The Milwaukee Post

10 • Milwaukee County Post • November 17, 2017 $500,000 toward it. The proposal was dis- cussed in concept last year, but was left out of Barrett's version of the budget. "I was looking forward to this year's budget ... so we can finally get back on track as a city," Stamper said as he expressed dismay the study was not included in the budget. "This is about cre- ating equal opportunities for everyone." Stamper's pitch convinced 11 of his elected colleagues to move forward with the line-item addition. "We will not thrive before we move together as one," said Alderman Jim Bohl, who was an ardent supporter of the plan. But Alderman Terry Witkowski, who was one of the three council members vot- ing against funding the study, maintained a different perspective as he pointed out the city's various funding challenges this year. Witkowski argued the disparity study would not solve the city's problems when it comes to the city's frequent high rank- ings, compared to urban areas elsewhere in the U.S., when it comes to a high pro- portion of racial poverty within the black community. "Is this the best use of limited resources?" Witkowski said. "I don't think so." Public safety scrutinized Funding allocations toward public safe- ty also took center stage throughout the half-day final review. Aldermen did back Barrett's plan to implement cuts to police staffing and close fire stations, though the police cuts were not as steep as the mayor initially pro- posed. Barrett's initial plan called for 33 fewer sworn positions, but a funding adjustment by the council is expected to bring the cuts down to 27 fewer officers. Zielinski, who has vocally opposed Barrett's budget and public safety cuts from the onset, said he voted against the entire budget, in part, because of the reductions. "If we don't feel safe, what good is any- thing else?" Zielinski said as he expressed concern with the city's funding priorities. Barrett statutorily has the right to issue line-item vetoes on specific areas of the budget. At press deadline, he had not indi- cated whether he planned to issue any. In a big-picture sense, council President Ashanti Hamilton said he was pleased with the outcome of the budget, taking into account the various funding chal- lenges city officials have had to face this year. "This budget was about prioritizing the diverse needs of our city by ensuring resi- dents have quality services while main- taining our commitment to being fiscally responsible," Hamilton said in a statement after the budget adoption meeting. Alderwoman Milele Coggs, who chairs the council's Finance and Personnel Committee, offered similar sentiments in her wrap-up remarks. "This was truly a collaborative effort by the Common Council, on behalf of the cit- izens of the City of Milwaukee," Coggs said. MILWAUKEE — The annual Tree Lighting in the Monarch Lounge will occur from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Hilton Milwaukee Hotel, 509 W. Wisconsin Ave. Enjoy hot chocolate and cookies, carol- ing with Winter Wonderland featuring Olivia Gonzales, family-friendly activities, holiday movies around the fireplace, and pictures with Santa. The official tree light- ing takes place at 12:30 p.m. Complimentary parking with purchase. "This budget was about prioritizing the diverse needs of our city by ensuring residents have quality services while maintaining our com- mitment to being fiscally responsible." — Alderman Ashanti Hamilton, Common Council president "If we don't feel safe, what good is anything else?" — Alderman Tony Zielinski Budget: Diversity study, $500,000 in funding added to 2018 city spending plan continued from Page 5 Immigration: Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office hasn't been notified if participation approved announced as they enter into memorandums of understanding. She also said Milwaukee County's application was not among those approved Tuesday. But she had no information as to why Waukesha County's applica- tion was approved by Milwaukee County's wasn't. Voces de la Frontera released a statement Wednesday morning that celebrated the decision as it relates to Milwaukee County and called on Waukesha County Sheriff Eric Severson to back out of the agreement. "This victory in Milwaukee is a result of our efforts to give voice to the families who have suffered terrible human rights viola- tions at the hands of the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office," Christine Neumann-Ortiz, executive director of Voces de la Frontera, said in the state- ment. "We continue to call on Sheriff Severson to not sign the 287g agreement in Waukesha, and we urge Governor Walker to block the state bill AB190, which is very similar to 287g." AB190 would prohibit state municipalities from adopting ordinances pro- hibiting their employees from enforcing federal and state laws related to enforce- ment of immigration. But Fran McLaughlin, spokeswoman for the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office, said the fact that the MCSO's application was not approved Tuesday does not necessarily mean it won't be at some time in the future. "People are assuming because it didn't get approved it was rejected and we don't know that," she said. "We haven't been noti- fied it's been approved, we haven't been notified it's been rejected and it's our understanding the applica- tion is still under considera- tion." McLaughlin also ques- tioned the allegation of human rights violations, saying it is "a little bit sus- pect" because no one has brought specific allegations of violations or cases against the sheriff's office regarding immigration- related matters. The MCSO application was submitted under for- mer Sheriff David Clarke. Asked on Wednesday whether his interim succes- sor, Acting Sheriff Richard R. Schmidt, feels the same way Clarke did about the 287(g) program, McLaughlin said "he'll speak to that when he's ready. At this point I don't have an answer for you on that." A representative of County Executive Chris Abele's office did not return messages seeking a com- ment by press time Wednesday. Waukesha County Sheriff Eric Severson said in a statement last month that his agency's application was "narrowly focused on jail custody of illegal aliens," that the 287(g) pro- gram provides federal authority "to do our job" and his request "does not create a local immigration force within the community seeking to deport non-crimi- nals. The model does not contemplate engaging in sweeps or round-ups looking for non-criminal illegal aliens. Again, our participa- tion request is specifically for a jail model that allows us to work more effectively with ICE to honor all detain- ers with lawful federal authority." But Voces de la Frontera President José Flores of Waukesha said, "As a father, I'm worried that this anti- immigrant, racist 287g pro- gram will destroy our Waukesha County families. ... We want to touch Sheriff Severson's heart and urge him to not sign the agree- ment to start this program, which will end up separat- ing so many families. We will keep fighting against hate." According to ICE, some 60 jurisdiction in 18 states — none in the Upper Midwest or Great Plains states — have entered into 287(g) agreements with federal immigration authorities. MILWAUKEE — The Pfister Hotel's annual Tree Lighting event will take place from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Nov. 24, featuring the tree lighting at 5:30 p.m. The event will center around the 18-foot LED- lighted holiday tree at The Pfister Hotel, 424 E. Wisconsin Ave. The festive event includes complimentary holiday treats, music, hot cocoa and more. Parents are invited to bring their cameras, as Santa and Mrs. Claus will arrive at 5:20 p.m. on a Milwaukee Fire Department fire truck to greet guests and pose for photos. Guests will be encouraged to write let- ters to Santa and drop them in Santa's mailbox. The hotel will collect food for Hunger Task Force and encourages guests to bring nonperishable food items. This event is free and open to the public. Enjoy compli- mentary parking with any purchase. continued from Page 1 Food to be collected for Hunger Task Force Pfister to host tree-lighting ceremony Nov. 24 Winter Wonderland at Hilton Milwaukee

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