Let’s not talk about it, be about it!
Statement from Alderman Joe Davis, Sr. June 29, 2015
This weekend was another unfortunate encounter with violence in Milwaukee. Non-fatal shootings are occurring with extreme frequency and we have yet another homicide in the 2nd Aldermanic District. We say that MKE is a great place, and I agree. But I’m sickened to my core to hear reports of young people dying on our streets.
Just this weekend in a quiet Milwaukee neighborhood, a drug deal gone bad created havoc for ordinary, law-abiding, property tax-paying citizens of the 2nd District, who witnessed gunshots on their well-manicured streets. And as I write this statement, we have another homicide on 44th Street.
This issue of fatal shootings in quiet neighborhoods across this city is spreading like a virus with no cure. I have previously requested a plan from Mayor Barrett on this issue that is affecting the constituents I represent, and the response was sweeps of individuals into the criminal justice system who will eventually get released with an attitude of retribution (all with a $2 million allocation to the MPD for overtime, while the rank and file would have instead preferred terminating their furlough days). But the violence continues to grow as we now have 75 homicides so far in 2015.
So I’ll continue to wait because he is the Mayor. But eventually, the people deserve accountability and will demand it from the Mayor. Let’s not talk about it, be about it!
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.
Mentioned in This Press Release
Recent Press Releases by Joe Davis, Sr.
Deadly joyride takes another young Milwaukeean
Nov 24th, 2015 by Joe Davis, Sr.Statement of Alderman Joe Davis, Sr.--November 24, 2015
Let’s settle police and fire labor contracts first
Oct 30th, 2015 by Joe Davis, Sr.Statement from Alderman Joe Davis, Sr. October 30, 2015
Prosecution is a step toward justice for Laylah
Oct 21st, 2015 by Joe Davis, Sr.Statement of Alderman Joe Davis, Sr. October 21, 2015
Homicides in Milwaukee through late June have doubled since this time last year, and compared to other recent years.
This is tragic and unacceptable.
Something must be done, but what?
What can be done in the short term in particular?
Long term solutions include strengthening families, providing better role models for kids, education, keeping kids in school, jobs, job training, and more.
How do we accomplish those things?
How do we get more fathers to be real fathers?
How do we give kids hope instead of hopelessness?
How can we make learning and working more attractive than crime and prison to those who don’t see it that way now, and to more of the next generation?
Who will step up to provide more good paying jobs?
Who will provide the training and the life skills – the soft skills – so that more unemployed and underemployed folks can get and keep those jobs?
Will government and business and schools and churches/synagogues and neighborhoods and families and individuals work together to make this happen?
When and how can we demand that this happen?
And how can we not?