Chantia Lewis
Alderwoman Milele A. Coggs
Alderwoman Nikiya Dodd
Alderman Russell W. Stamper, II
Alderman Ashanti Hamilton
Alderman Cavalier Johnson
Alderman Robert J. Bauman
Alderman Michael J. Murphy
Alderwoman JoCasta Zamarripa
Alderman Nik Kovac

author: Members of Milwaukee's Common Council


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The NNS coronavirus update: What Milwaukee residents need to know the week of Aug. 24 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Bridget Fogarty
August 24, 2020
With the start of school, officials are bracing for an uptick in COVID-19 cases. (Photo by Adam Carr)
Here’s the latest update on COVID-19 in Milwaukee and the resources you need to combat it.
The number of COVID-19 cases in Milwaukee County has decreased, reaching less than 5% last week.
“That’s lower than we’ve seen since the very beginning of the pandemic way back in March,” Dr. Ben Weston of the Milwaukee County Office of Emergency Management said Thursday during a media briefing.
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He attributed the decline to the city and state mask mandates, along with residents adhering to social distancing practices.
Still, Weston said, the start of the school year brings yet another challenge, and we should prepare to see an increase in COVID-19 cases.
READ: How students feel about schools reopening
As families and school leaders make difficult decisions on how to keep kids safe, Weston gave a piece of advice: There are no perfect choices in a pandemic, but there are best practices.
“We must not let perfect be the enemy of good,” he said.
While we know kids won’t always maintain physical distancing or keep their masks on, putting expectations and policies based on science in place are good starts to help children adapt and keep everyone safe, he said.
For parents making challenging decisions, “you are not alone in your stress and anxiety,” Weston said. “If we have the best interests of our children in mind, I think we can be comfortable with our choices moving forward.”
The coronavirus is financially impacting Milwaukee County — reflected in the projected budget gap of about $42.5 million in 2021, County Executive David Crowley told reporters Thursday.
“The cost to provide the services in our community is increasing every year, and the COVID-19 pandemic has only intensified the needs for county services,” he said.
As plans for next year’s budget begin, leaders are looking for community input on what services should be prioritized and how the public thinks the county should address financial shortfalls.
To share input and participate in the budgeting decisions, join the virtual town hall at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 25. Residents can submit a comment or a question about the budget or register to speak at the meeting.
There will be two more opportunities to share input on Wednesday, Sept. 2 and Tuesday, Sept. 8. Email countyexec@milwaukeecountywi.gov or call (414) 278-4211 for more information.
In addition, the City of Milwaukee also is asking residents for input on spending priorities for the 2021 budget.
The city’s Budget and Management Division has created the Balancing Act budget simulation tool, an interactive online platform that allows you to develop your own city budget.
Health care professionals are putting an extra emphasis on getting a flu shot this year – especially with the prevalence of COVID-19.
Flu season generally begins around October and peaks in December and February. Read more here on how Milwaukee is preparing for the flu season and why health professionals say it’s critically important to get vaccinated.
To obtain a free mask, residents can visit these sites:
NNS reporters also gathered a list of where to buy locally made masks if you’re looking to show some local business love when masking up.
Check the City of Milwaukee Health Department’s website for the most updated facts and answers to questions about the mask ordinance.
Look here for up-to-date statistics on COVID-19 in the county. More precautions on how to stay safe and information on COVID-19 can be found on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website.
Contact your health provider, call IMPACT 2-1-1 or take a look at the county’s testing site map to find a testing center near you. The free community testing sites at UMOS, 2701 S. Chase Ave., and Custer Stadium by Barack Obama School, 4300 W. Fairmount Ave. continue to operate.
Check out our continuing coronavirus coverage.
Looking for more personalized direction to resources and information during the coronavirus crisis? Get connected with News414, a texting-based news resource from Milwaukee NNS, Wisconsin Watch and Outlier Media. You can text MILWAUKEE to 73224 and begin to receive free, personalized data via text messages.