Milwaukee, WI
Cost of living, economy key issues in Milwaukee as Republicans try to court black voters
WATERTOWN, Wis. — With VP Kamala Harris as its presidential nominee, the Democrat Party is expected to lock up the black vote — just like it’s been doing for 60 plus years.
But in Wisconsin’s key urban centers that could make or break a Democrat, some black voters say the Biden-Harris economy has brought pain to their pocketbooks.
Milwaukee conservative activist Chris Lawrence told The Post that when dealing with black voters, Donald Trump and Republicans need to focus on how people are faring financially after four years of the Biden-Harris administration.
“Have their lives improved the last four years under Joe Biden? What will change from Harris to Biden in the next four years?” he asked.
“If nothing will materially change–why would you continue to support that?”
Lawrence also said he hasn’t seen any on the ground engagement or contact with voters from either campaign.
His advice for the GOP and Donald Trump?
“Highlight what the Democrats haven’t done — the promises they made to black voters that haven’t come through,” Lawrence said.
A CBS News/YouGov national poll of likely black voters at the end of July found Harris has picked up about 8% more of the black vote than Biden had in July before he stepped down, 81% to Trump’s 18%.
The same poll found 74% of black registered voters say they will “definitely vote” this November, compared to 58% in July, also before Biden backed out of the race.
A higher black voter turnout in the majority minority City of Milwaukee could have a major impact on which candidate wins Wisconsin’s ten electoral votes this fall.
While liberal Dane County’s turnout helped push the state into Biden territory in 2020, Milwaukee also saw an uptick in turnout.
Will Harris as the nominee change the calculus for black voters this November?
“That remains to be seen,” Lawrence said.
Will Martin, a Racine businessman and Republican leader, has lived in Milwaukee for 25 years.
He says families of color have been hit disproportionately by double-digit rent increases in Milwaukee, and wages have not kept up with that kind of increase.
Out-of-state investors are buying up housing in predominantly black neighborhoods and boarding up some of the units to artificially increase rents, Martin added.
Voters like Sharon Gray are still feeling the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced her to shutter her small business in Milwaukee.
She now works at a warehouse, and is supporting Donald Trump this November.
Kalan Haywood Sr., a Milwaukee businessman and developer, told The Post that having black outreach events is a good thing, but that what’s more important is coming back to follow up with folks rather than simply pandering in an election year.
Charlene Abughrin is a Republican and a small business owner in Milwaukee.
She told The Post that the black community “hasn’t been inspired to vote in a long time,” a sentiment reflected in a decline in turnout in black majority wards in the city.
Describing the crime in her neighborhood — a fact of life for Milwaukee residents — Abughrin said it’s “4th of July every day and night,” adding: “I hear so much gunfire I think I have gotten desensitized to it.”
Abughrin has not seen much Republican voter outreach in her community and says the complaint she hears often is that Republicans only show up during voting season.
She did, however, mention Republican Senate candidate Eric Hovde’s visit to the Juneteenth celebration and several other events.
Black voter outreach has been a big priority for the Trump Campaign. Last month Martin took part in an RNC event with South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott and Texas Rep. Wesley Hunt, an experience he called “empowering.”
“So often the media portrays black conservatives as being few in number,” said Martin, a GOP Executive Committee member. “It was really exciting to see so many conservatives coming together.”
Republican state Senator Julian Bradley represents a district containing several Milwaukee suburbs, and he believes the Democrats may face a political reckoning from black voters.
“Democrats have taken the black vote for granted for decades,” Bradley told The Post.
“Their years of overpromising and under delivering for the black community is catching up to them.”
“Republicans are reaching out and showing that not only do we care, but we have solutions to the high cost for gas and groceries, we have solutions for crime and underperforming schools that have kept kids from achieving the American Dream, and we have solutions for securing our border and stopping the flow of fentanyl into our streets,” Bradley continued.
1st Costco in Milwaukee County
Costco is set to break ground on its first Milwaukee County location this week. The store will be located at 27th and Drexel in Franklin.
FRANKLIN, Wis. – Costco is set to break ground on its first Milwaukee County location this week. The store will be located at 27th and Drexel in Franklin.
“This has been a long and exciting planning process, and I know many people in Franklin are happy to hear this news,” said Franklin Mayor John Nelson. “I want to thank the Costco team for choosing our community to build its first store in Milwaukee County.”
The 164,000-square-foot facility will be built on more than 20 acres of land at South 27th Street and West Drexel Avenue — a site Northwestern Mutual used as its Franklin campus.
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The facility will feature a 12-pump gas station at the south end of the development and 868 parking spaces.
The store is set to open in November 2026.
Costco stores
What we know:
Costco currently has several stores surrounding Milwaukee County, but none within its borders. The Franklin store will be the company’s first in the county.
The Source: The information in this post was provided by the City of Franklin.
Milwaukee, WI
Milwaukee’s housing crisis leaves younger adults and families struggling to find stability
Housing instability for young adults in Milwaukee is a growing problem. Looking for solutions, young adults, residents and leaders gathered at Wellpoint Care Network in late April to discuss systemic gaps and realities young adults face with renting and homeownership.
“Homeownership is a privilege when it shouldn’t be,” Tamia Abney, youth-coordinated entry liaison at Pathfinders, said.
The convening challenged members to think of possible solutions to the young adult housing crisis.
Basic needs aren’t being met
A 2024 Wisconsin Policy Forum study revealed that half of Milwaukee renters are using at least 30% of their income to keep a roof over their heads.
In 2024, the average monthly rent in Milwaukee was $1,177. Workers in common jobs like fast food, retail, nursing assistants and other occupations earn between $28,000 and $44,000 a year, and can only afford approximately $720 to $1,100 in rent, according to the Wisconsin Policy Forum.
“Those are important jobs that make up most of our society,” Abney said. “The income isn’t meeting the needs to pay for their living.”
During the convening at Wellpoint Care Network, Mayor Cavalier Johnson said there are young people who have decent jobs and still struggle with affordable housing.
“When you make that first good job out of college and make a certain dollar amount, everybody thinks you have it when that’s not the case,” Johnson said. “I lived it, too.”
Milwaukee housing shortage
One reason for the high rent prices in Milwaukee is that the number of people needing homes is growing faster than the number of housing units available.
According to the Wisconsin Policy Forum, Milwaukee’s households increased by 17,335 between 2010 and 2024, but only 11,038 housing units were available, leaving an underproduction of 6,297 units.
“There’s a shortage for low-income families because somebody else has already snatched it away from them,” said Carl Mueller, founder and chairman of Mueller Communications.
The mayor, who declared 2026 the year of housing in Milwaukee, said the city is working to increase housing supply so rent can become cheaper and change how tax dollars are being used to support young professionals.
“We still invest in affordable housing, but what we’ve done now is open it up to make investments in workforce housing, so young professionals don’t end up in situations where they’re spending 30% of their income, too,” Johnson said.
Mueller and other community members suggested the city build developments similar to NeuVue and ThriveOn King, which bring housing and community resources together.
Additional challenges
Another reason for the local housing shortage is that residential projects take the longest to get approved.
According to the Wisconsin Policy Forum, the median time it takes for a Milwaukee building project to go from zoning to final building permit approval is 145 days, but for residential projects it takes about 224 days.
Johnson said when he came into office, he challenged the City of Milwaukee Department of Neighborhood Services to speed up the permit process.
“I think if we had been more aggressive and if we had cut more red tape over the years then a lot of the development that’s happening in some of the surrounding communities would have happened in the city,” Johnson said.
Johnson added that Milwaukee’s zoning policies need to be updated so more properties can be built.
“We haven’t had a wholescale zoning policy since John Norquist was mayor,” he said.
A need for a better quality of living
Al Smith, chief operating officer at Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity, said youths, families and young adults are living in places with high rent prices but are experiencing poor conditions – lead issues and infestations among them.
“Some are paying up to $1,500 a month for places they don’t want to live in, but it was the only option they were left with,” Smith said. “We need a better quality of housing stock.”
Iasia Sawyer, 21, and a member of the Wisconsin Youth Advisory Council and participant of the Youth Transitioning to Adulthood program, said she’s already in her second apartment and has faced ongoing challenges with her landlord over mold and pipes.
Housing stability creates positive impact
Al Smith, chief operating officer at Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity, said youths, families and young adults are living in places with high rent prices but are experiencing poor conditions – lead issues and infestations among them.
“Some are paying up to $1,500 a month for places they don’t want to live in, but it was the only option they were left with,” Smith said. “We need a better quality of housing stock.”
Iasia Sawyer, 21, and a member of the Wisconsin Youth Advisory Council and participant of the Youth Transitioning to Adulthood program, said she’s already in her second apartment and has faced ongoing challenges with her landlord over mold and pipes.
Housing stability creates positive impact
Smith said more young adults and families in stable housing would bring an increase in graduation rates and other benefits.
“When I think about education or even kids having to switch schools constantly, there’s no stability in that,” he said.
Johnson recalled how traumatizing it felt when he had to attend six different Milwaukee Public Schools throughout his childhood because of housing instability.
“As mayor, I’m working to make sure that more kids in Milwaukee have the stability that I didn’t have growing up,” Johnson said. “It’s not just about housing support; you guys are also providing the foundation for everything else in life.”
Homeownership can be attainable for young adults
Smith said he found it disheartening to know there are some who have no desire to become a homeowner.
“If you’ve seen multiple generations of your family that were only renters and never owned a home, they don’t think homeownership is a possibility for them,” he said.
He said the best way to encourage young adults into homeownership is through community support to address credit, bankruptcies and other barriers so they can make the adjustments to become eligible to buy a home.
At Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity, Smith said they are teaching individuals how to financially prepare for homeownership.
According to Smith, it takes about $275,000 for the organization to build a home, and families who participate in the program only pay about $150,000 for their first mortgage. The program provides additional financial support to help keep monthly payments affordable.
“You’ll also get the benefit of building wealth and equity into that,” Smith said.
Sawyer said she wants young people navigating adulthood to know that although finding stable and quality housing is a challenge, it can be attainable.
“There are people who are ready to give up because they don’t have the right support around them for their situation,” she said. “Now it’s about moving forward.”
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Illegal dumping at former grocery store near 35th and North, Milwaukee
MILWAUKEE – Milwaukee leaders on Monday, May 4, will unveil new plans to help stop illegal dumping in the city.
Mayor Cavalier Johnson and the Department of Neighborhood Services are expected to announce the expansion of a citywide program that uses hidden cameras in the monitoring of illegal dumping.
This annoucement will be made at City Hall at 10 a.m.
Illegal dumping
Dig deeper:
Illegal dumping continues to impact Milwaukee neighborhoods, especially on the north side.
Boats, mattresses and even small vehicles are among the items dumped along streets and vacant areas on the city’s north side.
Alderwoman Andrea Pratt said she monitors more than 40 illegal dumping sites weekly. One recurring trouble spot, she said, is along the Beerline Trail.
Additionally, since closing in July 2025, the former Pick ‘n Save parking lot at 35th and North has also become a major site for trash, furniture, and tires.
In March, FOX6 News first showed viewers piles of garbage around the building after a viewer reported concerns. The city then issued an order to the property owner to clean up the property.
Weeks later, neighbors say the major trash piles are gone, but graffiti now covers parts of the building and new trash has appeared behind it. They say the closure created additional problems for the neighborhood.
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The City of Milwaukee Department of Neighborhood Services has now issued another order, requiring the property owner to remove the graffiti or face fines.
Illegal dumping at former grocery store near 35th and North, Milwaukee
Report illegal dumping
What you can do:
If you are caught dumping garbage illegally in Milwaukee, you can face a fine of up to $25,000.
Anyone can report illegal dumping by calling 414-286-2489.
The Source: The information in this post was provided by the City of Milwaukee and the Milwaukee Department of Neighborhood Services.
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