By Lynda L. Jones
County executive and gubernatorial candidate Scott Walker has failed to act regarding the controversy that has developed regarding the actions of at least two staffers associated with his campaign.
On Monday, Aug. 16, while the president was in Milwaukee, Jill Bader, a spokesperson for Walker re-tweeted a message from Michael Brickman, who identifies himself as “working in communications for Walker” of predominately African Americans dancing in a ‘soul train’ line and dancing to a song, ‘Come on ride it (the train)’, and then linked it to a YouTube …

Late Tuesday, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced its decision to reject Milwaukee County’s application for individual aid to residents whose homes were lost or severely damaged, due to flooding. Alderman Willie L. Hines, Jr., President of the Common Council, and Alderman Ashanti Hamilton , Chair of the Judiciary and Legislation Committee, have expressed their disappointment with the lack of federal response.
“What FEMA has failed to realize is that for hundreds of Milwaukee families, their basements serve as first-floor dwelling units,” said President Hines Wednesday. “Mayor Barrett and his …

By Lynda Jones, Editor
Mayor Tom Barrett and Commissioner of Health Bevan K. Baker unveiled additional hard-hitting safe sleep campaign messages aimed to prevent further infant deaths in Milwaukee. After two reports last week of infants who died after sleeping in an unsafe sleep environment, Barrett and Baker held a news conference to announce the campaign.
“As a mayor and parent, I am sick to of hearing about another infant death, especially preventable deaths. No adult should sleep in bed with an infant.” Barrett stated.
This year alone in Milwaukee there have been …

By Lynda Jones
This weekend of May 15th and May 16th marks the annual Cease Fire Sabbath initiative from the mayor’s office. The initiative now in its 5th year enlists leaders of the faith community in the City of Milwaukee to preach a common message of peace and non-violence in their weekend services.
On Thursday, May 13, Mayor Barrett invited faith leaders to attend a breakfast and discussion regarding messages of Cease Fire Sabbath and to exchange ideas on how to strengthen partnerships in addressing violence, especially gun violence.
Approximately 50-75 faith based …

Working families join Coggs Campaign
State Senator Spencer Coggs announced an additional key endorsement in his campaign for the Democratic nomination for Lt. Governor.
“I am proud to receive the endorsement of the Teamsters,” said Coggs. “Working families are the life blood of Wisconsin and are the key to growing the economic engine of our state.”
The Wisconsin Teamsters Joint Council 39 is comprised of five local unions throughout Wisconsin representing over 40,000 active and retired Teamsters from both the public and private sectors.
“As a former Union Steward from AFSCME, Spencer Coggs knows …

Will Allen, the founder and CEO of Growing Power Inc., has been named to the 2010 “Time 100: The World’s Most Influential People.” The list was released last week, and the magazine hit newsstands last Friday. The much-anticipated announcement identifies 25 individuals or small working groups who are most influencing the current course of world events in four categories: Leaders, Heroes, Artists and Thinkers.
Allen was named in the area of Heroes. Allen was identified for his powerful advocacy for food security and food justice for all. Through his work promoting …

On Saturday, May 22, The Milwaukee Brewers, Brewers Community Foundation, Frontier Airlines, Mayor Tom Barrett’s ‘Milwaukee Fatherhood Initiative’, and others will come together to reinforce the importance of parenting, and reward individuals who have committed to strengthening their own family ties.
On that day, a group of approximately 50 fathers and their children will board a chartered morning flight, donated by Frontier Airlines, to Minneapolis. Scheduled to join the group for the trip are Republic Airways President and Chief Executive Officer Bryan Bedford, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, M&I Bank Senior Vice …

The City of Milwaukee has been selected as one of the U.S. cities that will take part in Sister Cities International’s Africa Urban Poverty Alleviation Program (AUPAP), said Alderman Joe Davis, Sr., who chairs the city’s Sister Cities Committee.
The award was discussed during a news conference by Alderman Davis, Mayor Tom Barrett, and several special guests, including Ambassador Pearl Nomvume Magaqa, Consul General of South Africa to the Midwest.
Alderman Davis said the city’s sister city relationship with uMhlathuze, South Africa, was key to helping Milwaukee win the two-year, $115,000 grant. …

On-the-Job Training to Build Skills for Permanent Employment
Governor Jim Doyle and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett announced this week a $1 million project that will provide on-the-job training for at least 80 unemployed individuals in Milwaukee to help prepare them for permanent jobs in the building trades while improving city property in inner city neighborhoods.
The Milwaukee Builds demonstration project is a partnership between the state and the City of Milwaukee, with the state and city both providing $500,000 to fund the project. Individuals will work in transitional jobs, earning $8 to …

The Greater Milwaukee Committee (GMC), in collaboration with Generation Growth Capital, Inc. and The Business Journal, honored the recipients of the 2010 Inner City Business Awards in a ceremony held on Monday, March 8th at the Pfister Hotel. Now in their seventh year, these awards are intended to drive innovation and action, transform thinking and accelerate inner city business investments by recognizing businesses making great strides in their quest for prosperity in Milwaukee’s inner city.
“Even after this difficult economic climate of the last year, optimism continues to grow in Milwaukee’s …