COUTURE & MILWAUKEE TOOL FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - MAY 10, 2021

 

COUTURE

                                                                    MILWAUKEE TOOL

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 10, 2021   

 

WEEK OF MAY 10 – MAY 14

 -- Why black neighborhoods continue to struggle

The Couture Project

CAVALIER JOHNSON is the Alderman for the 2^nd District and the City of Milwaukee Common Council President.

His E-Notify dated May 7, 2021, of the praises for The Couture, with NO specific guarantees of empowerment of Milwaukeeans within the 96.8 square miles speaks volumes to his LACK of leadership and our public confidence. 

Johnson, the Common Council, and Tom Barrett, mayor have again stripped the people – African Americans, other People of Color, and Work Challenged Milwaukeeans repeatedly of major resources for INFRASTRUCTURE growth and earmarked of quality of life and economic development per 14 districts other than DISTRICT 4 DOWNTOWN.  The greedy and discriminatory practices by the mayor and common council is unacceptable NOW and going forward.

We do not want “luxurious high-end retail and restaurants” downtown while our city neighborhoods of Color fail to GROW neighborhood businesses, create and link entrepreneurship with BROADBAND, build connectivity of in-the-neighborhood healthcare with doctors-experts-teachers of Color. 

 

To build HOPE and EXCITEMENT up-and-down the streets of Empowerment Zones.  To ERADICATE concentrated poverty imposed by power-formed Caucasian groups with monopoly-oligopoly structures ensuring that funds are arbitrarily and capriciously taken from the Milwaukee coffers – with the assistance of CHARTER OFFICERS of Milwaukee.

The legislative and executive branches together gave RICHARD BARRETT – Barrett Lo (Couture Project) life - the backing of the guarantee for Housing and Urban Development/HUD - $20 millions – allow construction to start this week – not to mention the millions given over the last 10 years to lay the foundation of real estate and financial funding for Couture.

Did you know that The Couture is an exquisite 44-story skyscraper designed specifically from ground up to serve as a key thoroughfare connecting Milwaukee lakefront and cultural amenities with the downtown? The apartments ranging from $1700 - $2800.  Where are the “anchor” tenants that represents the real funders – We the People?  Who are the African American construction champions for the project?  Where are the African American leaders from the neighborhood boards that have a finger/footprint for this WEALTHY project?  

What specific employment is guaranteed? 

What part of the Couture is earmarked for catalytic development that connects to the African American and other People of Color neighborhoods for daily revenue?

MPA-LLC is working to ensure that the Biden/Harris administration remembers why we put them in office and their INFRASTRUCTURE promises.  Secretary Marcia Fudge, HUD owes Milwaukeeans an explanation for the Couture.  We continue to see the Core Constituents being “unanimously” voted out of their allowable mega funding. 

Additionally, Secretary Pete Buttigieg is a key contact for explanation of funding being spent for the Couture fantasy, TOM BARRETT’s pet streetcar transportation project – alias the HOP/streetcar – SEWRPC CES 5-year funding – CONTROLLED BY MILWAUKEE 7, and Milwaukee County Transportation of any kind downtown and out E/W BRT (a project REJECTED by the taxpayers from the beginning).

We also see how We, the People, must NOT be idle while Johnson and others of the 15 districts continue to “block” the development of Milwaukeeans and “shut us out”. 

We recommend a separate audit of the city of Milwaukee and Milwaukee County Needs REVIEW from the federal level that is shared with Milwaukeeans of the 96.8 square miles.

Milwaukee Tool

Another MEGA gift to outliers with the phony statement of employment with NO AGREEMENTS. 

A key downtown location, Vel Phillips & Michigan Avenue, bringing up to 2,000 new jobs with average salaries of around $75,000 per year – NO names/titles with salaries and benefits.

This new headquarters is another TROJAN HORSE with NO REAL benefits for African Americans and People of Color Milwaukeeans.

Bogus Agreement

Milwaukee Tool corporation will receive $12.1 million in city funds in return for having at least 1,210 employees at the downtown office by the end of 2026.

Who are the 1,210 employees?

Where do they come from daily?

Are the 1,210 employees from the 96.8 square miles?

Are the 1,210 employees making the said $75,000 per year from the city of Milwaukee?

What percentage of trade and catalytic projects are within the 96.8 square miles to bolster small businesses within the 96.8 square miles?  The city of Milwaukee must BUILD the network of People of Color businesses for NET growth of families for decades.

The 15-0 lock-step vote is a major criterion for removal of members of the charter officers of Milwaukee for 2024. 

                          COVID-19 IN MILWAUKEE

Cavalier said, Our COVID-19 response has also been great, and we are seeing the benefits of our hard work through the re-opening of the Fiserv Forum for Milwaukee Bucks games in the Deer District. This re-opening has helped the Deer District reawaken, and we will even be seeing a new Marriott Hotel there in the near future, thanks to all of the success the district is having. We will also be seeing the addition of a new Goodwill headquarters to the 2^nd District here in Milwaukee, which will further support the families who need the Goodwill services the most.

The Common Council President DO NOT have the Core Constituents – African Americans and People of Color – with FACTS in mind.  The numbers are in the “red” zone and are increasing in the zip codes that are marginalized and vulnerable.  They are the ones that LACK hands-on “people-look-like-me” support.  Tom Barrett and David Crowley have failed to put African Americans like Dr. Izard – Cream City physicians and Dr. Pat McManus, Black Health Coalition at the table.  NOR, ongoing leadership outreach to African Americans by Bishop RJ Birt, Greater New Birth Church.  We also have seen CROWLEY and BARRETT FAIL TO have African American and People of Color media at the Tuesday and Thursday COVID briefings after repeated reminders by MPA-LLC. 

We notice that JOHNSON’s keen interest lie in SUPPORT of corporate groups that have NO signed and delivered support for the stakeholders – taxpayers within the 96.8 square miles.

I also see he has NO problem coming to Milwaukeeans crying the blues about funding and raising taxes.  Those who get should give is our motto. That should be embedded in ALL our negotiations.  He is at the top of the list, just like Barrett to be REMOVED in 2024 – or before.