Citizens deserve to hear from Bevan Baker in public proceeding
Statement of Alderman Tony Zielinski - October 22, 2018
Bevan K. Baker.
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
- New MPS Superintendent Cutting Central Office Jobs - Corrinne Hess - May 8th, 2025
- MTEA Statement on Lead Exposure in MPS Buildings - Milwaukee Teachers’ Education Association - Apr 30th, 2025
- Statement from Supervisor Juan Miguel Martinez on Lead Hazards in MPS Buildings - Sup. Juan Miguel Martinez - Apr 29th, 2025
- MPS Closing Two More Schools For Lead Hazards - Jeramey Jannene - Apr 28th, 2025
- Milwaukee Public Schools Enters New Phase of Lead Cleanup - Milwaukee Public Schools - Apr 28th, 2025
- What To Know and How To Keep Kids Safe From Lead Poisoning - Evan Casey - Apr 25th, 2025
- Congresswoman Gwen Moore and Senator Tammy Baldwin Urge HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to Reinstate Childhood Lead Poisoning Experts at CDC, Push for Approval of Milwaukee’s Request for Federal Assistance - U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore - Apr 23rd, 2025
- MPS’s Fernwood School to Reopen Following Lead Remediation Work - Milwaukee Public Schools - Apr 22nd, 2025
- Milwaukee School Board May Sue Paint Companies Over Lead Crisis - Evan Casey - Apr 19th, 2025
- Trump Administration Axed Federal Employees Needed for MPS Lead Crisis - Jeramey Jannene - Apr 14th, 2025
Read more about Lead Crisis here
Mentioned in This Press Release
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