Two stories have dominated the conversation around the housing crisis in Milwaukee this year,  the damning scandal around Milwaukee public housing and the rejection of the Growing MKE plan. Both were covered by Milwaukee Beagle, but it is always important to continue to follow these stories after the initial headlines pass.

It’s a massive failure on the sheriff, chief judge and county executive’s part and on the part of the county board in general that they are only now working on securing and protecting migrants at the courthouse. 

You can take action to ensure the processes for defending migrants that these stakeholders develop are as robust as possible. 

Milwaukee, WI - Lead-Safe Schools (LSS) MKE, Get the Lead Out (GTLO) Coalition, and Metcalfe Park Community Bridges (MPCB) believe that strong leaders take responsibility for their actions and show initiative in coming up with solutions. The recent Mayor’s Office assertion that “any accusation that the city has dropped the ball in school maintenance is completely without merit” is a stunning display of impotent leadership.

The modus operandi for those in power who have brought us to this point have blamed each other, and while that blame is not misplaced, it is not a substitute for accountability for the failings by any individual party. The mayor, the common council, MHD and the new leadership of MPS need to come together to address this issue collectively. 

 I feel like some of us forgot that politicians are allowed to have bold ideas. I think I would take 10 Alex Browers over a Cavalier Johnson, a man whose only ideas include conceding to Republicans, enriching his corporate backers and rich friends, and vilifying Milwaukee’s most vulnerable people.

Yesterday’s election, with historic turnout, provided a resounding message to elites. We cannot be bought. Your money cannot stop us. In each of the races this cycle covered by Milwaukee Beagle, Wisconsin Supreme Court, Wisconsin State Superintendent, and Milwaukee Common Council District 3 we highlighted the disparity in resources between the candidates running. And in every single one of these races, despite facing an uphill battle, the candidate with less money behind them won.

Wisconsin’s business elites have been buying SCOWI races for going on two decades. Digging into that history we see that conservatives use obviously corrupt, physically violent, and blatantly racist means to push their agenda. Defeating Schimel is not just about defeating Musk and Trump, it’s not just about returning rule of law and democracy to Wisconsin, it’s about taking the government away from Wisconsin’s own wealthy elites after decades of minority rule.

While Brower is clearly the better candidate on paper, we want to be realistic about his chances of winning and implementing his bold vision. The recently released campaign finance reports and the electoral map do not bode well. We just hope whatever the results, that the broader left in Milwaukee can learn the appropriate lessons and continue to move forward, a little wiser, in our fight for a more just city.