Milwaukee, WI
Capuchin Community Services expands services to help the unhoused during RNC
MILWAUKEE — The unhoused population will be pushed out of the security zone in downtown Milwaukee for the Republican National Convention.
That’s why Capuchin Community Services, an organization that aids many vulnerable groups in Milwaukee, is preparing to expand its efforts during the convention.
Father Mike Bertram is the director of the Capuchin Community Services.
He and his team regularly prepare the Community Meal at St. Ben’s Parish five days a week in downtown Milwaukee for those in need.
“It’s certainly free for anyone,” said Bertram. “We serve probably 175 to 200 people every night.”
Bertram said their biggest concern will be making sure they can continue to offer this meal during the convention.
“It will be a challenge for us too, just to get into work, but we really want to talk with the law enforcement agencies to make sure we have some clearance, that we abide by the regulations and the stipulations that you have to have. We recognize that,” said Bertram. “We honor that but still can have that access to continue the services that we are offering.”
With access restricted in the security zone, Bertram said now, more than ever, it is important that they reopen their shelter program that week.
(Spectrum News 1/Phillip Boudreaux)
“Sunday night through Friday night, we are going to offer shelter here for the sake that it is at least cool and comfortable but more for the sake that our guests are safe because you can understand that if somebody breaks that perimeter zone without proper authorization, now we are in some trouble,” said Bertram.
Bertram said he hopes to offer these services after the convention is over. He said their goal is to offer a year-round shelter.
“For many people, St. Ben’s is their home, especially homeless people living on the street and so they look at our services as vital not just occasional but every day,” said Bertram. “We have any number of guests that we recognize by name.”
For Bertram, that means St. Ben’s will always be a place of refuge for the community. He said that’s the first step to help those who are struggling find a better life.
Milwaukee County has also announced expanded efforts to help the unhoused during the RNC.
A spokesperson issued the following statement:
“Milwaukee County’s homeless outreach team and Milwaukee Continuum of Care partners will be standing by 24/7 and staffing a reception center several blocks from the security zone from July 13-July 20, which will be a space that can be accessed by anyone experiencing unsheltered homelessness in the immediate area of the RNC security zone. The homeless outreach team, in collaboration with the Milwaukee continuum of care partners, will be working closely that week with the Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Services (BHS) crisis mobile team in the area to help triage homelessness and mental health needs. This is to ensure the people that County workers are supporting on the street have immediate access to resources and a place to stay overnight.”
Giannis Antetokounmpo recorded his second triple-double of the season as the Milwaukee Bucks led wire-to-wire to beat the visiting Indiana Pacers.
The NBA’s two-time Most Valuable Player claimed 37 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists as the Bucks won 129-117 on Friday to improve to a 2-0 record in the NBA Cup.
Damian Lillard added 24 points and 13 assists for his third straight double-double, and the result means Milwaukee have won five of their last six since opening the season with a 2-8 record.
They had six players in double figures for points, with Antetokounmpo, 29, recording his 47th career triple-double.
Jaylen Brown had 31 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Boston Celtics to a 108-96 win at the stubborn Washington Wizards.
Jayson Tatum and Jrue Holiday added 16 points each for last season’s NBA champions, who have won three straight overall and are 2-1 in the NBA Cup.
James Harden had 22 points and nine assists as the Los Angeles Clippers extended their winning streak to four games with a 104-88 victory against the visiting Sacramento Kings.
The Clippers were without leading scorer Norman Powell because of a hamstring strain and are now 1-1 in the in-season tournament, which concludes next month with the semi-finals and championship game being played in Las Vegas.
Last season’s MVP Nikola Jokic returned for the Denver Nuggets after missing three games for the birth of his second child and had a triple-double of 33 points, 17 rebounds and 10 assists.
However, that was not enough to stop the Nuggets losing 123-120 at home to the Dallas Mavericks, for whom Naji Marshall scored a career-high 26 points in the absence of Luka Doncic, who will miss at least four games because of a wrist injury.
Jared McCain declared to the crowd that he is “the rookie of the year” after scoring a three-pointer in the Philadelphia 76ers’ 113-98 win over the visiting Brooklyn Nets.
The 20-year-old, who was the 16th overall draft pick in June, scored 30 points as the Sixers halted a five-game losing streak, despite playing without Joel Embiid and Paul George.
McCain posted his seventh consecutive game scoring 20-plus points, joining Embiid, Allen Iverson, Jerry Stackhouse and Lee Shaffer as the only rookies in franchise history to accomplish that feat,
The former Bradley Center site in Deer District, just south of Fiserv Forum, is set to be converted in part to a new Moxy Hotel.
NCG Hospitality, the operator of Moxy Hotels, and the Milwaukee Bucks announced Friday that the company has finalized plans to build the downtown hotel project, adjacent to the upcoming FPC Live concert venue opening late next year.
The Moxy Hotel project is set to break ground in late 2025 as well and open in spring 2027. The building is nine stories with 162 rooms. The new hotel joins the Trade Hotel, just north of the arena, which is also owned by NCG Hospitality and opened last year.
“Moxy Milwaukee Downtown will offer a fresh addition to bustling Deer District, creating an ideal destination for concertgoers and Milwaukee visitors alike,” the company said in a news release.
“The hotel will host a vibrant social scene, with check-in at the bar, a signature welcome drink and a lobby filled with games and spaces for guests to socialize and unwind.
“With the new FPC Live concert venue just steps away, guests will have access to world-class entertainment, making Moxy Milwaukee Downtown a hotspot for visitors looking to experience the best of the city’s vibrant nightlife.”
The hotel plans first surfaced in fall 2023 in connection with the FPC Live venue and around six months after NCG opened The Trade hotel north of Fiserv Forum.
Tom Daykin contributed to this report.
MILWAUKEE – A unique housing project planned for Milwaukee’s Riverwest neighborhood received the public thumbs up from Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson Friday.
In front of what will eventually be the River Trail Commons cohousing development, the Mayor signed a public file advancing the project. Mayor Johnson also signed a second file authorizing the Environmental Collaboration Office to seek clean energy tax credits to support various projects like the new Martin Luther King Jr. Drive library branch in the Harambee neighborhood.
In addition to the advancement of the project, Friday’s public ceremony served as a chance for several Milwaukee city leaders to show their solidarity with the man who pushed heavily for River Trail Commons and other ideas like it: late Third District Alderman Jonathan Brostoff. The alderman died by suicide earlier this month at just 41-years-old.
Thousands gather to honor late Alderman Jonathan Brostoff
“A big part of the reason why I wanted to sign these files publicly was to honor Jonathan, and to recommit ourselves to Jonathan’s approach, was to be forward thinking,” said Mayor Johnson.
Nine of the 14 living Common Council members flanked Mayor Johnson and Alderman Brostoff’s widow Diana Vang-Brostoff during the event.
“When Jonathan took an oath of office, he decided he would work very hard to create affordable housing in the Third District. The use of this space for townhomes and condos would make him proud at accomplishing an important goal of adding diverse housing to the city,” said Vang-Brostoff.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Planned Milwaukee cohousing project gets first city approval
The cohousing project would be the first of its kind in the city, including 39 housing units at a site formerly occupied by the Milwaukee Beer Bistro and then Big Daddy’s BBQ & Soul Food near Humboldt Boulevard and Center Street. The goal of the project according to its leader, attorney Nola Hitchcock Cross, is to build a community of neighbors around sharing resources.
“We’re creating a new-old fashioned development, where everybody knows your name,” says Hitchcock Cross. “It’s got secret sauce, and the secret sauce is the community.”
As part of the community-building mission, Hitchcock Cross says the development will include a public gathering space for meals, a community garden, library, play room, workshop, guest suites, multifunction room, and outdoor lounge space. There would also be a shared electric vehicle on site.
According to Realtor.com, in July of 2024, the median listing home price in Milwaukee was 219,900 dollars, trending up 15.8% year-over-year. Of the 39 planned units, 13 will be sold at below-market prices to those who meet income restriction requirements. It’s still not known what the rate on the below-market price units will be.
Groundbreaking on River Trail Commons is anticipated sometime in 2025, with the hope of completing the development the same year.
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