Top L-R: Marina Dimitrijevic - District 14, Chair, Chantia Lewis - District 9, V. Chair,
Keith Rainey, District 7,
Bottom L-R: Scott Spiker, District 13, Mark Borkowski, District 11
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PUBLIC SAFETY & HEALTH COMMITTEE
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Present 5 - Dimitrijevic, Lewis, Borkowski, Spiker, Rainey
A motion was made by ALD. LEWIS that this Communication be HELD TO CALL OF THE CHAIR. This motion PREVAILED by the following vote:
Aye 5 - Dimitrijevic, Lewis, Borkowski, Spiker and Rainey
No 0
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Communication relating to the status of the Milwaukee Health Department’s ‘Moving Milwaukee Forward’ public health and safety order.
Appearing:
Kirsten Johnson - Commissioner of Health Department
Aaron Szopinski - Policy Director (on behalf of Mayor Tom Barrett)
Public testimony:
- Steve Hawthorne
- David Weingrod
- Paul Mozina
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‘Moving Milwaukee Forward’ public health and safety order.
The meeting was called as a result of Tom Barrett, mayor, and Kirsten Johnson, Commissioner of Health announced the June 1 change of "wearing a Mask" in the COVID-19 pandemic in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
The decision was made without consulting the common council and putting the city of Milwaukee - African Americans with 20% of the population vaccinated - the standard is 60% and above.
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First of all, Tom Barrett, mayor, failed to honor his Oath of office to protect Milwaukeeans with his arbitrary decision.
He failed to notify the Common Council (legislators) of an abrupt decision he made that threatened the health of 3/4 of Milwaukeeans - African Americans and other People of Color that represents 20% vaccinated.
He added injury to his arbitrary decision, he failed to show up with dignity for such a breach of protocol by his office. Instead, he sent 2 members of his administration, Aaron Szopinski, Policy Director and Kirsten Johnson, Commissioner Health Department.
Secondly, Aaron Szopinski's apology - took the blame for not notifying the council - was perfunctory and sought to reprimand the council for not supporting Kirsten Johnson and the health department.
His words and tone of voice were unbelievable, disrespectful - very disappointing.
Thirdly, Szopinski's arrogance and ill-preparedness seeped through more with his lack of data and questionable use of words like "amazing efforts" to describe the performance of Kirsten Johnson.
Szopinski referenced the city attorney but had no commitment of his policy office in the "rescinding" of the COVID-19 Mask order.
Fourthly, Kirsten Johnson was dismally ill-prepared. Specifically:
- Reason for NO notice to Common Council.
- without appropriate data - accurate vaccination counts, disease burden
- making the statement "she was not concerned with disease spread" for whatever reason was super insensitive and lacking judgment.
- gave questionable and misleading data - microcosm data left out.
- gave one size fits all, when 20% data speaks of a most vulnerable population - African Americans
- fail to have metric planning plan and decision-making going forward.
- used backup, "she could bring back health order if needed".
- Using "trusted messengers" - i.e., Medical college statements to address the HESITANCY issue and appeared to have dismissed the non-vaccinators under the guise of the CDC announcement.
- gave 20-30-year-olds greatest risk but no specific zip codes, race, the accuracy of data, and goal for recovery.
- Both Johnson and Szopinski, appointed administrators, were disappointing.
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Chair Dimitrijevic was in leadership form with order, agenda, and protocol. Her concerns centered around the messages sent regarding those not vaccinated, census data, 80% unvaccinated, vaccination provided by large employers, and all working together for the safety of the citizenry.
She was tolerant when she spoke in defense of inappropriate statements by Szopinski - he questioned the behavior of council members providing support to Commissioner Johnson and the health department.
Vice-Chair Taylor asked about "lack of communication" with the common council - the News Release and a letter from the mayor not received.
She spoke to the need to focus ON those in the 20% population and the possibility of a surge-spike in COVID cases.
Another question was regarding "incentives" for those in Hesitancy - fallacies in the public square, and "spread".
Member Spiker chimed in with Chair Dimitrijevic regarding push back on Szopinski comments for more support by the common council - the need to outreach for vaccination of the citizenry with 20%, and his concern of one size fits all.
JoCasta Zamarripa, Alderwoman, District 8 requested data on zip codes 53204 and 53205. She was given 40% rather than 20%. Given the reports, it is advisable that Alderwoman Zamarripa request a datasheet to get accurate vaccination data since she voiced problematic data when she was elected.
Russell Stamper II, Alderman, District 15 requested if data caused the Mask mandate to be lifted and was given an affirmative. He asked for data reflecting deaths and hospital capacity for which the mandate was based - it was not available.
Milele Coggs, Alderwoman, District 6 spoke of concerns for:
- data facts - 20% and census data related to race/age/gender
- not enough done to increase vaccination - fear "flood gates"
- requested specific contact date for implementation and assistance of vaccinations at Juneteenth
- 12-15-year-olds and ages below for vaccinations
- determinates for reinstituting Mask order
- enforcement of Mask rule in settings where Mask are mandated - businesses-employers-event holders
- request legal ruling
JOSE PEREZ, Alderman District 12, in addition to vaccination for 12 and 15-year-olds, social media being one of the trending sites for communication, and ensuring truth in communication. He posed the question about the recent scare of the possible hesitancy of parents giving OK to vaccination of 12-15-year-old due to the "Heart scare" rumor.
It was clear that Johnson and Szopinski were not prepared - Szopinski no response and Johnson had to pop out. Marlaina Jackson, Deputy Commissioner (popped in) with lacking talking points.
Committee Chair Dimitrijevic stated that she would draft the lead form that is to be presented to the city attorney to satisfy the request by Alderwoman Coggs for legal advice. Coggs request was about enforcement if someone chooses to disobey the mandate in a BUSINESS or at an EVENT. She asked for it before June 1, 2021.
The Public Safety and Health Committee is concerned with issues brought forth from the fire, police, health, and neighborhood services departments as well as traffic control, emergency medical services, and parking. It also licenses alarm businesses and public passenger vehicles and drivers.
Writer Comments
I am most concerned about the Health Crisis we find ourselves in. It is clear that the common council of Milwaukee, WI needs to exercise more AUTHORITY here and call for STOPPAGE. It is also clear the efforts of those in charge do NOT have a clue of the specifics of the residential and commercial stakeholders that are within the 96.8 square miles.
The historic meeting referenced in this article points to how state-of-the-art facts are NOT known and the SAFETY FACTOR is slipping. Sadly to say, it is an accident on its way to CATASTROPHE - COVID-19 SPREAD.
What say you?
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