Milwaukee Department Of Neighborhood Services Enforcing City Code Violations During The Coronavirus Pandemic, Which Jeopardizes The Safety Of Homeowners By Possible Cross Contamination And Lack Of Resources To Comply

The City of Milwaukee Neighborhood Services is enforcing City code violations during the Coronavirus pandemic despite, whether their enforcement puts local residents and homeowners in cross contamination during the Coronavirus pandemic.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

April 17, 2020

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On Thursday, Southside homeowner Virginio Miranda posted a Facebook video (link: https://bit.ly/2yiLJt8) claiming that a City Inspector from the City of Milwaukee  Department of Neighborhood Services (MDNS) had given him a written notice that he had 24 hours to remove certain concrete blocks from his backyard. Miranda says that each block weights over 100 pounds and needs multiple people to help him remove them from the property. He called the MDNS for more time to remove the concrete blocks and was given at least a week to remove them, since the City inspector declared it a Solid Waste violation.

The female manager at the MDNS told him, if Miranda would fail to comply, the City would then contract a construction crew to remove them from Miranda's property and the cost would be forwarded to Miranda.

Miranda had the concrete blocks on his property to use as a landscaping in his property. It's unfortunate for Miranda, since the "Safer at Home" order by Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers (D) has been extended from April 25 to May 26 and Miranda is worried that bringing in help could end up with cross contamination of the Coronavirus between those that will be removing the blocks. He wants the MDNS to suspend the removal order until Governor Evers "Stay at Home" order expires as a safety measure. A fact, many residents and homeowners are not working today, which a lack of revenue is coming into the household, especially in Wisconsin and Milwaukee. 

Over 22M unemployment claims have been filed in the last four weeks in the U.S., according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

The MDNS should definitely cease to enforce such code violations, which are actually not a safety issue unless it is an actual safety matter for residents. In this case, the MDNS should cease to enforce such City violations and prevent other residents and homeowners including Miranda from engaging in any cross contamination of the virus, if anyone is infected or risk being infected.

Hopefully, the Milwaukee Common Council and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett can suspend any further action by the MDNS targetting certain homeowners until the pandemic subsides and the "Safer at Home" order is canceled by both the City of Milwaukee and Governor Evers.