Latest news with #MilwaukeeCommonCouncil
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
As Milwaukee leaders come to her support, MPS aide may not have to leave US immediately
As members of the Milwaukee Common Council stood in the council chambers for 14 minutes on June 3 — one for each year Yessenia Ruano has lived in the United States — news broke that her imminent departure from the country could be delayed as her visa application for trafficking victims is processed. The news was the latest twist in Ruano's public effort to fight her deportation. The Milwaukee Public Schools teaching aide was ordered on May 30 by U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement to return to her home country of El Salvador. Before her self-deportation order was delayed, her flight was scheduled for the evening of June 3. Ruano, who has a pending visa application for human trafficking victims, previously said that if ICE ordered it, she'd leave the country with her daughters, who are both U.S citizens. The 14 council members who stood together flanking a photo of Ruano asked that she be able to stay in the country while her T-Visa is being processed. "It's about due process,' said council President José G. Pérez, who organized the action along with Alds. JoCasta Zamarripa and Marina Dimitrijevic. Pérez said he hoped the unanimous show of solidarity would demonstrate to Milwaukee's immigrant community that the council doesn't believe Ruano's treatment is fair. Zamarripa called Ruano the "kind of person that makes Milwaukee a better place." "She is one of millions of people who are suffering at the hands of a broken immigration system and whose American dream is now turning into a nightmare," Zamarripa said. Dimitrijevic said Ruano's case is one of many nationwide, and she hopes the council's action would point to the larger issue. "This city was built on the backs of immigrants, and that's why we stood in solidarity today, and we're not going to back down," Dimitrijevic said. The council action came one day after U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore, D-Milwaukee, sent a letter to Immigration and Customs Enforcement expressing 'deep concern' over Ruano's deportation order despite her pending visa application. Calling Ruano a 'pillar in our Milwaukee community,' Moore wrote that deporting her 'will not make our country safer.' Ruano had a plane ticket out of the Chicago O'Hare airport for the evening of June 3. She was packing suitcases in the morning when she learned she may have at least a bit more time in the U.S. Ruano and her attorney, Marc Christopher, requested a 'stay,' or a pause, on her deportation after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers on May 30 said she had to self-deport and return to her home country of El Salvador. The request for a stay has been received and is being considered by ICE, Ruano said. Her understanding is that she can remain in the U.S. while the request is being processed. But it was not clear how long it would take to be processed. A big caveat is that ICE is not prevented from carrying out the deportation while the request is being processed, Christopher said. Also, it was not immediately clear how much longer Ruano could stay in the U.S. if the request for a stay were granted. 'Ms. Ruano and her legal advocates remain hopeful that ICE will take into account the humanitarian gravity of her case,' Christopher said in a statement. ICE officers had said they would not wait for Ruano's open application for a trafficking victims' visa to be processed by a different immigration agency. Processing times for those visas can be two years or more. 'All we ask is that she be allowed to stay – at least until her T visa is decided – so she is not sent back into the very danger she fled,' Christopher said. Alison Dirr of the Journal Sentinel staff contributed to this story. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: MPS aide Yessenia Ruano learns she may get more time in US
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Two more fires in Milwaukee happen in residences without sprinklers: 'None of that has to happen'
Two Milwaukee fires on June 1 that displaced nearly 40 people shared a troubling characteristic: no sprinklers. The lack of sprinklers prompted a call from Milwaukee Fire Chief Aaron Lipski to address the issue, which has taken on increased prominence following a Mother's Day blaze that killed five people in a four-story apartment with no sprinklers in May. 'It looks like Godzilla took a bite out of both buildings. None of that has to happen,' Lipski said. 'Smoke alarms alert them to the problem; sprinklers allow them to get out.' Lipski's call to action came after the June 1 fires. About 25 people were displaced after a fire started at a 14-unit apartment at 4422 W. Hampton Ave. Less than 10 hours before, a four-unit apartment building at 8711 W. Villard Ave. set fire, displacing 14. Between the two fires, one person was injured and one firefighter had minor injuries. Investigators have yet to determine causes of the two fires, Lipski said. Lipski said sprinklers would have made a "dramatic difference" in these cases, echoing what he said following the Highland Court apartment fire in May. Since that fire and Lipski highlighting the issue, the lack of sprinklers in Milwaukee residences like these have come under scrutiny. That's allowed at these three buildings, and others like them, because of building code rules that allow buildings built before 1974 with certain sizes, shapes, dimensions and occupancy not to have sprinklers. The Hampton Avenue building was built in 1973 and the Villard Avenue apartment in 1962, according to online property records. On May 28, city officials met to review Milwaukee's sprinkler code, which is dictated by state law. That is due to Act 270, which then-Gov. Scott Walker signed into law 12 years ago and took away the ability of local governments to adopt municipal ordinances that are more restrictive than state law. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel previously reported that many state legislators, who were landlords themselves, helped pass laws around that time that undermined renter's rights. At the meeting, city officials said they are proposing increasing the number of fire protection inspections to twice a year in response to the Highland fire. The cost of adding sprinklers to buildings is a frequently cited reason for not requiring them and Lipski has pushed back against that repeatedly. At the meeting, he said it costs about the same as adding new carpet to a unit. On June 2, Lipski said he was feeling 'OK' about city officials' interest in addressing the issue. 'This has been a problem that's existed since sprinklers existed,' he said. 'It's not hyperbole. It's not fearmongering. It's happening and we got to see if we can fix it. If we try and we fail, then we'll just keep trying.' Officials estimate between 30,000 and 50,000 Milwaukee residents live in buildings without sprinklers. Milwaukee Common Council members Andrea Pratt and Mark Chambers Jr., who represent the areas where the June 1 fires occurred, did not immediately respond to Journal Sentinel requests for comment. The Red Cross opened a temporary shelter at Saint Paul Lutheran Church for tenants of the Humboldt fire, said Jennifer Warren, spokesperson for American Red Cross Wisconsin Region. Four people stayed overnight. Red Cross plans to host a Multi Agency Resource Center to help tenants secure another apartment. No date has been set yet. David Clarey is a public safety reporter at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. He can be reached at dclarey@ This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Two more fires in Milwaukee happen in residences without sprinklers
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
New Milwaukee District 3 alderman; get to know Alex Brower
The Brief Alex Brower was elected to the Milwaukee Common Council to serve as District 3 alderman on Tuesday, April 1. Brower defeated opponent Daniel Bauman. Brower was sworn into his new seat April 4, and he said it's been a warm welcome. MILWAUKEE - For the first time since the fall, Milwaukee's District 3 has a new alderman. Alex Brower was elected to the Milwaukee Common Council on Tuesday, April 1. The backstory Brower was sworn into his new seat April 4, and he said it's been a warm welcome. Brower defeated opponent Daniel Bauman. He will have a formal swearing-in ceremony on April 22. The District 3 seat was open since former alderman Jonathan Brostoff died by suicide in November 2024. FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android Dig deeper Brower considers himself a socialist. He said he's one of the first socialists in City Hall since the 60s. "I am bringing back sewer socialism to Milwaukee City Hall," Brower said. "As a socialist, I do still want to help out small businesses and have them be successful." He was appointed to the Public Works Committee and Licenses Committee. Sitting in his first meeting on Wednesday, he challenged a We Energies easement on city property. "Holding We Energies accountable is one of the first things that I did, and I am proud of that." Why you should care At City Hall, he's getting to know department heads and sat down with Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson. He said they have been welcoming. SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News "We are learning who are the best people in each of these departments to call so that we can get something done," he said. "My conversations with people at City Hall have been focused on where we can collaborate and get things done." What you can do Brower said his focus is setting up contact information for people who live in the district. For constituents to reach him, Brower can be contacted at 414-286-3447, or by email at The Source The information in this post was produced by FOX6 News.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Legislative Black Caucus wants schools to observe Vel Phillips' birthday
'Her life and work has impacted countless Wisconsinites, so much so that all Wisconsin students should know about and recognize her,' Rep. Supreme Moore Omokunde said. Screenshot via WisEye. The Legislative Black Caucus proposed Tuesday that Wisconsin make Vel Phillips' birthday — Feb. 18 — a special day of observance in Wisconsin schools. Rep. Supreme Moore Omokunde (D-Milwaukee), a bill coauthor, recognized Phillips' lengthy list of 'firsts' at a press conference Tuesday morning, saying that 'far too few' Wisconsinites know about her legacy. Phillips was Wisconsin's first Black statewide elected official, serving as secretary of state from 1979 to 1983. She also served as Wisconsin's first Black judge and the first woman judge in Milwaukee County and was the first Black woman to graduate from University of Wisconsin Law School. Phillips was the first African American and the first woman to be elected as a Milwaukee Common Council alder. She was an activist who advocated fair and affordable housing in Milwaukee, including introducing the Phillips Housing Ordinance in 1962, which would have outlawed racial discrimination among landlords and real estate agents in Milwaukee. The Milwaukee Common Council finally adopted an open housing ordinance in April 1968 after the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated and the U.S. Congress passed the Fair Housing Act of 1968. Phillips passed away on April 17, 2018. Her 101st birthday was Tuesday. 'Her life and work has impacted countless Wisconsinites, so much so that all Wisconsin students should know about and recognize her,' Moore Omokunde said. Sen. LaTonya Johnson (D-Milwaukee) said at a press conference that Phillips 'wasn't just a leader. She was a force of nature. She refused to accept the limits placed on her as an African American woman and as a woman in general, and she made sure that no one coming after her had to suffer those barriers,' Johnson said. 'Milwaukee is the city that it is today in part due to Vel Phillips. 'She wasn't just making history. She was paving the way for the rest of us — for Black women in Wisconsin who still face barriers, for girls who need to see what's possible and for every person who has ever been told to wait their turn,' Johnson said. 'That's what this bill is about — ensuring Vel Phillips' story is told for generations to come. Making Feb. 18 a special observance day isn't just about remembering Vel Phillips. It's about teaching our kids what she stood for, making sure her name, her fight, her legacy lives on.' There are 21 special observance days in Wisconsin's school calendar, including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Susan B. Anthony's birthday, Environmental Awareness Day, Bullying Awareness Day, September 11 Observance Day, Veterans Day and Robert La Follette Sr. Day. The Department of Public Instruction (DPI) states on its website that observance days can 'teach the elements of tradition that preserve U.S. society and foster an awareness of our cultural heritage' and 'can be part of a rich social studies curriculum that gives these individuals and events proper emphasis, both in the context of Wisconsin and U.S. history and in relation to their effect on or improvement of our political, economic and social institutions.' Mikki Maddox, a teacher at Necedah Area High School, is part of the reason the caucus brought the legislation forward. She said she started doing announcements for the school and marking the observance days in her calendar. 'I noticed that there are quite a few gaps,' Maddox said, adding that she contacted DPI and wrote to Senate and Assembly members about observance days. 'I knew this was a person that needed to be recognized all over the state for her courage and for her willingness to stand up,' Maddox said. Secretary of State Sarah Godlewski honored her predecessor at the press conference, recalling that she learned about Phillips in school only after taking her own initiative to look for women important to Wisconsin history and coming across her in a textbook. 'As Wisconsin's secretary of state I stand on Vel's shoulders. … She is a trailblazer and Wisconsin is better because of Vel's leadership,' Godlewski said. 'Too many students [are] just like the one that I was sitting in the classroom flipping through my history books and not seeing that full picture of who actually shaped our state.' The bill, Godlewski said, would ensure 'every student learns about her, not just as an afterthought, but as a fundamental part of our state history.' The bill, which is currently being circulated for co-sponsorship, will need bipartisan support to pass in the Republican-controlled Legislature. Moore Omokunde said he doesn't think recent hostility towards diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts from Republicans will hinder it, adding that many observances of Phillips already exist throughout Wisconsin. An outdoor statue of Phillips was installed outside the Wisconsin State Capitol in September 2024 — an action that received bipartisan approval in 2021. Phillips also had a Madison high school renamed for her in 2021 and a road in Milwaukee is named after her. 'We already have the statue. Vel Phillips has a street in Milwaukee… it's really a no-brainer,' Moore Omokunde said. The bill is a continuation of lawmakers' work to recognize and celebrate Black Wisconsinites during Black History Month. Early this month, lawmakers re-introduced a resolution to proclaim February as Black History Month. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Milwaukee northside bookstore, community space planned
The Brief The Milwaukee Common Council approved the sale of a city-owned building that will serve as a multipurpose facility. Located near 76th and Locust, it will be known as Darick Books Café Complex. The new space is anticipated to open late in 2026. MILWAUKEE - From eyesore to community asset, major renovations are underway at a vacant building on Milwaukee's north side. One man said a little creativity will help change the narrative. Big picture view For Darick Spears, the creative vision is crystal clear. He is the owner of Darick Books bookstore, located near 76th and Locust. It's a colorful space filled with books, art and inspiration to embrace creative power. What they're saying "My passion is always been the community," Spears said. "We've been here since 2020. It's the first book store of its kind." SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News What we know But Spears is planning to expand his current 2,000-square-foot store to a 21,000-square-foot location that is just down the street near 76th and Capitol. The Milwaukee Common Council approved the sale of the city-owned building that will serve as a multipurpose facility, to be known as Darick Books Café Complex. It will include alaundromat, gym and more. What they're saying "The building has been vacant for 10-plus years. It's a big building. I always say it needs some TLC: tender, love and creativity," Spears said. "To me it's like a blank canvas. The foundation is great, everything is great. I see the opportunity and go for it." FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android Milwaukee Alderman Lamont Westmoreland said for more than a decade, the site has been an eyesore. He said he is thrilled about this new amenity coming to his district. "This is not just a project, my project, this is also the city's project," Spears said. "So all different types of people, I want to bring everybody together and turn the tie in the community." What's next Work is likely going to take at least a year. The new space is anticipated to open late in 2026. The Source FOX6 talked with Darick Spears and used information from Alderman Lamont Westmoreland.
