Barrett slams calls to arm teachers
Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett called for expanding background checks and slammed proposals to arm teachers Monday during his annual State of the City address.
Without mentioning House Speaker Paul Ryan by name, Barrett criticized his and others’ comments warning against a “knee-jerk” reaction to the Florida school shooting that killed 17 people Feb. 14.
“After yet another mass shooting, when someone dismissively says ‘now is not the time for knee-jerk reactions,’ I am angered,” Barrett said in his speech at Northwestern Mutual Tower and Commons in downtown Milwaukee. “I am angered that the NRA, our president and those afraid of losing NRA money want teachers to carry loaded firearms in classrooms. Talk about a knee-jerk reaction.”
And he called for a ban on assault weapons and a crackdown on “the illegal gun trade.”
During his speech, Barrett also called for building or improving 10,000 housing units over the next 10 years, a plan the Journal Sentinel first reported Sunday.
The mayor also highlighted plans to expand Milwaukee’s RiverWalk, touted a partnership with Associated Bank to increase funding for the city’s STRONG Homes Loan program, and said he plans to use $2.5 million from the city’s new water deal with the City of Waukesha to replace lead laterals in Milwaukee.
“While other communities are not addressing this problem, Milwaukee has been recognized as one of only 21 cities nationwide that has taken steps to address lead service lines,” he said.
Barrett’s message comes as his administration has been rocked by turmoil at the Milwaukee Health Department following news that city staffers failed to provide services to families of thousands of children who tested positive for lead — or at least failed to document those efforts.
The mayor acknowledged the city’s struggles with lead poisoning, but touted that the number of children with elevated blood levels has been dropping during his tenure as mayor.
“We need to focus on getting kids tested and eliminating the hazards they face,” he said. “We have continued to take decisive action to address deficiencies in our Health Department’s lead program.”
Barrett’s affordable housing plan includes building new developments, including locations in and around downtown.
“I’m especially interested in seeing more affordable housing in the heart of the city,” the mayor said. “Growing affordable units in these areas will make it easier for workers to get to nearby jobs.”
The downtown development boom has allowed his administration to do more work in the neighborhoods, he said.
Ald. Tony Zielinski, a 2020 mayoral candidate, criticized those comments, accusing Barrett of making Milwaukee’ crime problems worse by neglecting the city’s neighborhoods.
“I cannot believe the mayor expects us to believe the neighborhoods should take a backseat for 14 years,” Zielinski said. “No wonder Milwaukee is one of the worst places to live in the country if you are AfricanAmerican.”
In his speech, Barrett also called for changes to the federal government’s Section 8 program to give people more flexibility when it comes to renting privately owned properties.
And he called on people to help address gaps in income, home ownership and educational attainment.
“We can’t deny or look the other way from facts. Funding is an issue. Wages are an issue. Fear of being deported is an issue. Poverty is an issue. Race is an issue,” he said. “We all have an obligation to roll up our sleeves, work toward solutions and take seriously the goal of achieving the common good.”
Barrett also still hoped to expand the Milwaukee Streetcar project into the city’s neighborhoods.
Barrett recently has clashed with members of the Common Council, especially over handling problems at the Health Department and the process for picking an interim commissioner.
He did not mention the Common Council or any aldermen during his speech.
Council President Ashanti Hamilton said council members weren’t looking for shout-outs, but want a commitment to address problems facing the entire city.
“We’re all going to push him,” Hamilton said. “We’re going to push him together.”
Asked if he believes the mayor and Common Council have a good working relationship right now, Hamilton paused.
“I think we’re always trying to work together,” he said. “Sometimes in trying to hold each accountable, you’re going to have some conflict. But we’re committed to moving this city forward together.”