Tim Michels Promises to Fix Milwaukee
But how? He made his case Tuesday at Rotary luncheon.
Tim Michels addresses the Rotary Club of Milwaukee. Photo by Jeramey Jannene.
Call it the Michels paradox.
Based on Republican gubernatorial candidate Tim Michels‘ comments Tuesday, Milwaukee is either absolutely essential for Wisconsin’s success, or no more important than his hometown of Lomira (population: 2,361).
He identified crime as Milwaukee’s biggest problem, triggered he said by the culture around the “defund the police” movement. So would he give the city a sales tax that Mayor Cavalier Johnson is asking for to not only avoid police layoffs but increase the number of officers?
“Milwaukee is not more important than any other city,” said Michels in identifying that the city doesn’t merit special treatment.
Referencing his career in business, the candidate said he wanted to look at Milwaukee’s “middle line” to see what is being spent before considering any new revenue source. He won’t find any defunding of the police.
The Milwaukee Police Department‘s budget is poised to be $300 million in 2023, up from $297.3 million in 2020. There are fewer sworn officers today, but that’s primarily due to the outcome of a state-protected bargaining process that has driven salaries and benefits higher. The local police and fire unions, exempt from Act 10, have both endorsed Michels.
Michels, in other remarks in his speech, keyed in on the state’s expected 2023 surplus of $5 billion as a sign that the state is overtaxing its residents. But it’s also a result that Wisconsin is defunding Milwaukee and other cities. Adjusted for inflation, the City of Milwaukee’s budget office reports Milwaukee receives $155 million less annually in shared revenue than it did in 2000. The shared revenue structure was designed as a way to rebate income tax revenue to cities and counties, but the amount provided has been effectively frozen for nearly two decades.
The candidate said everything would be “on the table,” but that he wanted local officials to ultimately decide the issue. Milwaukee and other cities cannot institute new taxes without state approval.
“Milwaukee is not the problem, Milwaukee has a problem and I am going to fix it,” said Michels of crime. “I have been a bold leader my entire life. I will roll up my sleeves. I will work with anybody to fix these problems.”
Michels has taken a different tact than other Republican candidates, spending more time in Milwaukee. He noted he’s visited the Harambee neighborhood and places on the South Side. “I have gone into the toughest neighborhoods in Milwaukee and my danger radar has never gone off once,” said the former Army ranger. He said residents thanked him for coming, expressed surprise he was there and discussed issues. But neither Harambee nor Lincoln Village, both sites of new Republican campaign offices, are regularly mentioned in discussions of Milwaukee’s “toughest” neighborhoods. Harambee is one of the city’s leaders in property value growth and the site of a $105 million development.
Michels did encounter crime in Milwaukee, but on the affluent Lower East Side during a press conference. Someone attempted to steal a Kia across the street from the event. He said the thieves are emboldened by a lack of respect for law enforcement officers. He said that would change on his inauguration day when he would make it clear to law enforcement officers and criminals that he “backs the blue.”
In a 40-minute appearance, Michels also discussed a host of other issues including abortion, education and Wisconsin being “open for business.”
On abortion, he said he would sign a new abortion ban that includes exceptions for rape and incest. “I am not against contraception as they are saying. I will not arrest a doctor as they are saying. I am a reasonable guy,” he said.
On education, which he said was Milwaukee’s number two issue, he endorsed universal school choice and a potential breakup of Milwaukee Public Schools. “If we have to break up MPS and start from scratch? We’ll do that. We’ll also create competition in the education space.”
Michels intends to bring back Governor Scott Walker‘s “open for business” sign at the state’s borders. He said it would be the first thing he does. “Right now there are too many liberals that think business is bad, profit is evil,” he said.
So in summary – Michels has no plan other than Republican talking points for ‘fixing’ Milwaukee. And we all know that the GOP legislature won’t give the city a dime, and won’t care about Milwaukee the day after the election is over.
So, Michels promises to “fix” Milwaukee’s crime problem, but won’t (or can’t) say how. That reminds me of Donald Trump’s empty promise to end Chicago’s gun violence back in 2016.
Dim. Tim.
rCons con. They want the police to become their own private military on the public dime. As if a civil war is just going to be on weekends and everyone goes back to work on Monday. What a phony.
If an elected Milwaukee area official publicly talked about “fixing” the problems in other cities in the State, the Republicans would call out the local militias to defend their villages from big government interference. Yet many of these rural communities have underfunded schools, pollution, poor internet access and aging infrastructure that the locally elected Republican representatives refuse to address.
Oh, he shared his plan! When he wins the election he’s going to go on TV and tell the bad guys there’s a new sheriff in town. I don’t know why no one ever thought of that before! It’s as brilliant as all his other plans and proposed solutions. 🤠🤡🤥
Tim Michels lacks the basic understanding that defining policy demands details. Instead, he offers only shallow slogans that other candidates have spouted. What is particularly unfortunate is that he relies on the false narrative of a “lack of respect for law enforcement officers.” This baseless assertion is used to justify the brutal and unfair treatment of the city of Milwaukee (which is “the fix” he talks about). Donald Trump endorsed Tim Michels for a reason–to foster an environment where rule-by-ignorance can prevail. We know what follows such a setup: a tendency to restrict individual rights, choice, diversity, and freedoms, contrary to our democratic traditions. Wisconsin voters should realize the kind of company Michels keeps–such as Donald Trump–and what a state under the thumb of Trump would mean. Republicans may want to “own the libs” with a Michels vote, but they will be voting out the foundation and future for their own families and children.
Evidently Tim is saying trust the white man to fix Milwaukee’s ills which unfortunately might resonate among some Wisconsin voters.
Amazing that he makes these statements in front of a backdrop featuring Rotary’s famous Four-Way Test:
Is it the TRUTH?
Is it FAIR to all concerned?
Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?
Michels fails right out of the box!
It isn’t all that surprising that Republican candidate Tim Michels who is actually a Connecticut resident has little to no understanding of Milwaukee and not much to offer. What is surprising is that he believes he can toss out a few platitudes and convince voters that he does.
How about returning the $155 million back to Milwaukee that state shared revenue takes from us but does not return.
$155 for 7 years is $1.085 billion, which would be a great start to assist the city in dealing with its financial cliff.
That’s only about 20% of the state budget surplus that the Republicans want to return through tax refunds to the entire state, but its our $$$.
Nazis say the darndist things.