The Milwaukee Post

4 • Milwaukee County Post • April 20, 2018 Lipscomb re-elected County Board chairman as Nicholson,Taylor chosen as vice chairwomen MILWAUKEE — T he Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors elected Theodore Lipscomb Sr. to serve as chair man for the 2018-2020 ter m Monday — his third time in three years that the board chose him. He thanked his colleagues for the honor. "We have both existing challenges and new opportunities ahead. My focus will be on crafting positive solutions and ensuring the ef fective delivery of Milwaukee County services for our constituents," Lipscomb said in a news release. No other supervisors were nominated to serve as chair man for the 2016-2018 ter m. The board elected Supervisor Marcelia Nicholson as first vice chairwoman and Supervisor Sequanna Taylor as second vice chairwoman. Nicholson said, "As a young working woman of color who g rew up in the 53206 ZIP code, I ran for of fice because I wanted to advocate for and fight on behalf of those who are too often left behind by the gover ning process." Taylor, who serves the 2nd District, said, "Despite our dif ferences and indi- vidual political views, we all want what is best for our district and our county." Lipscomb, first elected as a supervisor in 2008, represents the 1st District, which includes Bayside, Brown Deer, Fox Point, Glendale, River Hills and a por- tion of northeaster n Milwaukee. Nicholson represents several Milwaukee communities in the 5th District, including Sher man Park, Washington Park, parts of the easter n portion of down- town Milwaukee, from Cathedral Square to the Third Ward, as well as Franklin Heights, and Metcalf Park. WEEK IN REVIEW STATE AND LOCAL STORIES OF INTEREST Walmart challenged on 'dark store' loophole MILWAUKEE — Making Change at Walmart, a project of the United Food & Commercial Workers International union, joined Alderwoman Chantia Lewis, Kae Jae Johnson, an organizer for Black Leaders Organizing for Community, and UFCW Local 1473 outside the vacant Northridge Mall to demand state leadership revisit Assembly Bill 386, a bill that attempts to close what is known as the "dark store" tax loophole. Organizers of the protest said that big-box retailers like Walmart have been using the "dark store" tax loophole to reduce their property tax rates by assessing their properties as if they were vacant, abandoned or "dark," like Northridge Mall, adding the loophole shifts the property tax burden to homeowners. In Wisconsin, Walmart and other big-box retailers used this loophole to try and cut their property assessments by a total of more than an estimated $700 million for the 12 months ending November, organizers said in a news release. Walmart has challenged communities, including Franklin, taking 12 Wisconsin municipalities to court 12 times over assessment appeals since 2014. Sen. Chris Larson, D-Milwaukee, said in a statement, "The mayor of Franklin was recently forced by Lowes to sign over $60,479 of taxpayer money after the town was sued using this loophole. When Republicans refused to debate a Democratic amendment that would've closed this loophole, they allowed these corporate giants to keep sticking it to the residential taxpayer." He said it's estimated big-box retailers will try to cut their property taxes by $700 million next year in the state. Steve Taylor shares concerns about identity politics MILWAUKEE — While congratulating Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Janesville, for his leader- ship as House speaker, former Supervisor Steve Taylor of Franklin also took a shot at politics today. "In my time here, I have seen Milwaukee County politics become more partisan and more divisive, as a result of the identity politics that some engage in. We just had an election season where County Executive Chris Abele used nearly $1 million of his vast personal wealth to defeat those who are critical of him in a manner that turned once civil local elections into gutter politics," said Taylor, who was defeated April 3, ending his six-year run as a supervisor. No gun found at Oak Creek High School; rumors under investigation, police say OAK CREEK — The Police Department said that a threat of a firearm at Oak Creek High School on April 13 was unsubstantiated. The department was notified at 1:40 p.m. and provided additional security through the rest of the day, the department said in a news release. There proved to be no gun despite rumors of one, the department said. However, the department is continuing to investigate the source of the rumors and asks anyone with information to call Detective Brett Mendola at 414-766-7629. Milwaukee County receives $250K grant to support entrepreneurial hub MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee County has received a $250,000 state grant to support con- struction of The Sherman Phoenix, an entrepreneurial and wellness hub in Milwaukee's Sherman Park neighborhood. According to a news release, the Community Development Investment Grant from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation will help fund the transformation of a fire-damaged bank on West Fond du Lac Avenue into an innovative commercial develop- ment that will house 20 businesses, most owned by people of color. The Phoenix is being built on the site of the former BMO Harris Bank that was dam- aged in a fire in the summer 2016. It will house small businesses offering a variety of goods and services, including pre- pared foods, wellness services, and arts and cultural activities. The building will also have a food hall with an outdoor patio and gathering spaces to foster community build- ing. The Phoenix will also offer business support through mentorship, business coaching and networking. The project is expected to create more than 75 jobs. Construction is underway and expected to be completed in the fall. "The Sherman Phoenix is a response to the call from the community to create more equitable economic opportunities for entrepreneurs of color," said Juli Kaufmann, co- developer of the project, in a statement. "We are grateful for this significant public sup- port, which is a critical part of our collaborative funding package enabling our innova- tive real estate model." Lipscomb Walker signs bills to protect Guard members, families MILWAUKEE — Gov. Scott Walker on Monday signed a bill into law that will protect soldiers and airmen in the Wisconsin National Guard as well as their families when they are mobilized to state active duty. Walker signed Assembly Bill 943, which provides for re-employment rights, death ben- efits and continuation pay benefits for National Guard members on state active duty. "Wisconsin continues to lead the nation in ensuring that our service members have the protections they need and deserve for serving our state and nation," Walker said. "This legislation is another way we are striving to help those who protect our freedom. I encourage other states to follow suit in ensuring individual states match or exceed the protections afforded to service members by the federal government." Maj. Gen. Don Dunbar, Wisconsin's adjutant general, thanked Walker and the Legislature for making a commitment to protect Wisconsin National Guard members serving on state active duty. The bill requires the Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs to pay a $100,000 death gratuity to a beneficiary designated by the service member in the event of their death while serving on active duty. The federal government provides a $100,000 death gratuity to beneficiaries when serv- ice members die while serving in their federal capacity, but states are under no obliga- tion to do the same when National Guard members or other state defense forces die while serving in a state active duty status. Service members injured while serving in a federal capacity receive continuation pay, but there were previously no such protections for service members injured on state active duty. The bill passed both the Wisconsin State Assembly and the Wisconsin State Senate unanimously.

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