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OPINION: The fight against Milwaukee’s lead crisis should be driven by community interests, not financial ones | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service

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OPINION: The fight against Milwaukee’s lead crisis should be driven by community interests, not financial ones | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service


Editor’s notice: Have one thing in your thoughts? “Neighborhood Voices” is the place to let Milwaukee hear what you must say. To be thought-about, we want your title, e-mail tackle and cellphone quantity for verification. Please e-mail your submissions to data@milwaukeenns.org.

Greater than 70,000 lead water service strains present water to residents of Milwaukee properties constructed earlier than 1951. Not all group teams on this challenge operate the identical. (NNS file photograph by Edgar Mendez)

When talking concerning the teams which can be on the entrance strains of group struggles, a extra outlined notion of the shape and performance of such teams is important to ascertain a distinction between how a authentic group front-line group capabilities and the way a particular curiosity group posing as a front-line group capabilities.

Freshwater for Life Motion Coalition (FLAC) and the Get the Lead Out Coalition (GTLO) are examples of front-line teams in Milwaukee.

These organizations have devoted years to not solely speaking about social disparities, institutional racism, corruption and apathy, however to bringing ahead proof from the general public and historic document to show the fabric actuality of those forces

Devoted to the group

 Robert Miranda (Photograph offered by Robert Miranda)

Neighborhood front-line teams don’t simply pay lip service to those social ideas by saying all the precise phrases with out truly investigating and exposing their supply.

Neighborhood front-line teams are devoted totally to the pursuits of the group and don’t function throughout the corporatized mechanism of the nonprofit industrial complicated.

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FLAC and GTLO are utterly member-funded and draw on the voluntary efforts of the better group to carry steady establishments, such because the Metropolis of Milwaukee, accountable for the genesis and perpetuation of oppression and struggling.

Following the cash

We strongly imagine that group front-line teams can not base their existence on the grant-acquisition cycle or on funding from governmental establishments to which they’re then beholden. Such organizations could current themselves as group front-line teams whereas hiding their true nature behind a glossy façade.

FLAC and GTLO don’t search grant cash, don’t obtain cash from public or non-public establishments, don’t endorse politicians or political events and refuse to fall into the lure of merely having a voice on the desk. As an alternative, we challenge our voice and the voice of the group by means of strategic use of the media, tactical alliances with public officers and group leaders and direct interplay with different group front-line teams.

It’s important that group front-line teams should not shy about partaking in confrontation when essential.

Confronting the highly effective

Immediately difficult the establishments of energy is a technique for breaking by means of the apathetic acceptance of no matter is informed to us and critically partaking with concepts of how public establishments can serve the pursuits of the plenty of individuals quite than highly effective capitalist pursuits.

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Wrestle makes us human as a result of the historical past of all hitherto present society is the historical past of sophistication struggles — struggles between teams of individuals whose pursuits come into contradiction with one another.

Neighborhood front-line teams will be recognized by means of an evaluation of the contradictions inherent within the wrestle they’re engaged in.

Residents deserve higher

In Milwaukee, the overwhelming majority of individuals have an curiosity in residing in environments which can be free from lead contamination. For instance, it’s within the curiosity of the plenty of individuals for Milwaukee’s lead lateral pipes,  which join 70,000 properties to the general public water system, to be eliminated in probably the most expedient and cost-effective method doable with out inserting undue monetary burden on the individuals dwelling in these properties.

A number of generations of Milwaukeeans had no selection however to stay in properties with lead laterals because of the 80-year mandate that required each new dwelling constructed to connect with the general public water system with a lead pipe.

The pursuits of the plenty of individuals come into contradiction with the pursuits of the establishment that carried out this mandate, the Metropolis of Milwaukee, which has traditionally been to make as a lot cash as doable by means of the set up of lead laterals and to spend as little cash as doable to get them eliminated.

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The contradiction in pursuits is made plain. The self-evidence of Milwaukee having contaminated water is positioned in its correct historic context. It not solely supplies group front-line teams with instruments to show this contradiction but in addition a information to motion that can work in favor of the plenty of individuals quite than the political and financial pursuits of the ruling class.

FLAC and GTLO are group front-line teams as a result of they arrive down definitively within the nook of the plenty of individuals, supporting with out stipulation their bid to stay in protected, dignified environments, uncontaminated by lead.

The loyalty of different teams is ambiguous.

Monetary curiosity vs. true group curiosity

Organizations which will seem to help lowering lead publicity and eliminating related social ills are generally solely paying lip service to this concept to garner group help, whereas accepting funding from highly effective establishments which have an curiosity in obscuring and mystifying these issues with a purpose to shield their energy and earnings.

Though a number of the members of those teams could legitimately imagine that the persons are entitled to a lead-free setting, the precise expression of their curiosity is contingent on a paycheck or the buildup of social capital.

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As group front-line teams, FLAC and GTLO wouldn’t have a monetary curiosity within the removing of the lead laterals. As an alternative, this curiosity comes from a dedication to a basically totally different view of how our society might and ought to be functioning, not on the idea of revenue however on the idea of addressing probably the most speedy wants of probably the most oppressed and marginalized individuals in our group.

We are able to’t neglect our Black and Brown residents

Within the case of Milwaukee, poor and working-class Black and Brown persons are probably the most affected by lead poisoning

We should not solely have the ability to show that that is the fact, we should expose why it’s the actuality and lay out a plan for a way this case will be altered.

FLAC and GTLO are dedicated to a social mannequin that depends on solidarity quite than revenue. That is the essence of what it means to be a group front-line group.


Robert Miranda is a retired veteran and longtime Milwaukee activist. He’s at present a member of the Get The Lead Out Coalition Steering Committee.

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Milwaukee, WI

Milwaukee’s Newest 5-star Attraction Is… The Beached Yacht

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Milwaukee’s Newest 5-star Attraction Is… The Beached Yacht


The newest “tourist attraction” in Milwaukee is the abandoned boat stuck since October at Bradford Beach. With 60 Google Reviews as of Thursday and listed as a “tourist attraction” on Google Maps, the location lovingly named “The Minnow” – a reference to the S.S. Minnow of Gilligan’s Island notoriety – has a perfect 5-star rating.

Nate Weiss, listed as a Local Guide on his Google account, wrote that visiting the beached boat is “a uniquely Milwaukee experience.” There’s actually two Google Map listings for the abandoned vessel. The other, terrifically labeled a “religious destination,” unfortunately is uncreatively titled “Milwaukee boat.”


 

Hurry! Voting closes for Best of the Burbs on Monday, Jan. 13. 


The Minnow’s actual name is Deep Thought. The 33-footer slid ashore Oct. 13. Its owners, identified by WISN-TV as Richard and Sherry Wells of Mississippi, reportedly got caught up in a storm and ran out of gas. They were rescued, but efforts to pull it free thus far have been unsuccessful. Now with the shoreline ice thickening, there’s no hope of dislodging it until spring.

Here are some of our favorite takes social media has had in the past 90 days about Milwaukee’s favorite Minnow:

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Jon Proves He’s a Local

From the Google Reviews…

“There can be a bit of a wait, but the atmosphere is so electric the time flies by! Be sure to spend the extra $25 for the bottomless mimosas,” wrote Google userJoshua Sheeran. (It should be noted that there are no bottomless mimosas, or any other beverages offered by the non-existent crew of the beached boat. In fact, it’s probably best if you don’t eat or drink anything found in Bradford Beach’s sand. And definitely don’t kiss Ginger if she’s wearing her new lipstick.)

Exorbitant Rates!

Somebody Call Mr. Lightfoot

Dustin Schmaus thinks Gordon Lightfoot should come back from the grave to sonically eulogize Milwaukee’s Minnow: “It’s not the Edmund Fitzgerald, but it’ll do,” Schmaus wrote in his Google review.

Perhaps Summing it up Best

From Chris Merkel via Google: “This is absolutely everything you expect from a beached boat. Boat. Water. Beach. Sometimes fish.”

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A new local clothing brand, Unfinished Legacy, staged a video shoot in front of the boat.

We Do Too, Tom…

We do too.





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Spurs get blown out in Milwaukee to drop third straight game

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Spurs get blown out in Milwaukee to drop third straight game


Following a frustrating loss in Chicago, the Spurs looked to get back in the win column against the Bucks on Wednesday night. Unfortunately, Milwaukee’s hot shooting led them to a 121-105 blowout victory, pushing San Antonio’s losing streak to three.

Despite the disappointing result, the Spurs started the game with a bang. Wemby was unsurprisingly at the center of attention, as he blocked Giannis on the first defensive possession before making a one-legged three. San Antonio used their ball movement to score from all three levels, while the Bucks relied on their outside shooting due to Wemby’s interior presence. As soon as the Alien was subbed out, though, Milwaukee went on a mini-run to break open an otherwise close game.

That trend continued in the second quarter as the Bucks built up an insurmountable lead. Milwaukee was only up by a point when Wemby sat halfway through the quarter, but by the time he came back, San Antonio was already down by 15. The offense completely stalled without Wemby’s interior presence, and it’s not a coincidence that San Antonio scored on their first possession with the big man back on the court. Unfortunately, the Bucks continued to build momentum, as they hit four threes in the final minutes of the half to build a double-digit lead.

Even so, the Spurs didn’t give up. CP3, specifically, caught fire in the third by hitting multiple threes to cut the deficit to under 10. San Antonio began playing with renewed vigor and looked to make a comeback, but it wasn’t meant to be. The Spurs’ execution was just a bit off all night: their passes and timing were always an inch short and a second late. As a result, Milwaukee soon rebuilt their lead, and the competitive portion of the game was over.

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The starters for both teams stayed in the game at the beginning of the fourth, before the result became inevitable and key players started subbing off. It was a disappointing result in what was a highly anticipated game, and San Antonio is now left to regroup before their showdown in LA on Saturday night.

Game notes

  • Wemby had his worst game in over a month, finishing with just 10 points on 4-10 shooting. He actually started the game with three highlight reel plays in the first six minutes but looked quite lethargic the rest of the night. This is just one game, but it’s still worth monitoring how engaged he looks on Saturday against the Lakers. Remember, Wemby posted a 5×5 the day after he scored just six points on five shots back in late October.
  • Interestingly, the Spurs seemed to dislike the Wemby-Giannis matchup. Mitch Johnson made sure that Wemby was on the court at the start of the second quarter when Giannis sat, though that might just be both teams’ regular rotations. However, considering that Wemby looked the most engaged when guarding Giannis (he blocked him three times), it was still a bit surprising to see him play more as a roamer on defense. The Greek Freak was unsurprisingly most hesitant to attack the rim with Wemby on him, so the game might’ve been different had they been matched up more often.
  • Keldon Johnson had a great game off the bench, as he scored 24 points and grabbed 11 boards on 7-15 shooting. On a night when most of the team lacked energy, Big Body brought some much-needed juice.
  • Another bright spot? How about the Point God, who had 18 points and seven assists while making five out of six threes. Even at 39, CP tried to will the young team to make a comeback, and he’s at no fault for the end result.

Play of the game

What the heck even is this???

Next game: at Lakers on Saturday

The Spurs will look to get back in the win column on Saturday as they take on a Lakers team that has also lost two straight.



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Is Giannis Antetokounmpo Playing vs Spurs? Final Bucks Injury Report Released

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Is Giannis Antetokounmpo Playing vs Spurs? Final Bucks Injury Report Released


Milwaukee Bucks’ star Giannis Antetokounmpo had an eventful Monday night.

On the way to a 128-104 victory against the Toronto Raptors, Anetetokounmpo attempted to block an RJ Barrett layup late in the second quarter. On the attempt, Giannis seemed to catch his pinky on the rim and checked out of the game.

Visibly uncomfortable, the two-time MVP returned to the contest with a wrap on his finger. By doing so, he clinched a historic triple-double, per AP News’ Tim Reynolds. No player has ever posted an 11-point, 12-rebound, and 13-assist triple-double in league history.

After the game, that was not the cause of the most discussion among reporters, rather the health of the Greek superstar was the hot topic at the press conference. Head coach Doc Rivers spoke on Antetokounmpo.

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“He needed stitches. He didn’t want to come out because he felt like he could finish, but it kept bleeding. It definitely was affecting him. You could see it really was hurting his ballhandling a little bit,” Rivers said. “I think he’s good. I just think it’s stitches, but I actually don’t know where. I think it’s somewhere on his hand.”

Antetokounmpo required three stitches on his right hand.

After the game, Antetokounmpo did not seem to be concerned, telling reporters that he was “fine” and was not going to “overthink” this injury.

The power forward was previously listed as a game-time decision as they look toward tonight’s matchup with the San Antonio Spurs but has been upgraded to probable according to Rivers.

Other ailing Bucks upgraded to available are Khris Middleton, despite surprisingly being listed as out Monday night due to ankle tendinitis, and Andre Jackson Jr., who despite a setback in his back injury will be available for Wednesday.

Antetokounmpo is enjoying an MVP-caliber season, once again. He leads the league in scoring with 31.6 points per game, and is sixth in the league in rebounds with 11.6 per game. Before the injury-impacted Monday night performance, he was averaging 32.3 points per game.

Middleton is another Buck who is a high-impact player, when available. In 12 appearances this season, he is averaging 12.7 points per game on 40.4% shooting from the three-point line.

At 18-16, which is good for the No.5 seed in the Eastern Conference, Milwaukee needs all the help they can get as they make another playoff push.

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More Bucks: Doc Rivers Lays Into ‘Disappointing’ and ‘Frustrating’ Bucks Losses





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