LATE EDITION - Public Transportation in Milwaukee and Civil Rights law VI at Odds with BRT East/West, Bublr and Milwaukee Streetcar

Late Edition - Late Edition

July 20, 2016

MILWAUKEE, WI - Milwaukee Professionals Association LLC continues to provide leadership and stewardship in public policy in the public square of Milwaukee - Milwaukee County, that deals with Constitutional values and malpractice by elected-appointed-hired government representatives.

Milwaukee Streetcar, Bublr Bike and the East/West BRT has engaged in "in-your-face" and "we do not care about your rights" RED-LINING, DISCRIMINATION.

Since the three (3) projects are targeted for Caucasian-focused traffic it is seen and called what it is, racial discrimination.  According to the Civil Rights Act of 1964, that is against the law.  It is also one of the specified rules of compliance of the Federal Transit Administration - the funding source of Milwaukee Streetcar and Bublr Bike by the city of Milwaukee; and, proposed East/West BRT by Milwaukee County.

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Today, on behalf of the CORE CONSTITUENTS of Milwaukee - over half million folk - majority African American and People of Color - We Call for the Complaint of Civil Rights VI.   It says:

No person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.

We call for IMMEDIATE address and the adopting of practices that the citizens of Milwaukee - the ones that bring the BULK of federal funding (Washington or Madison routing) - the bulk of funding that is suppose to grow the economy, provide gainful employment, spur entrepreneurship, affordable housing, education attainment, safety prevention, safety intervention, health care, judicial branch, the arts, recreation; and PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.

MPA LLC has noted time and time again about how the city of Milwaukee charter officers - mayor Tom Barrett and ex-mayor John Norquist, in lock step with Common Council Presidents John Kalwitz, Marvin Pratt, Willie Hines, Michael Murphy and now Ashanti Hamilton has created a path of legislation that has "dog-eared" stops with DISCRIMINATION and lack of DUE PROCESS.  The most recent being, a 30-year Involuntary Servitude law of the MEGA BUCKS GREED DEAL, Milwaukee Street Car, Bublr Bike and East/West BRT.

On the County Executive and Board of Supervisors' side, the list includes  County Executives (Acting, Interim, Elected) Dave Schultz, Tom Ament, Janine Geske, Scott Walker, Lee Holliway, Marvin Pratt and currently Chris Abele.  

Recent Board of Supervisor Chairs included:  Lee Holliway, Marina Dimitrijevic, and Theodore Lipscomb have participated in acts of DISCRIMINATION.  

We ask the members of the city of Milwaukee, county of Milwaukee and state representatives for the city of Milwaukee to "check their Public Trust" at the door because they have violated their OATH OF OFFICE with conduct-behavior of meeting and voting against the citizenry of Milwaukee.  They have violated over-and-over the Constitution - Civil Rights VI by making decisions that have compromised and disenfranchised safety and safeness in neighborhoods of Milwaukee.

Neighborhoods that are clearly in need of education and technology attainment, public transportation, access to federal funding sources, pathways to city-county-state offices that are WILLING to assist without arrogance and further discrimination based on skin tone, place of stay, income, lack of income, race, disability, health abnormalities, returned from incarceration, returned from war, returned from homelessness, returned from retirement, and return due to lack of employment to match degree acquired but no employment.
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Thursday, August 4, 2016
Milwaukee Professionals Association LLC brings the beginning of clarity and compliance with:

LUNCH & LEARN w/R. Stewart McKenzie, Community Planner, Federal Transit Administration, Region 5, Chicago, IL.

Theme:

Citizen Participation in Public Transportation a Must in FTA & USDOT Highway Funding

Do not miss this INFORMATIVE event of "equity" and "inclusiveNESS". 

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FRAUD ABOUT THE “MILWAUKEE FLAG” CHANGE, According to MPA LLC

Saturday, July 16, 2016

   

FRAUD ABOUT THE “MILWAUKEE FLAG” CHANGE

Flag change Milwaukee – MPA LLC

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN!

On behalf of African American, other People of Color and the Work Challenged population of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, that "know not”, “participated not”, and “did not grant the necessary authority for such a change”, this is seen as a continuous form of "arrogance" that keep rising from Caucasians.

Since you would NOT appreciate the RUN-ON and DISRESPECT to you as a Milwaukeean, neither do I/WE.

Did you go to all the neighborhoods?

What was the end count of those you got approval?

If so, post who they were and what they said.

Because some Caucasian guy spoke on a TED video about his dislike of flags – got laughs from Caucasians - is NO reason for change – Absolutely NO reason for Milwaukeeans to change the “flag of Milwaukee”. 

Oh yeah, I saw the gathering that depicted People of Color; OR could we say, the call to the in-group or CONTROLLED GROUPS; how many really had a clue? 

Where is the heritage democracy here? 

Where are the fingerprints of the majority population of Milwaukee - in mass?

Milwaukee Professionals Association LLC, a public policy group in the marketplace – public square of Milwaukee, is one that will seek Notice and justice here for "the People" that are African American, other People of Color and the Work Challenged - THE CORE CONSTITUENTS. 

Work Challenged Milwaukeeans are re-entry vets, re-entry ex-incarcerated, ex-retirees that can no longer live off a fixed income, the disabled, the homeless and those with graduate degrees but cannot match degree to a degreed position.

We will be back.

mpapublicpolicyreview.blogspot.com

You may not like, but you can be better for being exposed to MPA LLC public policy point-of-view.

MPA LLC Response to City Panel Approves Bus Rapid Transit

City Panel Approves Bus Rapid Transit

BRT line linking Downtown and Tosa moves forward, though some decry “the rush.”

Above is the title of the July 14, 2016  blog by Jeramey Jannene, Urban Milwaukee 

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MARY GLASS - Chief Visionary Officer

To unpack the comments of the July 14, 2016, blog by Jeramey Jannene, Urban Milwaukee, entitled “City Panel Approves Bus Rapid Transit”, the following comments reference a “failure to communicate” and “lack of leadership” in BEST PRACTICES in the city of Milwaukee.

The problem of “segregation”, “discrimination”, “conflict of interest”, “denial”, “disenfranchisement of groups” – by gender, by race, by perceived social and economic conditions, by districts, by assumed party affiliation, culture, ages and profiling of the citizenry – in our country, has too often given rise to a gaping hole of “failure to conduct real public policies that will help HEAL as well as HEAL” the public square.

The “swelling” is why we have a huge divide in the 2016 national election and the growing and painful shootings that we have in the marketplace daily.

“Lock-step politics” based on lack of knowledge and tacit assent has the CORE CONSTITUENTS population – largest population in Milwaukee – African American, other People of Color and Work Challenged (re-entry vets, re-entry ex-incarcerated, ex-retirees that can no longer live off a fixed income, the disabled, the homeless and those with graduate degrees but cannot match degree to a degreed position) MIRED in Enduring Concentrated Poverty.

We see shameless “scratch my back on a project and I scratch yours when it is presented”, never mind the validity – merits, never mind public trust and real vetting and most of all, what did the CORE CONSTITUENTS SAY.

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I start with PREPAREDNESS. Why did Alderman Mark Borkowski, Chair, feel it was necessary to pass the gavel? Why hadn’t he summoned the many resources that the taxpayers have at his disposal to brief him to a level of comfort in understanding this very important piece of city of Milwaukee agreement. Why was the gavel given to Alderman Bob Bauman? There is an appearance of favoritism, privilege, conflict of interest and lack of preparedness.

Further, according to this article, Bauman stated that he “knew not”. Then, why was this item even voted on by Members of the Public Works Committee (Aldermen Mark Borkowski-District 11, Bob Bauman-District 4, Jim Bohl-District 5, Bob Donovan-District 8, and Nik Novak-District 3)? Why did this gateway committee move this item closer to the FULL common council without credible review?

Why wasn’t there “due diligence” at the Public Works Committee?

RUSH TO JUDGMENT

The limited and one-sided sell by John Rodgers (point person for Brian Dranzik, Milwaukee County Director of Transportation) and the “hired guns” – led by Lead Consultant Dan Meyers, AECOM and Ashley Booth, HNTB, were “points of extreme privilege” and implies bias.

Instead of Ashley Booth, why wasn’t Caron Kloser, HNTB, before the PW Committee?

She is the Lead Consultant of HNTB that is supposed to provide the East/West BRT SAG/Stakeholders Advisory Group and Community Outreach.

She is also the representative, even though her name was given by John Rodgers as the contact, she “refused” to provide input/outreach to Milwaukee Professionals Association LLC engagements – Lunch & Learn Public Transportation seminars, to share information to the public.

Where was Ashley Booth, HNTB, in June when Caron Kloser refused to participate and said no one else was available?

Then there is Dan Meyer, Lead Consultant – AECOM, who was a surprise. He confirmed as a speaker for engagement of MPA LLC Public Transportation Seminar I with Architect Richard Kauper – Amazing Architect, President James Macon – Amalgamated Transit Union 998 and Senior Researcher Joe Peterangelo – Public Policy Forum, but canceled the day before by conveying he had not confirmed. However, I quickly shared his email of confirmation – that stated if he was not available someone from AECOM would be present.

No one came and Meyers has failed to convey expected behavior courtesy.

MISSING at PW Committee

Where was Citizen Participation – Ridership?

Where was the ATU 998 President? ATU represents those who operate the bus routes and know about the Infrastructure?

Where were city-Wauwatosa-state hired staff that is around the table of the East/West BRT?

City – DPW Jeff Poleske, City Engineer, DCD Sam Leichtling and Executive Director Beth Weirick – BID 21.

Wauwatosa – Mayor Kathy Ehley, Paulette Enders and Jim Archambo.

WisDOT – government representatives Sheri Schmit, Ian Ritz, Andrew Levy, and Brian Bliesner.

Why wasn’t there “due diligence” at the Public Works Committee?

DECEPTIVE VOTE – SAYING ONE THING, DOING ANOTHER

Jannene speaks in this article of the times over and over that Alderman Bauman and Alderman Michael Murphy released statements of doubt, rush to judgment, over-rated; but they voted FOR It. Bauman and Murphy completed the 3-1 vote (Yes vote – Bauman, Murphy and Alderman Nik Kovac).

I saw Alderman Murphy at the April Meetings, he heard the PEOPLE downtown Milwaukee and those at the Zoofari Conference Center. I saw Alderman Bauman at the April 12, 2016 meeting downtown, talking with people, he heard what we said that was not IN FAVOR of this East/West BRT Feasibility Study.

The People voiced the East/West BRT was a waste of time and money, not time sufficient, did not focus ON major ridership – African American, other People of Color and the Work Challenged population that are densely populated North/South and a diverse pool of jobs/employment that match the majority RIDERSHIP in the North/South Corridor – ALREADY in need, not maybe in the future as the East/West BRT Alternative alleges.

Mary Glass, Chief Visionary Officer, Milwaukee Professionals Association LLC said, “It is disingenuous and ‘very dangerous’ Alderman Bob Bauman-District 4 and Alderman Michael Murphy-District 10, to “scream NO fire” in the theater while THEY light the fire”.  And, “Alderman Bob Donovan, District 8, we expect you and all the 15-members of the Common Council to stand tall, speak out and in-person to VOTE AGAINST or VOTE FOR, but vote. Not conspicuously be missing. That is a disingenuous behavior not seen as BEST PRACTICE. It is different if you announce a WALK OUT of protest.

Is The Project Being Rushed?

Absolutely. And, the elected officials/Charter Officers – city, county, regional and state – bear the blame of “DERELICTION OF DUTY”.

Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele and team is playing bogus cards for movement. He is on the wrong side of creating the appropriate first BRT for Milwaukee County and therefore, further injuring the families in Milwaukee and advancing lack of SAFETY in high un- and under-employed neighborhoods of Milwaukee. We must give options of EMPLOYMENT – gainful employment – to the densely populated areas of Milwaukee and Milwaukee county mired in Enduring Concentrated Poverty and Co-Dependent on Public Transportation.

This is a time to forge a strong agenda to beef up and strengthen a Public Transportation Infrastructure in desperate need of real state-of-the-art leadership for Ridership reform that connects outline areas to Milwaukee.

President Barack Obama has signed the legislation and OK’d Small Starts, TIGER, CMAQ and other federal funding to get localities moving in 21st Century Mobility. Stop the dumb stuff.

The fly-by-night, time frame from February, 2016 to August, 2016, with the first Introduction to the public on April, 12 & 14, 2016 just disrespectful – something so special introduced last minute in a “DONE-DEAL” fashion speaks volumes.

The two two-hour presentations at the end of the day that was overwhelmingly THUMBS DOWN by the citizenry. The May 18, 2016 meeting was an Open Meeting that was weighted with the “Inside Gang” – paid consultants, hired staff, fellow cronies, funding partners, lobbyists, Marquette, ACLU, METROGO, SEWRPC and others of the SAG/Stakeholders Advisory Group. There were very, very few People/end-user, taxpayer, ridership in participation on May 18, 2016.

The 29 SAG members and the list given by the County Executive are questionable, especially when some are “protest group”, some if not most do not have a CLUE of what is going on OR why they were asked by Milwaukee County to participate (lock-step democracy); and, some who participated in the recent Class-Action suit.

Brian Dranzik is a Commissioner of SEWRPC/Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission.

That appears to have some form of Conflict of Interest per MPA LLC point of view in some reporting.

Whereas I see the leadership of Ken Yunker, Executive Director, SEWRPC, as meaningful and MPA LLC continues to participate in the 2050 design, we also feel that the Commissioners need to be MORE open and engaging in the development of the city of Milwaukee and the growth changes of African American, other People of Color and Work Challenged in the southeastern Wisconsin region.

Perhaps Milwaukee County Supervisors will show strength in DUE DILIGENCE HERE.

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On August 4, 2016, MPA LLC Public Transportation LUNCH & LEARN w/Stewart McKenzie, Federal Transit Administration, Region 5 and panelists will address questions of citizen participation, funding types – Small Starts, TIGER, CMAQ, East/West BRT – cost, ridership, hot spots, employment projections, North/South BRT Alternative, deceptive data of ridership and employment; and, the REAL response of the citizenry.

Grace Center, 250 E. Juneau Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53203, 12 noon – 2 pm, $25.00 person.  

It will also talk about WHY the first BRT/Bus Rapid Transit Alternative should be on the NORTH/SOUTH corridor

MPA LLC presents R. Stewart McKenzie, August 4, 2016

MPA LLC LUNCH & LEARN w/Stewart McKenzie. Community Planner, Federal Transit Administration, Region 5, Chicago, IL.

Date
August 4, 2016

Time
12-2:00pm

Place
Grace Center
250 E. Juneau Avenue 

$25.00 per person
$200.00 per table

Payment 
Visa Master Card Discover & American Express

Abele's Press Release of Who's Who is just that - Who's Who?

July 13, 2016

Public Transportation for the city of Milwaukee population is in need of honest dialog to empower the huge ridership, the thousands of African American, other People of Color and Work Challenged (re-entry vets, ex-incarcerated, ex-retirees, disabled, homeless, and graduates with degrees but not a degreed position) that are “co-dependent” for Mobility.

It is more than the “Who’s Who” list of elected-appointed-hired and well-connected cronies for funding and appointments in this article – As evident by the huge un- and under-EMPLOYMENT of the densely populated ridership located in the North/South corridors/routes in Milwaukee. 

Further, we would not have some of the organizations on this list part of protest groups and class-action suits starting with Karyn Rotker/ACLU, Dennis Grzezinski/Attorney at Law, Rev. Willie Brisco and members of Milwaukee Inner-City Congregations Allied for Hope (MICAH) against WisDOT and others if all was well in the city of Milwaukee when dealing with public transportation.

This is a time of “crisis” for the families living in the North/South corridors and routes.  They are trapped in social ills driven by lack of economic wealth which starts with employment. They make-up the largest ridership grossly dependent on short and long-distance public transportation - lack driver's license, car, dependable car, and disposable income for Uber, Lyft or taxi.

This is not a time for hyperbole by County Executive Abele who has shown where his loyalties and support lie when talking about the use of the People's resources.  Furthermore, I did not see James Macon and his members of the Amalgamated Transit Union 998 on his Who’s Who list for swaying the People,” said Mary Glass, Chief Visionary Officer, Milwaukee Professionals Association LLC.

Several of the comments of this article speak of what it could be long-term.  We have a crisis RIGHT NOW of thousands of folk devastated and immersed in Enduring Concentrated Poverty. 

As far as the mix-n-match that is on the list in this article, we take issue with comments shared by those who have a vision, mission, receiving federal funding, partnerships and resources that say they support those mired in Enduring Concentrated Poverty but allow their organization to surface with platitudes signifying nothing and indicting those dependent on public transportation.  It is most disturbing when we see African American professionals that should know better carrying the muddy water.

We must call out in this article Eve Hall and members of African American Chamber of Commerce, Ralph Holman and staff of the Urban League, Donsia Strong Hill and the staff of LISC, Bob Simi and the six organizations (Children's Hospital, Froedtert Hospital-Medical College, Medical College of Wisconsin, Blood Center, Curative Care, and Milwaukee County Behavioral Health), and Ken Yunker and staff of SEWRPC.

 

We will give those listed on this list and other members of the Stakeholders Advisory Group (SAG) – Milwaukee County Insider Group for vetting the East/West Feasibility Study with oversight by Caron Kloser, consultant, HNTB – an opportunity to provide clarity here. 

The problem with the “built-in” vetting group, 29 in total, called SAG and the others on this list, they are like  “hired guns” for endorsements – Letters of Recommendation, smoke-n-mirror rhetoric that  has weight in the public square based on their name, who they are supposed to represent and their brand in the public square.

But let’s be clear, that is not what time it is here.  Milwaukeeans (North/South Corridor) on the merits and guidelines from the Federal Transit, Department of Transportation and US Department of Transportation are entitled to the funding designated by the signature of President Barack Obama for Transportation that is state-of-the-art public transportation rooted in need, ridership, employment, business development and carbon print.

Milwaukee Professionals Association LLC will host MPA LLC LUNCH & LEARN w/Stewart McKenzie, Federal Transit Administration, Region 5, August 4, 2016, 12-2:00pm, Grace Center, 250 E. Juneau Avenue, $25.00 per person, to address the East/West Feasibility Study, Bublr Bike and Milwaukee Street car failure to be INCLUSIVE.  Do not miss this update.

https://mpapublicpolicyreview.wufoo.com/forms/lunch-learn-wstewart-mckenzie/

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Written by Mary Glass as a Comment on Urban Milwaukee

PRESS RELEASE

Milwaukee County BRT Project Receives Wide Ranging Support from Community Leaders, Advocates, Business Groups and Riders

County Board and Milwaukee Common Council Committees Expected to Vote on BRT This Week

CLICK

Get your YARD SIGN * text your address to 559.681.2058. * Get your YARD SIGN

Get the NAME of VERONA SWANIGAN OUT THERE.

If you believe it is time for a change, support Swanigan for District Attorney. If you support life, equality, ending violent crimes, and justice, then support Swanigan for District Attorney. If you would like a yard sign, please text your address to 559.681.2058.

TEXT-4-BABY - JULY 12, 2016

July 12, 2016 Dear MARY,   Every 10 days, across the United States, a child dies from being left in a hot car. With temperatures rising across the country, it is especially important to make sure all parents and caregivers are aware of the dangers of leaving children in hot cars. Young children's body temperatures rise three to five times faster than adults, and many parents don't realize the associated dangers. Our partners at Safe Kids Worldwide have created toolkits for parents, childcare providers, health professionals, and bloggers, with tips and information to help keep children safe from heatstroke, and how to spread the word. Many of these tragedies are a result of the parent or caregiver forgetting that the child was in the car, or the child becoming trapped in the car without the parent's knowledge. There are many strategies to help prevent this from happening. The  Administration for Children and Families and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have collaborated to create the "Where's Baby? Look Before You Lock" campaign. Check out their page here, and use the tools provided to give the families you work with tips and ideas for keeping babies and young children safe from heatstroke.       Sincerely,     The Text4baby Team

Take Action      Do you need more Text4baby materials to share with families? We are currently offering bulk packages of various materials in three different sizes, to suit your organization's needs best. Materials can be used at special events, in packets, displayed in waiting rooms, or any other opportunity you have to reach new and expectant moms. Fill out the form here by July 15thto place your order! If you have any questions, please email Rachael Salley atrsalley@zerotothree.org.

Quote of the Week "Text4baby has helped me out a lot! As a new mom, the tips are a great reminder of how to take care of my baby daily."   - Jalaeya J. from Sacramento, CA (T-Mobile user)          New Partners   Union Pediatrics, PSC (Union, KY) Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health (Carson City, NV)

MPA LLC LUNCH & LEARN W/STEWART MCKENZIE, FTA Region 5

MPA LLC Public Transportation LUNCH & LEARN 

Speaker

R. Stewart McKenzie - Community Planner

Federal Transit Administration, Region 5

FOCUSING ON FTA ALTERNATIVES - BRT, Bike Share & Streetcar

The city of Milwaukee POPULATION is desperately in need of state-of-the-art Public Transportation that connects the Ridership to the hot spots of employment in neighboring counties.

African American, other People of Color and the Work Challenged Milwaukeeans are  heavily dependent upon public transportation.  They are mired in Enduring Concentrated Poverty but are not being connected to BRT, Bike Share, and Streetcar alternatives FOR Mobility.  

Congress has convened laws and President Barack Obama has signed legislation to provide states and localities with a wide range of projects to preserve and improve the conditions and performance of surface transportation, including highway, transit, intercity bus, bicycle, and pedestrian projects. 

BRT, Streetcar & Bike Share

The city of Milwaukee, City of Wauwatosa and Milwaukee County have a joint East/West BRT project on the table that has been given thumbs down; by the public involvement sessions.  We will explore the realities.

The city of Milwaukee has a Milwaukee Streetcar project that excludes the major population, we will explore the funding.

The city of Milwaukee and Bublr Bike has implemented a Bike Share that has RED LINED the majority population and just added as an after-thought; we will look at the realities.

MPA LLC Lunch & Learn w/R. Stewart McKenzie, Community Planner, Federal Transit Administration, Region 5, will cover the issues of FTA  relative to its mission, goals, funding, citizen participation, oversight, and accountability.

Reserve your seat TODAY, go to:   CLICK

https://mpapublicpolicyreview.wufoo.com/forms/lunch-learn-wstewart-mckenzie/

MPA LLC seeks INNOVATION in Public Transportation for destination and mobility

July 7, 2016

City-Wide MILWAUKEE | Milwaukee Professionals Association LLC continues to bring forward Smart Growth ideas, programs, events and people that are ideal for making the public square a better place for ALL.  The industry of Public Transportation has an Infrastructure fix necessary for real-time growth in Urban Milwaukee.  The Ridership lacks "21st Century"capacity-building for  mobility for its Core Constituents. 

The Mix-Match is where a huge population that is public transportation dependent is without access to where the hot spots of jobs are North/South first and foremost.

MPA LLC Capacity-Building Wheel

Today, MPA LLC announced its four (4) perspectives for focus going forward to improve Milwaukee's Public Transportation Infrastructure at the Ridership-Taxpayer level.  They are:

1. Destinations - the place to which someone or something is going or being sent.
2. Core Constituents - Milwaukeeans, public transportation dependent and Un-Under Employed
3. Carriers - a person or thing that carries, holds, or conveys something.
4. Technology -  is the collection of techniques, skills, methods and processes used in the production of goods or services or in the accomplishment of objectives, such as scientific investigation.

The goal is:  MOBILITY.

"We have the means - BRT.  We have the how - FTA, Small Starts.  We have the People - Milwaukeeans.  We have the employment destinations - North/South surburbs.  We must get cracking," said Mary Glass, Chief Visionary Officer.

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Milwaukee Rides

We have also adopted a HUGE  engagement of "Partnership" with other public service outlets - public, private and government that provide key needs of the core constituents from A-B that is connected to customer care, customer maintenance, cost savings, economic development, quality of life, and efficiency for self-sustainability.  The Initiative is called Milwaukee Rides.

There are three (3) components of Milwaukee Rides.  They are:

• Milwaukee Rides for Employment
• Milwaukee Rides for Wellness
• Milwaukee Rides for Nutritional Foods

MPA LLC is committed to the Capacity-Building Wheel.

It is always impossible until it done.

Let's do it.