A Milwaukee Common Council joint statement was released after the April 2, 2024 Spring General Election that failed to mention that two Hispanic Alderpersons were re-elected making history, which only mentioned more Black Alderpersons will join the Council, 6 women as Council members and two openly gay Alderpersons.
By H. Nelson Goodson
Hispanic News Network U.S.A.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On April 3, a Milwaukee Common Council joint statement was released that failed to include two current Hispanic Alderpersons, which were not worth mentioning in the stats by the joint Council members. Alderman Jóse G. Pérez, the Milwaukee Common Council President 2020-2024 and Alderwoman JoCasta Zamarripa were not included in the stats in the joint statement. However, Ald. Pérez was included in the joint statement and not Ald. Zamarripa.
Most likely, with 8 Black Alderpersons to he sworn on April 16, Ald. Pérez might not be re-elected as Common Council President. We will have to wait and see, if Pérez gets re-elected as President of the Common Council.
The joint statement mentioned that the Milwaukee Common Council will have 8 Black Alderpersons, 6 Council women members and 2 openly gay Council members, but no mention of 2 Hispanic Alderpersons that were re-elected.
Hopefully, the 15 Milwaukee Common Council members with the majority of 8 Black Alderpersons and having re-elected Cavalier Johnson, who is also Black as Mayor, the Northside of Milwaukee where the predominately Black population resides and the Southside of Milwaukee where the predominately Hispanic community resides will finally see more development (less gentrification causing Hispanic flight) and better job opportunities, cleaner streets and sidewalks, and street pot holds filled quickly as White privilege majority Aldermanic districts experience with better City services.
In 2014, Hispanics in the state of Wisconsin became a majority surpassing the Afro-American population.
Here's the press release email Milwaukee Common Council joint statement.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 3, 2024
Diverse Common Council set to make history
Statement from members of the Common Council: Alderwoman Milele A. Coggs, Alderman Mark Chambers, Jr., Alderwoman Andrea M. Pratt, Alderman Jonathan Brostoff, Alderman Robert J. Bauman, Alderwoman Larresa Taylor, Alderman Mark A. Borkowski, Alderman José G. Pérez, Alderman Scott Spiker, and Alderwoman Marina Dimitrijevic
Yesterday's Spring General Election proved to be historic for the Common Council. Once the three new members are sworn in on April 16, the Council will include eight African-American members and six women, both the most in the body's history.
This is significant in Milwaukee, which is a majority-minority city. It is wonderful to see that over time, the city and county leaders who represent the people continue to increasingly reflect the populations they serve.
Additionally, the 2024-2028 Council will have its most openly LGBTQ members ever serving (two).
Representation in major institutions, including government, is crucial. When a government is more representative of its people, it can more efficiently work to create inclusive policies and elevate a diverse set of role models for future generations.
Our city has made major strides in the areas of diversity and inclusion in recent years, and we thank all of our colleagues past, present and future for their work on those fronts. We are incredibly encouraged by the work we can continue to do moving forward as a body that will be historic in nature on several fronts.
In addition, posted on social media (Facebook):
City Hall comes out like Hispanics don't exist in the City of Milwaukee! We do reside in Milwaukee and pay taxes too, we also pay their salaries including their pensions!
WI: On April 3, 2024, was the day Milwaukee City Hall forgot to recognize and include 2 Hispanic re-elected Alderpersons in the stats of a joint statement by a diverse Milwaukee Common Council.
They recognized a majority of Black Alderpersons elected, 6 women as Council members and 2 openly gay Alderpersons, but no mention of any Latino re-elected Alderpersons...shame on City Hall for not recognizing that Hispanics have been vibrant stakeholders In the City of Milwaukee for decades and the 2 Latino voting age majority Aldermanic districts re-elected Alderman Jóse G. Pérez in the 12th Aldermanic District and Alderwoman JoCasta Zamarripa in the 8th Aldermanic District in the Southside of Milwaukee.
The predominately Hispanic community in the Southside of Milwaukee is one of the largest tax generating revenue contributors to the City of Milwaukee and City Hall just failed to mention and recognize that the Latino community had 2 Hispanic Alderpersons representing them. Smh
The mishap in the statement of the diverse joint Milwaukee Common Council dated April 3, 2024, seems disregards that the Latino community in Milwaukee including throughout the state surpassed the Afro-American population in 2014 and do contribute millions of combined taxes to the State of Wisconsin and the City of Milwaukee.
City Hall might want to exclude and recognize our Latino community and its tax contributions, its success in the 1970’s in bringing down the barriers of discrimination in higher education and in the hiring of Hispanics in the Milwaukee Police Department and Milwaukee Fire Department and at City Hall.
Just to let City Hall know, "¡Aquí Estamos y No Nos Vamos!"
Posted on April 7, 2024 by H. Nelson Goodson, a Milwaukee Southsider and a proud Mexican-American.
Source: Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA)
On April 7, 2024 Ald. Mark Chambers Jr. responsed to HNNUSA article.
I’m fully aware of the press release because the request for additional signers was made available to ALL 15 Council Members.
President Perez himself is a signer on the release because he understands the importance of the history that was made. Those who were not on the statement as a signer simply missed the deadline.
The entire Council has fully embraced our Latino counterparts and the community in its entirety.
SHAME ON YOU for your FAILED attempt of sowing
seeds of DIVISION amongst the Black and Brown community.
The intent of the release and your interpretation of it are DRASTICALLY different and we just may have to agree to disagree.
We will continue to work collectively as a Council to strengthen Milwaukee’s future.
Hope to see you on April 16th as we usher in a new era within the City Of Milwaukee.
Respectfully,
Ald. Mark Chambers Jr
In response:
Attn: Ald. Chambers,
So, you mentioned the press release was a diverse effort by some Milwaukee Common Council, but it seems you still failed to take some responsibility for not mentioning any Latino Alderpersons that were re-elected.
Shame on you and those that left our Latino Alderpersons from being mentioned. Unfortunately, you seemed to still not accept that Latinos/Hispanic Alderpersons were not included and you seemed to be okay with it.
Your response seems to be more about accepting exclusion, then inclusion and until you accept that our Latino Alderpersons were excluded from being counted, you don't seemed to abide by diversity.
Respectfully,
H. Nelson Goodson
Hispanics News Network U.S.A.Attn: Ald.Chambers,
So, you mentioned the press release was a diverse effort by some Milwaukee Common Council, but it seems you still failed to take some responsibility for not mentioning any Latino Alderpersons that were re-elected.
Shame on you and those that left our Latino Alderpersons from being mentioned. Unfortunately, you seemed to still not accept that Latinos/Hispanic Alderpersons were not included and you seemed to be okay with it.
Your response seems to be more about accepting exclusion, then inclusion and until you accept that our Latino Alderpersons were excluded from being counted, you don't seemed to abide by diversity.
Respectfully,
H. Nelson Goodson
Hispanics News Network U.S.A.
