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Fainting And Freezing In The Fields: Alleged Labor Trafficking Victim Tells Of Mistreatment In Wisconsin, Georgia - WPR
Alexandra Hall and Sarah Whites-Koditschek
September 9, 2019
In 2016, “Roberto” legally came to the United States for the same reason many immigrants do — to earn a living and a slice of the American dream. But Roberto, a native of southern Mexico, says he suffered a nightmare of coercion, financial exploitation, threats and mistreatment while working on a Georgia farm and, later, at cabbage patches in southeastern Wisconsin.
Roberto arrived in the United States legally under an H-2A visa, which allows seasonal farm laborers to work for specific employers. Roberto says he was forced to pay a fee and turn over the deed to his parents’ property to an intermediary in Mexico as security for his continued work in the United States.
When Roberto arrived in Georgia, the situation was not at all what the recruiter had described. There were hundreds of workers — all men, all from Mexico — living together in cramped barracks and isolated from nearby towns, he said.
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“The same day you arrive, that same day they ask you for your passport. They take all of your personal documents,” Roberto said of the contractors, who hired out workers to farms growing squash, cucumbers and cilantro in southern Georgia.
The boss warned Roberto and the other workers that there were ground rules.
“He tells us to get it in our heads that we came to work,” Roberto recalled. “No matter what, they don’t want us talking to any strangers — people that are not from the work site. And that we couldn’t leave either  — work, and then back to the house.”
Roberto — not his real name — is among 14 men from Mexico who were allegedly victimized by a labor-trafficking scheme that transported legal temporary farm workers from Georgia to work illegally at a Racine-area farm, according to an indictment in the U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Wisconsin announced May 22.
He spoke exclusively to Wisconsin Public Radio and Wisconsin Watch in 2017, before the indictment, and has asked through his attorneys to remain anonymous to avoid potential retribution. At their request, WPR and Wisconsin Watch delayed publication of the interview to avoid compromising the investigation.
Five family members from Garcia & Sons, a farm labor contractor from Moultrie, Georgia, have been charged with labor-trafficking related counts. They are Saul Garcia, 49; Saul Garcia, Jr., 26; Daniel Garcia, 28; Consuelo Garcia, 45; all of Moultrie, Georgia; and Maria Remedios Garcia-Olalde, 52, a Mexican national. Attorneys for the Garcias declined requests for an interview.
Two of the defendants — the elder Saul Garcia and Garcia-Olalde — also were indicted on obstruction charges for allegedly withholding or falsifying evidence, including trying to keep one of the alleged victims from testifying before a federal grand jury. A trial date has not been set.
The federal case developed after the state Department of Workforce Development (DWD) investigated the farm in 2016. The UMOS Latina Resource Center in Milwaukee relayed a tip to the state agency that the workers were being held like “prisoners,” according to records obtained under the state public records law.
But spokesman Ben Jedd said the agency was unable to substantiate the allegation after interviewing each worker. DWD did issue a warning to the elder Saul Garcia for preventing workers from cooperating with efforts to investigate the working conditions.
Records indicate federal investigators had already begun their work before DWD ended its inquiry, but it remains unclear who contacted federal authorities. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Milwaukee declined to describe the origins of the case, which was investigated by the FBI, the U.S. departments of Labor and Homeland Security and the Racine Police Department.
Jedd said DWD, under Gov. Tony Evers’ administration, is “evaluating our current programs and providing educational awareness to our employees” to better detect labor trafficking.
Owners of the Wisconsin farm where the men worked, Borzynski Farms, said they knew nothing of the conditions under which the men worked or that they were allegedly trafficked.
“Borzynski Farms is disheartened that its fields and facilities may have been used by Garcia & Sons to exploit or cause harm to any worker,” the farm’s attorney, Stephen Kravit, said in a statement.
The farm, which also has operations in Texas, Illinois and Georgia, grows produce including cabbage, sweet corn, leafy greens and green beans.
According to court documents, the Garcias conspired to force the men to work through threats of serious harm, and the workers’ ability to travel was limited by the confiscation of their passports.
Like Roberto, the other workers allegedly paid the equivalent of hundreds of dollars — and sometimes relinquished deeds to family properties — to be put on a list for consideration to be hired for work in Georgia.
“I was thinking of getting ahead. I didn’t know what it was like,” Roberto said.
As they headed to Wisconsin, the men were given fake names and IDs. There, they lived two men to a bed in a motel, and were not allowed to leave without an escort or speak to outsiders, according to court documents. The work was “very hard,” Roberto said.
“We spent all day crouched down,” he said. “Who really knows how our backs took it? Sometimes it rained, and we couldn’t even walk. It got cold, and we were cutting winter cabbage in a heavy, horrible cold. This is how they make you work.”
The men told federal investigators the Garcias yelled at them to work faster and sometimes refused medical help when they were sick. The bosses charged them money to get rides to the doctor. When it was hot, some men passed out in the fields, and the Garcias would not let their fellow workers move them into the shade, investigators were told.
The men said if they felt ill from the heat or fainted, the Garcias yelled at them. If they could not keep up, they were told to sit on a bus without pay.
“Sometimes the manager was angry and didn’t give us water,” Roberto said. “(We) told him that there was no water — it seemed intentional.“
The men said the Garcias charged them between $100 and $150 for a ride to the hospital. A doctor advised one worker he should take a week off, which prompted the Garcias to threaten to send him back to Georgia, court records say.
Roberto said the workers hardly ate and many lost weight. The men said they were not fully compensated for the time they worked. Several men told investigators they had “taxes” taken out of each paycheck, and some said their last few weeks were unpaid — payments that were found to be improperly withheld.
In all, federal agents reported the Garcias failed to pay workers $850,000 in 2015 and 2016.
Prosecutors are seeking to seize from the Garcias nearly $48,000 and up to 15 properties in Georgia, including large homes with spacious yards and an in-ground swimming pool, plus 15 vehicles from model years 2010 to 2018.
A 2013 Wisconsin Department of Justice assessment found that labor trafficking in the state “often goes unnoticed or not officially investigated because of lack of resources, lack of training, or inability to investigate due to the transient nature of the crime.”
A joint investigation by Wisconsin Watch and Wisconsin Public Radio found that since that report was issued, little had changed, until the Garcia indictment — thought to be the largest labor trafficking case ever prosecuted in the state. In all, just a handful of labor trafficking cases have been charged in Wisconsin’s federal courts.
Wisconsin does rank high among states in its pursuit of human trafficking — which can include trafficking of individuals for sex or labor — according to a 2019 report by the Human Trafficking Institute, a group that studies and combats the crime. But Wisconsin, like many states, has made gains primarily in combating sex trafficking. Of the 16 trafficking cases charged by federal authorities in Wisconsin 2018, 15 were for sex trafficking and just one was for labor trafficking, according to the report.
Enforcement actions short of criminal charges also have been taken in Wisconsin. In June 2018, Georgia-based labor contractor J.C. Castro Harvesting was fined $207,522 after the U.S. Department of Labor found 63 H-2A farm workers living in substandard conditions on Wisconsin crop farms, without access to a kitchen or adequate meals.
Castro was ordered to pay $72,166 in back pay to the workers, who had been transported from a farm in Brinson, Georgia, to work at the unnamed Wisconsin farms. Castro was barred for three years from participating in the H-2A program.
Julie Pfluger, an assistant U.S. attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, said labor trafficking is often hard to identify.
“If you’re looking for someone who’s black and blue … and says to you ‘Oh my gosh, this guy beat me up and made me work on the farm’ — that’s probably not what you’re going to find,” she said. “You’ll probably end up in something much more subtle where it’s psychological manipulation and coercion. So that’s why it’s harder to spot than you would imagine.”
Pfluger said law enforcement officials are still learning how to identify and prosecute such cases.
“We’re still working on, ‘How do we get into these cases? How do we get in touch with the victims? How do we get them to disclose? How do we train law enforcement to find these cases?’”
According to Catherine Chen, chief program officer of Polaris, a Washington, D.C.-based anti-trafficking group, labor trafficking remains little understood compared to sex trafficking. The victims of labor trafficking are often afraid to report it to the police.
“To better reach victims, law enforcement can build relationships with community leaders and community organizations who may be more likely to hear about labor abuses,” she said. “Law enforcement can also make reporting procedures more accessible in various languages.”
There are windows of opportunity to spot signs of labor trafficking. Health problems, wage complaints and situations in which workers are prevented access to outsiders are all possible signs of trafficking, Chen said.
In an interview with WPR and Wisconsin Watch in 2017, Roberto described his journey from optimistic striver to alleged labor trafficking victim.
A few years earlier, Roberto met a man who told him he could make good money working in the United States, doing what he had already done in Mexico: working on a farm.
“He told me, ‘If you want to come to the United States there is work, but first you have to pay (several hundred dollars) and then he’ll put you on a list,’” Roberto said.
At the recruiter’s request, Roberto handed over the title to his parents’ property.
At the U.S. consulate in Monterrey, Mexico, staff asked Roberto and other H-2A applicants if they planned to work in the United States, and if anyone had asked them for money in exchange for entering the country. Several men later said they had been coached to lie in response.
Roberto, like some other workers who were allegedly trafficked by the Garcias, felt he could not stop working while in the United States for fear of losing his parents’ property.
Roberto said the job in Georgia was hard work. Sometimes, buses would pick the men up at their barracks to begin work at 5 a.m. and drive them out to farms in the area. The workers would sleep just a few hours each night. Sometimes, he said, he did not even have time to eat.
Saul Garcia and his sons treated the workers poorly, Roberto said. He said the workers were yelled at, and sometimes they got sick.
“Sometimes the people would pass out working in the sun. Because they don’t let you stop, not even to get some air,” he recalled. “And you feel bad because the people in charge don’t do anything to help them.”
Roberto said the workers were afraid to speak up.
“I looked to see if someone would get up the courage, you know? To do something. But no, we all obeyed,” Roberto said. “That’s how it was, because of the papers and thinking about what you left in Mexico. So, better to keep your head down and handle it.”
About three months after Roberto arrived in Georgia, one of the Garcias came to the workers with news.
“He told us that he was going to send us to work in Wisconsin. And well, we didn’t know anything about that, right? Because it wasn’t in the contract. Supposedly it was just for Georgia, that’s it,” he said. “But at that point, everything he said about the contract wasn’t true, so what could we expect? So he makes you sign the papers with fake names and he takes your photo … and he gives you a fake ID.”
Roberto’s boss told his group of workers that they would need the IDs to cash their checks in Wisconsin. He then drove them in a bus to Wisconsin, where they continued working for several more months.
They landed at a motel in southeastern Wisconsin. Roberto says there were at least four men to a room, two to a bed.
On Nov. 10, 2016, police swooped in while the men were being taken by bus from Borzynski Farms. They expected to be returned to Mexico. Instead, they became witnesses for the prosecution. Roberto remains in Wisconsin.
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“The fundamental issue we have is if an employer can fully control a worker, that’s highly problematic,” she said. “The threat to them is they will become illegal. They will become undocumented if they try to leave (their sponsor).”
Chen said farm owners should investigate the working conditions of laborers in their fields and should be held accountable, along with the labor contractor, if their workers are trafficked.
Rod Ritcherson, special assistant to the chief officer of UMOS, declined to discuss his agency’s role in investigating the allegations against the Garcias. But he agreed to speak generally about labor trafficking.
“One might think, ‘No, this does not take place in my backyard,’ but the matter of the fact is it is taking place in our backyards, not only in Wisconsin but also across the nation,” Ritcherson said.
He agreed with Chen that legal immigrants working on H-2A visas can be exploited.
“The person is isolated, they are controlled, the employer is responsible for housing that foreign worker, for providing meals, and oftentimes that person is not going to have their own transportation,” he said.
“It is a heinous crime in (the) same category as sex trafficking. To control another human being is despicable,” Ritcherson added. “We hope that justice is brought on behalf of the victims.”
Wisconsin Watch Managing Editor Dee J. Hall contributed to this story. Alexandra Hall and Sarah Whites-Koditschek were Wisconsin Public Radio Mike Simonson Memorial Investigative Reporting Fellows embedded in the newsroom of the nonprofit Wisconsin Watch (www.WisconsinWatch.org), which collaborates with WPR, Wisconsin Public Television, other news media and the UW-Madison School of Journalism and Mass Communication. All works created, published, posted or disseminated by the Center do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of UW-Madison or any of its affiliates.

created: September 9, 2019


text:
FoodShare Recipients Might Lose Benefits Amid Government Shutdown - WPR
Rich Kremer
January 22, 2019
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services is warning food stamp recipients to watch for letters that say they’ll run out of federal food assistance in March due to the ongoing government shutdown.
A press release issued Friday afternoon warned people enrolled in the FoodShare federal assistance program that their March allocation of food benefits would be zero.
According to DHS, the agency is unsure whether federal funding for the program will be available if the government shutdown continues.
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The letters were sent automatically by a third-party contractor working on DHS’s behalf. The agency says it’s working with federal agencies to determine what options there may be to fund benefits in March.
Meanwhile food pantries, including the Wisconsin Hunger Task Force in Milwaukee, are preparing for a potential run on their services.
Sherrie Tussler, executive director of the Hunger Task Force, said the shutdown is already impacting FoodShare recipients because the program started sending out payments for February benefits as early as Sunday.
“Getting basically early receipt of benefits may cause some people who are very worried about the benefits disappearing to go spend the benefits immediately,” Tussler said.
She said this could cause problems for grocery stores in the short term and food pantries like hers in the long term if people run out of benefits before the end of next month. Tussler said this is posing some uncomfortable choices for her agency.
“I got two options,” said Tussler. “I can just give food out to everybody who needs it every time they ask for it. Or I can ration them, and when I ration them, I make sure that the supply of food lasts longer.”
She said rationing food at the Wisconsin Hunger Task Force could be necessary as early as mid-February.
“And the longer I’ve been contemplating this, I feel like I’ve got to go to rationing,” Tussler said. “That way people will benefit as long as they need to and even though it may be uncomfortable it will serve the community’s needs, overall, better.”
Nearly 1 million Wisconsin residents were getting FoodShare benefits in 2017, according to the latest data available from the DHS.
Wisconsin Public Radio, © Copyright 2024, Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System and Wisconsin Educational Communications Board.

source: news-milwaukeenns

created: January 22, 2019

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

author: Rich Kremer


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Free Tax Centers Offering Help To Low-Income Tax Filers - WPR
Shamane Mills
February 16, 2018
Gov. Scott Walker’s broad effort to get more people working could affect those in the Medicaid and FoodShare programs, but it’s already impacting some low-income tax filers.
Republicans made changes in the 2017-19 state budget to what’s known as the Homestead Tax Credit. The credit was designed to provide property tax relief to low-income homeowners and renters.
To qualify, people need to have worked the previous year but make less than $24,680. There are exceptions for the elderly and those living with disabilities. But to qualify for those exceptions, persons with disabilities must now provide proof of when their disability began with documentation from Veterans Affairs, a doctor or the U.S. Social Security Administration.
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“We are working to eliminate fraud. Extra verification ensures that those who truly need help are receiving it,” wrote Amy Hasenberg, a spokeswoman for Walker.
But that hurdle is proving to be a challenging for some.
“Some folks might be disabled for 20 years and their Social Security statement they get every year doesn’t have the date the disability started,” said Deb Neubauer, Financial Education Center administrator at Dane County’s University of Wisconsin-Extension. Dane County UW-Extension runs a free tax center at 2300 South Park St., and there are similar free sites around the state to help tax filers.
A sign outside Dane County’s UW-Extension free tax center at 2300 South Park St., Madison. Shamane Mills/WPR
Dane County Executive Joe Parisi held a press conference Monday at the south Madison tax center to make people aware of changes to the Homestead Tax Credit and urged people to file their tax returns.
“These dollars are really important to people. They make a big difference in the community. We’ve had an extra outreach effort into different neighborhoods throughout the county to try and let them know about this (free tax filing) service. Because it’s a shame if you have a refund and you’re not aware of it,” Parisi said.
Wisconsin Department of Revenue
Last year, 3,341 people got free tax help at the center, for a total of $4.5 million in refunds, Parisi said.
“We want to make sure that no one leaves money on the table,” Parisi said. “That if you have a refund coming you deserve, we want to give you the help you need filing your forms so you can get that refund.”
Last year, nearly 184,000 people claimed homestead credits amounting to $94.5 million. The average credit was $514.
Hasenberg said Walker is working to restore the Homestead Tax Credit to what it was originally created for, which is to provide property tax relief for the elderly. The credit has been retained for younger renters and homeowners on the condition they work.
“Wisconsin is at a historic unemployment levels, and that means we should mobilize Wisconsin’s able-bodied workforce. By eliminating subsidies for able-bodied adults, it encourages and rewards work,” said Hasenberg.
The new work requirement for those who aren’t elderly or not living with a disability is estimated to result in 11,400 households losing $7 million during the second year of the budget period, according to the Legislative Fiscal Bureau.
Wisconsin Public Radio, © Copyright 2024, Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System and Wisconsin Educational Communications Board.

created: February 16, 2018

author: Shamane Mills


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GOP State Lawmakers Look To Limit Early Voting In Lame-Duck Session - WPR
Laurel White
November 30, 2018
State lawmakers will vote next week on a number of Republican-backed proposals, including a plan to limit early voting in Wisconsin.
The so-called “extraordinary session,” approved by legislators on Friday and scheduled to begin Monday, is aimed at passing a number of new laws before Democratic Gov.-elect Tony Evers takes office in January.
One proposal would trim several days off Wisconsin’s early voting window — a move opponents have argued is aimed at suppressing certain voting populations, including students and minorities.
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Analiese Eicher, program director for liberal group One Wisconsin Now, which has successfully sued the state over its voting laws, said she was “shocked but not surprised” GOP lawmakers introduced the plan.
“For them, losing every statewide office on the ballot on Nov. 6 was apparently what they needed to go after our right to vote again,” she said. “This was a midterm election that saw record turnout driven in large part by record early voting and now we’re seeing that they’re potentially trying to change the law to keep people from voting.”
The same bill would also move the date of the 2020 presidential primary from April to March. Democrats have decried that move as a blatant political maneuver aimed at protecting the re-election bid of a conservative-backed state Supreme Court justice.
“It’s now becoming clear how low Republicans are willing to go in this desperate lame duck session,” Assembly Minority Leader Gordon Hintz, D-Oshkosh, tweeted Friday. “Divided government should be a chance for both parties to hit reset. Sad to see this is how Republicans are choosing to start things off.”
Local election officials from across the state have also said they’re concerned about moving the election date, arguing the change would create substantial logistical difficulties.
Other proposals on the calendar for the extraordinary session have been openly discussed at the Capitol in recent weeks. Those include a move to increase lawmakers’ power over the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp., an agency that Evers has said he would like to eliminate entirely.
“WEDC, our economic development agency, must continue to have the ability to help spur job creation and business opportunities without fear of being shut down,” said Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, and state Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, in a prepared statement on Friday.
The bill up for a vote next week would increase legislative appointments to the WEDC board, thereby limiting the power of gubernatorial appointments.
Another proposal would protect the state’s voter ID law from any future changes by Evers.
“Wisconsin law, written by the legislature and signed into law by a governor, should not be erased by the potential political maneuvering of the executive branch,” Vos and Fitzgerald said in their statement.
Other bills would limit Evers’ power to change state work requirements for food stamps and eliminate his ability to authorize Wisconsin to leave a federal lawsuit against the Affordable Care Act.
Senate Minority Leader Jennifer Shilling, D-La Crosse, called the proposals “ludicrous.”
“Rather than protecting jobs, strengthening schools, and fixing our roads, Republicans want to undermine Gov.-elect Evers before he takes office,” Shilling tweeted.
Lawmakers were initially expected to reconvene after the election only to take up Gov. Scott Walker’s proposal of tax incentives for consumer products company Kimberly-Clark Corp. The fate of that legislation remains uncertain in the state Senate.
Wisconsin Public Radio, © Copyright 2024, Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System and Wisconsin Educational Communications Board.

created: November 30, 2018

author: Laurel White


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Immigration Advocates Protest US Government's 'Zero Tolerance' Immigration Policy - WPR
Ximena Conde
June 1, 2018
Opposing a “zero tolerance” immigration policy by the U.S. Department of Justice, immigration advocates rallied in front of Milwaukee’s U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services building Friday at noon.
The Milwaukee event was part of rallies planned across the country as part of the National Day of Action for Children.
The rallies are in response to reports of hundreds of children being separated from their parents at the border.
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Earlier in May, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions said his department will prosecute anyone crossing the border, including people seeking asylum.
“These are asylum seekers. There should be some process to use, for example, a less costly case management service that’s already proven to ensure future court appearances,” said Emilio De Torre with the American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin.
De Torre said the current policy separating children from parents is causing lasting harm.
The Milwaukee event was also organized by the ACLU of Wisconsin in partnership with the National Domestic Workers Alliance.
Speakers included one asylum seeker from Honduras fleeing gang violence. Her husband currently detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
About 30 people showed up in the Milwaukee rally. Rallies were planned in Madison and Green Bay. According to organizers, about 40 people showed up to the Madison rally, The Green Bay rally was canceled because of low attendance numbers.
This story was updated at 2:45 p.m., Friday, June 1, 2018 to include additional reporting on the event.
Wisconsin Public Radio, © Copyright 2024, Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System and Wisconsin Educational Communications Board.

author: Ximena Conde


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Judge Elected In Milwaukee County Is First Female Hmong-American On The Bench - WPR
Chuck Quirmbach
April 5, 2017
A Milwaukee County woman has become the first female Hmong-American to be elected judge in the U.S.
Kashoua “Kristy” Yang easily defeated Fox Point municipal Judge Scott Wales in a contest to replace a retiring Milwaukee County circuit judge. Yang has practiced family law and worked on Social Security and worker’s compensation issues.
Part of Yang’s campaign highlighted coming to the U.S. as a refugee from Laos at age six. She said her family’s history is about survival, and that’s given her perseverance and a strong work ethic
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Yang said her victory is important for the Hmong community, but said she’s still letting it sink in.
“I don’t know … (if) I will put great value in that for me personally. But I understand what it means to the Hmong community, and how it can pave the way for the Hmong community,” Yang said.
She said she tries to see the humanity in everyone, and will try to take that philosophy with her when she heads to the Milwaukee County bench this summer, for a six-year term.
Yang graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison Law School in 2009.
Wisconsin Public Radio, © Copyright 2024, Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System and Wisconsin Educational Communications Board.

author: Chuck Quirmbach


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Kids Not Getting Tested For Lead - WPR
Shamane Mills
October 26, 2017
Federal policy requires all children receiving Medicaid to be tested for lead poisoning at ages one and two. In Wisconsin, less than one-third got checked last year. And the percentage tested is even lower for all children in the state.
A new report by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services shows 32 percent of children enrolled in Medicaid received the required testing in 2016. Twenty percent of kids of all income levels were checked for lead.
“Its really up to the individual clinics and healthcare systems to put something in place that makes sure (blood lead testing) is done and I would think today with the electronic medical records it would be easier to do that than 10 years ago,” said Beth Neary. She’s a pediatrician and member of the Wisconsin Environmental Health Network, a group of health professionals who want to increase awareness about the link between the environment and health.
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The report, prepared by the Wisconsin Childhood Lead Prevention Program run by DHS, says lead-based paint is a particular problem in Wisconsin because of the state’s high prevalence of older homes. It’s recommended all children in Racine and Milwaukee be tested three times before the age of three. The risk in other areas of the state is assessed through criteria including whether other family members have lead poisoning, and income level.
There is no safe level of lead in the human body and even low levels can cause permanent brain damage, according to the report. But it’s not easy to detect on a day-to-day basis, people and children who have lead poisoning do not look or act sick.
“Lead poisoning is silent and that’s why screening is still important. So if they show up with a level of 5 (micrograms per decilitre) where is this coming from? And if you don’t follow up at age 2 you might  miss the fact that (the level of lead in blood) might go up to 25,” said Neary.
Lead testing for all children in Wisconsin peaked in 2010 and has been declining ever since. Known cases of lead poisoning have been declining in Wisconsin and across the nation, according to the report.
“We are moving closer to our goal of no child ever being exposed to the damage lead can do to their bodies and minds, thanks in part to efforts made by Gov. Scott Walker, our local and tribal health departments, and our other partners,” said State Health Officer Karen McKeown in a statement.
The proportion of children testing positive for blood lead. Courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Wisconsin Division of Medicaid Services.
Five percent of children in the state had elevated levels of lead last year. That’s above the national average.
Wisconsin Public Radio, © Copyright 2024, Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System and Wisconsin Educational Communications Board.

created: October 26, 2017


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Many Wisconsin Tribes Reopening Casinos As They Lift, Ease Stay-At-Home Restrictions - WPR
Danielle Kaeding
June 22, 2020
Many Wisconsin tribes have been reopening their casinos as they lift or ease stay-at-home restrictions that were put in place during the coronavirus pandemic.
Many tribes maintained or extended stay-at-home, travel and curfew restrictions following the Wisconsin Supreme Court’s ruling to strike down the state’s “Safer at Home” order. Now, some are beginning to reopen businesses, campgrounds and gaming facilities.
Tribes primarily use gaming revenues from their casinos to support essential government services and programs, including health care, education and law enforcement. The National Indian Gaming Association projects 241 tribes nationwide, including Wisconsin’s 11 tribes, could see a loss of $22.4 billion in gaming revenues, according to the Wisconsin State Journal.
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As of June 15, the commission reported 322 of the roughly 520 gaming operations they oversee nationwide had resumed operations with 63 additional facilities expected to reopen.
In Wisconsin, the Ho-Chunk Nation opened casinos in Madison on June 3 and in Nekoosa on Tuesday. The tribe also announced plans to open three more sites in Wisconsin Dells, Black River Falls and Wittenberg on June 29.
Ryan Greendeer, public relations officer for the Ho-Chunk Nation, said the tribe is still taking precautions to protect members during the coronavirus pandemic through travel restrictions and social distancing. At its casinos, he said they’re following many of the same standards as other businesses that have reopened since the state’s stay-at-home order was lifted.
“We’re requiring masks of everybody, and, if people are not going to wear a mask in our facilities, we’re going to ask them to leave. And if they don’t, then we’re going to escort them to the door,” said Greendeer. “That’s just for everybody’s safety.”
Greendeer said employees, visitors and guests will undergo temperature screenings when they enter their gaming facilities. In addition, he said they’re changing floor plans, installing plastic partitions to protect patrons, and limiting capacity between 25 to 35 percent of normal operations.
“We’ve done that to create some mandatory social distancing and try to help some of our guests to maintain adequate distance using the space that we provide,” he said.
Similar steps are being taken by the Forest County Potawatomi, which began a phased reopening at its Potawatomi Hotel & Casino in Milwaukee last week. Chairman Ned Daniels Jr. said in a community update on Wednesday that no issues have been reported so far, prompting a planned reopening of its Potawatomi Carter Casino in northern Wisconsin on Monday, June 22.
“Our casino management has done an excellent job putting together plans for a safe reopening, implementing these important safeguards, so we could protect the health and safety of everyone at our facilities,” said Daniels.
The Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa suspended its shelter-at-home order and curfew restrictions Wednesday and reopened its Lake of the Torches Resort and Casino under restrictions that barred smoking, required masks and social distancing. The tribe’s government buildings are set to reopen Thursday.
“People may be asked to follow certain safety measures upon entering or using one of our facilities,” said Lac du Flambeau Tribal President Joseph Wildcat Sr. in a statement. “We’re asking everyone to please respect those around you and follow safety measures designed to keep everyone as safe as possible. Many unknowns remain about COVID-19. To keep the reservation open, we all need to do things somewhat differently for now.”
Other tribes have also reopened casinos under safety precautions this month. Some are encouraging, but not requiring, people to wear masks, including the St. Croix Chippewa Indians and Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. The Oneida Nation, Stockbridge-Munsee Community and Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin also reopened gaming facilities at the end of May.
Yet, some tribes have not yet fully reopened their casinos despite allowing their stay-at-home orders to end or expire, including the Bad River and Red Cliff Bands of Lake Superior Chippewa. The Red Cliff tribe’s stay-at-home resolution ended last Friday while Bad River’s expired on Monday.
Red Cliff Tribal Chairman Rick Peterson said they’re not reopening the facility for gaming until they’re comfortable that patrons and employees can safely return.
“It’s going to be social distancing. There’s some rearranging on the floor. It’s going to be opened in phases,” said Peterson. “Not every component of the facility is going to open up on day one.”
As they reopen, tribes say they’re continuing to monitor the prevalence of coronavirus in the community and may re-issue restrictions if necessary to protect public health. The CARES Act allocated $8 billion in direct assistance for tribes, but the funding can only be used to pay for extra expenses incurred from the COVID-19 pandemic. The federal assistance can’t be used to replace lost gaming revenues.
Wisconsin Public Radio, © Copyright 2024, Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System and Wisconsin Educational Communications Board.

author: Danielle Kaeding


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Medicaid Changes Prompt Advocates To Speak Out - WPR
Shamane Mills
June 1, 2017
Advocates for the elderly, poor and disabled say big spending cuts and other changes proposed on the federal level for the Medicaid program are getting little attention, so they’re speaking out.
“Medicaid is at a crossroads,” said Jon Peacock with the Wisconsin Council on Children and Families. “We fear that Congress and the president are going to put it on a path that leads to sharply reduced services for seniors, people with disabilities and low-income children and families.”
At the state level, Gov. Scott Walker has proposed drug testing and work requirements for Medicaid eligibility. At a budget hearing last week, state Republicans said it would help move some of those on Medicaid from dependence to independence.
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“This is not punitive,” said state Rep. Amy Loudenbeck, R-Clinton. “We want to provide opportunities to people. This is one way of doing it.”
Walker administration officials, such as state Medicaid director Michael Heifetz, say they hear from businesses who have trouble finding workers who can pass a drug test.
At a public hearing on the proposed state-level Medicaid changes in Wausau, Heifetz said requiring drug screening and treatment is a work readiness issue. So is requiring some Medicaid recipients to pay premiums to get healthcare, he said. The proposed monthly premiums would start at $1 and go up to $10 for an individual making $12,000 a year. People who don’t or can’t pay would be ineligible for benefits.
“As folks move off government assistance and move into the work world and earn a better living, they will also likely have health care coverage, but will also have to pay a component of it as most of us in the private and public sector do already,” said Heifetz in April.
The proposed changes would also require some Medicaid recipients to work in order to get health care. Advocates say this turns conventional wisdom on its head.
“One must be healthy to work and should not be asked to work to get healthy,” said Mike Bare with Community Advocates Public Policy Institute in Milwaukee.
Bare said supporters’ goal of changing Medicaid eligibility rules to promote self-sufficiency could be costly for taxpayers and is likely to lead to more people being uninsured.
“So there’s just simply no evidence that these policies will improve health outcomes for Badgercare enrollees,” Bare said, mentioning the name of Wisconsin’s Medicaid program. “No drug user is suddenly going to get clean. No person who is out of work is guaranteed to find it.”
The proposed state changes come at a time congressional Republicans and President Donald Trump are considering big cuts to Medicaid.
The Center on Budget Policy and Priorities estimates that by 2026, Trump’s proposed budget cuts to Medicaid would grow to $279 billion. Peacock said that amounts to a 45-percent reduction relative to current law.
“And the cut would keep growing in subsequent years. You can’t make cuts of even 10 percent much less 45 percent to Medicaid without forcing states to sharply reduce either eligibility or services for the many of those who rely on Medicaid,” Peacock said.
Wisconsin Public Radio, © Copyright 2024, Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System and Wisconsin Educational Communications Board.


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Medical College Of Wisconsin Looking At Cancer Disparities Among African Americans - WPR
Corri Hess
May 6, 2019
The Medical College of Wisconsin is looking for ways to fight the decades-long issue of the racial disparity in cancer deaths between black and white residents in the state.
Lauren Matthews has been focused on this since beginning her job three years ago as a community program coordinator at the college’s Cancer Center’s Prevention and Outcomes Program.
“I saw areas where there was a high incidence of cancer and also high mortality rates, and those areas were all in predominantly African American communities,” Matthews said. “It’s a nationwide problem, but it is heightened because of the level of segregation in Milwaukee.”
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Some of the factors that have led to cancer disparities for African Americans include stress, income, lifestyle and poor diet. Biological differences and medical access are also contributors.
The racial disparities aren’t just happening in Milwaukee. In 2019, about 202,260 new cancer cases and 73,030 cancer deaths are expected to occur among black Americans, according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI).
In Wisconsin, black residents get cancer at a 22.2 percent higher rate than white residents, according to NCI, meaning 550 out of 100,000 African Americans are likely to have cancer versus 450 white Americans per 100,000.
Overall, Wisconsin residents are 3.6 percent more likely to get cancer than the national average, according to NCI, meaning 457 out of 100,000 people in Wisconsin are likely to have caner versus 441 people per 100,000 nationally.
The institute found cancer diagnosis and mortality disparities among racial and ethnic groups include:
Back in Milwaukee, Matthews and her colleagues received a grant from the Greater Milwaukee Foundation and began visiting central city churches, libraries and community centers.
One of the groups they focused on was men with prostate cancer.
Many of the men interviewed hadn’t been screened for prostate cancer until their 60s, rather than the recommended age of 45, Matthews said.
The Medical College of Wisconsin recently launched a program, Men Moving Forward, to offer free prostate screenings for African American men. The program also provides community education about cancer screening.
During her work, Matthews also found patient-doctor trust and access to quality care plays a role in disparities. She said in addition to the racial disparities, there are also disparities in rural areas, where people are unable to access quality health care.
“There needs to be a lot more conversation about cancer – not just where to get it treated – but on the prevention side,” Matthews said. “And we need to make it so it’s not this taboo topic so people are becoming health experts and becoming health advocates for themselves.”
The Greater Milwaukee Foundation has invested $435,000 in recent years on cancer research projects at the Medical College and racial disparity.
“Although cancer can affect any person in our community, data makes clear that the disease’s impact on communities of color can be disproportionate, warranting deeper study,” said Janel Hines, senior director of grant programs and strategic initiatives at the Greater Milwaukee Foundation.
Those programs include looking at the disparities in breast cancer mortality in Milwaukee’s African American population; examining the impact of individualized assessment on colorectal cancer screening for African Americans; and a new study looking at African American smokers.
Milwaukee has the largest disparity in lung cancer mortality between African-Americans and whites in the nation, Hines said.
Wisconsin Public Radio, © Copyright 2024, Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System and Wisconsin Educational Communications Board.

author: Corri Hess


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Meeting The Medical Needs Of Wisconsin's Growing Prison Population - WPR
Shamane Mills
August 6, 2018
Wisconsin’s prison population is growing and the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health is responding.
This fall a new course will be offered to teach future doctors about a unique group of patients they are likely to come in contact with, whether in prison or out in the community after they’re released.
Madison doctor Joan Addington-White still remembers trying to give a physical to a man in a psychiatric ward decades ago. At the time, she was a young medical student working at Michael Reese Hospital in Chicago. In retelling the encounter to a group this spring, she recalls being frustrated she couldn’t hear the man’s heartbeat through a thick straightjacket.
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“So I just said, ‘This is crazy, I can’t do this,’” Addington-White said.
During a forum previewing the new class, she told medical students she didn’t complete the physical. But before leaving, she looked at the patient’s face.
Dr. Joan Addington-White talks to students about Wisconsin’s prison system and a new class being offered this fall to teach students about the trauma people who are incarcerated experience before, during and after serving their sentence. Shamane Mills/WPR
“And I realized he was so much more scared than I was. So all I could do was, I put my hand on his chest and I said ‘It’s going to be OK; it’s really going to be OK,’” said Addington-White, who oversees the primary care residency track for UW-Madison medical students.
Medical school can’t prepare students for every real life situation, emotional or otherwise, but they’re trying to reach patients where they’re at. Some courses are evolving to recognize factors that can affect health care, like a patient’s education, culture, finances and where they live. And for more than 23,000 people in Wisconsin, home is behind bars.
“We know they have more health care problems than the general population. We know that diseases that (current or former inmates) have are not necessarily going to stay with them because germs don’t respect the boundaries of our legal system,” said Robert Striker, an infectious disease specialist with the UW-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health who helps the state Department of Corrections treat conditions like hepatitis C and HIV.
Striker is also behind the new course to teach medical students, nurses and pharmacists about providing care for those in correctional settings and those who have been released after serving their time.
Striker is working with the Nehemiah Center for Urban Leadership Development, a Madison-based nonprofit organization that works to address both social and justice issues affecting African-Americans in the greater Madison community.
In 2016, forty-one percent of Wisconsin inmates were African-American, while they make up less than 7 percent of the state’s population as a whole, a 2017 study by the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance, now called the Public Policy Forum, found.
“Wisconsin incarceration rates are worse than almost any other place in the country in terms of race,” Addington-White told students in a panel discussion this April.
In turn, medical school educators are partnering with the DOC, former prisoners and Nehemiah to try and address how both racial disparities and the re-entry of prisoners into society affects health care practices.
“We put our heads together and realized that health care providers in the criminal justice system need to have a clear understanding of how the system works, where the good things are and where the challenges are so that they can deliver care in a more culturally responsive way,” said Karen Reece, director of research and program evaluation at Nehemiah.
Those challenges may include patients who have been incarcerated for a long period of time and may not know how to use an electronic device like a smart phone.
Matthew Ley, a third-year resident in internal medicine, recalls how he was having difficulty following up on a patient who wouldn’t return voicemails or emails. The man spent nearly two decades behind bars and had just completed his sentence.
“He’s now re-entering society in an era where we generally expect most people to be able answer emails, respond to voicemails, have a cell phone. It was becoming clear to me that in the 18 years in prison, he hadn’t learned how to do that,” said Ley.
Medical school students learn about treating inmates and those released from prison. Former state Department of Correction’s medical director David Burnett told them, “You are going to be safe. Wisconsin prisons are run well. There are few instances where health care personnel were harmed or injured.” Burnett worked for the DOC from 2001 to 2013. Shamane Mills/WPR
Doctors not only have to figure out how best to communicate with patients in or recently out of prison, but steer them from habits that may be unhealthy. For Dr. Laura Maursetter, that meant finding out what was sold in the prison canteen. Now, she warns her patients against eating high sodium meals like ramen noodles.
“So those kinds of things are really helpful for me to know that’s what’s often happening and I can talk to (inmate-patients) about real issues. It helps me build rapport,” said Maursetter.
But while part of the doctor-patient relationship is learning as much as possible about their patients, Maursetter draws the line at finding out their crimes.
“I made it a rule that I never ever looked to try and see what anyone did because that changes the way I think, and I’m not there to judge anyone. I’m there to take good care of them,” she said.
UW-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health is recruiting up to 20 students to take the new class which could lead to a career many hadn’t thought about: jailhouse doctor.
“These are not easy jobs. But if you think about the impact a health care provider can have on a lot of ‘worried well’ versus people who have a lot of challenges — medical and otherwise — you feel like this is an important area where if you are called to it, it’s a good place to be,” said Striker.
The new class will focus on the importance of delivering quality care to current and former inmates. Tours of jails and prisons are planned along with the ability to shadow medical professionals working in the correctional system.
Wisconsin Public Radio, © Copyright 2024, Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System and Wisconsin Educational Communications Board.

created: August 6, 2018


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Milwaukee Alderman Calls For Gun Law Reform After Car Was Shot - WPR
Alana Watson
August 21, 2019
Milwaukee Alderman Cavalier Johnson is calling for state legislators to create new gun control polices after his car was stuck by gunfire.
Johnson said he was at home on the northwest side of Milwaukee with his three young children on Tuesday afternoon when he heard shots ring out just outside his house. One bullet hit his car and two shell casings were found on his property, Johnson said.
No one was hurt but there is emotional trauma from the incident, he said. His 9-year-old son had to “hit the floor” and was frightened in his own home. Johnson doesn’t believe he was targeted, however, he said the incident was an act of reckless gun fire.
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Johnson said that residents in Wisconsin want gun policy reform and it’s time for state officials to start taking the matter seriously.
“The legislative leadership in this state seems to refuse to even acknowledge that the elephant in the room is that people who should not have guns in the first place have too easy access to them under current law,” Johnson said. “They refuse to even try doing something different.”
According to a Marquette University Law School poll conducted last year, 81 percent of Wisconsin residents favor extended background checks on private gun sales and 56 percent of those polled favored banning assault-style weapons.
Johnson said no one should experience reckless gun fire and that state officials need to make a difference.
“You can protect one person’s Second Amendment rights and another’s life and liberty — those actions are not mutually exclusive,” he said.
Last week, Gov. Tony Evers unveiled legislation to expand background checks for gun purchases in Wisconsin. The bill would make it so gun sales would have to be made through a federally licensed firearms dealer and involve a background check. Republican legislative leaders have signaled they are unlikely to take the bill up, saying it could violate constitutional rights.
Johnson said that police don’t have a suspect in custody and the investigation is ongoing.
Wisconsin Public Radio, © Copyright 2024, Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System and Wisconsin Educational Communications Board.

author: Alana Watson


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Milwaukee Chief Of Police Continues To Bolster Community Policing Message - WPR
Ximena Conde
June 27, 2018
Milwaukee Police Chief Alfonso Morales says he continues to seek out community partnerships as an alternative to excessive policing.
Speaking Tuesday to members of the Rotary Club of Milwaukee, he said he would call his tenure a success if community-police relations improved and crime decreased in the city.
Still, Morales acknowledged hurdles to achieving that goal.
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The Milwaukee Police Department faces a federal civil rights lawsuit from Milwaukee Bucks rookie Sterling Brown over a January arrest that started over a parking violation. Police body camera footage shows officers closing in on Brown, who was cooperating, as one officer shocks the professional basketball player with a Taser stun gun. In the lawsuit, Brown maintains the arrest was racially charged.
The city is also settling a class-action lawsuit with the ACLU of Wisconsin over the department’s stop-and-frisk practices. The lawsuit claims police were racially profiling African-Americans and Latinos.
And last August, a draft of a federal report said the relationship between police and the people they serve was fractured, prompting roundtable discussions and a promise from then-Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn to follow through on report recommendations. Flynn retired in February.
But Morales said despite obstacles, his focus is to gain the public’s trust.
“Coming from a family of 10, don’t think that the police didn’t come to my house,” Morales said. “You know, I had a brother that liked to play with fireworks. He didn’t go to jail. The police officer walked into the house and spoke to my dad.”
He said those sort of interactions can’t happen when residents don’t know their local officers or when there’s a concentration of officers in high-crime neighborhoods practicing aggressive policing.
In February, Morales disbanded the Neighborhood Task Force, a group of officers sent to those areas. He said what he often heard in Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission hearings were law-abiding members of the public facing frequent police stops because their vehicle matched a certain description.
“When things go wrong — and we do, do make the mistake — is that family going to support the police?” Morales asked rotary members. “Most likely not because of their negative interactions.”
Milwaukee Police Chief Alfonso Morales and more than a dozen officers mingled with community groups and residents during a June 15, 2018 event. Ximena Conde/WPR
Morales stressed the importance of having partnerships with groups like Safe and Sound, which aims to create safer neighborhoods, and the Milwaukee Office of Violence Prevention, which works with residents and faith groups.
The partnerships allow officers to focus on violent offenders, Morales said.
Milwaukee alders have been supportive of the department’s efforts and have encouraged residents to get to know their local officers. In Mid-June, Morales brought more than a dozen officers to a community event hosted by alders and local groups. Officers and residents were told to mingle.
Morales’ message has been welcomed by city leaders. But he’s also been widely criticized over the department’s lack of transparency in the fallout from the Brown arrest, many claiming the release of body camera footage took too long.
Wisconsin Public Radio, © Copyright 2024, Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System and Wisconsin Educational Communications Board.


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Milwaukee Council Head Reveals City Health Department Under Criminal Investigation - WPR
Ximena Conde
October 24, 2018
Milwaukee Common Council President Ashanti Hamilton has revealed the Milwaukee Health Department is under criminal investigation.
The revelation came in a response from Hamilton to another council member over criticism surrounding the former health commissioner.
The health department has been embroiled in scandal for its mismanagement of the city’s Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program and council members have long wanted to find what health department staff knew about deficiencies and when.
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Former Milwaukee Health Commissioner Bevan Baker, who abruptly left his post in January, has been a subject of interest for council members.
Last month, Hamilton announced Baker would testify before a council committee but that was called off.
In a press release Monday, Ald. Tony Zielinski demanded Hamilton explain why he hasn’t subpoenaed Baker to testify.
“It sure seems to me that by not subpoenaing Baker the president is playing politics with the health and safety of our citizens,” Zielinski said.
Hamilton responded.
“At the advice of his attorney, Mr. Baker, if subpoenaed, would simply plead the 5th and exercise his right not to answer questions even though he is compelled to be present,” Hamilton said in a statement Tuesday. “Understanding this, there would have been no need to subpoena Mr. Baker while the DA is conducting its investigation.”
The Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office is conducting the investigation.
By Wednesday morning, Zielinski was calling on the state’s two gubernatorial candidates to lay out their plans for addressing Milwaukee’s lead problems.
An internal report published in January said staffing shortages and inadequate training were partly to blame.
A visit from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development resulted in a stop work order in February after finding deficiencies in the city’s lead abatement efforts in homes.
And a report by the state’s Department of Health Services published in May reiterated findings of poor or nonexistent recordkeeping.
Most recently, a records request filed by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel unveiled September 2017 text messages between Baker and the city’s Director of Nursing Tiffany Barta. In them, they acknowledge the department accidentally sent a lead-poisoned child to a home that was not properly lead-abated.
Editor’s note: This story was updated at 11:10 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2018 to include original reporting from Wisconsin Public Radio.
Wisconsin Public Radio, © Copyright 2024, Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System and Wisconsin Educational Communications Board.

created: October 24, 2018


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Milwaukee County Ends Contract Over Vendor's Actions At Southern Border - WPR
Corri Hess
September 26, 2019
Milwaukee County is ending its 25-year relationship with a national nonprofit organization because of the group’s operations at the southern border of the United States.
On Sept. 19, the Milwaukee County Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS) sent a letter to Austin, Texas-based Southwest Key terminating their contracts totaling  $2.5 million in 2018.
Southwest Key currently operates the county’s “JEDI” program, which is a substance abuse day treatment program for teens who are typically 15 to 17 years old. That contract runs through the end of 2019.
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The organization also operated a GPS monitoring program for trouble youth. That contract is currently in the process of being renewed. Southwest Key submitted a request for proposal and was informed they will not be reconsidered.
Southwest Key also had two smaller agreements: Reach (Wraparound) Fee-for-Service Agreement and a Fee-for-Service Agreement for six services under the Children’s Court Services Network.
Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele said although Southwest Key has done good work locally, the practices they profit from at the southern border are “cruel, unnecessary and unlawful.”
“The cruel and inhumane treatment of children in some of the Southwest Key facilities does not align with who we are or what we believe in, and I am proud to take a stand for decency, justice and the values we all share as Americans,” Abele said in a written statement.
Southwest Key currently employs about 40 people in Milwaukee County. Mary Jo Meyers, DHHS director, said she will work to find those employees jobs with other county contractors.
Southwest Key’s shelters for unaccompanied minor are part of a federal shelter system that was created in 1997 as a result of the Flores Settlement Agreement. That agreement set limits on the amount of time and conditions under which children can be incarcerated in immigration detention.
Southwest Key operates 26 shelters for unaccompanied minors, with the majority along the U.S. border in Texas and Arizona. Those shelters are funded by the Federal Department of Health and Human Services.
Neil Nowlin, a spokesman for Southwest Key, said his organization doesn’t make the decisions when it comes to immigration policy. He said the shelter care Southwest Key is doing is not new.
“What is new is the current dialogue on immigration and the distorted view some have of the services we provide,” Nowlin said. “Refusing to care for an unaccompanied minor would likely have meant more time languishing in Border Patrol facilities. That was unacceptable to us as it would inflict more trauma on a child. It’s disappointing that (Milwaukee County) would end our long-standing and successful partnership, but we are hopeful we can resume conversations about our work and services in the near future.”
Milwaukee County officals said they will not reconsider a contract with Southwest Key.
Milwaukee County Supervisor Marina Dimitrijevic said she contacted DHHS after a constituent raised concerns about the company profiting directly from family separation and detention policies.
“Milwaukee County should not be in the business of contracting with anyone that profits from the Trump administration’s divisive and inhumane family separation and detention policies,” Dimitrijevic said. “I commend the administration for terminating our partnership with this billion dollar family separation empire.”
Meyers said she hopes the county’s decision will prompt others to terminate their contracts with Southwest Key.
“It is our desire to role model and to demonstrate our values,” Meyers aid. “If we are going to be serious about our commitment to ending racism and to equality then we really can’t do that without showing others that we mean it. We’re hoping to show others that you can do this and your money should show your values.”
Wisconsin Public Radio, © Copyright 2024, Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System and Wisconsin Educational Communications Board.

created: September 26, 2019


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Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office No Longer Working With ICE - WPR
Corri Hess
March 4, 2019
The Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office will no longer offer information to immigration officials about people detained in the jail.
Sheriff Earnell Lucas, who took office Jan. 7, said he wants to avoid lawsuits other law enforcement agencies across the country have faced for holding inmates for up to 48 hours longer than they should have been detained so U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents could interview and possibly take custody of the inmate.
Lucas announced last week he had established a policy ensuring that absent a valid judicial warrant, information would no longer be shared with ICE.
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Lucas’ policy is a shift from former Sheriff David Clarke’s administration, which not only fully cooperated with ICE, but also attempted to sign a 287(g) agreement to give deputies the authority to act as ICE representatives.
Milwaukee County was not approved for that type of an agreement after community protests. Though the neighboring Waukesha County Sheriff’s Department has signed a 287(g) agreement with the federal government.
“One of the things we need to do in Milwaukee County is avoid costly litigation and judgement awards,” Lucas said during a press conference this week. “It’s not politics. It’s the right thing to do.”
Jasmine Gonzalez, spokeswoman for immigrant rights organization Voces de la Frontera, said Lucas’ decision will begin restoring trust with immigrant communities.
Gonzales said many crimes were going unreported because those living in the country without proper documentation feared deportation.
“Folks were terrified to report crimes when they needed help from law enforcement,” Gonzalez said. “People who truly needed this support were unable to seek assistance because they were living in fear of having their lives shattered.”
From February 2011 to October 2017, there were 2,056 immigrants deported from Wisconsin, according to records from the TRAC Immigration database project at Syracuse University.
That same project found there were 10,299 immigrants held at local jails for ICE between 2005 and 2017.
In 2018, the American Civil Liberties Union in Wisconsin sent an open records request to sheriffs in all 72 Wisconsin counties asking for information on their ICE policies. The ACLU received responses from 63 counties.
Records received show most departments don’t have a policy.
The Oconto County Sheriff’s Office does have a policy in place that says it will not honor ICE detainers.
Dane County has a policy in place similar to Milwaukee. It says that unless there is a court document signed by a judge, the inmate will be released when their sentence is served, according to a report released in 2018 by ACLU-Wisconsin.
Wisconsin Public Radio, © Copyright 2024, Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System and Wisconsin Educational Communications Board.


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Milwaukee County Transit System Falls Short Hiring, Promoting Women And Minorities - WPR
Ross Terrell
July 5, 2017
The Milwaukee County Transit System has fallen short of its goals in hiring women and minorities for upper management positions, according to a new audit.
Over the past seven years, the county transit system did not meet the goals in hiring women in five out of seven employment areas.
Women were under-represented in areas of officials and administrators, professionals, technicians, administrative support workers, and craft workers.
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Minority hires were lacking in three of the areas — craft workers, technicians, and administrative support workers.
James Macon, president of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 998, said the workforce is diverse at the entry level.
“It’s not shown in the promotion rates or the higher management,” he said. “You have lower managers like station managers of minorities, but when you get past that, it’s not fair across the board.”
Macon said hiring from within could solve that issue.
“You’re losing talent because no one wants to drive a bus forever,” he said. “People come in and try to get opportunities to move up and they don’t get the opportunities to move up.”
Transit system officials said in a statement they have hired a new equal employment opportunity officer and they are working to improve recruiting efforts to increase diversity.
Wisconsin Public Radio, © Copyright 2024, Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System and Wisconsin Educational Communications Board.

author: Ross Terrell


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Milwaukee Homicide Report Documents Firearm Deaths, Injuries - WPR
Chuck Quirmbach
September 29, 2017
Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett says the 2016 homicide report shows a continuing problem with the availability of guns.
The Milwaukee Homicide Review Commission reports the number of fatal and nonfatal shootings went down a little in the city in 2016, compared to 2015. But Barrett says the recently released annual report also shows a 51 percent increase in firearm-related homicides over the last decade, including time after the state loosened some of its restrictions on guns.
“We said this was going to happen,” Barrett told reporters Friday, adding, “The more guns you allow to flood the city of Milwaukee, the more violence you’re going to have. It started in 2011 and continues through today.”
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Barrett said he’ll soon release a violence prevention plan, called Blueprint for Peace. He said his proposed Milwaukee city budget includes $280,000 to send more counselors into high-crime neighborhoods to try to prevent or interrupt violence.
Milwaukee Health Commissioner Bevan Baker said the staffers will have expertise.
“These people have techniques where they can begin to know how violence is going to erupt, and they try to go in and stop that at its core. Many of these individuals (perpetrators) know each other, and if we know where the disease is, we can help put it out,” Baker said.
Baker said the work is not for the faint of heart.
Wisconsin Public Radio, © Copyright 2024, Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System and Wisconsin Educational Communications Board.

created: September 29, 2017


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Milwaukee Mayor Announces Plans For Streetcar Extension - WPR
Corri Hess
May 2, 2019
Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett announced plans Thursday to extend the city’s streetcar route to the Wisconsin Center convention hall in time for the 2020 Democratic National Convention.
Barrett wants to add 2.4 miles to the 2.1-mile streetcar system known as The Hop. The expansion includes about a half-mile extension to Wisconsin Avenue, where convention facilities are located.
Extending the streetcar will give the city more leverage when it applies for federal transportation funds — something Milwaukee has been denied twice, Barrett said.
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“We have to be competitive with cities like Denver, Seattle and Atlanta,” Barrett said. “If we’re not growing, we’re dying. This is all about moving this city forward.”
The plans must first be approved by the common council.
Barrett said the extension will be funded through the existing taxing district. It will cost $28 million to extend the streetcar to the convention center.
“We want to do more south, we want to do more north, we want to do more west,” Barrett said.
Barrett said over the last six months, people have been clamoring to have the streetcar extended to their neighborhoods.
“When I first started this, I went to Portland and they said this is going to be controversial — that was an understatement — but once you get it in the ground, then the debate is going to change to how quickly can you get this extended into my neighborhood,” Barrett said.
After the half-mile expansion to the convention center, the city will begin studying expanding into Milwaukee’s Walker’s Point neighborhood, just south of the Historic Third Ward, and north into the city’s Bronzeville neighborhood.
“It makes no difference if you lay the tracks, if the community does not feel the benefit from the street car once it comes,” said Alderwoman Milele Coggs, who represents the Bronzeville neighborhood. “I am hopeful enough of our colleagues will support this, and the community will support this as well. Coming down King Drive is just one step forward in getting the streetcar to continue to come north.”
The $124 million streetcar began its operations in November. Ridership for The Hop exceeded expectations in November and December at about 76,000. In January it dipped to 49,501.
There was a reported glitch, so numbers were not released in February and March. Representatives for the streetcar did not immediately return emails Thursday regarding the most recent ridership numbers.
Not all city council members are excited at the possibility of the expansion. On Thursday, Alderman Bob Donovan, a long-time adversary of Barrett, released a statement saying the project was “expensive, ill-advised and premature.”
The Milwaukee-based Badger Institute, formerly the Wisconsin Policy Research Institute, released a report last month saying the city’s claims that the streetcar has prompted downtown development are false.
The Badger Institute reviewed 15 real estate projects the city has said are being constructed or significantly renovated because of the streetcar. Fourteen of the 15 developers said The Hop did not influence their projects, according to the report.
Editor’s Note: The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Wisconsin Public Radio, © Copyright 2024, Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System and Wisconsin Educational Communications Board.


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Milwaukee Mayor Cites Improvements In Childhood Lead Prevention Program - WPR
Ximena Conde
November 16, 2018
While Milwaukee’s Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program has made improvements this year, the city is still struggling to hear back from owners of properties that require additional lead abatement, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett said.
The program has been under scrutiny for failing to adequately follow-up with children who tested positive for lead exposure.
“I want the families to know that they can now have a high level of confidence if their child has elevated lead levels because the systems are now in place within the program to ensure that their child will get the services they need,” Barrett told reporters Friday at Milwaukee City Hall.
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From January through October, 22,744 children were tested for lead. Of those, 941 required follow-up for elevated blood lead levels, which Barrett said they received.
He said the city adopted a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention system for tracking children who had elevated blood lead levels in mid-September. The new system has led to better follow-up with those affected by elevated lead levels, Barrett said.
Jeanette Kowalik, Milwaukee’s new health commissioner, also attributed recent improvements to giving the program additional technical support and management expertise.
“This means we have created strong processes in order to address the backlog, keep up with current cases and ensure every child receives the best care and services,” she said.
The Milwaukee Common Council confirmed Kowalik as the health department’s new leader in September.
Bevan Baker, the previous commissioner, abruptly stepped down from the post early this year over concerns the department had not properly followed up with children who tested positive for elevated blood lead levels.
The fallout of the lead crisis in Milwaukee has included damning internal and state reports, as well as a stop work order from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Barrett expects the order will be lifted in a few weeks as the city addresses the remainder of HUD’s concerns.
But even with a more streamlined process, the city has had issues reconnecting with families after the tests have been completed.
“If a nurse or lead risk assessor is reaching out to you, please respond,” Barrett said.
Between 2015 and 2017, the city failed to reach out to 112 properties that failed lead tests and needed environmental remediation work done. Barrett said it’s reached all of those 112 properties this year, but 80 have failed to follow up with the city.
In his 2019 budget, Barrett has allocated $20 million for lead follow-up and abatement with seven new positions dedicated to the problem.
Wisconsin Public Radio, © Copyright 2024, Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System and Wisconsin Educational Communications Board.

created: November 16, 2018


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Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett Says Thousands Of Residents Potentially Removed From Voter Rolls In Error - WPR
Ximena Conde
March 21, 2018
Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett is urging residents planning to cast their ballot in the upcoming April election to check their voter registration status after news that thousands may have been purged from voter rolls in error.
The flaws are in connection with Wisconsin’s enrollment in the multi-state Electronic Registration Information Center.
ERIC is meant to keep voter rolls up to date by tracking residents who have moved out of state or died using data like vehicle registrations and addresses provided by the U.S. Postal Service.
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Through ERIC, more than 44,000 registered voters in Milwaukee have had their registrations deactivated in 2018. And of those more than 44,000, potentially thousands of people may have had their voter registration mistakenly deactivated because of inaccurate data provided by the state’s Division of Motor Vehicles and USPS, city officials say.
During February’s Wisconsin Supreme Court primary more than 100 people in Milwaukee had to re-register to vote even though they were living in the same address they’d originally registered under, said Neil Albrecht, executive director of the Milwaukee Election Commission.
Executive director of the Milwaukee Election Commission Neil Albrecht and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett at a press conference on voter rolls Wednesday. Ximena Conde/WPR
“It brought us even greater concern when you think of the difference between an election where only 10 percent of registered voters are participating and something like the fall election where we could see as high as 70 to 80 percent of registered voters participating in that election,” Albrecht said.
Albrecht said the scope of voters affected remains unclear as the Wisconsin Elections Commission still can’t confirm where all the errors occurred.
For that reason, he and Barrett are urging people to go online and check their registration. Residents eligible to vote can re-register online to vote in the April election.
Officials say if a resident’s vehicle registration or driver’s license has an address different from their voter registration address, they should confirm their registration. Those who have different home addresses from their registration addresses will have to re-register.
“The greatest concern is with communities in poverty in the city of Milwaukee who are already challenged by registration requirements,” Albrecht said.
Barrett said the city mailed out postcards this week to all people who had their registration deactivated in efforts to identify those who were purged by mistake. The state mailed similar postcards in November 2017 to voters whose accounts were flagged with discrepancies but the city couldn’t get in contact with about 32,000 people making the validity of their deactivated registrations unclear.
Barrett said he has also written a letter to Gov. Scott Walker asking for help at the state level to prevent problems in the April and fall elections.
“We’ve also asked the Wisconsin Election Commission to reactivate all records inactivated through the ERIC process,” Barrett said, although Albrecht adds if the commission were to accept the recommendation, it would not happen before the April elections.
But Reid Magney, a spokesman for the Wisconsin Elections Commission, says the request to reactive all the registrations purged through the ERIC process is unnecessary.
The commission is providing supplemental poll books for April’s election with all the names of people who were dropped from voter rolls. If a person’s registration address matches their current address, they’ll be allowed vote. If a person has moved, they’ll have to re-register, which is Wisconsin law.
Magney said the supplemental books will be available in all polling places statewide. He said 308,000 Wisconsin voters were deactivated in January.
Editor’s Note: This post has been updated to include comments from Reid Magney, Wisconsin Elections Commission spokesman.
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Milwaukee Officials Threaten Legal Action To Access Federal Review Of Police Department - WPR
Ross Terrell
July 19, 2017
Milwaukee aldermen are threatening to sue to gain access to results of a federal review of the city’s police department.
Police Chief Ed Flynn requested the review nearly two years ago after Dontre Hamilton, an unarmed black man, was shot 14 times and killed by Officer Christopher Manney in a city park.
Alderman Robert Bauman said releasing the results could help benefit police and community relations.
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“Why hide it?” Bauman said. “Why sit on it, and allow misunderstandings and misconceptions to prevail? If there is good factual information that is favorable to the way police conduct their business, then put it out there.”
Bauman said they would like to discuss the results with the police department.
“We want access to documents in your possession and information that we think is relevant to the way policing is conducted in Milwaukee,” he said. “We should at least have access to see it and read it, even if we don’t get a physical copy of it.”
Bauman said the Milwaukee Common Council filed an open records request to see the results but the request was denied.
The Police Department said in a statement the results of the review can’t be released since they are a draft and property of the U.S. Department of Justice.
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Milwaukee Plans To Provide Doulas To 100 Women - WPR
Corri Hess
March 20, 2019
Milwaukee is planning to provide doulas to 100 new mothers in one of the most troubled neighborhoods in the city.
A proposal is making its way through the city and Milwaukee County to spend $52,000 to develop the pilot program that would improve birth and maternal health outcomes in Milwaukee’s 53206 zip code, said Milwaukee Alderman Khalif Rainey.
“I was born and raised in the 53206 zip code and have seen firsthand the lack of maternal health resources available to mothers and their newborns and its effects,” Rainey said. “This legislation will not only help empower women and give them the necessary resources for a healthy pregnancy, but build a healthier, stronger Milwaukee.”
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The program is part of a statewide initiative called “Healthy Women, Healthy Babies,” being led by Gov. Tony Evers. Evers’ budget proposal included $28 million aimed at improving women’s health and infant care. The plan would also include $618,700 for doula training and Medicaid coverage for doula services.
Doulas provide physical and emotional support, and advocacy for women and their partners during and after the birthing process. Doula services have shown to lessen stress and anxiety, reduce cesarean surgery rates and support higher rates of breastfeeding, according to the Wisconsin Doulas of Color Collective.
Unlike obstetricians, nurses and midwives, doulas do not give medical advice or have clinical duties.
Milwaukee County Supervisor Marina Dimitrijevic said the pilot program would empower women, improve maternal health and give more babies in Milwaukee a strong start for healthy lives.
“An example of better health outcomes through increased pregnancy and birth support is higher rates of breastfeeding,” Dimitrijevic said. “Breastfeeding and strong maternal health have a direct impact on reducing infant mortality.”
Milwaukee’s health department would be responsible for administering the program. Milwaukee County would be responsible for funding the program and marketing it to eligible low-income women.
Deanna Tharpe, director of operations and the Wisconsin Doulas of Color Collective, has been a doula since 2011.
She said most doulas do the work pro-bono because they love the mission.
“Women of color are three to four times more likely to die during child birth, and their babies are as well,” Tharpe said. “We need to continue to bring awareness of doulas. Having doulas in the 53206 zip code can help lessen the stress of moms.”
Wisconsin Public Radio, © Copyright 2024, Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System and Wisconsin Educational Communications Board.


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Milwaukee Police Targeting Speeding To Reduce Crashes - WPR
Corri Hess
May 1, 2019
With vehicle crashes on the rise in Milwaukee, law enforcement agencies from across Milwaukee County are supporting the city police department’s plan targeting speeding to curb the problem.
During the first four months of 2019, there have been 16 fatal crashes in Milwaukee. In 2018, there were 51 fatal accidents, and law enforcement doesn’t want to reach or surpass the 2018 figure.
At a press conference Wednesday with leaders from neighboring law enforcement agencies, Wisconsin State Patrol and Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm standing behind him, Milwaukee Assistant Police Chief Michael Brunson said the department will not have a repeat of last year.
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“We’re not here to issue citations, there is no quota concern,” Brunson said. “But citations is what is required to change behavior. That is what we want to do. We want to increase safety in our city.”
Milwaukee Police Chief Alfonso Morales said the department will be working collaboratively with other jurisdictions on traffic enforcement. That will include using data and social media messaging.
Wisconsin State Patrol Maj. Adrian Logan said public education is what the initiative is about.
“This is not just about stopping cars and issuing citations, although that is what will take place,” Logan said.
The number of crashes in Milwaukee has increased nearly 26 percent in the last 10 years, according to a report presented to the city’s Public Safety and Health Committee on April 25.
Of the 16,338 crashes in 2018, 4,552 involved injuries and 51 of those crashes were fatal.
The report also called attention to the number of hit-and-run crashes in Milwaukee.
In 2018, there were more than 5,000 hit-and-runs, accounting for 32 percent of the crashes in the city.
By comparison, failure-to-yield caused about 20 percent of the crashes; speed, 11 percent; inattentive driving, 5 percent; and alcohol, 3 percent.
Morales said the department has a plan in place for hit-and-run drivers. He said details of that plan will be discussed at a later date.
Wednesday’s press conference at the Milwaukee Police Department headquarters downtown comes about a week after the Milwaukee Police Department defended its chase policy. In 2017, the department changed its policy to allow officers to pursue reckless vehicles.
There were 940 police chases in 2018, up from 369 in 2017, according to a recent study. Twenty-five percent of the chases in 2018 resulted in a traffic accident.
Auto thefts, non-fatal shootings and homicides are down in the city this year, Morales said.
“Traffic enforcement plays a role in that,” Morales said. “Yes, our pursuits increased because now we are pursuing. We’re doing this again this year and now we will be able to compare apples to apples.”
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Milwaukee Youth Council Unveils Campaign Aimed At Reducing Teen Carjackings - WPR
Ross Terrell
April 12, 2017
The “No Free Rides” campaign introduced on Monday by the Milwaukee Youth Council is meant to reduce the youth-involved carjackings.
Kalan Haywood II, president of the council, said it’s important to start the campaign now while teens are still in school.
“When it’s hot every day and we’re outside every day, all day and everybody’s on summer vacation, what’s going to happen then?” he said. “We’re all bored at that point. So what are we doing then? So I’m definitely, definitely concerned about the summer and that’s why I wanted to get in here now and try to make some type of impact before the summer starts.”
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Haywood said he has seen auto thefts start to happen more frequently already and it’s still the spring.
Adea Dunn, one of the council members, said it’s the council’s job to be an example for youth in the city.
“We’re encouraging the youth that’s doing the things that they’re not supposed to be doing to do better because it’s not a game,” Dunn said. “It’s somebody’s life that they’re playing with. So if we do it, and we’re young and we’re putting that out there and it’s not just some adult telling them, then it’ll probably get to them more.”
Council members said it’s important to get the message out before the summer starts and carjacking increases.
Earlier this year, two suburban Milwaukee legislators introduced a bill that would stiffen punishment for youth offenders. State Rep. Joe Sanfelippo, R- New Berlin, said he helped sponsor the bill due to a rise in carjackings in and around Milwaukee last year.
Data from Milwaukee Police showed 68 carjackings have taken place from the start of the year through the end of March. Fifteen juveniles have been arrested in relation to the auto thefts. That number is down from 120 carjackings that took place during the same time span last year.
Wisconsin Public Radio, © Copyright 2024, Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System and Wisconsin Educational Communications Board.


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Milwaukee's Department Of City Development Publishes 'Anti-Displacement Plan' - WPR
Ximena Conde
March 22, 2018
A new report lays out recommendations to prevent Milwaukee residents around the city’s developing downtown from being displaced. Still, members of Milwaukee’s Common Council worry rapid development could lead to gentrification.
The “Anti-Displacement Plan” was produced by the Milwaukee Department of City Development at the common council’s request.
The report found that the City of Milwaukee should continue its efforts to help renters become homeowners and help current homeowners keep their properties. It also recommended that the city create policies to build new affordable housing.
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“In addition to attracting investment and increasing the tax base, our role at local government is to craft policies and programs that preserve choice and protect the ability of existing residents to stay in the neighborhood,” said Sam Leichtling, a planning manager for the city, adding that these recommendations are not meant to stop or slow neighborhood investment.
Using census data from between 2000 and 2016, the report looked for decreases in residents of color and increases in median income as signs of gentrification.
The DCD found possible indicators of gentrification in just 10 percent of the approximately 70 neighborhoods it studied in the surrounding downtown area.
Nolan Zaroff, senior planner for the City of Milwaukee, said some neighborhoods are actually displaying opposite signs of gentrification or displacement. Instead, he said, they are seeing their populations of people of color and concentrations of low-income housing rise while median household incomes are staying relatively flat.
But the snapshot of data the department looks at doesn’t capture the majority of recent ancillary development. Because of this, Zaroff suggested the city should continue to track local housing markets and produce an update to the report annually.
Milwaukee Alderman José Pérez said some development is making better use of empty lots and abandoned properties, and while residents fear displacement, concrete information has been limited.
“We want to have real data on real information,” he said during a Zoning, Neighborhoods and Development Committee meeting. “I get phone calls pretty regularly on displacement and gentrification and we want to make sure we’re all looking at the same information.”
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Milwaukee's Streetcar Celebrates 1 Year Of Service - WPR
Alana Watson
November 1, 2019
After one year of service, city leaders are celebrating the success of Milwaukee’s streetcar, The Hop, while the operation’s lakefront line and widely publicized expansion remain on hold.
Over 100 people gathered in Milwaukee’s City Hall rotunda for The Hop’s first birthday party Friday. Guests were treated to free birthday cake, cupcakes, sandwiches, coffee and hot chocolate courtesy of the Potawatomi Hotel & Casino’s Pastry Team, Classy Girl Cupcakes, 600 EAST Café and Colectivo Coffee.
The $128 million project started operating Nov. 2, 2018. The five-car trolley line currently has a route with 18 stops, running from East Ogden Avenue to Milwaukee’s Intermodal Station on West Saint Paul Avenue.
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Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett was excited to announce the streetcar’s ridership after a year.
“We projected about 1,800 rides per day and around 600,000 rides for the year,” Barrett said. “Well, the numbers are in and I’m thrilled to report that our ridership for year one is 802,541 or 2,205 rides per day.”
In November and December of last year, ridership was at about 76,000. During the summer months, ridership increased even more.
Alder Robert Bauman, who chairs the city’s Public Works Committee, said ridership has exceeded his expectations.
“It has definitely averaged higher than what was projected, so I think that’s fantastic,” Bauman said. “We are extremely pleased with that.”
But Bauman also expressed frustration with the lack of urgency in getting The Hop’s lakefront line up-and-running before the 2020 deadline.
The city was granted $14.2 million federal Transportation Investment Generated Economic Recovery (TIGER) funding. According the Bauman, the city has already used half of those funds on construction for the lakefront tracks and building another streetcar. The federal grant requires the line to be operational by the end of 2020, but Bauman said that won’t happen.
“We were on track to have that lakefront line running by now,” Bauman said. “It might be two or three years out depending on how long it takes for this real-estate to secure funding and get built.”
Construction of the lakefront line is being held up by another project that was going to be built on the lakefront, but for which ground hasn’t yet been broken. The line would extend the 2.1-mile streetcar system another half-mile. The city plans to have the line stop at the base of the Couture development project.
Finishing the existing plans isn’t the only issue with The Hop.
In May, Barrett wanted to expand the streetcar route an additional 2.4 miles to the Wisconsin Center and Wisconsin Avenue. The $47 million plan was tabled by the city’s common council and discussion rang out about expanding the streetcar route even further to connect Milwaukee’s north and south sides.
Bauman said expansion was always part of the deal when the streetcar was first voted on back in 2011. He’s surprised that expansion has been such an ordeal after witnessing the streetcar’s success.
“Expansion was assumed in this debate and in this political process from the beginning,” Bauman said. “It’s very frustrating that now expansion has kind of hit a wall involving a variety of issues that again should have been dealt with ahead of time. If that were the case we’d probably be in construction today.”
The Hop is also currently looking for additional partners to help fund free fare for riders. Potawatomi Hotel & Casino agreed to fund fares for the streetcar for the first year — and with that year up, questions of cost have emerged.
During the birthday celebration, Cleveland-based fiber network provider Everstream announced they were investing $27 million in Milwaukee, some of which will provide free fares for Hop riders during the holiday season.
“I’m thrilled to welcome Everstream to the Milwaukee community and the Hop family,” Barrett said. “Thanks to Everstream, The Hop will continue to be a fun and free way to access all that our city has to offer.”
“Everstream is providing the business of greater Milwaukee a new option for connectivity with the recent launch of our high-capacity, business-only fiber network,” Everstream President and CEO Brett Lindsey said. “We’re proud to partner with The Hop and work together to continue moving Milwaukee forward.”
The company’s sponsorship will start Friday, and continues through Dec. 31. It’s unclear who will sponsor fares after Everstream.
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created: November 1, 2019