Leon Young

Will Legislators Run Or Not?

The long list of legislators in newly mapped districts who haven't filed to run includes Robin Vos.

Groundbreaking For Coggs Center a History Lesson

Trailblazing legislator's legacy continues at new human services building.

Milwaukee’s ‘Food Fairy’ Keeps Giving

Laura Manriquez volunteers at food banks, delivers food to needy people.

A New Generation of Political Leaders

GenXers and Millennials are replacing Baby Boomers in political office.

All the Election Data You Want

It was one for the history books, with many surprising results and newcomers.

The Collective PAC Endorses Mahlon Mitchell for Governor of Wisconsin

Today’s endorsement joins Mahlon Mitchell’s growing list of support.

New Federal Program Could Help City

Opportunity Zones law allows tax incentives for distressed areas.

State Moving Downtown Offices

Will 27th and WI site be selected? State planning $50 million building.

GOP Legislative Districts Heavily White

Republican assembly districts are up to 96% white, senate districts as high as 95% white.

African American State Representatives Call for Representation on New Task Force

In order to ensure the legitimacy and integrity of this task force, it is essential that African Americans have representation.

With Elections Just a Year Away, Legislature Abandons Wisconsin Families

Industrial Acid Mining Bill Will Put Public Health at Risk for Generations

Sherman Park Has Been a Melting Pot

Tracing the neighborhood’s German, Jewish and African American heritage.

Barrett Sells Milwaukee to GOP

City has reinvented itself, deserves greater investment from state, he argues.

Final Notes From The Campaign-Trail

After 210 interviews with candidates, some observations on a crazy election.

Weekly Walks Build Community

The walks have become a staple in the Lindsay Heights community.

19 Election Winners and Losers

Beyond the candidates, behind the scenes. who won, who lost?

Edgar Lin Receives Last Minute Endorsement of Assembly Representative LaTonya Johnson

Asks Neighbors for their Vote on August 9

Historic Brewers Hill Association & Riverwest Neighborhood Association To Co-Host 16th Assembly District Candidate Forum on August 1

The forum will be held on Monday, August 1 at the Schlitz Park Auditorium, located at 1555 N. Rivercenter Drive. The forum will start promptly at 6:30 p.m.

Senior Assembly Representative Might Lose Place on Ballot in Fall Election

Challenger Seeks to Knock Incumbent Out of the Race in Crowded Field

Democratic Family Feuds

Eight Democratic legislators face primary challengers, but not one GOP legislator does.

State Senator Chris Larson Issues Statement on Last Week’s Exchange with Senator Taylor

"Last Tuesday, as I was approaching the Senate chambers in the Capitol, I ran into Senator Taylor. She began yelling at me, which was followed by some heated words from both sides."

Can Larson Beat Abele?

Democratic insiders handicap the race, which may come down to turnout.

City Birthday Party All About Dining

Politicians and candidate hopefuls mix with winners of dining awards.

Assembly Democrats Urge Gov. Walker to Veto Assembly Bill 387 and Assembly Bill 388

Bills Will Have a Devastating Impact on Wisconsin’s Tradition of Clean, Open and Transparent Government

Sen. Lena Taylor statement on call for creation of Office of African American Affairs

“I look forward to working with Rep. Young and my state legislative colleagues to create a vehicle that will help to reverse Wisconsin’s dismal records of being the worst place in nation to raise a black child.”

Supervisor Rainey Calls for Office on African American Affairs

Office to Identify Ways to Improve Quality of Life for African Americans

Important meeting information from Alderman Nik Kovac

Join us for a town hall meeting sponsored by Senator Chris Larson, Senator Nikiya Harris, Representative Leon Young, Alderman Nik Kovac and Alderwoman Milele A. Coggs tomorrow (Tuesday, May 6) at theGordon Park Pavilion (SE corner of E. Locust and N. Humboldt) from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Hear how legislation that passed during session this year will affect the community, and share your thoughts with your representatives.

Republicans Will Oppose Gun Controls

There may be national outrage on the issue, but Gov. Walker and others oppose changes.

Rep. Barca announces Democratic committee assignments for upcoming legislative session

Today Assembly Democratic Leader Peter Barca (D-Kenosha) announced the Assembly Democratic members of the standing and joint committees for the 2013-2014 legislative session.

Milwaukee Taxi Cab Medallion Bill Passes Assembly

The City of Milwaukee is working on state legislation to allow the City to profit from the sale of additional taxi cab permits (to be called medallions) and address the perceived shortage of taxi cabs in the city. Currently under Wisconsin law, permit and license fees can not exceed the cost to issue said permits. This gives the Common Council and Mayor little incentive to raise the cap on the number of permits (currently capped at the seemingly random number of 321 since 1992), despite the fact that the permits are changing hands in the private market for between $80,000 to $150,000.

RTA Will Be a Last Minute Decision

The vote on the future of regional transit that was scheduled for a vote by the Wisconsin State Assembly on Tuesday didn't actually happen, but a lot of small actions leading up to it did.

Jazz in the Park Starts Today, Kinda

The stage is in place. The vendors are setting up. Metro Market is soon to be buzzing with shoppers. Friends and neighbors are preparing to skip out of work a little early, run home grab the chairs, a bottle of something, and head to Cathedral Square. Yes, it's opening night at Jazz in the Park, kinda. Because that is how it use to work.

Candidate’s old shoplifting bust surfaces

Jeff Stone Punk’d?

Seems like somebody is messing around with Rep. Jeff Stone's campaign identity.

Convicted Art Dealer Kennedy Peddles Fake Miros

What I am concerned about is the possibility that others will be defrauded by James Kennedy.

The Inaugural

Marvin Pratt did not stand up with the crowd when Tom Barrett was inaugurated mayor, and the press has made a good deal of the slight. However, just after Judge Louis Butler administered the oath of office to the new mayor, Barrett’s first comments were to commend Pratt, and the former acting mayor did stand up and take a bow. The ceremonies were held April 20th outside of City Hall in some perfectly dreadful Milwaukee spring weather. So, who was the idiot who came up with that idea? “I’m the idiot who thought to hold it outside,” fessed up Kris Martinsek. After all, the president is inaugurated outdoors in January. However, January in Washington is not nearly as unpleasant as Milwaukee in April. The stage was set up on Wells Street, facing east. Upon the stage sat Milwaukee’s new leaders, including the mayor, the common council, the comptroller, treasurer, city attorney, city clerk and a municipal judge. Their families sat out in the street and in the adjacent park next to the Frank P. Zeidler Municipal Building. Frank P. Zeidler was there himself, sandwiched between Marvin Pratt and Senator Herb Kohl. Kohl was dressed as he always is around here. He wore a shirt, a tie, a Milwaukee Bucks cap and a windbreaker. Except for the tie, he pretty much looked like the guy who harvests aluminum cans from my recycling bin. If he tried to walk on to the floor of the United States Senate in that getup, the sergeant-at-arms would toss him out. But this is Milwaukee, the “come as you are” capital of America, and he fit right in. Barrett has made a list of 18 things he wants to accomplish in his first hundred days in office. I don’t know if reducing the police overtime budget is one of them, but the men in blue were certainly racking up the hours during the interminable ceremony. The aldermen were sworn in sequentially according to district. Each alderman then gave a little speech. The last district, the 15th, is occupied by Willie Hines, who is now the Common Council president. He then gave a big speech. He began by saying, “my ascent to the Council Presidency is not a compromise or consolation prize for the African-American community.” This was an effective way to defuse speculation that his election was a compromise or consolation prize, and was a rather sharp thing to do. Hines also insisted that corruption will not taint his council. (We’ll check back on that in four years.) His delivery was generally quite good, and had a hint of religious fervor to it. Moments earlier, he did have a slip up. When Valarie Hill was about to be sworn in as municipal judge, Hines said, “The City Clerk will now come to the altar – er, the podium – to take the oath.” Also, when Hines introduced the new mayor he called him “Mayor Marvin Pratt – er, Mayor Barrett.” These things happen. The Common Council […]

Krug Scores Joint Finance Seat

Rep. Shirley Krug was chosen Monday to take a seat on the influential Joint Committee on Finance

How Three Legislators Committed Highway Robbery

Anyone who's driven to Madison is aware the trip takes about 75 miles from downtown Milwaukee.