The horrific lead crisis currently facing Milwaukee Public Schools is not the only piece of noteworthy news coming out of MPS. On April 22nd the school board elected Missy Zombor as President and Marva Herndon as Vice President. Based on their previous records we at Milwaukee Beagle hope and feel that Zombor and Herndon are the right people to steer MPS through this lead crisis and the various other crises the district currently faces.

Milwaukee, the “Freshwater Capital Of The World”, has struggled to get a handle on lead poisoning, which has rivaled levels in Flint, Michigan. There has been a revolving door at the Milwaukee Health Department with each new health commissioner promising reforms on this issue. One thing has been consistent through the years and amidst this turnover: Milwaukee politicians and bureaucrats claim to know, with certainty, which sources of lead are poisoning us most. This assertion is lobbed with confidence and present in almost every public statement the City of Milwaukee and its health department make about lead. 

The obstruction charge Patel is bringing against Dugan is dubious enough that they would have similarly retaliated against any but the most docile responses from others. The trouble is, Trump has been wading headlong into the murky waters of legal ambiguity for years, while Democrats stand on the edges, wringing their hands. When you are facing a problem, it is important to never be alone. Right now, Trump is attacking the judiciary, and the judiciary has been standing alone against him, just like Judge Hanna Dugan was left to stand alone. If she defeats the charges and resumes her position, Trump still won, because he got a judge suspended for months.

Two stories have dominated the conversation around the housing crisis in Milwaukee this year,  the damning scandal around Milwaukee public housing and the rejection of the Growing MKE plan. Both were covered by Milwaukee Beagle, but it is always important to continue to follow these stories after the initial headlines pass.

It’s a massive failure on the sheriff, chief judge and county executive’s part and on the part of the county board in general that they are only now working on securing and protecting migrants at the courthouse. 

You can take action to ensure the processes for defending migrants that these stakeholders develop are as robust as possible. 

Milwaukee, WI - Lead-Safe Schools (LSS) MKE, Get the Lead Out (GTLO) Coalition, and Metcalfe Park Community Bridges (MPCB) believe that strong leaders take responsibility for their actions and show initiative in coming up with solutions. The recent Mayor’s Office assertion that “any accusation that the city has dropped the ball in school maintenance is completely without merit” is a stunning display of impotent leadership.

The modus operandi for those in power who have brought us to this point have blamed each other, and while that blame is not misplaced, it is not a substitute for accountability for the failings by any individual party. The mayor, the common council, MHD and the new leadership of MPS need to come together to address this issue collectively. 

 I feel like some of us forgot that politicians are allowed to have bold ideas. I think I would take 10 Alex Browers over a Cavalier Johnson, a man whose only ideas include conceding to Republicans, enriching his corporate backers and rich friends, and vilifying Milwaukee’s most vulnerable people.

Yesterday’s election, with historic turnout, provided a resounding message to elites. We cannot be bought. Your money cannot stop us. In each of the races this cycle covered by Milwaukee Beagle, Wisconsin Supreme Court, Wisconsin State Superintendent, and Milwaukee Common Council District 3 we highlighted the disparity in resources between the candidates running. And in every single one of these races, despite facing an uphill battle, the candidate with less money behind them won.