Milwaukee, WI
The ‘Sewer Socialist’ led Milwaukee into the future in 1938. What’s your idea? | Opinion
Our goal is to root out inefficiency and improve service while reducing costs to taxpayers. Often times, the best ideas come from ordinary citizens and the private sector.
Downtown Milwaukee seen from a drone camera
See downtown Milwaukee via a drone camera
“It was the best of times; it was the worst of times.” — Charles Dickens, “A Tale of Two Cities.“
That reflection could easily describe Milwaukee. With a gleaming downtown on Lake Michigan and led by a dynamic mayor, Cavalier Johnson, the city is poised for greatness. It successfully hosted the Republican National Convention and received positive reviews nationwide, leading to a dramatic rise in convention business.
Yet, the same city was on the verge of fiscal insolvency until securing of a 2% local option sales tax from the State Legislature in 2023. And Milwaukee still faces a large structural deficit and ongoing challenges like high levels of crime, a backlog of street repairs and maintenance, and unacceptable levels of poverty.
Every day, Milwaukee citizens benefit from a wide variety of municipal services. While it has shown dramatic innovation, as represented by the automated system of garbage and recyclables pickup weekly, the city hasn’t fully tapped the potential for automation, which includes AI and robotics through the delivery of services and simultaneously reducing costs.
Daniel Hoan Foundation awarding $40,000 for best idea
The Daniel Hoan Foundation is again calling on the citizens to submit their best ideas for improving our community. This year’s focus is on how Milwaukee city government might improve services and reduce costs in the process. Our goal is to root out inefficiency and improve service while reducing costs to taxpayers. Often times, the best ideas come from ordinary citizens and the private sector.
The contest will award $40,000 to the best idea that surfaces. Last year, prizes were awarded for the best ideas to improve Milwaukee County’s Parks System while reducing crime was the focus in 2023.
Specifically, the contest will focus on municipal government services such as sanitation services, street, sidewalk, and bridge maintenance, drinking water, sewer management, public works, the public schools and neighborhood services. It also encompass seasonal issues such as snow and ice removal and parking regulations as well as public facilities that people use, such as libraries, offices for small business development, and public buildings.
For those interested, please go to https://innovatemkegov.org/ and submit your detailed ideas in a format that does not exceed two pages in length. The deadline for submission of ideas is Sept. 15.
Hoan a celebrated Milwaukee mayor known as the sewer socialist
The Daniel Hoan Foundation was created by my grandfather, a long-serving leader of Milwaukee who historians have ranked as the eighth-best mayor in the history of the United States. He was featured on the cover of Time Magazine in 1938 as the mayor of the best-run city in America.
Under his tenure, crime dropped dramatically, and he invested in infrastructure, so the health of the citizens dramatically improved. In fact, he was known as the “sewer socialist” because he created an advanced sewage system. Milwaukee’s fiscal health was the envy of cities throughout the country. None of this may seem very glamorous, but this city functioned, and citizens continued to return him to office for 24 years.
We no longer have to be a city that fits the description of a Charles Dickens novel. I served as chairman of the Board of Directors that oversaw the Port of Milwaukee. During my tenure, Milwaukee became the fastest-growing port on the Great Lakes, thanks to a great port director hired from the private sector, Ken Szallai.
If I’ve learned anything about the government is that the private sector was critical to our success. Szallai continually tapped the resources and ideas of the private sector to assist the miracle turnaround. Our port director entered into numerous arrangements to efficiently deliver products necessary to our economy, including steel, fertilizer, cement, salt, etc., in a way the port could not do independently.
Milwaukee’s innovation officer will help judge best ideas
Fortunately, Milwaukee has a competent, qualified mayor who cares deeply about the city and is willing to do what’s necessary to turn this picture around. He is open to ideas coming from the private sector and our fellow citizens. Jim Bohl, the city’s newly appointed innovation officer, will serve as the chief judge of a small panel of judges.
Bohl’s office was recently created and is charged with the responsibility for implementing innovation and creating efficiency in government. Add in the fact that Bohl has a lifelong track record of service in government, so he knows how to get things done.
Milwaukee is on the comeback. Let’s earn a reputation as a city that proves it can tap the resources of its citizens to provide dramatically innovative solutions to challenges.
Daniel Steininger is president of the Daniel Hoan Foundation and former chair of the Board of Harbor Commissioners for the City of Milwaukee.
Step into North Division High School on a Monday night, and you’ll hear the sound of students playing basketball and see others playing in the game room. Three nights a week, the school turns from a place of learning into a recreation center.
North Division High School is one of eight Milwaukee high schools that host Twilight Centers, a Milwaukee Recreation program.
“Twilight Centers are meant to get teenagers off the street at night and provide a safe haven,” said Jason Blocker, Twilight Center supervisor.
Many come to the centers every night they’re open, he said.
Blocker said he sees about 50 to 60 students on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays at North Division, and just as many at Washington High School of Information Technology, another Twilight Center site he supervises.
Centers are staffed with student and adult monitors who check in on students at all times. Blocker said students are often respectful of the space and stick to their activities, especially with monitors around.
All kinds of fun
Students in the mood for more relaxing activities can go to the game room to play video games on the Xbox or PlayStation, or air hockey and pool. Students also have access to computers to do homework, look for jobs and safely browse the internet.
North Division’s pool is also open for swimming during Twilight Center hours. Two student lifeguards monitor swimmers at all times.
Blocker said the pool at Washington is under renovation, so those wishing to swim should go to North Division’s Twilight Center.
Centers offer snacks like chocolate milk, cheese sticks and crackers in the cafeteria each night, Blocker said.
The center also offers different enrichment activities. If students attend enough, they get to go on a field trip at the end of the semester.
One semester, students attended a Milwaukee Bucks basketball game, Blocker said. For another, they went to Dave and Buster’s. He said about 20 students at North Division end up going on the field trip.
When it’s time to leave, Milwaukee Recreation has free bus passes to help students get home.
Where to find your local Twilight Center
This semester, most Twilight Centers are open Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. Six centers serve students ages 12 to 18, and two serve ages 10 to 14.
Blocker said children of other ages can come if they’re accompanied by an adult, but snacks are limited to children and teens.
He said you must be a student to attend, but you don’t have to go to an MPS school.
If you’re an MPS student, all you need to go to a Twilight Center is your “s number,” the same number you use to get lunch, Blocker said.
Students who don’t go to MPS can provide information about their identity and age and will get a card to use on future Twilight Center visits.
This allows Milwaukee Recreation staff to identify everyone at the Twilight Center to maintain security and let parents know their child is at the center if they ask.
Twilight Centers: Ages 10 to 14
Andrew Douglas Middle School: 3620 N. 18th St.
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday: 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Bay View High School: 2751 S. Lenox St.
Friday and Saturday: 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Twilight Centers: Ages 12 to 18
James Madison High School: 8135 W. Florist Ave.
Monday and Wednesday: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Saturday: 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
North Division High School: 1011 W. Center St.
Monday and Wednesday: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Saturday: 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Obama School of Career and Technical Education: 5075 N. Sherman Blvd.
Monday, Wednesday: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Saturday: 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Casimir Pulaski High School: 2500 W. Oklahoma Ave.
Monday and Wednesday: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Saturday: 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
South Division High School: 1515 W. Lapham Blvd.
Monday and Wednesday: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Saturday: 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Washington High School of Information Technology: 2525 N. Sherman Blvd.
Monday, Wednesday: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
and Saturday: 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
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MILWAUKEE – With SNAP benefits still delayed two days into November, one Milwaukee church is stepping up to help families put food on the table.
What we know:
At Holy Redeemer Institutional Church of God in Christ on the city’s north side, addressing hunger has become just as essential as Sunday worship. The church, home to roughly 2,500 members, operates the Fishes and Loaves Food Pantry – serving hundreds of families each month.
Volunteer Gabrielle Mallory says she’s motivated by faith and compassion.
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“We have to be there for each other and right now, a lot of people need help,” she said.
Mallory helps load and distribute food for those in need.
“Go to pantries, load up, and ask people if they need any food and whatever I have, I will share it with them,” she said.
Pantry coordinator Tanisha Collins-Johnson says the federal government shutdown and delayed SNAP benefits is a big factor in the growing demand.
“We’re seeing an influx of people come through the door that’s in need. Children, family, seniors – you’re seeing a lot more people coming to the food pantry,” she said.
The church relies on donations from its congregation to keep the shelves stocked.
What they’re saying:
“The little you think that may not be a lot, it may be a lot in God’s hands, so bring it,” said Lead Pastor Jeremy Q. Henry. “We want to engage everyone in the community efforts here.”
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Efforts extend into the holiday season, where Holy Redeemer expects to serve more than 1,000 families across the city.
“The service never stops,” Mallory said. “This is a highly needed service right now when it comes to providing food to people that need it.”
No matter the state of the government shutdown, church leaders say the pantry will remain open every Wednesday and Sunday – continuing to make hunger relief a priority.
The Source: The information in this post was collected and produced by FOX6 News.
Forecast from FOX6 Meteorologist Stephanie Barichello
MILWAUKEE – A frosty and cold start to the morning, with partly sunny skies ahead this afternoon. Temperatures will top out around 50°.
Increasing clouds tonight with a chance for rain showers through early Monday morning.
Back to sunshine Monday with temperatures in the mid 50s, and similar conditions through midweek.
Cooler Thursday then a chance for rain Thursday night into Friday morning.
Today: Partly sunny.
High: 50°
Wind: SW 5-15
Tonight: Chance rain showers.
Low: 42°
Wind: SW 5-15
Monday: Showers early, then mostly sunny. Windy.
High: 56°
Wind: W 10-20
Tuesday: Partly sunny.
AM Low: 38° High: 58°
Wind: SE 5-10
Wednesday: Partly sunny.
AM Low: 46° High: 56°
Wind: NW 5-15
Thursday: Increasing clouds. Chance showers at night.
AM Low: 36° High: 52°
Wind: S 5-15
Friday: Mainly morning rain showers. Mostly cloudy.
AM Low: 46° High: 58°
Wind: NW 5-15
6-day planner
FOX6 Weather Extras
Local perspective:
Meanwhile, FOX6Now.com offers a variety of extremely useful weather tools to help you navigate the stormy season. They include the following:
FOX6 Storm Center app
FOX LOCAL Mobile app
FOX Weather app
FOX Weather
Big picture view:
Maps and radar
We have a host of maps and radars on the FOX6 Weather page that are updating regularly — to provide you the most accurate assessment of the weather. From a county-by-county view to the Midwest regional radar and a national view — it’s all there.
School and business closings
When the weather gets a little dicey, schools and businesses may shut down. Monitor the latest list of closings, cancellations, and delays reported in southeast Wisconsin.
FOX6 Weather Experts in social media
The Source: Information in this report is from the FOX6 Weather Experts and National Weather Service.
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