Milwaukee Professionals Association

INNER CITY CITIZENS LEFT OUT, FDL & NORTH PLAN

NOT NOW, Not This Time

Summary Report
Dated: February 7, 2004

by:
Mary Glass - Chair/CEO
Campaign Neighborhood - CFNBA

January 23, 2004, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, YMCA, 1350 W. North Avenue

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION.
Bright lights, television cameras, people standing around the sides of the room, graphic boards of the project lead to the comments of ACTING Mayor Marvin Pratt, Alderpersons - Marlene Johnson-Odem, 6th District, Fred Gordon, 7th District, Willie Wade, 10th District and Willie Hines, 17th District, ACTING Commissioner - Patricia Algiers and entourage of DCD as well as hired guns Sally Maddick, 30th Street Corridor, Damon Dorsey, North Avenue Community Development Corporation and other consultants give the impression that "ALL IS WELL". "WE ARE HERE TO SAVE THE INNER CITY". We are bringing revitalization like downtown. NOT.

It failed to include the input and decisions of the people who live, work, invest and grow families in the areas of impact. That makes the Fond du Lac and North Plan BOGUS.

Stakeholders were not given the “whole story”.

NOT SO FAST
It is important to note that the last meeting for citizen input into this plan was in 2002 and ended with stakeholders expressing clearly that:

1. They were not pleased with the results of the National Main Street and Fond du Lac Study.

2. They were not pleased with or trusted the players around the table.

3. They were not pleased with the manner the study had been conducted.

4. They were not pleased with the proposed items.

5. They were not pleased with the overall “un-inclusive” way the Department of City Development was handling this plan.

So to come back with business as usual - same format, same players, same plan with consultants’ embellishments and a fast track implementation plan (meetings in February, 2004, with City Plan and Neighborhood and Development Committees) is offensive, out-of-order, arbitrary and capricious and will be met with resistance.

Additionally, it was surprising that we are in an ELECTION YEAR and ALL Aldermanic candidates running for the 6th, 7th and 15th Districts, as well as, ALL Mayoral Candidates were not invited to the meeting. To just have incumbents was out-of-order.

Further, a “DONE-DEAL” Resolution was introduced on January 21, 2004, by Alderman Fred Gordon, Alderman Willie Hines and Alderman Willie Wade, File 031312, approving the Fond du Lac and North Neighborhood Comprehensive Plan as an element of the City’s Comprehensive Plan (DCD) per the Smart Growth Initiative - Statute, 66.1001, with adoption by the City Plan Commission on February 16, 2004, twenty-four days later.

The targeted areas IMPACTED BY the Fond du Lac & North Comprehensive Plan includes Aldermanic Districts 6, 7, & 15th but Alderwoman Marlene Johnson-Odem was not named in the Resolution. Why?

This plan has so many far-reaching negative effects, major gentrification for one, if not properly planned.

Once taken through committees - City Planning and Zoning, Neighborhood and Development as well as the Common Council, it is adopted as law.

Most of the folk present had not a clue of the State Statute attachment to the plan NOR how important their role was to the plan.

For Gordon, Hines and Wade to introduce a “done-deal” resolution without holding a minimum of four townhall meetings is grounds for their removal of office.

They must be held accountable for their “lack of judgment”.

The Smart Growth Initiative Implementation plan REQUIRES public hearings before adoption or amendment.

Their lock-step bad judgement:
1. Gives the impression they have informed their constituents. Not.

2. Gives the impression they have polled them for documentation. Not.

3. Gives the impression they have held town hall meetings in all three districts. Not.

4. Gives the impression they have hosted small “focus groups” in all three districts. Not.

5. Gives the impression they have called upon leadership groups of their perspective areas to provide input/documentation resulting from formal meetings. NOT.

6. Keeps members of the Inner City area from being knowledgeable, taking ownership, making input for buy-in and being accountable.

7. Keeps the area they represent from growing, being productive, being competitive, being healthy and self-sustaining.

8. Advances the “disconnect” that is so widely known in the areas they represent. And, continue to divide Milwaukee’s neighborhoods into the “haves” and the have nots.

9. Create “barriers” for input and final acceptance of a Fond du Lac & North Comprehensive Plan.

This is a major breech of trust and an injury that must be mended prior to continuance of this plan.

NOT NOW. NOT THIS TIME.

First of all, it is safe to say that most of the neighborhood folk (99.9%) present did not know what the Smart Growth Initiative is. Therefore, they would not know the significance of it.

Since they did not get a Draft prior to OR during the meeting for reference, they would not know its relevancy to the FDL & North Comprehensive Plan.

Consequently, it was disingenuous to have reference of the State Statute, 66.1001, in the Draft and not have copies of the Draft available for all in attendance that were stakeholders impacted; OR, an Executive Summary which gave a detailed explanation.

DCD HIRED GUNS
With all due respect to the 30th Street Corridor – Sally Maddick and North Avenue Community Development Corporation – Damon Dorsey, they are “hired guns” with baggage.

NORTH AVENUE CDC - The Original Main Street Plan was introduced by Mary Glass - CNI/Fondy/North Business Association for the targeted area. It was stolen with the support of DCD, The Department of Commerce and North Avenue Community Development Corporation – Damon Dorsey.

This is known by many in the targeted area that worked with Glass for over a year and presented to Jim Engle – Department of Commerce Selection Committee the first year the National Main Street was open to Milwaukee.

30TH STREET - As for 30th Street Corridor, since the era of George Christianson, it has been trying to rebound for the last few years. It was on Burleigh, then down on Vilet to back on Fond du Lac in M& I Bank.

They both have been “hand-picked” by DCD and others downtown to “come in” and “give the impression of accepted leadership for the target area and do the will of DCD and others downtown. That’s a violation of the stakeholders rights. That’s arbitrary and capricious behavior.

PRESENTATION
The Department of City Development/DCD handpicked the “same” handful of businesses and inserted them in the consultants and DCD planning overview. This automatically alienated the many merchants, church owners, property owners, resident and taxpayers seeking change.

The short power point slide presentation failed because the leadership staff of DCD left out the most important part, the input and decision making by the people who live, work, invest and grow families in the target area.

Left out input from the merchants that have faithfully paid their taxes each year.

Left out the seniors.

Left out the senior “owner-occupied homes.

Left out “core” specifics for resolving problems that affect the growth, safety and competitiveness of the neighborhood.

Left out those who have been waiting to see that their dreams of entrepreneurship and revitalization are is realized.

Left out the massive changes needed in the new Zoning laws.
Left out the Asian and African Americans input of the Milwaukee Mall.
Left out Audie & Mae Dotson, Myra Holland, H. Gallatin, Bobbie Sims, Ricardo McKenzie, Mark Quattawona,
Carl Reed, Alvina Merzrath, Eddie Skinner, Mike Arend, Randy Radke, Pastor Betty Hayes, Cheray Love, Bonnie Jackson Melvin, Worthington Hortman, Clayborn Benson, James Canady, Hui Lee, John Brobersen, Rev. Harold Moore, Gale Curtis, Tommy L. Hobson, Lillie Young, Pastor Maurice Lawrence, Salvar Lawad, Chould Choudry, Tony Hayes, Jeffrey Ausprung, Leopoldo Balderas, AJ Wilson, Carl Gee, Anthony Rim, Michael Stone, Maylon Richardson, Earl Hines, William Springer, Marie Sylkek, Mittie Baker David Pitts, Roy Jorden, Ethel Collins, Paul Gayle, Brew City Barbering, Curative Rehabilitative, Autozone, Mark Irgens, Dick Lincoln, Gerard Randall, Center St. Fish, Magikist, Working Class Bar, M & M Lounge, Aventis BIO, Goldrush Chicken, Walgreens, Love’s Liquor, Checker, Kentucky Fried, TCF Banking, Bank One, North Shore, Mack’s Heating, Family Dollar, St. Vincent DePaul, North Avenue Vision, McDonalds, Wendy’s, Jake’s, Master Lock, Old St. Mary’s, Phillis Wheatley Schoool, Brown Street School, Clarke, 21st Elm, North Division, Starms, Metcalfe, many churches, Glenn Brown and Mary Glass to name a few.

The major consultant firm, Planning and Design Institute, was devoid of African American staff members, even though the targeted area is approximately 90% African American. According to the Fond du Lac & North Comprehensive Study, African Americans make-up approximately 82% of the population. Therein lies a “lack of sensitivity” and “relevance credibility”.

Further, it included recommendations from two previously initiated controversial studies: “1996 Edwards Fond du Lac Restoration Plan” and the “National Main Street”.

That’s not what the Smart Growth Initiative or the federal regs mean as “citizen involvement”.

The Mission Plan, Goals and Objectives, Neighborhood Context, and Physical and Cultural History of the Fond du Lac & North Avenue Draft reeked with “staged and outside” input.

The Physical and Cultural History represented in the Fond du Lac and North Avenue Study is downright insulting. Again, “selected names”, some without legitimate history was included.

The portrayal of “Recent Significant Developments” lacked inclusion and gave an incorrect picture of what is and what has happened in and along the corridors.

The above are but some of the reason that the plan is not “representative of the area” and can not be adopted at this time.

It’s back to the drawing board. The Acting Commissioner Algiers must provide innovative leadership. She needs to be visible, respectful and sincere.

Repair public relations. Do the homework. Remove the phony barriers. Invest the time, person-power and money in the stakeholders for:

1. Inclusion – input: youth, commercial-residential-industrial focus groups, leaders, town hall meetings, aldermanic and other elected official input, consultants.

2. TO BUILD TRUST.

3. TO BUILD Neighborhood Buy-in.

4. Information sharing(ongoing) and Communication Networks

5. Hiring various consultants within the neighborhoods that have roots in leadership.

6. An INCLUSIVE PLAN WITH BUY-IN OF THE CITIZENRY.

Stakeholders rights were violated by the very ones who are suppose to be representing their interest.

It appears that the process is being rushed with timelines pre-set, certain individuals are around the table calling the shots and the taxpayers, those who will live, work, invest and grow families are left out as with the previous studies.

NOT NOW. NOT THIS TIME.

NOTE
DO NOT EXPECT THE TARGETED AREAS STAKEHOLDERS TO BE ABLE TO DOWNLOAD PDF or ANY FILES.