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Amplify the message | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Rick Deines
November 5, 2018
Photo from trailer for “We Must Schwing: The Blue Note Story”
Rick Deines, a conversation facilitator with The Zeidler Center for Public Discussion, writes that the Milwaukee Film Festival provided an opportunity for Milwaukeeans to be around one another and interact as they reflected on films that teach about the challenges and opportunities of life.
Two Jewish refugees from Berlin with a love for jazz joined with the great and largely unknown African-American jazz musicians of the 1940s to create Blue Note Records. Music history was created. Asked about the impact on the rest of society and human rights, saxophonist Lou Donaldson said, “We amplified the message.”
We can say the same thing about the 2018 Milwaukee Film Festival. The message is “Milwaukee has gifts to celebrate.” The MFF “amplified this message.” We are better as a community for its presence.
For two weeks folks of different ages, races, gender and sexual orientation lined up for blocks and crowded shoulder to shoulder for 20-30 minutes day after day in every afternoon and evening time period. To see films.
At one film introduced by an MFF staff member, she said. “It’s a Wednesday afternoon, it’s raining and the house is full! Here in Milwaukee! Who’da thunk it?” The crowd cheered.
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We are rightly concerned about weaving together a Milwaukee where people speak with one another and learn ways to move forward in healthy, productive ways.
These 15 days have been a “Future Milwaukee is Now” experience. The films are incredibly diverse across ethnic and age lines. The audiences vary but are strikingly more diverse when ethnic, age, gender or sexual orientation are an important part of the story line.
At various films young African-Americans and Latinos attended films like “Wrestle” or “When the Beat Drops.” Those with Jewish ancestry responded to “The Last Suit” and “We Must Schwing: The Blue Note Story.”
Disclosure: In my role as a conversation facilitator for the Zeidler Center for Public Discussion, I volunteered to host 10 conversations; the quid pro quo is that I got free admission.
I saw two films that honored Jewish identity. Three others had African-Americans in the spotlight, exposing me to a form of dance called “bucking” and the jazz musicians of the early 20th century. Another featured a small community struggle on the German-Bulgarian border. Yet another followed the commitment of a South Korean musician seeking peace with North Korea. I was taken into the lives of the homeless in Los Angeles and of the refugees seeking education in a St. Louis public school.
The MFF staff not only ran a professional and smooth production over 15 days, but at every turn sought to make each gathering special. They clearly want us to be around one another and get a chance to interact as we take in and reflect on films that teach us about living and its challenges and opportunities.
Milwaukee Film Festival is Milwaukee. The hundreds of volunteers are greater Milwaukee residents. Several films feature Milwaukee writers, producers and actors.
Before the feature, locally produced “short commercials” showed off the city. In a very few seconds viewers are taken to different parts of the city. We see the people in neighborhoods, coffee shops, sports events, public transportation, etc. We see our neighbors greeting one another with a hello, a nod or a handshake. Nothing exceptional, yet moving nevertheless.
And important.
Better than the vaunted Super Bowl ads was the advertising by a local bank — amusing, tiny films in themselves. With “I Struck Gold,” a bowling alley in Bay View came to life. We laughed together when a diner couldn’t convince an obnoxious waiter of his allergies. At a coffee shop, a customer asked for the Wi-Fi password, only to be told that the ‘Wi’ was free, but the ‘Fi’ is $6.95. Maybe you had to be there, but they were so well executed.
Each part of the festival contributed to the sense that “strengthening Milwaukee” is the heart that drives this year-round endeavor.
Much of what is important about the MFF came together for me in the film “Sijan.” It introduces us to the incredible life story of Milwaukee born and bred Lance Sijan. He died in a North Vietnamese POW camp. He had sustained life threatening injuries in 1967 when he ejected from his shattered plane and landed in the jungle. He spent 45 days without food or water.
I’ve lived in Milwaukee a long time now and did not know the Sijan story. His family, especially his sister Janine, who directed, produced and co-wrote the story, are an integral piece of our community. Of course, Lance’s story is the compelling part, but how that story is recreated now for our benefit cannot be overlooked. One could debate different sides of war or the Vietnam War, but I think that might miss the point.
After the film Janine invited the audience filled with young people and veterans to self-examination. The purpose of the film, she says, is to find the message of Lance’s life as an invitation to each of us to overcome, day by day.
The 2018 film festival is history. Some of the films will return this month and perhaps beyond. I am hopeful that we, together with MFF, will not only enjoy films, but see their potential for our own lives, and forge paths that we can walk together with mutual encouragement, and, yes, happiness.
We have a better Milwaukee and it’s here, now! “Amplify the message.”

created: November 5, 2018

author: Rick Deines


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
November 4, 2018

source: news-milwaukeenns

created: November 4, 2018

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

author: Adam Carr


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Garden Homes mural by Milwaukee artist unveiled | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sue Vliet
November 5, 2018
A mural depicting the history and resilience of the historic Garden Homes neighborhood was unveiled at a recent ceremony at the northwest corner of West Atkinson and North Teutonia avenues.
Common Council President Ashanti Hamilton, the Rev. Christopher Boston, senior pastor of the Lamb of God Missionary Baptist Church and other dignitaries participated in the ceremony.
Former Milwaukee Police Chief Art Jones, neighborhood leader Martha Freeman and other longtime residents are on display on the 12- by 24-foot mural by Milwaukee artist Ras Ammar Nsoroma.
The location is in a Milwaukee Promise Zone (MPZ). The Milwaukee Promise Zone initiative is a multi-faceted city effort to improve particular neighborhoods by partnering with community-based organizations. The 30th Street Industrial Corridor is the lead organization for the MPZ.
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The mural project is one of many included in the 2018 Garden Homes Neighborhood Plan, which was created with input from residents and organizations led by The 30th Street Corridor.
The Garden Homes neighborhood was created in 1923, and is recognized as a historic neighborhood both nationally and locally.
The mural will serve as a gateway marker for the neighborhood, depicting well-respected leaders and notable institutions, while highlighting the importance of green infrastructure practices such as rain barrels and native plants. The project is on land provided by New Hope Baptist Church and is sponsored by Clean Wisconsin and the City of Milwaukee’s Neighborhood Improvement Development Corp.
“This mural will pay homage to those who pioneered this historic neighborhood and those who continue its amazing legacy today,” said Hamilton in a news release.

author: Sue Vliet


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Board adopts Supervisor Moore Omokunde proposal to decriminalize marijuana | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sup. Supreme Moore Omokunde
November 6, 2018
The Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors adopted (17 – 1) a resolution sponsored by Supervisor Supreme Moore Omokunde encouraging the State of Wisconsin to decriminalize marijuana at their meeting on November 1.
“There is a burgeoning industry that will potentially make its way to the state of Wisconsin. If this happens it would be criminal to allow those with previous convictions to continue to languish in our prisons and suffer the ills of retaining years old misdemeanor and felony records. We have to decide that we will not only invest in economic capital, but our people capital as well,” said Moore Omokunde.
Supervisor Moore Omokunde’s resolution was co-sponsored by 10 supervisors.
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Although the state of Wisconsin is the number one incarcerator of Black men in the country, and many of those are from the 10th District, Moore Omokunde stressed during debate on the issue decriminalization is not strictly about ethnicity.
“We have to ensure that we are doing right by all in our community and balancing the fiscal desires of the state and the moral responsibility to all we serve,” added Moore Omokunde.
Supervisor Moore Omokunde encouraged state legislators to pair any bills legalizing marijuana with retroactive decriminalization for marijuana related convictions. Moore Omokunde says that decriminalization could come in the form of the expungement of court records and release from incarceration where appropriate.
The resolution will be sent to members of the Wisconsin State Legislature.

created: November 6, 2018

author: Sup. Supreme Moore Omokunde


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Board of Supervisors adopts 2019 Milwaukee County Budget | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors
November 6, 2018
The Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors adopted (17 -1) the 2019 Milwaukee County budget today after adopting several amendments to County Executive Chris Abele’s Recommended Budget, including a plan to preserve funding for a transit route to key job sites.
Today the County Board adopted a balanced and responsible budget that preserves essential services for our citizens and signals a new era of collaboration on Milwaukee County’s biggest challenges. Balancing the Milwaukee County budget becomes more difficult each year due to state limits on our revenue, and we face a real crisis in the near future without a solution to this issue. I’m looking forward to working with County Executive Abele as we seek a Fair Deal with the State of Wisconsin that provides long term stability for county taxpayers,” said County Board Chairman Theodore Lipscomb, Sr.
Supervisor James “Luigi” Schmitt chairs the Committee on Finance and Audit.
The current level of cooperation between the Abele administration and the County Board is unprecedented and made it much easier to get this budget done. I am very hopeful that this spirit of cooperation continues as we look down the road to addressing some of our major fiscal challenges. We have to continue to work together as we seek a fair solution to our revenue limitations with the State of Wisconsin,” said Schmitt.
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The 2019 Milwaukee County Adopted Budget includes several amendments to County Executive Abele’s budget proposal. Amendments from Chairman Lipscomb include one to double the proposed pay increase for county employees from 1% to 2%, an amendment that begins the county’s transition to a clean energy future by authorizing the purchase of up to 15 battery electric buses, and one from Lipscomb and Supervisor Dimitrijevic to preserve funding for MCTS bus service previously known as JobLines.  Supervisors unanimously adopted another Lipscomb amendment increases the county’s rainy day fund by a little more than $650,000.
The 2018 Adopted Budget calls for a property tax levy of $294,395,459 for a total expenditure of $1,188,577,674. The 2019 levy is a .54% increase over 2018 the tax levy and far less than the 1.43% increase in net new construction, which determines the allowable levy increase.
Supervisors could meet on November 12 to consider any vetoes from the County Executive.

author: Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors


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Here’s how to vote today | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sharon McGowan
November 6, 2018
(Photo by Andrea Waxman)
Milwaukee residents can vote today at polling places throughout the city from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. You can locate your polling place at My Vote Wisconsin or at the City of Milwaukee website.
Among the offices that will be on the ballot are U.S. Senator, U.S. House of Representative, Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, State Treasurer, State Representative, Milwaukee County Sheriff and Milwaukee County Clerk of the Court. General information about the election is available at the City of Milwaukee website (milwaukee.gov).
A countywide referendum on legalization of marijuana reads as follows: “Do you favor allowing adults 21 years of age and older to engage in the personal use of marijuana, while also regulating commercial marijuana-related activities, and imposing a tax on the sale of marijuana?
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Wisconsin law requires voters to have a current voter registration before voting. You can register at your polling place on the day of the election. A valid photo ID (such as a driver’s license, passport or Wisconsin state ID) and proof of residence (such as a lease or utility bill) is required on election day. You must have lived at your current address for at least 10 days.
If you are a new Wisconsin voter, if your name and/or residential address has changed since you last registered, or if you have not voted in the past four years, you must register to vote before casting your ballot.
If you are uncertain of your voter registration name, address or status, you can go to My Vote Wisconsin (myvote.wi.gov) and select “Regular Voter” to look up your voter record.
Voters in Harambee and Amani will be able to get a free ride to the polls thanks to a coalition of creatives, artists and businesses that has arranged a party bus to take people to vote.
In Harambee, the bus will run from 7 a.m.-noon. Voters can gather at The Vibe at Riverworks City Center, 518 E. Concordia. In Amani, the bus will run from 1 – 5 p.m., and people can gather at Moody Park Pavilion, 2200 W. Burleigh St. Residents also can flag down the bus. From 5 – 7 p.m., the party bus will be available for arranged rides to the polls. Residents can call 414-436-6615 to arrange a pick up during these hours.

author: Sharon McGowan


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
November 5, 2018


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On the Block: Moving up | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Max Nawara
November 6, 2018
Jerry Busio smokes a cigarette outside of Oscar’s Pub and Grill in Clarke Square. Busio is a native of Walker’s Point, where he has lived for 46 years. He said that in the last 15 years he’s watched neighborhoods such as Walker’s Point, the Fifth Ward and the Third Ward go from “low-income families to people who are prominent in their jobs.” This has restored the sense of community that he used to feel in Walker’s Point while growing up in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s.

author: Max Nawara


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44963205924_d812b8ce49_o | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
November 6, 2018


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Community Voices: Why I will vote ON election day | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Venice R. Williams
November 6, 2018
(Photo by Andrea Waxman)
Venice Williams, director of Alice’s Garden and a lay minister, teacher, healer and facilitator, explains why she chose to vote today, on Election Day.
The call has been consistent and clear for these mid-term elections: Vote Early.
I get it. I do understand the multitude of reasons, which have grounded such an urgency, in prompting us to cast our precious vote before Tuesday’s election. I am deeply appreciative of the commitment that has gone into this call to not wait. To do it early and get it done. To not take the risk of the unexpected preventing one from making it to the polls on Tuesday. There is no doubt that much is at stake, and that a reverberating message needs to be sent throughout the state of Wisconsin. From one end to the other of this nation.
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Still. I must vote on Election Day. I must take that walk through my city streets, meander down those five or six blocks to my neighborhood school, as I have done for the past 18 years. I yearn to encounter my neighbors on the journey, walking the same path, with a kindred understanding of the sacred complexities that encompasses the moment.
Election Day is also an opportunity to hear about things I may be unaware of in our community, in the lives of my neighbors. During that stroll to or from Samuel Clemens School, I have celebrated graduations and new grandchildren, mourned the passing of fathers and sisters, been invited into backyards to see collard and mustard greens looking healthy and tasty, learned of situations of concern on a given block, or with a particular resident or dwelling. Even if I make my way down those streets during a time that no one else is visible to me, I am visible to them. “I saw you going to vote,” I have so often been told. “It reminded me to get out there.”
I will be excited to enter that school building on Election Day, a space where two of my children were nurtured, emboldened, corrected, applauded. A school where administrators, secretaries, educators, custodians, social workers, a school psychologist, all became part of our family’s village of care and support. I will stop in the office for hugs and updates. I will sign my name on the list to obtain a visitor’s pass to pop my head into familiar classrooms. Sometimes, I even bring a few tokens of appreciation with me, which will never dwindle, for the dedication and love they have offered to thousands of children. I also want some of those neighborhood children to see that Miss Venice took the time to vote. Always, we are teaching.
I complete my ballot in the library or the gym on Election Day, and not at an early voting location, because the ladies are there. You know. The same ladies who have been searching for my name on the voter registration list all of these years. The number of people who make their way into those doors matters to them. I need for them to know their presence matters to me. I thank them.
It may be raining this year. I may walk alone, or my spouse might take the excursion with me. There will be a chill in the air. So be it. I will vote in my corner of this city on Election Day. I will take each step in honor all of those who have made the journey before me. I will mark a path for the generations of neighbors who I am confident will follow. I will not vote early. I will vote, right on time.

author: Venice R. Williams


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Black Panther costume designer Ruth Carter to Speak at UWM Union | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
UW-Milwaukee
November 7, 2018
The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee student organization Reel Women, working with Student Involvement and other partners, is pleased to host Ruth Carter, Oscar-nominated costume designer on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018 at 7pm in the Union Wisconsin Room at 2200 E. Kenwood Blvd, Milwaukee, WI. This event is free and open to the public.
Ruth Carter is the costume designer for over 60 film and TV projects over 30 years. She has been recognized with Oscar nominations for Malcolm X in 1992 (directed Spike Lee) and for Amistad in 1997 (directed by Steven Spielberg). In her career, Ms. Carter has collaborated on 14 films with Spike Lee. Most recently, Ms. Carter designed the costumes for Black Panther, the Marvel Cinematic Universe film directed by Ryan Coogler in 2018.
Ruth Carter will speak about the inspiration for her costume designs, her thoughts about designing costumes for female characters, as well as her experiences as an African American woman in the film industry.
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Ruth Carter’s visit is cosponsored by Reel Women at UWM, UWM Student Involvement, Campus Activities Board, Sociocultural Programming, Department of Film, Video, Animation and New Genres, Black Cultural Center, Women’s Resource Center, Women and Gender Studies, Black Arts MKE, and the Milwaukee Filmmaker Alliance.

created: November 7, 2018

author: UW-Milwaukee


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Black Panther women.jpg | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Name *
November 5, 2018

author: Name *


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Pop-Up MKE on North Avenue gives birth to collective for black, brown entrepreneurs | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ryeshia Farmer
November 7, 2018
Tiffany Miller sells floral and other accessories at The Bronzeville Collective MKE. (Photo by Ryeshia Farmer)
As part of an initiative that provides entrepreneurship opportunities to local businesses, Tiffany Miller and Tomira White shared free retail space in a Harambee pop-up shop for a month beginning on Aug. 19. Miller said that as their time in the shop was ending, she and White inquired about how they could extend it.
“We wanted to stay, so we asked, ‘how can we make that happen?’ Then one conversation led to another, and…it was a fairly quick and easy process to [lease] the space,” Miller said.
Miller and White now hold a month-to-month lease along with business owners Lilo Allen and Jasmine Barmore. The four women and their businesses make up the Bronzeville Collective MKE, former home of Pop-Up MKE at 339 W. North Ave.
“That lease came together because I popped in one day, and Tomira asked about how to go further, so I called the landlord and they took it from there,” according to Beth Haskovec, commercial revitalization program officer at LISC Milwaukee.
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Through the Pop-Up MKE initiative, local businesses are provided rent-free, retail space for 30-day periods. Business owners also received entrepreneurship training during his time.
LISC (Local Initiatives Support Corp.) collaborated with the Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corp. (WWBIC), the City of Milwaukee, three Historic Business Improvement Districts and MKE United on the project. There are two other Pop-Up MKE locations, at 1008 S. Cesar E. Chavez Drive and 1617 W. North Ave.
Miller and White’s location is in Bronzeville, an emerging cultural and entertainment district on the North Side. Bronzeville encompasses the area between Garfield Avenue and Center Street, and between Dr. Martin Luther King Drive and Seventh Street in Ald. Milele Coggs’ Sixth Aldermanic District. It was inspired by Milwaukee’s original Bronzeville, which was located on Walnut Street and was an economic capital for black business owners.
According to Barmore, the Bronzeville location can hold between four and 10 businesses at a time. Miller said that creatives as young as 10 years of age currently work out of the shop. Members of the Bronzeville Collective MKE are the first business owners to lease Pop-Up MKE space.
Jasmine Barmore paints at The Bronzeville Collective MKE. (Photo by Ryeshia Farmer)
Miller owns an accessory business known as “FlyBlooms by Funky Fly FlowerChild.” She also owns “Live In Bloom,” a creative healing-arts company through which she offers life coaching, massage therapy, reiki teachings, creative workshops and spoken-word performances. She also is a special education teacher.
White’s business, “Distinctive Designs by Tomira,” sells hand-crafted outerwear, including sunglasses, jewelry and scarves. It has an online boutique in addition to its location at Pop-Up MKE.
Lilo Allen owns “Papyrus and Charms,” which offers Jamaican and African-American-influenced jewelry and other handcrafted goods. Allen has occupied space at Pop-Up MKE with Miller since mid-August, but her home studio is located near the Midtown Shopping Center in Capitol Heights.
Barmore owns “JBeelegant,” which offers original artwork. She also has an online graphic arts business that specializes in pillows and home decor and hosts a creative arts studio that offers artists opportunities to learn and collaborate.
“It makes sense and is much more manageable to collaborate and build with other people, especially other black women,” Miller said. Visibility, regular interactions with customers, split rent and the opportunity to establish the collective for black and brown business owners in Bronzeville added to the group’s decision to remain in the space.
The collective is open for business from 1-7 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and from 12-5 p.m. on Sunday. It also has openings by appointment on Monday and Tuesday. The four members of the collective take shifts in the shop during these hours.
“Being trusted by other black women to create a space in which they can profit speaks volumes to our mission: ‘Collaboration works,’” Miller said.
She added that the collective’s members support each other like family and see each other as partners rather than competitors.
“Lilo and I share a vision to work with and have a home for black and brown creatives in which they can grow and sell their art and creations,” Miller said.
“If you partner up with other business owners, it might make more sense for you financially,” Allen said.
In addition to the collective’s products, soaps and oils, jewels and charms, and attire made by Jamila Carney, Ruth Fluker, Venice Williams and others continue to be sold in the shop through the Pop-Up MKE initiative.
“We love the space and we will continue to cultivate the space. We’re all sustainable and growing businesses and we’ll work toward permanency,” Miller said.
“That level of sustainability for the businesses was always a part of the vision,” Haskovec said. “We wanted to learn from business owners, give them a space to learn from each other, and take opportunities, wherever possible, to talk further talk about sustainability.”

author: Ryeshia Farmer


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
November 6, 2018


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45624885251_3a8d83e5d8_o (1) | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
November 7, 2018


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Scammers demand energy payments | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Lisa Schiller, Better Business Bureau of Wisconsin
November 7, 2018
Scammers are taking advantage of the public by impersonating energy company representatives. Using a service disconnection threat, scammers try to convince the consumer to purchase prepaid debit cards and provide the card information to them.
The Wisconsin Better Business Bureau and We Energies are getting reports from businesses and customers that scammers are demanding energy payments. Latino consumers are being targeted by Spanish-speaking scammers.
How the scam works:
Scammers also may claim that the electric meter is not working properly and must be immediately replaced – at your expense – or the electricity will be shut off. Other scammers are using email. Watch out for emails disguised as overdue notices from your utility company. Clicking on a link or attachment will load malware on your computer.
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We Energies does not solicit payment from customers in a threatening manner. If you get a call that sounds suspicious, hang up immediately and call We Energies at 800-242-9137. If you act quickly, you may be able to request a refund if the scammer has not yet cashed the pre-paid card. MoneyPak, the company that issues the Green Dot cards, has an online tool that allows you to request a refund.


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Midnight League encourages young men to learn valuable life skills | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Max Nawara
November 8, 2018
Delmar Williams stands on the sidelines of the basketball court at his former high school watching his players at the new North Side location of the men’s Midnight Basketball League. He cheers as a player, who he coached last year on the South Side, drives to the hoop and scores a basket.
Williams, who attended the Barack Obama School of Career and Technical Education, is a patrol sergeant at the Milwaukee Police Department.
“The idea was to create a league that would give young men an opportunity to release some stress and energy in a very productive way that would keep them off the streets during our critical hours,” said Williams.
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Mark Briggs, recreation supervisor for the Milwaukee Public Schools, said that the league was started in the 1990s as the “In the Paint Midnight League” and was shut down in the early 2000s. Briggs, who grew up in the Sherman Park neighborhood, played in the league until 2001.
The league, which now consists of men ages 17 to 25, was reopened in 2017 by a partnership that includes the City of Milwaukee, MPS, MPD, the Milwaukee Health Department, Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission, the Milwaukee Bucks, the Milwaukee Fatherhood Initiative and Running Rebels. Another sponsor of the league is the MPS C.A.R.E.S. initiative, a project aimed at increasing community engagement and recreation among children and young adults.
“[The Midnight League] is MPS working with the MPD and working with the community to forge this bond that should be there and should have been there a long time ago,” said Williams. “We’ve got some great things going on.”
Tyrone Lewis, a 23-year-old player in the Midnight League, said that it helps him and his peers better themselves.
“[The league] is really trying to help young black men and single fathers get their life together,” he said. “A lot of people in the league that I knew while growing up are starting to mature a lot.”
Patrol Sergeant Delmar Williams, a coach for the Midnight Basketball League, greets player Armani Thompson at Bradley Tech in Walker’s Point.
When it reopened, the Midnight League played solely at Bradley Tech High School in Walker’s Point. According to Briggs, there were about 80 players. Since the league opened its North Side site this year, numbers have increased to about 120 players at each location.
“I think this league is more focused on the 17- to 25-year-olds because that is the kind of disconnected age group,” said Briggs. “There’s a lot going on in that age group in our city and we’re trying to give them a positive place to go.”
Michael Williams, 19, said he thinks of Briggs as an uncle, and the league has been beneficial to him.
“Getting a chance to play basketball for an hour or two is keeping me from being out on the streets or hanging out with the wrong people,” he said. “I’m doing something positive and that’s why I’m really playing in [the league].”
In addition to providing the young men with a safe place to blow off steam with their peers, the league offers enrichment sessions that include mentorship and resources on how to better themselves. Every player in the league must go to an enrichment session before his basketball game begins. Natasha Dotson, project director for the Milwaukee Fatherhood Initiative, teaches these enrichment sessions, along with Williams and Briggs.
“I’ll ask the guys, ‘what are your biggest barriers?’” said Dotson, who listed the top responses as health care and insurance, employment, child support and custody, criminal record — including expungement — driver’s licenses, housing, transportation and education.
Dotson addresses these topics in the enrichment sessions. She said that the Fatherhood Initiative specializes in employment and training.
“We work really closely with the Social Development Commission (SDC),” she said. “They provide our employment and training depending on what the guys want to do.”
Dotson said that SDC works with the Fatherhood Initiative to pair players with jobs that fit their interests.
“Say, for instance, if [the players] wanted to get into the construction field,” said Dotson. “The SDC has this YouthBuild component for the guys their age.” Fatherhood Initiative participants are given preference for the program.
These enrichment sessions also allow the players to form bonds with the police.
“We brought the police that are on staff here to do enrichment sessions for us,” said Briggs. For example, they discussed the 10 things to do if someone is pulled over by the police.
Williams was on the forefront of getting MPD involved with the Midnight League. He often acts as a mentor to his players.
“I actually lend myself out as a personal resource to these young men,” said Williams. “They pull me aside [and say], ‘Hey, coach I’m going through this. What do you think I should do?”
Briggs sees the league as a way to teach young men valuable skills and keep them out of trouble, but he also sees it as a way to benefit young men in Milwaukee as a whole by encouraging them to take part in working with programs like MPS C.A.R.E.S. and the Fatherhood Initiative.
“A lot of the (Fatherhood Initiative) summits are top-heavy with guys that have been around for a while. We’re trying to reach that 25-year-old group,” he said. “We want to have all faces at the table.”
The league runs through Nov. 8 on the North Side and Nov. 10 on the South Side.

created: November 8, 2018


text:
| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
November 7, 2018


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First tenants slated to move in to St. Anthony Apartments for homeless | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
November 9, 2018
Brother Rob Roemer says the St. Anthony Apartments aren’t likely to see a lot of turnover. (Photo by Ana Martinez-Ortiz)
When Brother Rob Roemer first came to Milwaukee as an undergraduate at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he was overwhelmed by the city’s vastness. When he returned in 2011 as a member of the Capuchin Franciscan order, the attribute that struck him was Milwaukee’s sense of community.
This sense of community is evident in the St. Anthony Apartments, which will soon become housing for the homeless. The building on the corner of 10th and State streets, which was formerly St. Anthony Hospital, has a long history in Milwaukee.
During the mid-1920s, the building operated as a school. In 1968, the civil disturbances from the previous summer caused the school to be shut down. However, beginning in 1931, the building had also doubled as a hospital, which remained open until 1988. In 1970, St. Ben’s Community meal program, under the Capuchin Franciscan Ministry, began operating a meal hall in the basement and serving meals to the homeless.
Now, the Capuchins are branching out beyond the meal hall. Earlier this year, Heartland Alliance, a Chicago-based antipoverty agency that serves the homeless, bought St. Anthony, which had remained vacant since 2009, other than the use of the meal hall. The $15 million renovation is transforming what were once classrooms and hospital rooms into 60 new apartments, specifically for Milwaukee’s homeless and low-income population. Residents will either use Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers, or pay affordable rent, depending on their financial situations.
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The new apartments come with a kitchen, but Brother Rob Roemer thinks tenants will still frequent the St. Ben’s meal program. (Photo by Ana Martinez-Ortiz)
St. Anthony Apartments will be the second property that the Capuchins and Heartland Alliance are revitalizing together, the first being the Capuchin Apartments, 2502 W. Tamarack St. The project is Heartland Alliance’s fourth apartment development in Milwaukee. Others include Maskani Place at 320 E. Center St. and Prairie Apartments at 1218 W. Highland Ave.
The furnishings and appliances for every apartment at St. Anthony were bought online through the generosity of parishioners and benefactors. Every room will have the same set of utensils, bedding, cleaning supplies and more.
Tim Hinkle, a spokesperson for Capuchin Franciscan Province of St. Joseph, said that every apartment unit is exactly the same, ensuring that each tenant is treated equally. Milwaukeeans have been very supportive, he added, contributing $5,547 through GoFundMe.
Roemer added that because the rooms are furnished identically, it reduces the chance of stealing or complaining. He’s not sure what will happen if a new tenant moves in and items are missing. However, he noted that the Capuchin Apartments don’t get much turnover, and it’s likely the same will apply to the St. Anthony property.
“If they [tenants] want to move on, more power to them,” said Roemer. “[But,] as long as they follow the rules they can stay permanently.”
While the apartments are providing permanent shelter, Hinkle hopes they do more.
“Part of the mission is really building a community [and] our hope is to build a community among the residents,” Hinkle said.
Although 60 apartments will help a lot of people, Hinkle said it is just the start. Many more need housing, he added, noting that 96 people applied for the chance to live in the apartment. According to Housing First, the number of homeless people in the city is about 900, declining from roughly 1,500 in 2009 due to citywide efforts such as Housing First, which prioritizes housing when people need social services.
The lower level and first floor of the six-story building will be transformed as well. The Capuchins paid Heartland Alliance $2 million to build out the first floor in exchange for a 20-year lease, free of charge.
The first floor will soon become Ascension’s St. Ben’s Clinic, where people can see a physician. Additional rooms on the first floor will become classrooms for classes such as driver’s education through MATC, and the St. Ben’s parish offices. The lower level will be the new entrance for the meal program, and a gathering space with couches, a flat-screen TV and showers. It will also become the new overnight shelter when temperatures drop to 10 degrees or colder. It can fit up to 120 people.
Although the project is a little behind schedule, Roemer is excited that it is almost complete. The first tenants are expected to move in on Nov. 26. He’s looking forward to learning what the regulars at St. Ben’s meal program think of the new space.
Homeless people are often stigmatized, but they’re just people who are down on their luck, he said. Some struggle with substance abuse or mental illness. Others have encountered a series of circumstances such as losing their job and consequently their home and belongings.
Nevertheless, homeless people are very grateful, Roemer said. “They’re always telling me how blessed they are.”

created: November 9, 2018

author: Ana Martinez-Ortiz


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
November 8, 2018


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Report potholes to 286-CITY: Just one call…that’s all! | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ald. Terry L. Witkowski
November 9, 2018
With the weather turning colder, now is the time to call in those last remaining potholes on city streets.
Alderman Terry L. Witkowski said the asphalt plants will soon be shutting down for the season, and the nice, sticky “hot patch” they make that residents have seen placed in potholes throughout the city during the warmer months will be replaced with a “cold patch” that does not stay in place as readily.
“I strongly encourage city and 13th District residents to call in the locations of any potholes they see to 286-CITY (414-286-2489) so the city can get them patched right away,” Alderman Witkowski said. “Don’t wait until Thanksgiving. We’re a cold snap away from saying goodbye to the hot patch until spring.”
City residents calling the 286-CITY number should give the street and block on which the pothole is located; a more specific address will ensure that the one seen is addressed by Department of Public Works crews.
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author: Ald. Terry L. Witkowski


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Help needed to find driver in fatal hit-and-run incident | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ald. Khalif J. Rainey
November 12, 2018
I am calling for the assistance of the community in helping apprehend the hit-and-run driver who caused the death of a pedestrian, in the 7th Aldermanic District on the 4200 block of W. Capitol Drive (Sherman and Capitol) at approximately 3:20 a.m. on Sunday, November 11.
The victim was Sedrik Allen, a 23-year-old man who comes from a loving family and had his whole life ahead of him. My deepest condolences go out to the Allen Family.
Milwaukee Police say the suspect’s vehicle is a four door, 2016-2018 Chevrolet Cruze, metallic blue in color. Please see the below stock vehicle photo provided by MPD. I know someone in the community knows something about this incident and can help bring justice to the loved ones of the victim. Individuals with any information about this case are urged to call MPD immediately at 414-935-7360.
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created: November 12, 2018

author: Ald. Khalif J. Rainey


text:
| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
November 12, 2018


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Heroin, Opioid and Cocaine Task Force misses opportunity | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Paul Mozina
November 12, 2018
Michael Lappen (left), administrator of the Behavioral Health Division (BHD) for Milwaukee County, and Ald. Michael Murphy co-chaired a meeting of the City-County Heroin, Opioid and Cocaine Task Force in May. (Photo by Edgar Mendez)
Paul Mozina, a retired IT professional and an activist who has opposed the War on Drugs since the early 1980s, calls out the Milwaukee City-County Heroin, Opioid and Cocaine Task Force for failing to follow up on a DEA whistle-blower’s testimony that “physicians are pumping pills on the street.”
The Milwaukee City-County Heroin, Opioid and Cocaine Task Force is wrapping up nearly two years of effort with its final report due by year end. The last Task Force Community Brainstorming Session is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 27 from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm at St. Ann Center, 2450 W. North Ave. The last regular meeting of the Task Force will be on Friday, Nov. 30 at 9 a.m., Room 301-B, Milwaukee City Hall.
Ald. Michael Murphy has been the driving force behind a diverse team of city and county departments, and their partners in the community — even taking on the role of chairman of the task force after former Health Commissioner Bevan Baker’s sudden departure. Many lives will be saved as a result of the efforts of everyone involved with the task force. They will be implementing new and creative strategies in the areas of emergency response, supply reduction, treatment, education and mental/physical health to help reduce the harm caused by the consumption of illegal substances.
Given the sincerity, integrity and intelligence of the task force members, I’m having a hard time reconciling their response to the whistle-blowing testimony provided to them by DEA Diversion Control Division Supervisor Kathy Federico, at the July 21, 2017, meeting of the task force. Federico, a 28-year DEA veteran, testified (my emphasis):
…And you did talk about some of the administrative proceedings that we can take against our physicians that are over prescribing and not prescribing in a legitimate manner, that puts oxycodone and hydrocodone on the street. And we do have a lot of those.
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And I mean the other issue we have is, is having prosecutions of physicians that are pumping pills on the street without people having legitimate medical problems. And that’s an issue we address all the time because nobody wants to put a doctor behind —in jail.
…You talk about the PDMP (prescription drug monitoring program) and having this big impact. The PDMP has been out there for a long time and we had some impact initially when it started. I don’t know exactly what issue you want me to address but some of the PDMP issues, is, yes, it’s very true that the doctor is going to have to check, it’s going to be mandatory, but there are no consequences if the doctors do not check. And we have a lot of the doctors that are not looking at the PDMP.
A PDMP is a state-based electronic database that tracks the prescribing and dispensing of controlled substances.
There were no follow-up questions for Federico from the task force. I thought that was a pretty serious confession coming from the DEA Diversion Control Division Supervisor and I spent the following year sending emails and letters to task force members, the Common Council, the Mayor, County Board Supervisors, the County Executive, the District Attorney and many local media outlets — there was almost no interest. Ald. Bob Donovan did ask Murphy about this at the March 8, meeting of the Public Safety and Health Committee, at which time Murphy pledged to follow up with the DEA.
On Aug. 27, Murphy did send a request for information to Paul E. Maxwell, DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge, in which he mentioned the issues with the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program, but he did not quote Federico’s statements explaining that the DEA knowingly had a lot of doctors who were “pumping pills on the street.”
Thus, in his reply, Maxwell did not address obvious questions like: How many physicians were/are involved? How frequently were/are they prescribing illegally and in what quantities? What are you doing to stop the pill pumping? According to the DEA’s Criminal Cases Against Doctors website, there were only two cases in the last four years reported in Wisconsin. Why are there so few criminal prosecutions of physicians given Federico’s testimony? Did the DEA report any physician that it was aware was not using the PDMP to the Controlled Substances Board? What action is the DEA taking now when it becomes aware that a physician is not using the PDMP?
In his response, Maxwell did report the June 2018 bust of the owners of Clinical Pain Consultants, and he did report the positive news from the Controlled Substances Board that there has been a 32 percent decrease in opioid dispensing in Milwaukee and a 27 percent decrease in Wisconsin.
I appreciate the effort of Murphy and his staff to follow up with the DEA. But I think that a golden opportunity to open a constructive dialog with the DEA was missed back in July 2017, and that the DEA still has not been held accountable for what I consider to be malfeasance in its oversight of physicians that were/are “pumping pills on the street.”

author: Paul Mozina


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
November 11, 2018

created: November 11, 2018


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MCC YouthBuild trainee learns construction skills, sets sights on college | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sarah Lipo
November 12, 2018
Jotshua stands in the kitchen of the newly completed YouthBuild house on the South Side. (Photo by Sarah Lipo)
Jotshua Vega Marcon arrives at the South Side home construction site two hours before his shift starts, and he usually packs up to head home about an hour after the rest of the team leaves for the day.
Vega Marcon is determined to learn the construction trade, and the house at 1979 S. 13th St. is providing a great learning opportunity. When Vega Marcon, 23, first started working on it a year ago, “It was an open house you could see through, like a skeleton,” he said. Back then, he said he barely knew how to correctly hold a hammer, and he watched videos to teach himself how to build stairs.
Vega Marcon, a resident of West Allis, is a participant in the Milwaukee Christian Center’s YouthBuild program, which provides young adults ages 18-25 with hands-on construction training, while creating homes for low- or moderate-income families.
John Kaye, a project director at MCC, is in charge of housing efforts. He said individuals can “go to school half time, work on getting their GED or high school equivalency and (also) learn to build a house.” All trainees are members of AmeriCorps.
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Construction on the 13 Street house began in October 2017, about the same time Vega Marcon joined the program after hearing about it from a friend. Construction can take longer than a year, Kaye said, since trainees only work half days.
As long as individuals show up for work, they receive scholarship funds. Vega Marcon is now a full-time AmeriCorps member serving as a construction assistant for YouthBuild. “Now that I am a full-time member, I get more scholarship money,” he said. He’s earned $6,000 so far.
He added that as soon as he has enough money, he plans to go to Milwaukee Area Technical College and become an electronics technician.
Lois Nugent, the MCC YouthBuild coordinator, noted that many individuals have felt anxious about starting a new, unfamiliar job. “But, few of us have ever been handed a hammer and asked to go build a house,” she said.
The most recently completed YouthBuild house is located at 1979 S. 13th St. on the South Side. (Photo by Sarah Lipo)
Vega Marcon set goals to finish his high school education and seek training that would lead to permanent family-sustaining employment, Nugent said, adding that he has earned a high school diploma and multiple industry certifications.
Along with building a house, Vega Marcon said he learned to cooperate with others and worked to improve himself. “It’s not easy. You got to be willing to be open-minded,” he said. He added that he loves being productive and busy.
Nugent said Vega Marcon stands out for several reasons. “Jotshua realizes learning doesn’t stop when you get your diploma,” she said, adding that he looked for opportunities to go above and beyond to help others. For example, Vega Marcon often volunteers at the MCC Senior Center, which provides healthy meals, recreation opportunities and health checks for those over 60.
Nugent added that leaders look for opportunities to make things better even when there’s little personal gain, while also supporting their team.
In addition to providing job opportunities for young adults and creating homes for low-income families, the program also demonstrates how far a person can go when given the opportunity, Nugent said. It also shows the impact they can have on their community, she added.
YouthBuild “also helps stabilize the rest of the block,” Kaye said.
“When people move in, they become part of a neighborhood,” added Nugent. They are “invested in the neighborhood, and people take pride in their property.”
She mentioned a “rollover effect” on the neighborhood, adding that the residents living next door to the completed YouthBuild house recently put up new siding on their house.
YouthBuild is supported by the Corporation for National and Community Service, the Department of Labor (through a partnership with the Milwaukee Area Workforce Investment Board), the City of Milwaukee Community Development Grants Administration, HUD, and others, according to its website.

author: Sarah Lipo


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New eviction prevention coalition encourages investment in housing stability | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Analise Pruni
November 13, 2018
Raphael Ramos, left, directs the Eviction Defense Project at Legal Action of Wisconsin, which provides legal representation to tenants facing eviction and helps clear eviction records. (Photo by Allison Dikanovic)
In some census tracts in the City of Milwaukee, about one in 10 renters was evicted in 2016. To illustrate the severity of the eviction crisis, Raphael Ramos, director of the Eviction Defense Project at Legal Action of Wisconsin, looked out at a recent gathering of 200 people in the Miller Park Skyy Lounge and noted that one person sitting at each table could be evicted.
“One person at each table is facing an upheaval of their life,” said Ramos. “They’re going to lose their home. They’re going lose the ability to keep their kids in school. They’re going to potentially lose their job.”
Ramos was speaking figuratively, but the numbers he referenced are very real. According to data recently released by the Wisconsin Policy Forum, in 2016, one out of every 24 renters in the City of Milwaukee was formally evicted and in some census tracts, more than one in 10 renters was formally evicted.
His comments were part of a panel discussion hosted by CommonBond Communities, a housing and development nonprofit, and the City of Milwaukee to discuss the findings of six months of work on the issue of eviction prevention in Milwaukee. In May, the groups formed a new coalition comprising more than 30 stakeholders that met monthly. Their analysis of the landscape of services and suggestions for areas of improvement are detailed in the new Wisconsin Policy Forum report, “No Place Like Home.” Rob Henken, president of the Wisconsin Policy Forum, presented the report’s findings.
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Other speakers on the panel included Andy Elliot, CEO of Community Advocates; Preston Cole, commissioner of the City of Milwaukee Department of Neighborhood Services; and Jim Mathy, housing administrator at the Milwaukee County Housing Division.
Milwaukee’s eviction rate ranked 59 nationally among 261 cities with populations over 100,000 in 2016. It had more evictions than cities such as St. Louis and Kansas City, but fewer than Cleveland or Indianapolis. According to Eviction Lab data from the report, 6,313 Milwaukee County households were evicted by court order, 5,687 of which (90 percent) were in the city of Milwaukee.
Data gathered by CommonBond demonstrates why investing community resources in housing stability is beneficial to the city as a whole. It found that for every $1 invested in eviction prevention, $4 in “social benefit” are generated. Social benefits include improved educational outcomes for children, lower healthcare usage and decreased use of homeless shelters.
David Nelson, an associate professor at the Medical College of Wisconsin, drew connections between housing instability and other issues affecting vulnerable populations. (Photo by Allison Dikanovic)
Although the WPF report did not prioritize needed improvements, coalition members strongly advocated coordinating eviction prevention services into a more cohesive system. The initiative was the first time all of the groups had ever gathered in the same room together, even though they all work on the same issue in the same city.
Irma Yépez Klassen, housing policy director for the City of Milwaukee, co-led the initiative with Joe’Mar Hooper, the Wisconsin market leader of CommonBond. It was funded with a grant from the Medical College of Wisconsin.
“We felt it was really important not to limit who was at the table and make sure we were getting a voice that was representative of all the members of our community,” Yépez Klassen said, despite some concerns that there would be “too many cooks in the kitchen.”
Many city, county and nonprofit groups such as the City of Milwaukee Department of Neighborhood Services, the Milwaukee County Housing Division, Community Advocates, Legal Action of Wisconsin, IMPACT 2-1-1 and Mediate Milwaukee provide eviction prevention services and information, but had never pooled their resources before.
“We wanted to make sure that everyone knew who was working in what space, so we could leverage the resources and expertise around the table to better serve the community — both landlords and tenants,” Yépez Klassen said.
For example, some people weren’t aware of Mediate Milwaukee, a nonprofit that provides free mediation services for tenants and landlords to prevent court-ordered evictions. Anyone can request mediation before an eviction case is filed in court, which can avoid the negative effects of having an eviction on a person’s record. The organization also provides free services in the Milwaukee County courthouse on Wednesdays to mediate eviction cases.
Ramos said that the small claims court processes 40-80 evictions cases every day, yet Amy Koltz, executive director of Mediate Milwaukee, said her organization’s services are being underutilized. Stakeholders identified this gap in information and communication as an area needing improvement, so people can access services that are already available.
Noting the limitations of small claims court, WPF Senior Researcher Joe Peterangelo said that the coalition also focused on the possibility of creating a specialized housing and evictions court.
“With evictions, it’s somebody’s home and it has such a major impact on their lives,” Peterangelo said. “You can see why a specialized court would make sense for that, especially from a preventative perspective.”
Group members also agreed that a “front door” for cohesive eviction prevention services, such as a tenant-landlord resource center, is needed.
The idea of a front door or “one-stop shop” appealed to Ariam Kesete, a real estate developer and landlord who invests in property in the 15th District on the northwest side, where evictions are more concentrated than other areas of the city. She said she has had success keeping tenants for longer periods of time by building positive relationships and communicating effectively. She was unaware that services such as landlord-tenant mediations were available.
“That would take a lot of tension off of me as a landlord,” she said, referring to a third-party mediation service. She said it would be easier for her if there were one place she could refer tenants for housing stability support, rather than needing to know about and refer people to multiple organizations that serve different purposes. “Those systems need to collaborate.”
The “front door” could be a website or a call center that would simplify the process of accessing educational, legal and financial services. Many members of the group agreed that eventually a physical location would be ideal.
Peterangelo said the Madison Tenant Resource Center could serve as a model for Milwaukee.
“If you’re looking for housing assistance, legal advice, they cover a lot of ground and they’re definitely viewed as the front door and also refer people out to other places,” Peterangelo said. “That’s something that we don’t have.”
Another gap the report addressed was the need to better support people at risk of eviction because of a temporary financial crisis that puts them behind on rent payments.
“Sometimes people get evicted for as little as $100-$150 a month, which can mean the difference between housing stability and homelessness,” Hooper said. Both Community Advocates and Milwaukee County offer financial assistance in certain situations, but they’re still working to make them as effective as possible.
Bringing the coalition together, identifying the current landscape of services, finding the gaps and suggesting possible areas of improvement are just the first steps to prevent evictions in Milwaukee.
“To get everybody in the room is a win, but we can’t stop with the report,” said David Nelson, an associate professor at the Medical College of Wisconsin and coalition member. He said that the group needs to continue researching, evaluating and developing action steps and policy plans.
A big part of that process will be figuring out who has the resources to fund some of these needed initiatives, Irma Yépez-Klassen said, but the return on investment will be well worth it.

created: November 13, 2018

author: Analise Pruni


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New “MLK Homes” Initiative seeks increase own-occupancy in the Harambee Neighborhood | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Martin Luther King Economic Development Corporation
November 13, 2018
Martin Luther King Economic Development Corporation (MLKEDC) has announced a new program, “MLK Homes”, designed to purchase and rehabilitate single-family homes and duplexes in order to resell these properties to owner-occupants in the Harambee neighborhood. Properties will include both market rate and subsidized, or “affordable” investments.  The MLK Homes initiative builds upon MLKEDC’s successful history of housing development over the past 20 years in a targeted area adjacent to Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive.
Through MLK Homes, MLKEDC will also take an active role in managing the overall housing market in the Harambee neighborhood by facilitating sales to owner-occupants and providing support to existing property owners.
Nicole Robbins was hired to lead the initiative. A licensed attorney, Robbins has an extensive background in law and real estate, representing clients in real estate, corporate, regulatory, environmental, municipal and litigation matters.  Robbins holds a Wisconsin Real Estate License, a B.S. in Business Administration from Marquette University, a J.D. from University of Wisconsin Law School, and a certificate from the Associates in Commercial Real Estate (ACRE) program.
“MLK Homes is a very tailored strategy that will consider the best fits for properties and people. I’m excited to put my real estate and legal experience to work, while building relationships with current and potential home-owners in the community,” said Nicole Robbins, Housing and Real Estate Development Director for MLKEDC.
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MLK Homes is funded, in-part, by the Local Initiatives Support Corporation Milwaukee (LISC Milwaukee), with federal funding from Housing and Urban Development Section IV.
“LISC looks for innovative and impactful models for our investments, and the MKE Homes promises both. It builds on MLKEDC’s rich history of physical development in the neighborhood, while addressing the current and pressing need to mitigate displacement of current residents as downtown development reaches the adjacent neighborhoods,” said LISC’s Executive Director, Donsia Strong Hill.
This work complements other initiatives including the recently established Harambee Neighborhood Improvement District (NID), which provides rehab financing for existing owner-occupants (), and plans by Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity to target the Harambee neighborhood for housing development as part of their Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative beginning in 2021 ().


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On The Block: No hate | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Andrea Waxman
November 13, 2018
Ben Henderson, a 23-year resident of the Capitol West neighborhood near 66 and Congress on the northwest side, has been active in his neighborhood association and with his bike club. Recently, he participated in a political protest for the first time.
Braving the cold, Henderson went downtown to Pere Marquette Park to protest President Trump’s replacement of Attorney General Jeff Sessions with Matthew Whitaker, a critic of the investigation into the Trump campaign’s ties to Russia led by Special Counsel Robert Mueller.
The demonstration, under the banner “Nobody is above the law” and organized by the activist group MoveOn, was part of a nationwide effort to protect the Mueller investigation.
Henderson carried a handmade sign: Hate Will Not Make Us Great.
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author: Andrea Waxman


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Severe blood shortage: Red Cross issues immediate call for blood and platelet donations | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
American Red Cross
November 13, 2018
The American Red Cross is facing a severe blood shortage and urgently needs blood donors to give now to avoid delays in lifesaving medical care for patients. Volunteer blood drive hosts are also critically needed to prevent the shortage from worsening this winter.
During September and October, the Red Cross collected over 21,000 fewer blood and platelet donations than what hospitals needed. Blood donors of all blood types, especially type O, and platelet donors are urged to make an appointment to donate at RedCrossBlood.org or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
Fewer blood drives in September and October coupled with hurricanes Michael and Florence, which caused thousands of blood and platelet donations to go uncollected, were key contributing factors to the current blood shortage.
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“This time of year, as many give thanks for family, friends and good health, it’s important to remember that patients across the country cannot survive without your generosity,” said Laura McGuire, external Communications manager, Red Cross Biomedical Services. “From traumas to ongoing cancer treatments, the need for blood doesn’t stop for the holidays. People can give back – and help those in need – by making a lifesaving blood or platelet donation now and hosting a blood drive in the weeks to come.”
An additional 4,300 blood drives nationally – and approximately 75 blood drives in this area – are needed in December, January and February to help stop the shortage from continuing throughout winter. Donations often decline during the winter holidays when many groups postpone blood drives while regular donors are busy with holiday activities and travel. Severe winter weather may also cause blood drive cancellations contributing to fewer donations than needed.
To encourage donations around the Thanksgiving holiday, those who come to donate blood or platelets with the Red Cross Nov. 21-24 will receive a long-sleeved Red Cross T-shirt, while supplies last.
Eligible donors can find a blood or platelet donation opportunity and schedule an appointment to donate by using the free Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Donation appointments and completion of a RapidPass, are encouraged to help speed up the donation process. RapidPass lets donors complete the pre-donation reading and answer the health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, from the convenience of a mobile device or computer, or through the Blood Donor App.
Those interested in hosting a blood drive can learn more and sign up to sponsor a drive this winter, by visiting RedCrossBlood.org/HostADrive.
Kylee Durham, 11, had a rare type of vascular tumor in her right jaw bone. When the tumor ruptured in August, the hemorrhage caused Kylee to lose so much blood that she needed two units of blood before an emergency embolization surgery to stop the bleeding. She required additional transfusions during surgery and received a total of eight units of blood, or about the total blood volume of an average adult, over a 12-hour period.
The surgery was successful, and Kylee had a partial resection of her jaw a couple of days after the embolization to remove the tumor. Now a few months post-surgery, Kylee is back at home, enjoying middle school and spending time doing the things she loves. Her mother, Brittany Durham, is grateful for the donors who helped save Kylee’s life.
“If it weren’t for blood donors, my daughter would not be alive. She nearly lost all of her blood. Blood donors saved her life,” said Durham. “My dad has been a blood donor for years, and my whole family now are blood donors in honor of Kylee. I encourage people on a daily basis to go out and donate blood.”
11/13/2018: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Milwaukee Academy of Science, 2000 W Kilbourn
11/13/2018: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Lutheran Chapel of the Cross, 3353 S. Whitnall
11/15/2018: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Ronald Reagan High School, 4965 S 20th St
11/23/2018: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., Loving Shepherd Evangelical Lutheran Church, 3909 W Clinton Ave
11/29/2018: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Manpower, 100 Manpower Pl.
11/30/2018: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Cardinal Stritch University – Clare Hall, 6801 N Yates Rd
12/7/2018: 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Marquette Gymnasium, 1508 W. Clybourn Street
12/13/2018: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Bounce Milwaukee, 2801 S. 5th Ct.

author: American Red Cross


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St. Joseph Academy exceeds expectations | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
St. Joseph Academy
November 13, 2018
In just one year, the students of St. Joseph Academy (SJA) on Milwaukee’s Southside, have exceeded expectations, as reported in the WI Department of Public Instruction (DPI) state report card. SJA students grew leaps and bounds in the 2017-18 school year, compared to 2016-17. Of the state’s four priority areas – Student Achievement, School Growth, Closing Gaps and On-track and Postsecondary Readiness – SJA scored above or near the state average in almost all categories.
In the School Growth category, the largest jump in scores was in English Language Arts (ELA) Growth, improving from 21.6 to 39.7 out of 50. This increase is due to the hard work of the students and faculty and the implementation of a plan to improve literacy school-wide. Parts of that plan included: a school-wide emphasis on Reading, Literacy, and ELL, a special Literacy class, enhanced learning opportunities with technology, restructuring the daily schedule to allow more time for reading and math, and student-based achievement goals focused on growth.
While emphasis for SJA and the teachers continues to be Literacy, the mathematics program also received upgrades for the 2018-19 school year. With a more comprehensive math curriculum, the students are being challenged at a new level. Reports are already showing improved results upon last year’s math performance.
One year makes all the difference for the students at SJA. Last year, according to the DPI state report card, the school “Met Few Expectations”. However, according to the latest state report card, SJA “Exceeds Expectations”. In fact, the overall score grew more than 20 points from the previous year. The staff of St. Joseph Academy is dedicated to the students’ improvement and success. They strive to ensure that their students continue their education through high school and achieve higher education goals.
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St. Joseph Academy is a Catholic educational organization sponsored by the Felician Sisters. Their Mission is to educate children to be successful life-long learners and problem solvers. They are guided by the Felician Values for Ministry of Respect for Human Dignity, Compassion, Justice and Peace, Transformation and Solidarity with the Poor. They have partnered with families and the community for over 100 years to fulfill this mission.
SJA’s Early Childhood Education Center serves infants and toddlers from six weeks to four years of age. This program is nationally accredited through the National Accreditation Commission and has achieved the highest five star rating through Young Star.
SJA’s Elementary and Middle School is approved by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction as a Milwaukee Parental Choice Program and is both AdvancED and Wisconsin Religious and Independent Schools Accreditation (WRISA) accredited. Together, St. Joseph Academy offers a vibrant educationally rich curriculum for students 6 weeks old to 8 grade all housed in one building, helping to maintain a sense of community and support for our students and families.

author: St. Joseph Academy


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Wisconsin Vision’s ‘Clear Days Ahead’ program provides children in need with free glasses | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Public Schools
November 13, 2018
Optometrists, opticians, and volunteers from Wisconsin Vision, the Milwaukee Teachers’ Education Association, and Milwaukee Public Schools will provide eye exams to more than 90 students at Clarke St. School and more than 100 students at Zablocki Elementary who did not pass vision screenings last month. Students ages four to fourteen who need glasses will be eligible to receive an eyeglass prescription and be fitted for glasses courtesy of Wisconsin Vision.

author: Milwaukee Public Schools


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ABM Job Fair at Fiserv Forum | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Fiserv Forum
November 14, 2018
JOB FAIR tomorrow at Fiserv Forum from 1-4pm. Open positions include supervisors, machine operators, bathroom attendants, and janitors.

created: November 14, 2018

author: Fiserv Forum


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
November 14, 2018

author: Adam Carr


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Coaches shift ‘locker room talk’ to promote healthy relationships, respect among student athletes | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Allison Dikanovic
November 14, 2018
Jerome Gray is the varsity basketball coach at Young Coggs Williams High School and one of the 30 coaches participating in the pilot program, Coaching Boys into Men. (Photo by Allison Dikanovic)
At the end of practice on Tuesday, Jerome Gray gathered his basketball team at Young Coggs Williams High School into a huddle. After players put their hands in the middle and yelled, “family,” on three, Gray brought them into a classroom and took out his playbook.
But rather than talking about strategy or describing a new defense, he asked his players what the word respect means to them, and why it’s important. Before anyone took off their basketball shoes to go home, the team had a 10-minute discussion about what it means to respect themselves and those they are in relationships with.
Though a change of pace from the “hard” coaching style that Gray usually uses, he said his players appeared to still be engaged and interested in what he was talking about. That’s the point.
Gray is one of 30 coaches in Milwaukee participating in a pilot through the City of Milwaukee Office of Violence Prevention called Coaching Boys into Men. The 12-week program give coaches the tools and curriculum to facilitate conversations with their teams about healthy relationships, boundaries, aggression, communication, consent and equality.
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Shana Kidd, violence prevention coordinator at OVP, got the idea to start the program after a meeting on the topic of sexual assault. She said it was clear that the way men think of themselves, treat women and behave in relationships is central to the issue of sexual assault, but she felt young men especially were lacking the knowledge, information and modeling of what it means to be in healthy, respectful relationships.
“Some of our young men are not being taught certain things or it’s going in one ear and out the other,” she said.
Reggie Moore, the director of the City of Milwaukee Office of Violence Prevention, addresses a group of coaches at the Zilber School of Public Health as part of a training on the Coaching Boys into Men curriculum. (Photo by Allison Dikanovic)
Reggie Moore, director of OVP agreed. “If we are really going to eradicate what we are seeing as far as the abuse and harassment of our women and girls in our community, we have to start with us as men.”
Kidd said she knew from her experiences working with young people that athletes often are leaders in their schools and have positive relationships with their coaches. So, she thought that if she wanted to reach young men, coaches would be a natural place to start.
“Sports has tremendous influence, not only in culture, but in our young people in general,” she said.
She found that a program such as the one she dreamed up already existed: it’s called Coaching Boys into Men, and was started in 2000 by the national nonprofit and advocacy organization Futures Without Violence. Since then, the program has been implemented across the country as well as internationally, and has been proven to work.
The concept is simple — leverage the unique influence that coaches have on their players to promote healthy and respectful relationships. Organizers and coaches hope that the impact could be huge.
Reggie Moore said that in a time when national leaders have dismissed violent language toward women as “locker room talk,” it’s the perfect time to shift the conversations happening in locker rooms to show that violence is not acceptable. “A lot of times the athletes in our schools and in our communities are leaders, and they’re the cats that other people follow,” Moore said. “So if we can reach them and change their mindset and change their behavior, then they can set the standard for other brothers in our community.”
Gray said that in a small school such as Young Coggs, 3500 W. Mother Daniels Way, students really look up to the basketball team.
“If I can just reach one of my guys, then that activates a whole circle of people… It can affect another guy, another guy,” Gray said. “This program is so dope because it could actually help change the whole culture.”
And a culture change is exactly what’s needed when talking about healthy relationships and sexual assault. A national study commissioned by Stop Street Harassment in January 2018 looked at a broad range of behaviors — including verbal assault, unwelcome touching, and online harassment — and reported that 81 percent of women and 43 percent of men said they had experienced some form of sexual harassment or assault during their lifetimes.
The study showed that the problem starts young, with 57 percent of women and 42 percent of men saying that they first experienced sexual harassment or assault by age 17. High school-age, 14-to-17-years-old, was the most frequently selected age people reported for their first experience of harassment or assault.
In Wisconsin, an average of more than 5,000 cases of sexual assault are reported to law enforcement each year, according to the Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services data points out that nationally, only 39 percent of sexual assaults are reported, so that means an estimated 13,000 incidents of sexual assault occur in Wisconsin each year.
“We have to react and respond lovingly to those who have been harmed by violence, but the prevention piece is really critical if we want to stop the tide of violence that we see,” said Carmen Pitre, president and CEO of the Sojourner Family Peace Center, which is Wisconsin’s largest service provider for families dealing with domestic violence.
“We say ball is life,” Gray said. “I put the challenge to my guys: you can tie any situation back to basketball.” For example, being a great teammate requires a lot of the same qualities and behaviors as being a great friend or partner, he said.
Gray said he appreciates how the Coaching Boys Into Men curriculum uses the structure and principles of sports and teamwork to talk about real-life situations and get into big concepts such as healthy masculinity.
“Young people can get different ideas of what it means to be a man,” Gray said. “They think it’s all about being the tough guy. It’s not always about strength and toughness. It’s about accepting, sacrificing, supporting and working together.”
The coaches’ 12 lessons are on play sheets created by OVP featuring the curriculum made available by Futures Without Violence. “Time-out” cards are scenarios for how to intervene and use an inappropriate behavior as a teachable moment. While using sports-centric language, the curriculum delves into topics including insulting language, taking personal responsibility for actions, understanding consent, communicating boundaries, online harassment, relationship abuse and promoting equality.
After Kidd and Moore hosted two training sessions, coaches across the city are beginning to implement the curriculum into their practices once a week. Their play sheets include information about websites and hotlines, and Kidd will be visiting each site and checking in with coaches throughout the season to see if they need more support. Players and coaches take surveys before, during and after the season, and at the end of the program, participants will sign a pledge to affirm their commitment to what they’ve learned.
Kidd said that her goal for the pilot is to get young people to think more about their choices and to be equipped with information and support that they didn’t have before, to hopefully expand the program to other coaches, and to create a counterpart program for young women.
“With this program, it really dissects situations and uses critical thinking as a solution,” she said.
Gray said he hopes it gives a platform for his players to talk about and see how some situations they might think are funny or normal are actually harmful, and that they feel equipped to have healthy relationships in all areas of their lives.
Though some of these conversations might be difficult to have, Gray said that he feels that as a young male role model, he is in an important position to be the one to have them with his team. He recalled the positive and lasting impacts that his own coaches have had on him throughout his life.
“Having that important male figure to talk to about these issues can change everything,” he said. “I know if they’re looking to anybody right now, it’s me.”
He said that he’s “very close” with his team. “They can actually relate to me,” he said. “I dress how they dress. I listen to a lot of the same music as them.”
Futures Without Violence reported that “coaches consistently rate as the #1 positive influence on today’s youth.”
“When you have coaches having these conversations with them, they tend to receive it better because it’s not coming from a parent,” Kidd said. “For a lot of our young people, coaches are a mentor, a father figure, a big brother, an uncle.”
Evidence shows that this strategy is effective. In 2012, the Center for Disease Control completed a three-year evaluation of the Coaching Boys into Men program in Sacramento, California. The study found that athletes who participated in Coaching Boys into Men were significantly less likely to perpetrate abuse, and significantly more likely to positively intervene when witnessing instances of abusive or disrespectful behaviors among peers.
Pitre said Coaching Boys into Men creates space for new groups of people to participate in the work of ending violence.
“This issue is about all of us and the kind of quality of community that we want to live in,” she said. “We all have to participate in preventing the kinds of things we don’t want to see or happen to people here.”
From years of experience working to end domestic violence and sexual assault, she said she knows it’s not going to be easy to broach some of these tough topics with young people.
“These conversations are difficult for all of us,” she said. “Human relationships are complicated, and we are always evolving.” Pitre said that all adults, especially pastors, doctors, teachers and parents, need to become more comfortable talking about these topics and serving as role models.
Gray said he’s looking forward to the process. “I’m excited to be able to touch on a topic and see it come into play on the court; but this season, even more so off the court.”

author: Allison Dikanovic


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
November 13, 2018


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How to prevent accidents and house fires | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Madison Marx
November 14, 2018
As you deck the halls this holiday season, be fire smart. Although Christmas tree fires are not common, when they do occur, they are more likely to be serious.
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA.org), winter is the most prevalent season for house fires. Knowing the facts and implementing safety tips can make the holidays safer for friends and family.
More than one-third of home Christmas tree fires start in the living room, family room, or den. Roughly three-quarters of accidents and injuries result from fires started in these areas. The top three days for home candle fires are Christmas, New Year’s Day and New Year’s Eve.
Here are a few tips to prevent seasonal fires:
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Safety Tips
Trees: Water holiday trees often, ensure there are no faulty lights, and keep the trees away from heat sources like fireplaces and space heaters. A dry tree catches fire much faster than one that is watered regularly. Consider a fire-resistant artificial tree instead of a live tree.
Holiday Lights: Check for melted or damaged wires/plugs on holiday light strands and turn all lights off while away from home.
Cooking: Turn pot handles inwards to prevent accidents in the kitchen. Avoid wearing loose clothing, which can ignite easily. Don’t store items on the stove. The leading cause of home structure fires is from cooking and accounts for two out of every five house fires. Designate the kitchen as a kid-free zone especially during the holidays.
Fireplace: Hanging stockings in front of the fireplace is a common practice. Be sure stockings are hung elsewhere while the fireplace is in use. Fireplace screens or glass doors are good investments, especially when children are in the house.
Candles: Keep candles out of the reach of children and blow each candle out before exiting home. Electrical candles are great alternatives and give a similar effect.
Fire Escape Plan: Know escape routes and practice with family members. Purchase fire extinguishers for every floor of the home and test smoke detectors.
Emergency Preparedness Kit: Keep contact numbers handy for first responders, doctors and insurance carriers.

author: Madison Marx


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Neighborhood House invites community to Giving Thanks Potluck | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Analise Pruni
November 14, 2018
Neighborhood House of Milwaukee recently invited community members to enjoy a Giving Thanks Potluck. Guests were encouraged to bring a side dish to share. The children’s only concern was that there would be enough whipped cream to go around for the pumpkin pie.
The children could make turkey-themed tea lights with googly eyes at the craft station. They also performed a dance number for the people who attended. Neighborhood House has been hosting this event consistently for the last 11 years. It was free and open to the public.


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Alderman Rainey invites residents to apply for Census jobs | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ald. Khalif J. Rainey
November 15, 2018
Alderman Khalif J. Rainey encourages interested residents to apply for a field representative position within the United States Census Bureau. Starting salaries range from $14.89 to $19.32 per hour. Employees will get a night differential and be reimbursed on gas. The hours are flexible based on the survey.
Alderman Rainey says this is a great opportunity to make money and be part of a process that has many benefits to the community.
“The data is not only used by the federal government to determine where to spend on low-income programs like food assistance or Medicare, but also by health officials to learn where to target their intervention-based resources,” he said, noting businesses also use the data to determine where to expand operations such as adding distribution centers.
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Eligibility requirements include being a U.S. Citizen, being at least 18 years old and having a valid driver’s license. A full list of requirements can be found on the attached flyer. If you are interested in applying please call 1-800-865-6384 x 15 or email Chicago.Recruiting@census.gov.

created: November 15, 2018


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census-jobs | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
November 15, 2018


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Going behind the scenes in three quintessential Milwaukee neighborhoods | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr & Wes Tank
November 15, 2018
Adam Carr and Wes Tank co-directed Three Neighborhoods: People, Place, Purpose, a short film exploring life in Milwaukee’s Clarke Square, Layton Boulevard West and Lindsay Heights neighborhoods. The film was created for the 10th anniversary of the Zilber Neighborhood Initiative and recently screened at the Milwaukee Film Festival.
Before filming began, we felt tense. Documenting and sharing a community’s narrative is serious, particularly in a media landscape where clumsy and imprecise stories are too common.
Then, we began. We rode our bikes through Clarke Square’s beautiful residential streets during Ciclovia. We watched a game of four square among cousins on a playground in Silver City. We were welcomed on corners and porches, invited into churches and backyards, joined football practices and community celebrations.
Early in the process, we attended a neighborhood men’s group in Lindsay Heights. While waiting for the session to begin, we got into a conversation with a young man helping prepare dinner. When we mentioned our need for a microphone operator, his eyes lit up. He knew the exact person — one text and two minutes later, his brother Joseph Bynum came across the street. In addition to being enrolled in MATC’s TV and Video Production program, he’d been eager for a foot in the door. We hired Joseph, still standing in the kitchen.
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That moment of serendipity was an important one, and there were many to follow.
The generosity continued as we began the process of recording interviews. With the help of Clarke Square Neighborhood Initiative, Layton Boulevard West Neighbors and Walnut Way Conservation Corp., we recruited three groups of community members reflecting the makeup of their respective neighborhoods.
When the interviews began, we didn’t say “action,” opting instead to show participants aerial drone footage to help them see the neighborhood they know so well from a different perspective. Then, we mostly stepped out of the way, allowing the discussion to evolve on its own. Despite temperatures approaching 100 degrees during each recording session, the resulting conversations were filled with far more genuine and thoughtful ideas than we could ever pack into a short film.
During the editing process, as we listened to the material, we felt compelled to get back out and gather more visuals. This led us to some of our favorite and most personal experiences of the project. We spent a morning with Lucas and Martha Alamo in their stunning historic home, chatting over coffee and pancakes. We filmed Alberto Vilchis and his mother as they cleaned up their backyard after a graduation party. We went to Terron Edwards’ house, where we were welcomed for family dinner. We even passed the camera to his 3-year-old son, Terron Jr., who took a portrait of his father holding their dog, which ended up in the film.
When we arrived at a finished product, we felt good, but felt the project wouldn’t be complete until people in the neighborhood could see and react to it. In the coming days and months, we’re excited to find opportunities to screen the film in each community. And of course, the story of the city and each neighborhood continues, whether we’re there holding a camera or not.
Editor’s note: Adam Carr is a staff member at Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service.

author: Adam Carr & Wes Tank


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Legislators hope to build on momentum created by results of marijuana referendums | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Edgar Mendez
November 15, 2018
Voters from across the state overwhelmingly supported some form of legalization of marijuana. (Image by Jim McGowan)
The voters have spoken, and it’s clear that they are ready to see marijuana legalized in Wisconsin, said Rep. Melissa Sargent, discussing the results of last week’s referendums on the issue.
“Regardless of whether they were in red or blue areas there was support for legalization and evidence that we need to do something about marijuana. I’m hopeful that policymakers in Wisconsin act in the best interest of the people,” said Sargent, who plans to reintroduce legislation to legalize marijuana for recreational and medicinal purposes once the new legislature is sworn in.
The Dane County Democrat said she believes that Republicans, many of whom still believe in the “reefer madness” narrative, need to realize that legalization would result in a huge economic boost for the state and would help to address racial disparities in marijuana law enforcement.
“If you have black or brown skin you’re 10 to 12 times more likely to be arrested for marijuana in Wisconsin. Legalization won’t end our disparities but it certainly won’t hurt to try,” she said.
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The results of last week’s referendums showed that 70 percent of voters  in Milwaukee County favored full legalization, while 77 percent of voters in Waukesha and 88 percent of voters in Kenosha County  favored legalization of medicinal marijuana. Fifty-nine percent of voters in Racine County supported full legalization while 85 percent supported allowing medical marijuana.
Across the state, support for legalization, in some form, was supported in each of the 16 counties and two municipalities that held referendums on the issue. Those areas represent over 50 percent of the state’s population, according to Sargent.
Incoming Gov. Tony Evers has publicly supported legalization of medicinal marijuana and stated before the election that the referendums should guide future discourse on the topic. One sticking point, according to Sargent and Rep. David Bowen, is that the Republican-controlled Legislature in Wisconsin could be reluctant to support any agenda put forth by Evers.
Sen. LaTonya Johnson, pictured at Auer Avenue School’s 105th Anniversary celebration, is urging lawmakers on both sides to work together to change the state’s marijuana laws. (Photo by Adam Carr)
“I think it’s possible that we see gridlock,” Bowen said. “It depends on whether or not our colleagues are going to be open to hearing all sides of the argument,” added Bowen, who represents the North Side of Milwaukee and the Village of Shorewood.
One challenge could be garnering support from Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, who stated earlier this week in a speech to his caucus that he would work with Evers, but, “we are not going to roll over and play dead like they assume we probably should.”
According to Kit Beyer, communications director for the Office of the Speaker, Vos has long supported medical marijuana but doesn’t support legalizing recreational marijuana.
“He supports a system where patients can get a prescription for marijuana from their doctor filled at a pharmacy.  However, Speaker Vos thinks the change should be made at the federal level first,” Beyer said.
Fellow Republicans including Rep. Dale Kooyenga (Brookfield), Rep. Jessie Rodriguez (Oak Creek) and Scott Allen (Waukesha), who all represent areas that held referendums, did not respond to a request for comment from Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service.
Sen. LaTonya Johnson, a Democrat who represents Milwaukee, is calling for bipartisanship and for the public to put pressure on elected officials.
“I urge legislators on both sides of the aisle to take note of the widespread support shown by voters throughout the state and take action accordingly,” Johnson said. “I also encourage members of the public to not let their voice end with the referendums and keep reaching out to your elected officials and asking that they move forward with changing our state’s marijuana laws,” she added.
Bowen is also urging voters to demand action from their elected officials, and some local groups also plan to continue advocating for a change in the law.
“We will work with partners around the state and locally to support legislation that reflects the views expressed overwhelmingly in the referendums,” said Gretchen Schuldt, executive director of the Wisconsin Justice Initiative.
In terms of whether legalization could happen soon, Bowen said he and other legislators who are in support are still in the coalition-building phase and will continue to work with legislators on both sides. In the meantime, he said he will continue to push his bill, which would end workplace testing for THC, the main chemical compound in marijuana, and a bill that was introduced to legalize medicinal marijuana.
Last year, Bowen said, those measures couldn’t even get a hearing, but things could change now that several key positions, including governor and lieutenant governor, have flipped Democratic, and because of the referendum results.
“Republicans still control that chunk of the legislature so it is going to be up to people getting engaged and making sure they have their voices heard and not ignored, including those who have been impacted by the criminalization of marijuana,” Bowen said.

author: Edgar Mendez