evidence: Surrounded by nonprofit partners, Mayor Tom Barrett announced a new down payment assistance program Tuesday afternoon at Milwaukee City Hall. [...] "I recognize that homeownership in America is one of the most critical avenues towards creating not only stability, creating safety in neighborhoods, but also creating wealth," said the mayor. "I feel very, very strongly that we have an obligation to do more to eliminate the racial disparities we are seeing in homeownership in Milwaukee." [...] Barrett said it’s an example of how the growth of Downtown funds activity in the rest of the city. "Oftentimes there is criticism because what we are seeing is a lot of construction and activity in Downtown and the area around it," he said.