The near Southside has held its political empowerment for decades, but within the next five to ten years, Latino empowerment will no doubt be phaseout by gentrification.
By H. Nelson Goodson
Hispanic News Network U.S.A.
May 31, 2019
Milwaukee, WI - Within the next five to ten years, the Latino political empowerment will definitely be phaseout, as the near Southside continues to see gradual Hispanic flight to surrounding suburbs and Suburban Whites continue a steady streamline of relocating near downtown by buying and renting properties including lofts in Walker's Point. Since the Near Southside Comprehensive Development Area Plan was approved by in Milwaukee City Plan Commission in 2009 under Chairwoman Patricia Torres Najera and was passed by the Milwaukee Common Council on May 27, 2009, gentrification has flourished in the Southside.
It has been 10 years since the city development plan was approved and major developments have occurred along the Menomonee Valley, Walker's Point and the near Southside including the Harbor area, which has led to displacing a fraction of the Latino population that has relocated to West Allis, Oakcreek, South Milwaukee and other surrounding suburbs seeking affordable rents and properties to purchase.
When the plan was first introduced, it focused on mass development of the Southside area, which in ten years, it has led to gentrification, a process of renewal accompanying the influx of middle-class people into deteriorating areas that often displaces earlier poorer residents within the Southside. Properties were sold at below market price and later sold at higher prices making the Southside area a marketable land grabbing scenario. Downtown continues to expand to the Southside, as seen through the development of the Menomonee Valley where the new Harley-Davidson Museum, Miller Park is located on Canal St.
Today, the gentrification in the Southside has slowed down a bit and attributed to the influx of the African-American population relocating in the Southside including the Asian population, which city planners hadn't count on.
Currently, Milwaukee Alderman José G. Pérez from the 12th Aldermanic District has yet to confront and address the gradual gentrification process taking place in the Southside, since major developers have contributed more than $90,000 to his re-election campaign, according to his campaign reports to the Milwaukee City Election Commission. Ald. Pérez could very well become the last Latino to be elected in the 12th Aldermanic District, if gentrification continues to swallow the Southside without assuring safeguards to keep affordable housing in the area. Also gradual gentrification is taking place in the adjacent 8th Aldermanic District in Alderman Bob Donovan's district where a large portion of the Latino population resides.
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