Robert Puente

Special Elections Called For 3 Council Seats

Northside races called to replace Chantia Lewis, Ashanti Hamilton and Nikiya Dodd.

11 Things to Know Before You Ride The Hop

How many people will ride it? How is it free? Oh so many questions, all answered here.

Will Murphy Lose Council Presidency?

Race could be wide open and Ashanti Hamilton might have surprising supporters.

Who Will Win the Elections?

The turnout will be massive. And could result in upsets.

9 Election Takeaways

Tom Barrett might be in trouble, Chris Abele definitely is. So is Puente.

Stealth Campaign Targets Mayor Barrett

He would easily win the April election. But could he take third in Tuesday’s primary?

2016 State of the City

Hmong American Peace Academy - February 8, 2016

MPD earns rarely-awarded accreditation

The Wisconsin Law Enforcement Accreditation Group Inc. made the announcement of the MPD accreditation yesterday.

Taking the Pulse of the 2016 Milwaukee Elections

Council approves 2016 budget focused on public safety, libraries and jobs

News release from Common Council President Michael J. Murphy and Alderman Nik Kovac

City weighs new Silk Exotic plan, settlement with strip club

Two children perish in overnight fire

Statement from Alderman Robert W. Puente September 4, 2015

Mortara Breaks Ground on New Milwaukee Manufacturing Facility

Company plans to add more than 150 new jobs over the next five years

Mourning the loss of a dedicated, respected colleague

Statement of Alderman Robert W. Puente May 22, 2015

Milwaukee Public Library Invites Community Input on Proposed Mixed Use Development for Mill Road Library

Community Meetings Scheduled for February 26th and March 4th

Milwaukee Streetcar Approved

After years of debate, streetcar will finally move forward. Final engineering will begin immediately, and construction by the end of the year.

Streetcar Responses Shows Wide Support

Eleven out of 15 aldermanic districts, and 76 percent of all respondents support the proposed streetcar starter system.

Streetcar Approved, but Held

Large majority votes to approve streetcar, but parliamentary maneuver puts issue on hold until February 10th meeting.

Council Delays Streetcar Until January

Minority of aldermen were able to use city charter provision to delay project for one month, but a majority seems poised to approve it.

Committee Takes No Action on Streetcar

Public Works Committee votes to send streetcar proposal to full council, setting up a showdown Dec. 16th.

Milwaukee Public Library Seeks Development Partners

Issues Request for Proposal for Forest Home and Mill Road Libraries

Gimbel Gets Reappointed to Wisconsin Center Board

Will continue after 3 decades as board chair! Did mayor and governor swap appointments to make this happen?

Shooting of three-year-old a tragic reminder of importance of keeping firearms out of reach

Statement of Alderman Robert W. Puente May 6, 2014

Cesar Chavez city worker holiday proposal to be heard by Finance and Personnel Committee

City employees would have the option of taking off on March 31 annually as a holiday observing the birthday of American labor and civil rights champion Cesar E. Chavez.

Wisconsin Center’s Leadership Adrift?

Many of the board's seats are either vacant or held by legally unqualified individuals.

North End Phase Gets $2 Million in Funding

And the Pedal Tavern gets approved, with caveats, in Common Council actions.

Chamber’s work finished, but positive efforts to continue on northwest side

Statement of Alderman Robert W. Puente March 5, 2014

Mayor Tom Barrett’s 2014 State of the City Address

Milwaukee February 24, 2014 As Prepared for Delivery

Murphy Announces New Committee Assignments

The changes aren't radical but big winner is Ald. Kovac, who becomes chair of Finance and vice-chair of Steering and Rules.

Betting on the Common Council

Haven't got your fix with the Super Bowl? Gamble with friends on who will be the next council president.

Council approves Motorcycle Safety Awareness Week

The Common Council today approved a resolution establishing Motorcycle Safety Awareness Week in Milwaukee every year during the first week in May.

Citizens, Cut Your Grass!

Common Council is considering a proposal by Ald. Davis with tougher restrictions against overgrown lawns.

Bike Sharing and Permeable Pavement

City committee approves spending $100,000 on bike sharing in Walker’s Point, and the MMSD will experiment with permeable pavement.

I stand with the good men and women of the Milwaukee Police Department

I am compelled to respond to comments that are being made publicly regarding the Milwaukee Police Department.

Common Council members call for County to codify changes in Medical Examiner’s procedures

Several Council members met with the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office on Friday (Sept. 28) to discuss concerns related to the Derek Williams case.

Tragedy in Oak Creek

Joint Statement from Members of the Common Council

Rocky Road

Some aldermen want to dump DCD head Rocky Marcoux, but Mayor Barrett disagrees.

Watching the Watchdog – Joint Statement from Members of the Common Council

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s recent investigations into the police department have misled the public about important facts relevant to the safety of our community.

Public Works Committee Criticizes DPW Commissioner

As part of resolution, 071488, a portion of the street from S. Barclay St. – E. Pittsburgh Ave. to S. Water St./E. Seeboth St. will be rebuilt resulting in an improved environment in around the Fifth Ward neighborhood. Although a minor improvement to the physical infrastructure this should help spur further development in the area. Jeff Mantes, the Commissioner of Public Works, presented a communication regarding the recent news indicating the funding for the Milwaukee Connector study is longer available. Throughout the discussion Alderman Robert Bauman asked a series of specific questions of the Department of Public Works (DPW) to make it clear that the Common Council was not informed of the situation. He expressed his outrage by stating bluntly that “in my opinion this is a big deal”. He was quickly reinforced by Alderman Robert Puente‘s pointed remarks to DPW when he said “you’ll keep the Common Council in the dark until you need us”. In the end this file simply served to point the blame at DPW and allow the Common Council to put it on the record that they weren’t informed of the situation. Unfortunately the problem still exists and new mass transit options are further postponed until the situation can be resolved.

Public Works Committee Approves Water Deal

Resolution 071440, sponsored by Alderman Jim Bohl, requested an exception to city requirements that sidewalks be developed during the repaving of Good Hope Rd. It specifically requested that the area between 91st St. to 107th St. be excluded from the requirement because this area is more rural than urban. It was pointed out during the meeting that schools located on arterial roads without sidewalks require busing of students by law and therefore not installing the sidewalks will insure higher costs for Milwaukee Public Schools . Despite this Alderman Bohl’s Legislative Assistant Todd Peterson and Alderman Robert Puente argued that the people they represent don’t want sidewalks. The rest of the committee must of felt sidewalks are an important feature of an urban environment or considered the MPS issue significant as they placed the resolution on file. Resolution 071313 was the reintroduction of the contract agreeing to water sales between the City of Milwaukee and the Village of Menomonee Falls. During the last meeting the committee held the file because of amendments put forward by the Village of Menomonee Falls. Alderman Robert Bauman pointed out that the Village of Menomonee Falls would of been gaining new benefits but “they offered nothing in return”. Specifically the original resolution potentially could of allowed the Village on Menomonee Falls to sell some of their ground water across the divide by importing more Milwaukee water further encouraging suburban development by utilizing a City of Milwaukee resource. In response to these issues Alderman Bauman proposed the current resolution saying it has the “same terms and conditions” as well as the “same service area” as the existing contract. This resolution was approved by the committee and heads to the full Common Council for approval.

How Did Peggy Know?

Over Cocktails in 2001, then-A.G. Candidate Peg Lautenschlager Said Rival would be Indicted