A struggle in Brew City

Here in Milwaukee, poverty is a large problem. Along with the issue of poverty comes segregation and disenfranchisement of minorities. 50% of black males between 18-29 in this city are unemployed. Teen pregnancy is already a large problem, and the numbers are growing. A large percentage of these pregnancies are with men over 18. The Milwaukee public school system is about to be taken over by the mayor. A solution is needed.

While Milwaukee has its flaws, there sure are many people willing to kick the horse when it's down. Many people are opposed to the way the city is run, including the large portion of residents on welfare. When even hearing the word welfare, they clam up, picturing the stereotypical "welfare queen" who abuses tax payers by living off of the monthly checks, and producing nothing of worth for society. These ideas are prevalent amongst blue-collar whites who live just outside the city, convinced their less-than-ideal living conditions are the fault of some community of lazy minorities in Milwaukee, sucking the state's funds dry. Many in Wisconsin are quick to blame any deficit in the state budget on "lazy Milwaukee," and of course, their solution is to take away funding from the biggest city in the state. These people and their representatives demand concessions in funds for the school system, and public works projects around the city, and expect those funds to be directed into their no-name, manufactured villages. Alone, these people can't challenge the power of Milwaukee, but when you take into account that most every other small city and town in Wisconsin shares these pseudo-racist views, along with the senators and the governor, it isn't surprising that funds for our slowly dying city are constantly on the chopping block in the state senate.

The coming gubernatorial election pits Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker against the mayor of Milwaukee, Tom Barrett. Walker is at the lead of anti-Milwaukee feelings in state legislature, and never fails to invent new ways to cut city funding. For the last year, Walker has been taking motorcycle trips around the state to court the conservative vote for the upcoming election. He has devoted large portions of working time to these trips, in spite of concerns by citizens that he isn't spending enough time doing the job he was elected for.

Walker has pledged to cut busing in Milwaukee, and work to privatize most public works, in an attempt to cut costs.

Although Barrett isn't the shining example of political genius, the fact that he's the mayor of Milwaukee means if he enters the governorship, it will be with the knowledge of our city's needs and desires. Come election time 2010, I will be first in line to cast my vote for Barrett, and hopefully the solution for Milwaukee's problems will begin to form.