• A Milwaukee County supervisor is calling for a public vote on the financing of the county’s courthouse renovation project.
• The estimated cost to overhaul the nearly 100-year-old complex has doubled to approximately $897 million.
• Officials have described the current courthouse complex as outdated and a public safety concern.
• The proposed referendum would require County Board approval for any additional financing needed for the project’s construction phase.

A Milwaukee County Board supervisor wants the public to weigh in on the county’s multi-million dollar project to revamp the the county’s downtown courthouse complex.

In early July, the county updated its project estimate to $897 million to overhaul the crumbling downtown courthouse complex, roughly doubling initial projections.

Supervisor Justin Bielinski, who has been the biggest opponent to the project on the board, authored a resolution calling for a contingent referendum on the Nov. 3 ballot. The referendum would ask voters whether they would require County Board approval for any additional financing needed for the construction phase of the courthouse project.

The resolution, which will go before the finance committee on July 23, also asks for the transfer of $18,000 from the appropriation for contingencies to the Milwaukee County Election Commission to offset the cost of the referendum.

“A capital project of this size is likely to require substantial long-term borrowing, debt service, and future budget commitments by Milwaukee County, which may place upward pressure on the property tax levy to service the debt issued to finance the project,” Bielinski’s resolution says.

The more than 320,000-square-foot Courthouse Complex is almost 100 years old and is home to the county’s criminal courts, County Jail as well as the Sheriff’s and District Attorney’s offices. The existing judicial buildings have been called “severely outdated” and “functionally obsolete,” creating public safety and security concerns over the years as its maintenance backlog exceeds $75 million.

MILWAUKEE, Wis. – Several Milwaukee leaders are condemning recent Immigrations and Customs Enforcement activity in the city, though questions remain whether actions meant to limit the agency within city limits can be enforced.

The group led by U.S. Congresswoman Gwen Moore expressed anger at the nature of the at least 57 confirmed arrests made by ICE agents across Wisconsin during “targeted operations” that began in late June.

“They’re ​being ​kidnapped. They’re ​being ​disappeared. ​They’re ​being ​rushed ​through ​a ​judicial ​process ​without ​due ​process because ​they ​don’t ​have ​any ​money. ​And ​we’re ​here ​to ​decry ​​that,” said Moore during a press conference July 9.

Back in April, Milwaukee Common Council members unanimously passed one of the key pieces of their “ICE Out MKE” package: an ordinance that prohibited ICE agents from wearing masks while working in the city. But the Department of Homeland Security has indicated they will not adhere to the ordinance, with representatives asserting the US Constitution’s Supremacy Clause allows for federal laws to supersede any local ordinance.

“State and local sanctuary politicians attempting to ban our federal law enforcement from wearing masks is despicable and a flagrant attempt to endanger our officers,” said an ICE spokesperson in a statement to WTMJ. “To be crystal clear: we will not abide by unconstitutional bans. The Supremacy Clause makes it clear that state and local sanctuary politicians do not control federal law enforcement.”

During the recent arrests, ICE agents were spotted by groups like Voces de la Frontera wearing masks despite the ordinance. Agents also used the Milwaukee Police Department District 2 parking lot for staging purposes, which is against another “ICE Out” city ordinance. A statement from MPD said they were not told in advance that ICE intended to use the parking lot, and then asked them to leave.

No citations have been written by Milwaukee Police against any agents who have violated the mask ban, with the department citing the need for legal clarity from City Attorney Evan Goyke.

“We’re ​waiting ​to ​see what ​the ​city ​attorney’s ​advice ​will ​be ​on ​that,” said Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson July 9 when asked by WTMJ if any of the “ICE Out” package is enforceable.

ICE says those arrested will remain in custody pending removal proceedings.

TOP STORIES FROM THE WTMJ NEWSROOM:

MILWAUKEE – A shooting in Milwaukee on Wednesday, July 8 left one person wounded. 

11th and Locust

What we know:

According to the Milwaukee Police Department, a 23-year-old was shot around  6:30 p.m. near 11th and Locust. 

The victim arrived at the hospital for treatment.    

The circumstances leading up to the shooting are under investigation.

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MPD tips

What you can do:

Milwaukee police are seeking information to identify a suspect in connection with this incident.   

Anyone with information is asked to contact Milwaukee police at 414-935-7360 or to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 414-224-TIPS or P3 Tips.