MILWAUKEE ALDERMEN DONOVAN, DUDZIK and MURPHY took Cheap shots to solve Teen upheaval

Eugene Kane - Journal Sentinel

MILWAUKEE - Columnist Eugene Kane, Journal Sentinel took the words right out of my mouth.

Eugene Kane's column, "State Fair violence hardly part of black culture" " . . .Added to this were the opinions of noted local anthropologists Robert Donovan and Joe Dudzik, two Milwaukee aldermen who released a joint statement last week that was stunning in its clueless assumptions about most black people.

Donovan and Dudzik blamed the State Fair Park mob on "a deteriorating African-American culture in our city."

I respectfully suggest neither of these guys could explain what "culture" means in a definitive way as it applies to African-Americans unless you gave them a dictionary. Here's one Merriam-Webster-approved definition: " culture: the set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterizes an institution or organization."

For Donovan and Dudzik to speak of State Fair mobs as part of black culture is the same as saying pedophile priests or schoolyard shootings reflect a deteriorating "white culture" because, after all, most of the people involved in those types of things are white.

If Donovan and Dudzik were serious about anything other than getting headlines, they might have asked fellow aldermen who are African-American - or any black professional, teacher or cop - for advice before releasing such a loaded statement

================

Well-spoken Eugene, more of us must share with Aldermen Robert Donovan (2002-now), Alderman Joe Dudzik (2002-Now); and, Alderman Michael Murphy (1989 - now) about where they should place their "shock", "sadden" and "concerned" comments that seem to be glaringly missing in their roles, responsibility and accountability in the status of poverty in this city. They have been in office contributing to Milwaukee's Enduring Concentrated Poverty for a minimum of two full terms each - Donovan 11 years - in 3rd term; Duzik 9 years-in 3rd term; and, Murphy - 22 years, in 6th term.

L-R, Alderman Joe Dudzik, 11 District, Alderman Robert Donovan, 8th District and Alderman Michael Murphy, 10 District.

Condescending Remarks
I take issue with the "on-the-sly" condesending broad-brushing of an entire race and "pitting" Latinos and Asians in the spotlight as if that justifies their racists comments. The acts of "Willie Lynching" is well-known by African American and is frowned upon with disdain.

To the comparison of Why? There is NO race here in Milwaukee that has encountered the atrocities and continued "segregation" and "by design" discrimination - city's history, employment, assets, land ownership, held positions of merits, education attainment, historic recognition, and lack of "respect".

To that end, the following worst this-and-that for Milwaukee is on Aldermen Donovan, Dudzik and Murphy watch.

• 2011 – Forbes report (worst place for African American entrepreneurs)

• 2011 –Daniel Denvir Report (10 Most Segregated Urban Areas in America –
Milwaukee was No. 1) of quality of life and economic development for the half-
million population that span 190 neighborhoods.

• 2010 – Forbes report (worst housing city)

• 2011 –NAACP (Call for Wisconsin audits at city-county-state level)

• 2010 –DWilson Report (City of Milwaukee “disparity” of contracting and engagement of African American, other People of Color and Work-Challenged)

• 2008 – Federal Reserve/Brookings Institution (1 of 16 Cities in America identified as an Enduring Challenged Concentrated Poverty city) - Spatial Mismatch
• Ongoing –UW-Milwaukee Dr. Mark Levin Reports (un-, under-employed and
segregation ratios)

• Ongoing –Journal Sentinel in Milwaukee Reports (un-, under-employed and
review of studies)

City of Milwaukee - over a half-million people, 604,000
- African Americcan 39.5% with 41% poverty.
- Latino 14.9% with 38% poverty.
- Caucasian 43.6% with 12% poverty*
(Caucasian % represents inclusive of other races)

- Asian 3.6% with combined 9% poverty with American Indian
- American Indian 0.8% with combined 9% poverty with Asian

* Shared poverty count, less than 9%
2006 Povety rates (more today)
=============================

Further, Aldermen Dudzik was contacted by my office during the 2005-2010 Smart Growth Signature Plan observation about "construction employment" being outsourced and the huge budget expenditure of the Department of Public Works (his 20-year employment); and he gave a response that said he could not do anything about the outsourced jobs to companies in the suburbs and those companies coming into Milwaukee over a 100 miles away getting year-long transportation projects on Capitol Drive, Holton and North Avenue. In fact, he was neither "shocked" or "sound concerned".

This is the "outsourcing" and "denial" of employment that "qualified-African American union members" and contractors of the families in African American neighborhoods were denied access.

The Department of Public Works refused to provide "public information" about their role with responsibility of cable lines with WE Energies, Warner Cable, Public Service Commission and I reported same. Alderman Dudzik did nothing to assist in getting the information. However, he is the point person for Common Council President Willie Hines for the 14.3 million capital funding for the Department of Public Works. That's a big concern.

Alderman Donovan, in error, tried to trash True Skool, a Milwaukee Youth organization providing arts education and community service opportunities for youth to create positive sustainable change in their lives and in the community.

His comments were:
"I think they've been successful in misleading people," Donovan said of TRUE Skool. "Graffiti is at its worst level now since we started taking records, and that worsening seems to coincide with the arrival of TRUE Skool on the scene."

I am sure the serious leaders of True Skool like Executive Director Sarah Patterson were "shocked" and more than concern about his flagrant remarks. They lack civility and were beneath the public servant position of Alderman.

As for Alderman Murphy's "shock" and "sadness". He is a 6th-term seasoned public servant and expected to outreach to the broad constituency and not polarize. He mentioned his effort to provide safety over this past weekend at State Fair Park and working with cross-lines law enforcers. Since that is is job I do not know what he was getting at.

His comments like Dudzik and Donovan did not have the endorsement and collaboration of a strategy to change the "notable wrong" to an infrastructural and systemic decisions that would shape a definitive course of action that is mult-dimensional in its complexity for solving the rash violence.

NOR, did it include the representatives - fellow alderpersons that represent primarily African American Districts. I would think they would of been offended if their colleagues would exclude and try to usurp their authority, their districtship.

Safety Matters
Safety Matters is an Intervention and Prevention focus to "shape a definitive course of action" that will automatically "trigger" Milwaukeeans (ALL HANDS on Deck) to ensure that information is shared and explosive situation like the BP Service Station, Mayfair, Bayshore and State Fair are dealt with in a community effort for long-term sustainability.

On August 10, 2011
Youth Townhall Panel
GORDON PARK PAVILION
1321 EAST LOCUST STREET
4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
=========================

The agenda includes:
-- panel of youth and teen discussion concerns (theirs and recent outbreaks)
-- panel will take questions
-- Input for strategizing from the floor

The three (3) aldermen should find the time to be present to "JUST LISTEN".
=========================

For Murphy's Press Release, go to: http://city.milwaukee.gov/ImageLibrary/Groups/ccCouncil/2011-PDF/10-StateFair2statement.pdf

For Donovan and Dudzik's Press Release, go to:
http://city.milwaukee.gov/ImageLibrary/Groups/ccCouncil/2011-PDF/Jointstatefairstatement-Donova.pdf

For FULL August 8, 2011 article of Eugene Kane, go to:
http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/127285998.html

Milwaukee Professionals Association supports the Youth Townhall panel.
It is a "neighborhood-level" event..