Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport will have thousands of first-time visitors walking through its terminals as they arrive for the 2024 Republican National Convention.
MILWAUKEE – Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport will have thousands of first-time visitors walking through its terminals as they arrive for the 2024 Republican National Convention.
They will arrive by plane load, from California to the Carolinas, on jet airliners and private planes. The airport is the first chance Milwaukee will have to impress.
“It’s very important to us,” airport director Brian Dranzik said. “We want to showcase the airport as the first impression for people coming in from where they’re coming in”
Dranzik has now prepared for two national political conventions.
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“We’ve been very thoughtful over the past couple of years of what this experience is going to be like for people,” he said. “We were prepping like this for the DNC in 2020.”
This time, though, people are really coming. And the airport will be ready in ways we can and cannot see.
“One of the things we did a few weeks ago is recapped the entire terminal space, which took about a week and a half to complete,” he said. “Also things like runway safety, making sure the airfield is in good condition. We’re going to suspend some of our work activity. Work will conclude before the even and start up again.”
In terms of air traffic volume, the RNC will make Milwaukee’s airport just a tad busier than it would be during a normal spring break week. It’s more than equipped to handle commercial traffic.
A bigger challenge is handling the scores of private planes coming to Milwaukee, sometimes on short notice.
“We’re trying to get information from them as to what that private air traffic looks like, but the problem with that is that they don’t have to notify us until 24 hours before they arrive, but they’ll be shutting down two runways,” Dranzik said.
The signage is already up, reminding visitors about the event. A Dunkin’ Donuts will be open just in time to greet them.
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Perhaps the first test of readiness will be how things go at baggage claim.
“That’s our conversation with the airlines because they’re the ones pulling the bags off and making sure they’re getting back to the causal system,” Dranzik said. “I’m not expecting too may issues that way.”
To learn more on how to handle the mass departures on the two days following the convention, Mitchell officials reached out to the airport in Louisville which handles such crowds each year on the day after the Kentucky Derby.
It’s all hands on deck until the last plane leaves, and the two days following the convention will be the busiest.
“When people are leaving, that’s equivalent to a Super Bowl scenario,” Dranzik said. “Everyone’s gonna want to get out at pretty much the same time.”
Dranzik is confident the airport’s final impression will be as impressive as its first.
MILWAUKEE — President Joe Biden will be back in Wisconsin Friday, following a weak performance last week at the first presidential debate.
As his campaign works to assure Americans that the 81-year-old is in the race for the long haul, TMJ4’s Tahleel Mohieldin spoke with Milwaukee voters about the upcoming visit and Biden’s ability to take on a second term.
Here’s what three voters had to say:
Kellie Szymczak
“I consider myself independent,” SzymczakI said. “I do head towards more Trump but just cuz Biden is older.”
She said she believes Biden should drop out of the presidential race.
Mohieldin asked Szymczak if she would consider voting Democrat if the party chose a different candidate. Szymczak said that was a possibility.
“I mean it really just really depends on the people and their input,” she added. “People that could have a longer-term and newer ideas than the older generation.”
Tom
Tom, who didn’t want to share his last name, told Mohieldin he thinks it’s great Biden is coming to Wisconsin. He views the visit as an opportunity for the president to redeem himself with voters in the swing state.
Tom admits following the presidential debate he was worried about Biden’s ability to take on a second term but hopes the poor showing was nothing more than a bad day.
“I don’t think President Biden should avoid anything,” Tom said. “Some people say it’s an episode, others say that it’s just him altogether. We don’t know that we can’t prove it, at least not now.”
Tom also said he supports Biden’s running mate, Vice President Kamala Harris, should it come to that.
Erick Gallegos
“President Bidens is old, he barely can walk,” Gallegos said. “I don’t know to be honest.”
Gallegos told Mohieldin he’s on the fence about the democratic party choosing a new presidential candidate this late in the game. He said though he has concerns about Biden he’s not ready to write him off.
“He’s been saying a lot of things he’s going to change for our community but he’s not doing anything to be honest,” Gallegos explained. “We can give him a second chance but at this point, we’re already disappointed.”
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He went out to get a new lock for his 250-pound historic sign and when he got back, it was gone.
MILWAUKEE – He went out to get a new lock for his 250-pound historic sign and when he got back, it was gone.
Todd Brown is spending his Independence Day focused on getting his property back.
“It’s 24 hours of stress. I don’t want that, I should enjoy my 4th,” Brown said. “It’s not something you see every day.”
He collects, restores and sells vintage relics. He specializes in beer signs, like this 250-pound, 5-and-a-half-foot tall, classic 1964 Schlitz lantern sign.
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“We were the largest in the world at one time,” Brown said. “We had 6,000 signs in stock.”
But now, he’s experiencing something he hasn’t seen in his 30 years of business. That Schlitz beer sign was stolen in broad daylight, and it was all captured on video.
“At first we thought it was just scrappers, but the way they did it and rushed in, they knew it wasn’t right,” he said. “They knew it wasn’t right and God’s watching them, so turn yourself in.”
This all happened while Brown was on his way to get a large lock to secure the sign. He had just received it on Sunday.
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Images show a blue pickup truck going over the sidewalk by his building with the giant sign in the bed.
The Milwaukee Police Department is investigating.
“I just want the sign back,” Brown said. “Come in, bring it in. Call me, email me, we’ll wash the slate and give them another chance.”
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the MPD.
Jul 4, 2024 | 9:45 AM
State News
UW-Milwaukee Chancellor Mark Mone announced yesterday that he will step down next year to return to teaching and spend more time with his family.
Mone said he made the announcement now to ensure a smooth transition over the next year.
Despite facing criticism from the University of Wisconsin president for his handling of pro-Palestinian protests on campus in April and May, UW President Jay Rithman praised Mone’s leadership and contributions to the university.
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