Author: Staff

Mayor Tom Barrett and the City of Milwaukee Election Commission raised concerns with the Federal Election Integrity Commission’s request to all states, including Wisconsin, for voter registration data. The request was made for all publicly available voter registration data, including highly-sensitive information about voters’ political affiliation, Social Security numbers, criminal history and military status. Mayor Barrett strongly disagrees with the release of any confidential information maintained in the State’s voter registration database. The Mayor is also concerned with how the public is perceiving and responding to the Election Integrity Commission’s request. “Not only am I concerned with what types...

The Milwaukee Common Council unanimously approved an amended resolution that puts conditions on any possible City of Milwaukee involvement in the future development of a bus rapid transit (BRT) line along the East-West Corridor through portions of the city. The proposed 9-mile route would provide an improved transit connection to major employment and activity centers through downtown Milwaukee, the Milwaukee Regional Medical Center, Milwaukee’s near west side, and Wauwatosa. The East-West BRT service would advance the build out of the planned multi-modal transportation network. “After careful review of the BRT analysis and listening to area citizens and businesses at...

An official City of Milwaukee event in its fifth year, Bronzeville Week has blossomed into a premier celebration of Milwaukee’s rich African American legacy of culture, arts, history and entertainment. The Bronzeville Cultural and Entertainment District is a City of Milwaukee redevelopment initiative inspired by Milwaukee’s original Bronzeville, and it is striving to revitalize the area of Milwaukee where African-American culture has been a mainstay. “Bronzeville Week has become synonymous with arts, culture and commerce and thousands have enjoyed its diverse events and offerings each year,” said Alderwoman Milele A. Coggs. “It has truly become an enjoyable and enriching...

“Business improvement district” is a generic term applied to a type of special assessment district that involves a group of property owners and businesses within a designated area. The members of the district enter into an arrangement whereby they pay an additional tax that is used by the district to pay for mutually beneficial services or improvements. By pooling their resources in this manner, businesses and property owners can supplement the services being provided by their local government to meet their specific needs. This approach is described as “self-help through self-taxation.” A report released August 1 by the Milwaukee-based...

A redevelopment underway in the Sherman Park neighborhood will stand as a model for healing Milwaukee by generating positive economic and social returns in communities of color. The Sherman Phoenix project will create a $2.5 million catalytic development at the eastern entrance to the Sherman Park neighborhood. It will transform the fire-damaged BMO Harris Bank Building located at 3536 W. Fond du Lac Avenue into high-quality commercial space for 12 entrepreneurs of color. The Phoenix also includes a food hall with customer seating, an outdoor patio, and gathering spaces for small community events. The civil unrest in Sherman Park...

A stage director, playwright, theatre educator and performer, Sheri Williams Pannell has been a long-standing member of the Milwaukee theatre community. Two years ago, Bronzeville Arts Ensemble (BAE) and Milwaukee Repertory Theater (The Rep) joined in partnership through which BAE would become a resident theater company of The Rep. This unique pairing was designed to strengthen both companies with the ultimate goal for BAE to have a long-term, sustainable path given the tremendous challenges that face emerging theater companies. “Bronzeville Arts Ensemble is fortunate to have had the opportunity to work in partnership with Milwaukee Repertory Theater over the...