REASONS Why Tom Barrett Missed the Mark June 5, 2012

MILWAUKEE(MPA) - For over 8 years, Mary Glass, Chair/CEO, Milwaukee Professionals Association, has followed the mayor of Milwaukee and have been outspoken about his lack of INCLUSION of Milwaukeeans, especially African American, other People of Color and the Work Challenged.

Often those in position of power forget that basics of TRUST and ethics in best practices in the position of an elected officials will always "be the best hand".

TRUST by his major constituents is not Tom Barrett's long suit - by his own actions.
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During the last eight years, it appears that Tom Barrett, mayor of Milwaukee, has alienated through disrespect and discrimination the real base of Milwaukeeans, the half-million people that reside in Milwaukee. 

They are the ones that provide the framework of resident - taxpayers, apartment renters, condo and home owners. 
The ones that both live-in and have created a business in the city of Milwaukee. 
The ones that live-in, work, go to church, go to school, run a business and raise a family in Milwaukee.

That population is 3/4 People of Color, with African American being the largest group - over 40%.

The genesis of wrongdoing and preference by mayor Tom Barrett was seen right after he took office in 2004.  His Inaugural speech said one thing- bringing all together, but Barrett engaged in bait-n-switch, he chose another road - real estate barons, donor for hire, Milwaukee Metropolitan Association of Commerce, Greater Milwaukee Committee, MMAC subgroup to create and provide operations for Milwaukee 7;  Milwaukee 7 members; and, the Milwaukee Economic Development Corporation/MEDC.

His action plan began right away in the first 100 days.  Barrett engaged in divisiveness - the outsiders against the insiders/Milwaukeeans.

He has worked exclusively with and travelled abroad with Tim Sheehy, MMAC, who lives in Whitefish Bay to say what the business forecast and focus of the economy would be for the city of Milwaukee - no where to be found are the People of Color business chambers.

He used the expansion of the name of city of Milwaukee to Greater Milwaukee area to justify methods of divisiveness, arbitrary and capricous behavior.

He then began the royal and massive outsourcing of resources to non-Milwaukeeans.
He gave an unprecedented gift to Manpower (employment agency) and failed to create an agreement for such a huge investment from the city of Milwaukee coffers.
Jeffrey Joerres, board of directors and staff of Manpowr got a huge windfall.  They included:

• a NEW international office in the iconic city of Milwaukee.
• a NEW international office in the high rent district located in the iconic city of Milwaukee, on the Milwaukee River, downtown.
• a NEW international office with street named after it.
• a NEW international office with a MILLION DOLLAR special requested parking lot for staff.
• a NEW international office with TID - tax increment district benefits.
• a NEW international office with 600 employees brought into Milwaukee - even though Milwaukeeans were harboring a high unemployment rate well over 30%.
• a NEW international office with a maybe promise of hiring from the city.

No wonder Joerres is so arrogant and fail to show accountability and TRUE goodwill for growing Milwaukee and its infrastructure.  Manpower certainly has tossed trinklets in view of their drain on the coffers of the taxpayers in Milwaukee.

Joerres like others we have encountered in Barrett's oligopoly structure, want answer request for information and/or will meet.

However, we find him on the Chicago Federal Reserve Board making economic decisions about the midwest cities that include Milwaukee.  This is privilege, unacceptable.  People remember.

COA/Children Outing Association vs. PAL-Police Athletic League
When Barrett took office, he sabotaged a neighborhood effort to bailout and purchase the PAL- Police Athletic League that was financially strapped; and, rewarded a crony and election supporter with a $1 dollar gift.

He refused to meet with the financier and the community representatives to discuss the solutions - Mary Glass knows because she was one of those that help put the deal together.  This is unacceptable.  People remember.

Milwaukee Public School Takeover
In 2010 Barrett and cronies ex-governor Jim Doyle and state superintendent Tony Evers tried to take over Milwaukee Public Schools.  This was a well-known chip from the Greater Milwaukee Committee, Milwaukee 7 and Milwaukee Metropolitan Association of Commerce. 
The measure failed.  People remember.

Muskegon Heights mayor snubbed
Mayor Rillistine Wilkins was in Milwaukee for BI-Coastal Development Meeting hosted by the office of Mary Glass and CNI/Fondy North Business Association.  She and her business attendees were snubbed by Barrett.  He refused to meet mayor Wilkins and refused to meet with the group for dialog.

Frank Cumberbatch chose to be present.  Cumberbatch was the same person that was to be the Economic Czar but ran into bait-n-switch when Barrett changed the rules of the game that put corporate Milwaukee separate from the neighborhood businesses and People of Color businesses.
His lack of civility towards Mayor Wilkins was embarrassing as the city's leader.  People remember.

Incorrectly organized BID District 32
Barrett was informed of the incorrect formation of Business Improvement District 32 by Damon Dorsey - it was also brought to the attention of  City of Milwaukee Department of City Development Commissioner Rocky Marcoux and DCD staffer Rhonda Manual.

Barrett claimed to take action, but did nothing even though it violated the state law.  This is unacceptable.  People remember.

Pratt vs Barrett Election
Milwaukeeans, especially African Americans, were left with a bad taste in their mouths due to the way candidate Marvin Pratt and his wife were rumored to have been treated in the middle of night with a visit by the Milwaukee Police Department and the suspicious investigation by District Attorney E. Michael McCann.  This was overly suspicious.  People remember.

Failed Economy and Unemployment
Several times during the year, Milwaukee is cited for a lack of growth in its economy and increased unemployment.  Yet Barrett and the MMAC, GMC and Milwaukee 7 have been the high rollers and getters of closed planning and resources.  They have also had a significant group of donor-for-hire representatives around the table.

African American, other People of Color,  3/4 of population have been either selectively "creamed" for one-or-two participants, appointed/hired for tokenism; or, demonized.

Each year Barrett has publicized the "summer youth jobs" program as his flagship of employment for Milwaukeeans.  He has also pointed to his "Fathers Initiative", headed by Barrett's ex-staffer Terrence Ray, as the cure-all for African American males in Milwaukee.

However when it comes to Caucasian males and businessmen, he speaks of wages, business development, economy of scales, packaging, bundling financial resources, negotiation, funding and agreements.  That's unacceptable.  People remember.

Work - Paid Sick Days
Barrett and cronies - Milwaukee Metropolitan Association of Commerce, Milwaukee 7 and Greater Milwaukee Committee worked successfully to dismantle the passed referendum by 9-5 regarding Paid Sick Days.  That was not right.  People remember.

6506 Miles to China, but will not go 2.1 Miles
Mayor Tom Barrett, Chancellor Michael Lovell - University of Wisconsin, Provost Johannes Britz - University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, ex-governor Jim Doyle and Tim Sheehy - MMAC went to Beijing, China in December 2011, to recruit Chinese students.  Lovell and Barrett will not go 2.1 miles to Martin L. King Drive to recruit African American, other People of Color and the Work Challenged for academic attainment and business development.  That is divisive and disrespectful.  People remember.

Milwaukee 7
The three co-chair format has changed over the last seven years.  Gale Klappa and mayor Barrett have remained, the third co-chair has been Michael Grebe - Bradley Foundation, Steve Smith - Journal Sentinel and Ed Zore - Northwestern Insurance Company and Mary Stanek - Baird.

The present 3 co-chairs are:

L-R, Gale Klappa-We Energies, Mary Stanek - Baird & Company and Mayor Tom Barrett.

The Milwaukee 7 have operated by proxy to make decisions that have outsourced jobs, outsourced education attainment (Department of Labor and Waukesha Technical) and economic development (business development and employment)  of the people of the city of Milwaukee, without the PERMISSION of the people.   Their agenda have been discriminatory and elitist using the iconic name and status of Milwaukee.   This is an oligopoly and monopoly format.  People remember.

Snubbed Wisconsin Black Chamber of Commerce
On May 2, 2012, the Wisconsin Black Chamber of Commerce had a Democrat gubernatorial forum.   Barrett failed to show.  Would he of not attended an event such as this of the MMAC?  This was out of order.  People remember and they TALK. 

So, when the African American elected officials - U. S. Congresswoman Gwen Moore, State Senator Lena Taylor, Representatives Tamara Grigsby,  BarbaraToles, and Jason Fields; and Aldermen Ashanti Hamilton, Joe Davis and Willie Wade; and Alderman/Common Council President Willie Hines marched out with their expected endorsement - The People remembered and said, NO.
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During the gubernatorial campaign, it was very telling for Barrett to use terms like "civil war" and divisiveness.

He could of WON big time IF he had remembered and his 8 years exemplified the Golden Rule.