Citizens deserve to hear from Bevan Baker in public proceeding
Statement of Alderman Tony Zielinski - October 22, 2018
Last week Council members were notified that Common Council President Ashanti Hamilton has decided not to subpoena former Milwaukee Health Department Commissioner Bevan Baker at this time. President Hamilton made his decision, according to the notification, after consulting with the office of the City Attorney.
President Hamilton’s decision not to subpoena former Commissioner Baker to testify before the Steering and Rules Committee comes about five months after he asked Public Safety and Health Committee Chair Alderman Bob Donovan to back away from issuing a subpoena for Baker to appear before his committee – assuring everyone that he would be pursuing a subpoena so Baker could be questioned about the mismanagement and dysfunction that resulted in thousands of Milwaukee children who had tested positive for lead not being follow-up with and served by MHD.
Today I am calling on President Hamilton to explain to the public and to those affected families why he isn’t issuing a subpoena to compel Bevan Baker’s testimony before the Common Council. He should explain his decision openly and transparently in public so we can hear his reasoning.
Sadly, I strongly doubt we will hear from President Hamilton about his decision not to move forward with a subpoena because he has offered one excuse after another on this matter for months now.
Delay, delay, delay seems to be the President’s mantra here.
The real issue is transparency – transparency (and truth) that the citizens and families of
Milwaukee deserve.
It sure seems to me that by not subpoenaing Baker the President is playing politics with the health and safety of our citizens.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
More about the Lead Crisis
- Superintendent Jill Underly Proposes Lead Water Removal Program For Schools - Baylor Spears - Nov 15th, 2024
- Milwaukee Adopts New Policy Requesting More Lead Testing For Children - Nick Rommel - Oct 24th, 2024
- EPA Strengthens Standards to Protect Children from Exposure to Lead Paint Dust - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Oct 24th, 2024
- Baldwin Announces $86 Million for Clean and Safe Drinking Water in Wisconsin Through Bipartisan Infrastructure Law - U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin - Oct 23rd, 2024
- DHS Encourages Wisconsinites to Take Action to Prevent Childhood Lead Poisoning - Wisconsin Department of Health Services - Oct 21st, 2024
- DNR Says Wisconsin Could Meet New Rule To Replace All Lead Pipes in 10 Years - Trevor Hook - Oct 12th, 2024
- Biden Announces New Funds, Deadline For Lead Pipe Replacement - Sophie Bolich - Oct 8th, 2024
- Biden-Harris Administration Issues Final Rule Requiring Replacement of Lead Pipes Within 10 Years, Announces Funding to Provide Clean Water to Schools and Homes - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Oct 8th, 2024
- City Hall: Ahead of Biden Visit, Council, DPW Officials Question Efficacy of Replacing Lead Pipes - Jeramey Jannene - Oct 7th, 2024
- Baldwin Delivers Nearly $13 Million for Milwaukee and Kenosha to Remove Dangerous Lead Paint - U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin - Oct 7th, 2024
Read more about Lead Crisis here
Mentioned in This Press Release
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