A Wisconsin estate planner joins us to talk about the importance of writing your will and medical directives. Then, Oconomowoc celebrates the 85th anniversary of “The Wizard of Oz” premiering in that city, despite the likelihood of earlier screenings in other Wisconsin communities.

Detroit city government’s former planning executive, who left to take on various roles, including running Boston’s planning and development agency, is returning to Detroit.

Arthur Jemison has been appointed to serve as executive director of the Detroit Housing Commission. He previously held various roles in Detroit, including chief of services and infrastructure, and group executive for planning, housing and development.

The Detroit Housing Commission aims to provide affordable housing for low and moderate-income residents across metro Detroit. The commission manages about 4,000 housing units for seniors and families, according to the agency. Jemison’s arrival comes at a time when the commission “recognizes a need for organizational change” to better serve residents and properties.

Jemison left the city in 2021 to join President Joe Biden’s administration to serve as principal deputy assistant secretary of housing and urban development in the office of community planning and development. A year later, he moved to Boston to serve as the city’s chief planner and director of the planning and development agency. Jemison was considered a “highly regarded official” in Boston, often serving as a buffer between the mayor and development community, the Boston Globe reports.

His appointment to the housing commission comes amid turbulence within the agency. Outlier Media reports that that employees within the agency have faced burnout and resignations due to heavy demands and unresolved complaints.

Jemison could not be immediately reached.

Jemison’s previous roles in Detroit

He began working for the city in 2014 amid Detroit’s bankruptcy. His role including moving various projects forward, such as the Michigan Central Station redevelopment, Stellantis expansion, the launch of the Strategic Neighborhood Fund, and the Detroit Housing for the Future Fund. Jemison was also responsible for improving Detroit’s compliance with federal regulators to monitor federal funding in neighborhoods amid a federal probe. The city’s demolition program was temporarily suspended in 2016 by the U.S. Treasury Department for improper documentation and bidding.

He previously told the Free Press that amid bankruptcy and a series of public corruption cases putting Detroit under a national spotlight, the city was able to prove it could spend federal money with better compliance.

“That was at the forefront of my mind. The city was recovering from bankruptcy, there were questions about our ability to manage and making sure we were doing our very best for better compliance, better movement of money but also trying new things” Jemison previously told the Free Press.

Richard Hosey, president of the Detroit Housing Commission board, praised Chief Operating Officer Irene Tucker’s management for her role as interim chief executive officer ahead of Jemison’s appointment.

“Her leadership allowed us to search for a dynamic candidate who not only knows and loves Detroit but also brings national and local experience to lead the team to new heights. Getting Arthur back to the city in this role at this crucial time for DHC is a big win for the Housing Commission and affordable housing in Detroit. We look forward to the incredible work he and Irene will do,” Hosey said in a statement.

Mayor Mike Duggan praised his former cabinet member.

“Arthur was an exceptional leader for the city’s housing department, and he will be the same for the Detroit Housing Commission. He knows the issues Housing Commission residents face every day and will bring them real change,” Duggan said in a statement.

Dana Afana is the Detroit city hall reporter for the Free Press. Contact: dafana@freepress.com. Follow her: @DanaAfana.

Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman was not selected for the police chief job in Austin, Texas on Friday.

That comes after the Austin City Manager T.C. Broadnax announced that they were moving forward with Lisa Davis, an assistant chief in Cincinnati. Norman was one of two finalists, along with Davis.

“The Chief of Police is a critical position for any city and, as I’ve said since joining the City of Austin in early May, identifying a permanent police chief was a top priority for me,” Broadnax said, according to the Austin American-Statesman. “I appreciate the invaluable feedback I’ve received, which has helped inform my decision. I have elected to move Chief Davis forward for confirmation.”

The two had been named as finalists on July 16. In an interview that day, Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson said it would be a loss for the city if Norman left but added that he had “nothing but respect” for the chief.

If Norman had received the Austin position, he would have ended a four-year tenure as Milwaukee’s top cop that began when he was named the department’s acting chief in 2020 and permanent chief the next year.

Norman stressed community collaboration when answering questions in Austin

Last week marked the first time Norman spoke publicly about his interest in the Austin position. On Tuesday, he answered questions from reporters in Austin as the city hosted both finalists.

He referenced his experience in Milwaukee at times and also noted his role on the board of trustees of the Boys and Girls Club of Milwaukee when responding to a question about working with youth.

He was also asked what tools he could bring from Milwaukee to Austin and Norman emphasized community engagement as an “interchangeable tool.”

At one point, Norman said he was not new to the types of challenges that he would face in Austin.

“The things I’ve dealt with in regards to my respective department has been a labor of love,” he said. “But through collaboration, great team members, supportive community and the electeds, things can happen when we all work together.”

Norman has long career with the Milwaukee Police Department

Norman, a Milwaukee native, was hired in 1996 by the Milwaukee police and steadily rose through the ranks, serving as a lieutenant in the homicide unit and later a captain of District 3, which includes parts of the central city and west side.

In 2020, he became assistant chief and later that year was appointed as acting chief, following the retirement of another acting chief and the controversial removal of former chief Alfonso Morales in 2020.

The next year, Norman was named the chief of police for the department after a tumultuous 15-month search for the city. He was the second Black man to be named permanent police chief, after Arthur Jones, who was chief from 1996 to 2003.

Norman has emphasized community relations and led the department through the COVID-19 pandemic, when crime rose across the country and in Milwaukee. He also worked with the mayor’s office to start the city’s traffic safety unit, designed to reduce reckless driving in Milwaukee.

This year, crime in Milwaukee has largely dropped across many categories but still outpaces 2019 levels.

Skye Seipp of the Austin American-Statesmen staff contributed to this report.