Change – to make or become different
Joint statement from Alderman Ashanti Hamilton, Alderman Russell W. Stamper, II, Alderwoman Milele A. Coggs, Alderman Khalif J. Rainey, Alderwoman Nikiya Dodd and Alderwoman Chantia Lewis
Over the last few months we have heard the call for change bellowed across this city, across our nation, across this world. The CHANGE being called for doesn’t come easy, there are always going to be tough decisions to be made along the way: Decisions that require strong leadership and the ability to see past the immediate future and on to the big picture that lies further down the road.
Recently the Common Council voted to delay all 17 commissioners and executive level appointees of the Mayor until those appointments could answer the question “What will you do to end systemic racism within your respective department?” This action to delay appointments until that question could be answered was an act toward change, an act of leadership spurred by alders who represent the majority of Black and Brown people in this city and backed by those who at the time seemed to understand the importance of the question.
When the Election Commission executive director candidate withdrew her name from consideration for the position, she showed clearly her unwillingness to answer the question at hand: “What will you do to end systemic racism in your respective department?”. She instead felt herself above the process and above having to answer the questions of the alders charged with representing the concerns and calls of the Black and Brown community of this city. In an email to a colleague after withdrawing her name she stated “…18-hour days is what it takes to run an election when you aren’t being subjected to grandstanding…” We strongly disagree with her, because asking her and any other candidate what they plan to do to end systemic racism within their department is NOT grandstanding. It is indeed doing what the people have asked us to do which is to bring about change in a city that has been deemed the worst place in the country for African Americans to live.
That again requires leadership and yesterday by appointing the Election Commission head and circumventing the process for appointments our Common Council President Cavalier Johnson (in a clandestine act in concert with the circumvention) was devoid of that leadership and in turn our African American citizens were robbed of the chance to ask the candidate the question at hand which bears repeating: “What will you do to end systemic racism in your respective department?”
With this brazen act of circumvention the Council has set the precedent that what the people have asked is, at best, inconsequential. In a time when trust is low and transparency needed, the Council decided to circumvent the people and appoint a candidate who clearly felt herself above the process. In a moment when leadership and strength was needed we instead got cowardice and weakness.
This path we are on to end systemic racism and make MILWAUKEE a great place on a Great Lake for ALL of its citizens is a long path toward change, but we won’t ever get there following those that represent the status quo and complacency.
More about the Fire & Police Commission's Troubles
- Mayor Tom Barrett released the following statement: - Mayor Tom Barrett - Feb 15th, 2021
- City Hall: DeVougas Resigns From Fire & Police Commission - Jeramey Jannene - Feb 15th, 2021
- City Hall: FPC Members, City Attorney Blew Off Inspector General Interview Requests - Jeramey Jannene - Feb 15th, 2021
- City Hall: Attorney Didn’t Want Inspector General Report Made Public - Jeramey Jannene - Feb 12th, 2021
- City Hall: Council Confirms Avalos, Adds Tie-Breaking Vote to Fire & Police Commission - Jeramey Jannene - Jan 19th, 2021
- City Hall: City Attorney Issues Confidential Opinion Regarding Morales Demotion - Jeramey Jannene - Jan 15th, 2021
- City Hall: Committee Rejects Ann Wilson’s FPC Reappointment - Jeramey Jannene - Jan 7th, 2021
- Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office Completes FPC Background Investigation - Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office - Jan 7th, 2021
- FPC should halt selection of new police chief - Common Council President Cavalier Johnson - Jan 4th, 2021
- Op Ed: Mayor Barrett Is Asleep At The Switch - Jordan Morales - Dec 26th, 2020
Read more about Fire & Police Commission's Troubles here
Mentioned in This Press Release
Recent Press Releases by Milwaukee Common Council
Sales Tax Proposal Would Increase Revenue Diversification, Support Local Communities
Feb 12th, 2021 by Milwaukee Common CouncilJoint 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
On the passing of Henry “Hank” Aaron
Jan 22nd, 2021 by Milwaukee Common CouncilFrom 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
Another Step in a 1,000-mile Journey
Jan 20th, 2021 by Milwaukee Common CouncilJoint statement from members of the Milwaukee Common Council: Alderman Ashanti Hamilton, Alderwoman Chantia Lewis, Alderwoman Nikiya Dodd, Alderman Cavalier Johnson, Alderman Nik Kovac, Alderman Robert J. Bauman, Alderman Mark Borkowski and Alderman José G. Pérez
Just because the elections commissioner was reappointed doesn’t mean you can’t still demand that she responses to the mandate. there are numerous ways our elections could be managed to reduce systemic racism.