Tom Barrett

Troubles at Fire & Police Commission

12 staff vacancies, no director, three board vacancies. Committee grills Barrett aides for answers.

Kahler Slater to move headquarters to BMO Tower

Move will place architectural firm in Milwaukee’s Central Business District

$1.6 Billion Adopted Budget Raises Fees, Cuts Police

City's fiscal challenges continue to mount under state restrictions, rising costs.

Amended 2021 budget addresses key community issues including public health and safety, housing and more

City of Milwaukee Encourages Residents to Take Advantage of All Community COVID-19 Testing Options

Alders Want Police Chief Search Paused Following FPC Resignations

City struggles to find stability in police oversight body.

The City of Milwaukee’s Anti-Displacement Program Honored with an Excellence in Planning Award

Absentee Ballots Give Biden Lead in Wisconsin

3 a.m. delivery of Milwaukee absentee ballots puts Biden in front of Trump.

Milwaukee Election Results Expected Around 4 a.m.

In-person results are in, but majority of ballots are absentee and will be reported after all are counted.

City Processing Over 165,000 Absentee Ballots Under Watchful Eyes

Central count operation will last until at least 3 a.m. with three shifts of 400 workers each.

Safe. Secure. Counted! Make Sure Your Vote Counts in the 414 this Election Day

City of Milwaukee’s Election Commission provides information on Election Day voting

Safe. Secure. Counted! Make Sure Your Vote Counts in the 414 this Election Day

City of Milwaukee’s Election Commission provides information on Election Day voting

How To Follow Election Results

Where to check results. And why you should be patient. Election officials say it will take until Wednesday to count all votes.

Biden Brings His Message of Controlling COVID-19 to Milwaukee

Says Trump has "waived the white flag" and surrendered to the coronavirus.

Absentee Ballots Must Be In Drop Boxes by 7:30 Election Night

Don't wait on returning your absentee ballot.

Leaders to discuss final voting push before Tuesday’s Fall General Election

Budget Amendment Would Move Milwaukee Towards “Vision Zero”

Proposal start of an effort to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries.

City of Milwaukee/WWBIC to Launch Small Business COVID-19 Forgivable Loan Program

Committee Approves Over 20 Amendments To Milwaukee Budget

Amendments target violence prevention, housing, lead abatement and more.

Almost Half of Budget Amendments Are Policy Footnotes

Footnotes call for a racial equity audit, benches in vacant lots, lead-safe property database and much more.

State Spends 15th Most on Police, Corrections

Heavily Democratic states spend bigger percentage of budget on this, study finds.

President Must ‘Help Guide Us’ Mayor Declares

Addressing Press Club, urges more federal aid and clear message: "Wear the damn mask!"

Mayor Barrett Announces Launch of Financial Navigator Program to Help Residents Tackling COVID-19 Financial Challenges

Lead Poisoning and a Listening Session

More funds needed to protect city’s children. And more media attention to the issue.

Mayors of 5 Largest Cities Issue Voting Challenge

Barrett, four other mayors in state will compete for who gets most early and absentee ballots.

New City Health Order Limits Gatherings

Lower capacity limits for businesses, events without approved safety plans, but city has okayed 537 plans.

Evers Recall Effort Fails

Organizer says recall fell short of 668,000 signatures required.

Service Union Rallies To Get Out The Vote

“Our work is essential and so are our votes." Union seeks Trump's defeat, $15 minimum wage.

Milwaukee Getting More Aggressive On COVID-19 Order Fines

62 warning letters issued, but city only inspecting businesses on a complaint basis.

Milwaukee Common Council Appoints Dr. Ian B. K. Martin to City Board of Health

Milwaukee Launches Voter Education, Ballot Counting Website

Voter education website provides daily update on number of ballots returned.

Milwaukee Could Move To More Restrictive COVID-19 Health Order

City considering more restrictive options as positive case rate spikes to "red" level in city.

Milwaukee A Leader In By-Mail and In-Person Early Voting

But percentage of ballots returned trails state average.

City of Milwaukee Election Commission Launches 414 Votes Website Featuring Daily Voter Tracker

Barrett, Others Stump for Biden-Harris

State's Democrats debut new "bus" today as part of get-out-the-vote push.

City of Milwaukee Expands Early Voting to 14 Locations for the 2020 General Election

Evers Recall Effort Claims Enough Signatures

But organizer won’t give exact number, brags about misleading the media.

Community Groups Propose Changes

Twelve groups invited to speak and push less spending on police and more on lead abatement, other programs.

City Could Lose 30 More Police Officers

Federal grant rules could mean cutting 30 more than proposed cut of 120 cops.

The Architecture of a Pandemic

New Miller Park testing site opens Monday at 11 a.m.

Council Backs New Handling of 911 Calls

Wants MPD and FPC to develop approach where unarmed professionals handle non-violent social issues.

Pence Touts Trump, Blasts Mayor Barrett

His speech in Waukesha calls it “Trump country.” Attendees not socially distanced.

The Return of Alternate Side Parking

Mayor insists. council agrees. Beginning in November, residents must again move cars each day.

Should Milwaukee Stop The Hop?

Alderman proposes this, but suspending the service might cost more than it saves.

City of Milwaukee Hosts 2nd Annual Love Without Violence Conference during Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Milwaukee’s Office of Violence Prevention and the Commission on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault to host series of events to increase awareness and engagement for domestic violence prevention.

About That Proposed Street Lighting Fee

Average homeowner fee is $45 per year so city could replace 100-year-old circuitry

Mayor Tom Barrett released the following statement regarding night parking regulations:

Special Meeting in Police Chief Search Results in “Chaos”

Chair calls executive director out of order repeatedly, then another commissioner calls chair a dictator.

Voting Access Ensures All Voices Are Heard

A new bipartisan coalition is working to promote safe, reliable voting in Wisconsin.

Absentee Ballots Again Must Arrive By Election Day

Also, court rules that poll workers also must come from the county they vote in.

Inside Milwaukee’s Election Preparation Effort

Election Commission shows off voting equipment, ballot prep and other intricacies.

Officials Prepping State Fair Park Care Facility

Hospitalization surge in COVID cases pushes northeast Wisconsin hospitals to their limits.

No Early Voting at Miller Park, Fiserv Forum

City fears legal challenges of sites not approved at June emergency meeting.

3 New COVID-19 Test Sites Include Miller Park

City opening new ones as National Guard testing sites will close October 17th.

Adam Tindall-Schlicht Wins International Honor

Port Milwaukee Director Cited as an AntwerpXL “40 Under 40”

Search for Police Chief Goes National

5 of 6 candidates from outside Milwaukee. FPC to decide by December. Barrett will weigh in.

City Leadership Weak on Police Reforms?

Serious reform of race-based stops by Milwaukee police not happening, report on federal court settlement finds.

Mayor Tom Barrett released the following statement on workers organizing at Colectivo:

Hmong American Peace Academy Leaders Celebrate New Building

New high school will serve growing charter school on city's northwest side.

National Guard Won’t Staff City Testing Sites

Guard being reassigned to other areas of state, local staff will replace them.

Vision Zero Seeks No Traffic Fatalities

Swedish approach has been adopted by 35 cities in U.S. Why not Milwaukee?

How to Spend Less On Police

Milwaukee has a huge opportunity to consolidate law enforcement costs.

The 23rd Annual Mayor’s Design Awards Goes Virtual in 2020

Honors for Great Additions to Milwaukee’s Built Environment Will Be Revealed Next Week in a Multi-Day Online Celebration

Why Defunding Police Is Tough To Sell

Minneapolis politicians are abandoning the idea. What will happen in Milwaukee?

City On Pace to Break Homicide Record

138 homicides in Milwaukee, compared to 66 at this time last year.

Milwaukee Fire Chief Retires

Rohlfing criticized for how he handled black doll hung by its neck in station break room.

Virtual Doors Open Offers 85+ Online Building Tours, Neighborhood Experiences and More

Event guide, including links to scheduled events

Mayor Tom Barrett released the following statement regarding Fire Chief Mark Rohlfing’s Retirement Announcement:

Mayor Barrett Announces Launch of Milwaukee Restart 2.0

Efforts Continue to Provide Assistance to Small Business during Pandemic

Have You Made Your Voting Plan?

City uses Voter Registration Day to encourage people to prepare for November election.

Attorney General Barr Announces Drug Ring Bust in Milwaukee

26 suspects charged in alleged network running from city's South Side to California.

Wisconsin’s funding formula is clearly broken

Statement of Common Council President Cavalier Johnson

Utilizing TIF funding to strengthen housing and improve homeownership a win for residents

Joint statement from Alderman Khalif J. Rainey and Alderman Russell W. Stamper, II

Milwaukee’s Bond Rating Cut Two Levels

Change in rating by S&P Global will raise cost to borrow money, add to city's budget woes.

Virtual joint public hearing on proposed 2021 city budget set for Oct. 6

Barrett Budget Proposal Cuts 120 Police

And makes other cuts. City's fiscal challenges exacerbated by pandemic.

City Made $8.6 Million Debt Mistake

Past Comptroller blamed. Mistake equivalent to all the salaries of health department staff.

COVID-19 Increasing in Milwaukee County, Again

Data shows a spike in cases and transmission of the coronavirus. Presumed cause is universities.

Be Patriotic, Get Your Flu Shot

Mayor and Health Commissioner get their immunization, encourage others to do the same.

How Much Did DNC Cost Milwaukee?

Audit pending. Officials hope all security costs of convention are reimbursed by federal government.

Assessor Wants No Assessments in 2021

Proposal would freeze property values for two years.

BMO Tower Officially Opens

Ceremony was delayed following water main break and then pandemic.

Action Needed on Reckless Driving

Time is of the essence. Task force submitted report in June. City officials must act.

120 Officer Cut May Be Just The Beginning

The Milwaukee Police Department will have fewer officers in 2021, but the question is how many?

Milwaukee Debuts New Ballot Drop Boxes

Approximately 150,000 people expected to vote absentee.

Absentee Ballot Drop Boxes Available at 15 Locations across the City, Including 13 Milwaukee Public Library Branches

&nbpsp;

The City of Milwaukee Health Department Office of Violence Prevention Implores City Residents to Increase Awareness and Action for Suicide Prevention

Mayor Tom Barrett to dedicate a Proclamation in honor of September’s National Suicide Prevention and Recovery Month

Officer Accused Of Reckless Homicide Resigns

Michael Mattioli pleaded not guilty yesterday in death of Joel Acevedo and has resigned from police department.

High-End Hotel Planned Across From Fiserv Forum

Bucks and partners hope to break ground in 2021.

Milwaukee Art Museum Won’t Recognize Union

Management refuses to recognize a worker supported union, forcing an NLRB election.

Mayor Tom Barrett released the following statement:

Health Commissioner Says She Faced Racism, Sexism

"A constant power struggle from Day One," says outgoing commissioner Jeanette Kowalik.

Election Commission Urges Milwaukee Residents to Vote Absentee Ahead of November Election with SafeVote Postcard

“We’re Not Doing Enough Tests” Says State Disease Expert

"I think it's very safe to say that we're not doing enough tests," says Dr. Ryan Westergaard.

Mount Mary, Partners Hold Groundbreaking for Trinity Woods

Seniors, students, religious sisters and children will all live under same roof.

City Expands Program To Fight Overdoses

Housed in fire department, the MORI program aims to reduce drug addiction, overdoses.

Health Commissioner Kowalik Resigns

Led the department's turnaround after lead crisis. Will take Washington D.C. job.

Republicans Angry Yet Asleep on Policing

Unwilling to meet yet offering legislation to micro-manage police reforms in Milwaukee and Madison.

There is still time to be counted in the 2020 Census

Miller Park, Fiserv Forum Will Be Early Voting Sites

Pro sports facilities will serve as two of the city's 18 early voting sites.

Contribution to Justin Bielinski of $100