Mayor Tom Barrett and President/CEO Don Sykes Faltered badly at Brainstorm Conference

Tom Barrett is Absent w/out Leave for 8 years - Part I

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Work Force Development: Fresh approach to jobs
Editorial: Fresh approach to jobs
The flight of Milwaukee's new job training agency needs to be higher and wider than the old Private Industry Council. It's now up to the mayor and Don Sykes.
e-mail print Sept. 26, 2007
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MILWAUKEE - On November 26, 2011, Mayor Tom Barrett and President/CEO Donald Sykes - Milwaukee Area Workforce Investment Board, participated in the November Jobs-Action Steps to Solution Forum hosted by Community Brainstorming Conference. Their presentation was just “disgraceful”. The two seem to have taken a NEW LOW in non-compliance – Absent without leave.

Barrett and Sykes gave a “doom and gloom” soiree - Milwaukeeans lack employment skills (per somebody) and Milwaukeeans cannot pass drug tests (the old drug test scam).

What’s up?
After 8 years as the mayor of Milwaukee, Barrett and his employment czar Sykes faltered badly in reporting what the “good news” in EMPLOYMENT is during his leadership.

The visit told the African American citizenry (largest group present) that the mayor of 8 years have NO redeeming qualities for RE-ELECTION. Did he not know this? Or, is it, he doesn’t give-a-care.

After 8 years, Barrett's outrageous "OUTSOURCING" of mega funds earmarked for Milwaukeeans’ with his cronies – Milwaukee Metropolitan Association of Commerce, Greater Milwaukee Committee and the Milwaukee 7; have literally stolen quality of life and economic development opportunities from the very constituents he was talking to. In fact, by all accounts, African American, other People of Color and the Work-Challenged have been by-sign targeted.

After 8 years of posturing, he and his administration have shown that they will "say one thing and DO NOTHING".

Promises of
Both Barrett and Sykes came in with promises of change. African American, other People of Color and the Work-Challenged have received absolutely “Nothing”.

Sykes rolled into his position with media splash and past SDC/Social Development Commission honors.

Takeover of PIC
Barrett engaged in a takeover and renaming; from PIC/Private Industry Council to MAWIB/Milwaukee Aea Workforce Investment Board.

My office tried several times to reach Sykes when first hired, he would not answer my office calls; when he was seen by me in public, he appeared to not know his job; then, resorted to excuses of population untrained and drug-infested. He seemed to be oblivious to the fact that he was brought here for change – that the citizenry is/was paying for customer care and turnaround. From the jump-off, he was given several millions from the Department of Labor, with $500,000 (small businesses) + $75,000 (toward Sykes’ salary) from Bader Foundation.
That was then (2007).

For Community Brainstorming Conference, it appears that Sykes and Barrett adopted the too often scapegoats, stereotypes and scam to provide cover for lack of proper administration, management, and principle-centered leader - NOT WORKING THIS TIME.

Barrett and Sykes will need more than the “same ole song” - untrained and drug-infested. If that is the case, what have they been doing for 8 years-4 years?

What are the results for the $$$Millions through WIRED and the 21st Century learning through the Department of Labor. This is an example found in the 2005-2010 Smart Growth Signature observation of Milwaukee Professionals Association of mega funds received on behalf of African American, other People of Color and the Work-Challenged but wasted and/or outsourced to others (Waukesha Technical, instead of Milwaukee Area Technical) rather than providing quality customer service and principle-centered leadership from the office of the CEO of the City of Milwaukee.

So, what’s up?
African American, People of Color and the Work-Challenged must put 2012 election “skin-in-the-game”. It starts with ACCOUNTABILITY - no holds barred.
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Barrett was in Beijing, China on December 6, 2011, shortly after Brainstorming Conference, for photo opt with Foley & Lardner Attorney/ex-Governor Jim Doyle and UW-Milwaukee Chancellor Michael Lovell. Interesting.
Stay tuned.