Fighting for city
State Rep. Rob Hutton’s recent commentary derided Milwaukee’s leaders for looking “almost 100 miles” away for assistance on solutions for the city’s problems (“Milwaukee leadership falls short in dealing with crime,” Crossroads, July 9).
Actually, our leaders would be derelict in their duties if they did not fight for our city at the state level. State legislators have continually cut aid to cities despite the disproportionally growing revenues the state takes from Milwaukee. Most egregious was the $30 million won in a lawsuit after the financial crisis — for razing blighted foreclosed homes — which the state conveniently took to balance the budget.
These same vacant buildings are just one symptom that Hutton claims cast a “dark cloud of crime and violence” and drug use over Milwaukee. (You’d almost think he was running for president!) Never mind that statistics on drug use are similar from city to suburb; it’s the disparities in our justice system that are skewed.
Legislators on the right often boast support for local control but have continually usurped power from the Milwaukee electorate regarding schools, unions, gun laws and countless other issues. The state has blocked a referendum on a self-imposed tax for transportation and parks. Let’s not forget the detrimental effect on local youths from the state decision to close Ethan Allen, which made Lincoln Hills overcrowded and understaffed.
The fact that similar problems are found in cities all over the country suggests systemic and deeper-rooted problems engrained in American culture including, yes, racism. Wasn’t it a Brookfield mayor who was famously quoted that she didn’t want certain types of people coming from Milwaukee if mass transit expanded to her suburb? And isn’t lower income housing routinely fought in many outlying areas despite the need for housing for workers? A more enlightened society might choose not to build walls that isolate people and fester societal problems.
Milwaukee, in part through its leaders, has seen many more successes than Hutton acknowledged. Certainly, there are areas that will always need our attention. But having outside representatives judge Milwaukee’s leadership is patronizing and condescending. Milwaukeeans need to continue to press the state through our leaders because we are affected by decisions made almost daily by folks “nearly 100 miles away.”
Frank D. Alioto Milwaukee