Mayor Cavalier Johnson of Milwaukee is publicly calling on the chair of the Finance & Personnel Committee to schedule a hearing for a delayed agreement that could inject over $26 million into core city services. Johnson's urging comes after the committee chair chose not to schedule a hearing due to what was cited as "unanswered questions," despite claims that the agreement and subsequent clarifications have been available for over a month. "I am calling on the Chair of Finance & Personnel to schedule this agreement for the next meeting of the committee, and for the full Common Council to adopt it,” the Mayor stated in a release obtained by city.milwaukee.gov.
The agreement in question has been a point of contention among city officials. It involves the Wisconsin Center District (WCD) and reportedly has the potential to provide significant financial support to Milwaukee's infrastructure. Mayor Johnson also noted, with certain disapproval, that even though the Common Council had previously agreed to appoint an alder representative to participate in the negotiation process, said representative declined to attend any of the planning or negotiation meetings. "That representative refused to join a single internal planning meeting or any of the multiple in-person negotiations," Johnson alleged, signaling the complexity of the political interplay at work, as mentioned on the City of Milwaukee website.
With the stakes high and the clock ticking, the Mayor thanked the WCD for their "good faith" negotiations and acknowledged the council members who contributed to refining the deal. Despite the praise for some, there's a clear impatience for action with Johnson adding, "But there is nothing to celebrate, yet," as per the City of Milwaukee website.
Adding to the discourse, State Representative Kalan Haywood, who is also a board member of the WCD, echoed Johnson's sentiments on the urgency of passing the agreement. "The new revenue this deal generates can be used to improve the quality of life for all Milwaukee residents," Haywood detailed in a statement, further emphasizing the lost opportunities for the city with each day the agreement is stalled. "I strongly urge the Council to move this deal forward and deliver for Milwaukee," he told city.milwaukee.gov.
