Michael Murphy

General City Workers Will Get 2% Raise

First raise for non-resident workers since 2008.

City Could Make Speed Humps Cheaper

Committee approves slashing cost for property owners by 69% to combat reckless driving.

Half of Milwaukee’s Car Thefts By Children

The 'Kia Boyz' have helped drive 'astronomical' 58% increase in city's car thefts, nearly half by kids 16 and under.

Council Okays ‘Warp Speed’ Redistricting

City officials forced to work quickly, with one council member objecting to new plan.

The Council’s War With Tearman Spencer

Lots of grumbling, but City Attorney scores wins in two of three battles Tuesday.

Committee Backs City Redistricting Plan

But what about a third Latino majority district?

Milwaukee Releases Draft Plan For New Council Districts

Every aldermanic district would change under proposed plan.

State bill would erase city’s move to decriminalize marijuana possession, increase minimum penalty to $100

Statement from members of the Common Council: Alderman Nik Kovac, Alderman Ashanti Hamilton, Alderman Cavalier Johnson, Alderman Robert J. Bauman, Alderwoman Nikiya Dodd, Alderwoman JoCasta Zamarripa, Alderwoman Chantia Lewis, Alderman Michael J. Murphy, Alderman José G. Pérez, Alderwoman Marina Dimitrijevic, and Alderman Russell W. Stamper, II

Milwaukee Adopts New Ward Map For City

New districts coming next week. Riverwest further split between two council districts.

Council Blasts Extra Cost For Morales’ Lawsuit

City Attorney Spencer knew outside counsel handling case exceeded authorized cost.

Milwaukee Adopts ‘Calm Before The Storm’ 2022 Budget

No fee increases and small tax increase as city bolsters pension reserve fund in anticipation of fiscal cliff.

Common Council adopts amended 2022 City budget

Tearman Spencer Adds Media To List Of Those Inhibiting Him

Conditions at City Attorney's office would improve if media quit "erroneously" reporting on them says City Attorney.

Committee Recommends Few Budget Amendments

No fee increases and few changes as council braces for next year's fiscal cliff.

Finance and Personnel Committee amends, recommends approval of 2022 budget

Housing Authority employee target of attempted carjacking

Statement from members of the Common Council: Alderwoman Milele A. Coggs, Alderman Cavalier Johnson, Alderman Nik Kovac, Alderman Robert J. Bauman, Alderwoman Nikiya Dodd, Alderman Khalif J. Rainey, Alderwoman JoCasta Zamarripa, Alderwoman Chantia Lewis, Alderman Michael J. Murphy, Alderman Mark A. Borkowski, Alderman José G. Pérez, Alderman Scott Spiker, Alderwoman Marina Dimitrijevic and Alderman Russell W Stamper, II

City Faces Shortage of Garbage Truck, Snowplow Drivers

Milwaukee raising starting pay by $5,400.

Police Department Tweets Lied To Public

Comptroller audit finds 2020 tweets misled public. Acting Chief Norman calls them "unacceptable."

Council Adopts $179 Million Rescue Plan Package

Compromise plan includes money for pension reserve, housing, lead abatement and child care providers.

Council Strikes Deal On How To Spend $179 Million ARPA Allocation

Housing, lead abatement, child care, police recruits, violence prevention, a new MLK library and more.

Committee recommends approval of ARPA omnibus proposal

Includes funding for public safety and crime prevention, housing, lead abatement, continued COVID response and more

Common Council Has 7 Times The Ideas As It Has Funding

82 ideas for how to spend $394.2 million federal grant. What will council choose?

Council submitted ARPA proposals now public

Will be discussed at Finance and Personnel Committee meeting Friday

Homicides, Shootings, Auto Thefts All At Record Highs

MPD Acting Chief Jeffrey Norman presents vision of community-centered approach to solving issues.

Our court systems need additional resources to help address violent crime

Statement of Alderman Michael J. Murphy October 7, 2021

12 Options to Solve Milwaukee’s Fiscal Crisis

Nine are bad says alderman. Without solution Milwaukee would need to cut one-fourth of workforce.

2022 Assessment Process Could Be Chaotic

Top staffers departing, number of 2020 appeals still pending, hot real estate market, no assessments in 2021.

Latest City Attorney Controversy Causes Council Infighting

Dodd vs Zamarripa is an extension of Tearman Spencer vs City Hall

Council approves major ARPA-funded pedestrian safety/anti-reckless driving measure

Turmoil, Toxic Work Environment at City Attorney’s Office

Resignation forms cite ethical violations, poor treatment of women & more by Tearman Spencer.

Committee OK’s ARPA Funding for Ambulances, Reckless Driving and Eviction Prevention

Finance & Personnel Committee recommends spending $14 million of city's $394 million ARPA allocation.

City Could Lose 40% of ARPA Funds to Revenue Recovery

Funds would go towards plugging revenue shortfalls, not generational investments.

Council Delays Action On ARPA Funds

City has $193 million in the bank. But how to spend it still being debated.

Leaders Celebrate New Mental Health Center

Huge gathering of officials for project lauded as momentous, exciting and historic.

Harley-Davidson Founder’s Home For Sale

Washington Heights home of William S. Harley on market for first time in 45 years

Mayor’s Race Looks Like a Wild One

Wide open, with lots of candidates, no obvious favorites and so much at stake.

Congratulations Colectivo workers

Joint statement from members of the Milwaukee Common Council: Alderman Cavalier Johnson, Alderman Nik Kovac, Alderman Michael J. Murphy, Alderman José G. Pérez and Alderman Scott Spiker

Council Holds ARPA Spending Until September

Mayor's $93 million "summer plan" delayed, along with proposals by alders.

Council Approves Morales Settlement

Former chief will get $500,000 and now a finalist for job in Dane County suburb.

Two-Thirds of All Milwaukee Auto Thefts Are Kia and Hyundai Vehicles

Milwaukee on track for record breaking year, having already eclipsed all of 2020.

Morales Payout Rises Still Higher

City must also pay its private legal team. Total cost of lawsuit will exceed $668,000.

New Ordinance Could Remove Elected Officials

For undefined 'inefficiency' or 'neglect of duty.' Alders slam the proposal.

Summerfest, City Strike Deal On Police Costs

Costs had climbed to more than $800,000 annually for MPD, but festival paid for little of it.

Reckless driving behavior continues to be a detriment to our community

Joint statement from members of the Common Council – Alderwoman Chantia Lewis, Alderwoman Nikiya Dodd, Alderman Russell W. Stamper, II, Alderman Khalif J. Rainey, Alderwoman Milele A. Coggs, Alderman Scott Spiker, Alderman Michael J. Murphy, Alderman Nik Kovac, Alderman Mark Borkowski and Alderman José G. Pérez

Police Again Enforcing Expired Plates

Fair warning to drivers, who haven't had to renew license plates since COVID-19 health order issued.

City Could Spend $100,000 To Argue Over $100,000

Fight between City Attorney Tearman Spencer and Common Council getting worse.

Let your voice be heard (and help shape history) by taking the survey!

Statement of Alderman Michael J. Murphy and Alderman Cavalier Johnson

With state of emergency winding down, enforcement of expired vehicle registrations must ramp up

Joint statement from Common Council President Cavalier Johnson and Alderman Michael J. Murphy

Council Approves Federal Drug Trafficking Grants

Activist asks what success fighting War on Drugs looks like? MPD lists arrests, seizures.

Council approves George Floyd Justice in Policing Act file

Congratulations Chief Lipski!

Joint Statement from members of the Milwaukee Common Council: Alderman Cavalier Johnson, Alderman Ashanti Hamilton, Alderman Robert J. Bauman, Alderwoman Nikiya Dodd, Alderwoman JoCasta Zamarripa, Alderwoman Chantia Lewis, Alderman Michael J. Murphy, Alderman Mark A. Borkowski, Alderman José G. Pérez, Alderman Scott Spiker and Alderwoman Marina Dimitrijevic

Black Drug Overdose Death Rate Spikes

Deaths in county up in 2021, but up the most for African Americans.

Committee sets public hearing for next week on ARPA funding preferences

Statement from Alderman Michael J. Murphy and Alderman Cavalier Johnson

Stimulus Funds Won’t Cancel Streetlighting Fee

Sorry taxpayers, money from fee can't be replaced by pandemic aid, federal rules say.

It’s time to re-open City Hall

Statement of Alderman Michael J. Murphy May 10, 2021

The Passing of Pastor Jerome Smith

Statement of Alderman Michael J. Murphy May 5, 2021

Council approves transparency file for receipt and distribution of ARPA funds

Tearman Spencer Vs. City Hall

New City Attorney is quite public with his frustrations with those he is tasked with representing.

Pension Costs Will Cause Huge Worker Layoffs

One-sixth of city workforce projected for cuts by 2026, with added cuts in future years.

Overdoses Surge and Heroin, Opioid Cocaine Task Force Doesn’t Meet

Task force was created to develop policy recommendations for overdose crisis.

City Must Decide How To Spend $405 Million

Latest federal COVID-19 stimulus plan creates pleasant challenge for mayor, council.

Spencer’s Conduct Could Spur New City Harassment Law

Six employees accuse City Attorney but report finds city law doesn't cover elected officials.

City’s anti-harassment policy should be applicable to ALL employees

Committee discusses trio of files aimed at transparency, inclusion for ARPA funding

Milwaukee Could Suspend Street Lighting Fee

But property owners will need to pay at least once.

New Police Grant Approved With Little Scrutiny

Latest grant got two minutes of discussion, not months of meetings.

City Rejects Hawley Rd. Flood Settlement

Residents left soaked with costs after settlement agreement falls apart. Their attorney thinks it might cost even more to sue.

Return to in-person learning is needed for local youth

Statement of Alderman Michael J. Murphy March 22, 2021

Evers Is Wrong on I-94 Expansion

The proposal doesn't learn from history and contradicts the approach of Biden, Buttigieg.

Finance and Personnel Committee to discuss receipt and distribution of federal relief funds

Collaborative, community focused approach needed for stimulus fund allocation

Joint statement from members of the Milwaukee Common Council: Alderwoman Milele A. Coggs, Alderman Ashanti Hamilton, Alderman Cavalier Johnson, Alderman Nik Kovac, Alderman Robert J. Bauman, Alderwoman Nikiya Dodd, Alderman Khalif J. Rainey, Alderwoman JoCasta Zamarripa, Alderwoman Chantia Lewis, Alderman Michael J. Murphy, Alderman Mark Borkowski, Alderman José G. Pérez, Alderman Scott Spiker, Alderwoman Marina Dimitrijevic and Alderman Russell W. Stamper, II

Another Council Committee Opposes Wilson

Majority of council opposes Ann Wilson's reappointment to Fire & Police Commission.

Common Council honors Dr. Joan Prince for decades of service to Milwaukee

Joint statement from members of the Milwaukee Common Council: Alderman Ashanti Hamilton, Alderman Cavalier Johnson, Alderman Nik Kovac, Alderman Robert J. Bauman, Alderwoman Nikiya Dodd, Alderwoman Milele A. Coggs, Alderman Khalif J. Rainey, Alderwoman JoCasta Zamarripa, Alderwoman Chantia Lewis, Alderman Michael J. Murphy, Alderman Mark Borkowski, Alderman José G. Pérez, Alderman Scott Spiker, Alderwoman Marina Dimitrijevic and Alderman Russell W. Stamper, II

City Pushes Century City to Make USPS Trucks

Council members and mayor urge Oshkosh Corporation to consider Milwaukee location.

FPC Members, City Attorney Blew Off Inspector General Interview Requests

Fallout and confusion from the Morales fiasco gets worse.

Sales Tax Proposal Would Increase Revenue Diversification, Support Local Communities

Joint statement from members of the Milwaukee Common Council: Alderman Cavalier Johnson, Alderman Jose G. Perez, Alderman Ashanti Hamilton, Alderman Robert J. Bauman, Alderwoman JoCasta Zamarripa, Alderman Michael J. Murphy, Alderwoman Nikiya Dodd, Alderwoman Marina Dimitrijevic, Alderman Khalif J. Rainey, Alderwoman Chantia Lewis, Alderman Russell W. Stamper, II and Alderman Nik Kovac

Council Disagrees on I-94 Expansion

Council once opposed it, but now wavering. Bauman blames disinformation by unions and WisDOT.

Council members to join ministers, legal experts and renters to urge funding remedy amid COVID housing crisis

City Pushing Back On Interstate 94 Expansion, Not Reconstruction

City poised to lobby feds to slow down WisDOT.

Continuing King Drive is continuing the work of Dr. King

Statement of Alderwoman Milele A. Coggs January 22, 2021

On the passing of Henry “Hank” Aaron

From all members of the Common Council -- Alderman Cavalier Johnson, Alderman Ashanti Hamilton, Alderman Nik Kovac, Alderman Robert J. Bauman, Alderwoman Nikiya Dodd, Alderwoman Milele A. Coggs, Alderman Khalif J. Rainey, Alderwoman JoCasta Zamarripa, Alderwoman Chantia Lewis, Alderman Michael J. Murphy, Alderman Mark A. Borkowski, Alderman José G. Pérez, Alderman Scott Spiker, Alderwoman Marina Dimitrijevic and Alderman Russell W. Stamper, II

What Can City Do About Pension Crisis?

Milwaukee must find at least $90 million annually starting in 2023. All options are on the table.

Joint Statement on the Passing of Ms. Maria Monreal-Cameron

From members of the Milwaukee Common Council: Alderman José G. Pérez, Alderwoman JoCasta Zamarripa, Alderman Ashanti Hamilton, Alderman Cavalier Johnson, Alderman Nik Kovac, Alderman Robert J. Bauman, Alderwoman Nikiya Dodd, Alderwoman Milele A. Coggs, Alderman Khalif J. Rainey, Alderwoman Chantia Lewis, Alderman Michael J. Murphy, Alderman Mark Borkowski, Alderman Scott Spiker, Alderwoman Marina Dimitrijevic and Alderman Russell W. Stamper, II

Council Overrides Mayoral Veto, Wants Power To Fire Police Chief

Council wants Legislature to give it firing power. Mayor's veto of this fails.

Council Confirms Avalos, Adds Tie-Breaking Vote to Fire & Police Commission

But a potential issue awaits with looming rejection of Ann Wilson's reappointment.

Council Okays Federal COPS Grant, But…

Police department agrees to certain conditions for grant intended to reform operations.

Municipal Court Firing Debt Collector

Duncan Solutions being dropped less than a year after deal started.

New City HR Director Impresses Alders

Makda Fessahaye's appointment as employee relations director wins unanimous committee approval.

City Moves to Ban Discrimination by Hairstyle

Proposal makes hairstyles a protected class alongside sex, religion, race.

Milwaukee Seeks Data for Vision Zero Push

Consultant would identify dangerous interactions, develop predictive model.

Flames of insurrection and victimhood lead to siege of the People’s House

From Alderwoman Alderwoman Milele A. Coggs, Alderwoman Chantia Lewis, Alderman Ashanti Hamilton, Alderwoman Marina Dimitrijevic, Alderman Cavalier Johnson, Alderwoman Nikiya Dodd, Alderman Michael J. Murphy, Alderman Khalif J. Rainey, Alderwoman JoCasta Zamarripa, Alderman Robert J. Bauman, Alderman Mark A. Borkowski, Alderman Nik Kovac and Alderman Russell W. Stamper, II

Why So Many Police Chiefs?

Milwaukee's police leadership has become a surreal version of musical chairs. What’s going on?

Wise Appointment of Jeffrey Norman Gives the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners a Chance to Pause

Statement of Alderman Ashanti Hamilton December 19, 2020

New acting chief will provide stability and leadership

Statement of Alderwoman Chantia Lewis December 19, 2020

Milwaukee’s Traffic Fatalities Surge in 2020

Despite big decrease in traffic. Do emptier roads encourage reckless driving?

Barrett Picks Makda Fessahaye for Human Resources Director

Attorney to replace longtime Employee Relations director Maria Monteagudo.

Council Wants Control Over Police and Fire Chiefs

Seeking changes to state law to give city's elected officials control.

Council Moves To Reject Federal COPS Grant

Means 30 fewer officers, leaving Milwaukee down by 150 officers in 2021.

Avalos Confirmation On Hold Because of FPC Misstep

Committee voted for her without necessary background check.

Council Sets Conditions For COPS Grant

Committee proposes 7 conditions for police department in order for city to accept federal grant.

Contribution to Michael Murphy of $72