State of the City: Mayor Cavalier Johnson sets priorities and his vision for Milwaukee’s future

Mayor Cavalier Johnson delivered the 2025 State of the City address on March 3, outlining Milwaukee’s progress and the challenges ahead. Speaking from the newly expanded Baird Center, Johnson addressed residents, city officials, and community leaders, focusing on economic growth, public safety, infrastructure, and education.

The annual speech served as both a reflection on the past year and a roadmap for the city’s future. Johnson highlighted key initiatives aimed at strengthening Milwaukee’s economy, improving public services, and ensuring long-term stability. He pointed to major developments in business and workforce expansion, crime reduction efforts, and investments in housing and transportation.

While the city has made measurable strides, he acknowledged ongoing concerns, including federal funding uncertainties, the need for education reform, and affordability issues. His message was clear: Milwaukee is moving forward, but sustained progress will require continued commitment from leadership and the community.

ECONOMIC GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT

The mayor emphasized Milwaukee’s expanding business sector and workforce growth, noting that the city continues to attract investment while creating opportunities for residents.

“We have gathered in a remarkable new facility, a convention center built to welcome visitors and, more importantly, to spur economic growth,” Johnson said.

He pointed to the Baird Center as a cornerstone of the city’s economic progress, stating that its opening has doubled convention capacity and is expected to attract 100,000 additional visitors annually. The mayor linked the increase in visitors to direct economic benefits for businesses and families in the area.

“More visitors equal more spending, which is good for the city and the entire state of Wisconsin,” he said.

Johnson also referenced the economic impact of last year’s presidential nominating convention hosted in Milwaukee, positioning the event as a showcase of the city’s ability to host large-scale gatherings.

“Hosting a major party convention was not, in any way, a political statement. No, our goals were purely economic,” Johnson said. “We had a successful week displaying our capabilities and our facilities in a way that will surely pay dividends for many years to come.”

According to Johnson, the convention’s success was due in part to the participation of local businesses and downtown residents, as well as contributions from the city’s public safety teams.

COMMUNITY WELLNESS AND SAFETY INITIATIVES

Johnson reaffirmed the city’s commitment to public safety through targeted prevention programs and investments in first responders. He cited the Milwaukee Fire Department’s ongoing expansion as a critical component of those efforts.

“In the past few months, the department has grown, recommissioning Engine 31 and staffing a new paramedic unit, Med 8,” he said.

The department, which is celebrating its 150th anniversary, continues to evolve with modernized equipment and community outreach efforts, including opioid overdose prevention and fire safety initiatives.

“The fire department’s history is filled with dramatic incidents and spectacular fires. Almost every day, the department relates aspects of its history on social media, and I encourage everyone to follow along,” Johnson said.

He highlighted the heroism of Milwaukee firefighters, specifically referencing an incident on April 14, 2024, in which firefighter Ryan McMenamin suffered severe burns while rescuing a trapped resident.

“Trapped, McMenamin fought for his life, crawling toward the front of the building amid excruciating heat,” Johnson said, acknowledging the firefighter’s subsequent recovery and return to full duty.

On law enforcement efforts, Johnson emphasized the city’s approach to crime reduction through both accountability and prevention. He pointed to a three-year decline in violent crime, including a 20% reduction in homicides and non-fatal shootings in 2024 compared to the previous year.

“Milwaukee is demonstrably safer with fewer crimes and fewer victims of crime,” Johnson said. “That success is no reason to let up.”

Johnson credited the Milwaukee Police Department for leading the city’s accountability efforts, while also highlighting community-based violence prevention programs run by the Office of Community Wellness and Safety.

“This group includes our Critical Response Team, violence interrupters who, through their lived experience and knowledge of gang dynamics, can defuse volatile situations,” he said. “They intervene in high-risk situations before they escalate and mediate conflicts. Last year that was done in, literally, hundreds of situations.”

Additionally, the mayor noted the city’s focus on mental health support through its Credible Clinicians and Healers initiative.

“They are providing trauma-informed care and mental health care to people impacted by violence,” Johnson said. “The goal is to reduce retaliation and promote healing through talk therapy, yoga, restorative justice circles, and more.”

Johnson underscored Milwaukee County’s “No Wrong Door” policy, a program designed to streamline access to resources for residents facing crises. He also reinforced the city’s investment in youth-focused prevention programs, such as Earn and Learn and Camp Rise, which offer employment and educational opportunities for young residents.

“Prevention does not take place only on the front lines. Our prevention strategy takes the long view, too,” Johnson said.

He concluded the public safety segment by addressing efforts to curb reckless driving, citing a decrease in traffic fatalities and the effectiveness of traffic calming projects.

“Reckless driving must be brought under control, and we are making solid progress on our efforts to do so,” Johnson said.

INFRASTRUCTURE AND TRANSPORTATION

Milwaukee has seen a reduction in reckless driving and traffic fatalities, a priority Mayor Cavalier Johnson emphasized in his State of the City address.

“For three straight years, violent crime is down in Milwaukee. In each of the last three years, property crime is down, too,” Johnson said. “Fatalities on our roadways are down. We are making that a priority through our multifaceted Vision Zero effort.”

The city has implemented a range of measures, including education campaigns, legislative changes, and targeted enforcement strategies to improve safety. Johnson noted that Milwaukee’s Vision Zero initiative focuses on reducing excessive speeding through traffic calming projects.

“We have been measuring the effectiveness of traffic calming projects,” he said. “It’s clear; traffic calming is reducing the number of drivers who speed—and dramatically reducing the excessive speeding on the improved roadways.”

The city has prioritized changes to street design, speed limit enforcement, and public awareness initiatives. Johnson called reckless driving a “direct affront to our sense of civility” and reaffirmed that Milwaukee is committed to maintaining downward trends in traffic-related deaths and injuries.

“When Milwaukee is safer, we are stronger. Milwaukee is better positioned to grow and thrive,” he said.

HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

Milwaukee is taking steps to expand housing options and increase affordability, with Mayor Johnson outlining plans to address rising rent costs and homeownership challenges.

“The Growing MKE Plan aims to increase housing options across the city, support walkable urban neighborhoods, and complement City plans for housing affordability and environmental sustainability,” Johnson said.

The initiative includes zoning updates to support new housing developments while maintaining the character of Milwaukee’s neighborhoods. Johnson expressed optimism that the city’s efforts could improve affordability for renters and homeowners alike.

“Can we increase homeownership? Can we affect the forces that drive rents higher and higher? Can we allow families to add a new residence to their property to accommodate an aging parent or a child moving back home? I believe the answers are yes,” he said.

Milwaukee’s strategy also focuses on supporting middle-market housing, a shift from the city’s previous approach of prioritizing only low-income housing developments. Johnson indicated that city-backed incentives, including tax incremental financing, could be used to spur workforce housing.

“My administration is thoughtfully exploring ways the city can address the high cost of housing,” Johnson said. “We are finalizing a framework under which city support might be deployed to spur more workforce housing developments.”

Johnson stressed the importance of housing accessibility for businesses looking to retain employees, citing feedback from local employers who say their workers want to live in Milwaukee but struggle with affordability.

“I recently convened a meeting of business leaders, and one executive told me their workers love Milwaukee. They want to be in the city and live in the city but cannot afford to do so,” he said. “I want to capture every business, every job, and every employee as a city resident because Milwaukee is a great place to call home.”

With these initiatives, Johnson aims to stabilize rental costs while increasing homeownership opportunities, reinforcing the city’s commitment to balanced growth.

FEDERAL FUNDING AND IMMIGRATION POLICIES

Mayor Cavalier Johnson shared his thoughts on potential shifts in federal funding and immigration policies, emphasizing their impact on Milwaukee’s workforce and municipal operations.

“I am deeply concerned about the shift in immigration enforcement,” Johnson said. “While I want people to follow the law, I also want every person, irrespective of documentation, to be treated with appropriate dignity and respect. There is simply no justification for demonizing hardworking immigrants.”

He pointed to Milwaukee’s reliance on federal grants to support city programs and services, warning that cuts to these resources could have serious consequences.

“Hundreds of city staff, and numerous non-profit agencies, are funded, at least in part, by federal grants. Rescinding those grants can have devastating effects that we are working to avoid,” Johnson said.

He underscored the city’s need for continued financial stability and stated that any abrupt policy changes at the federal level could create financial uncertainty for local governments.

“Our relationship with Madison is far more stable,” he said, referencing Wisconsin’s state government. “The Governor’s budget proposal includes some provisions that, if approved by the legislature, would benefit Milwaukee.”

Johnson reaffirmed his commitment to advocating for Milwaukee’s financial interests in Washington and Madison, while also urging local leaders to prepare for potential challenges ahead.

EDUCATION AND YOUTH PROGRAMS

Education remains a pressing concern in Milwaukee, with Mayor Johnson emphasizing the need for substantial improvements in student outcomes across all school systems.

“The classroom achievements of this city’s children must improve,” Johnson said. “Milwaukee’s future—our economic future, our social future, and our safety future—all rely on the knowledge and abilities of students currently in school.”

He pointed to long-standing challenges in Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) and stressed the urgency of reforms to ensure students receive the education they need to succeed.

“For decades, it has been a school district in despair, and our students, particularly our Black students, are suffering the consequences,” Johnson said. “We have great teachers; we have great students; I want great outcomes.”

Johnson expressed support for new MPS Superintendent Dr. Brenda Cassellius, stating that he is committed to working alongside school officials to enact meaningful changes.

“The new superintendent has a track record of building community engagement and success,” he said. “I share her view that we have both an opportunity and an obligation to address what is not working at MPS.”

He also called on the broader community, including businesses, philanthropists, and local government, to support efforts to improve education.

“So, it is not up to the superintendent alone and it’s not up to the mayor alone. It is up to all of us, including businesses, governments, philanthropists, and community,” he said.

Beyond academic reforms, Johnson highlighted youth programs aimed at equipping young people with job skills and career pathways. He pointed to initiatives like Earn and Learn, which provides work experience and wages for teens and young adults, and Camp Rise, a unique program designed to engage younger children in structured activities.

“Earn and Learn is work experience for teens and people in their early twenties. Over the years, tens of thousands of work opportunities have been offered,” he said. “Camp Rise is a unique program where we engage an even younger cohort of children with programming and service opportunities. And participants receive a stipend.”

Johnson called for increased community involvement in youth education and mentorship, urging residents to contribute to the city’s efforts to improve student outcomes.

“We could use a lot more people volunteering, mentoring, and giving back like these young leaders are doing in schools,” he said.

The mayor reaffirmed that education and youth development remain top priorities for Milwaukee, linking educational success to the city’s broader economic and social well-being.

Milwaukee is a city shaped by resilience, ambition, and the people who call it home. From its thriving business corridors to its evolving neighborhoods, the city’s future is being built through innovation, investment, and shared responsibility.

Johnson emphasized that while government plays a role, real progress comes from the collective efforts of residents, businesses, and institutions working together. Milwaukee’s strength lies not just in policy decisions but in the determination of its people to create a safer, more prosperous, and more inclusive city for generations to come.