milwaukee urban agenda

1Photo: Chris Murphy, The Capitol Times

Milwaukee Urban Agenda: Battling InequalityState Representative Mandela Barnes

A Growing Statewide Income Gap

Census trends show that, for Wisconsin workers, income has fallen for low-income groups as they significantly increased for the top percent

1https://www.census.gov/prod/2013pubs/acsbr12-02.pdf

Increasing Income While the Bottom Falls Behind

1https://www.census.gov/prod/2013pubs/acsbr12-02.pdf

Zeroing in on Milwaukee• Quick Facts (data from 2012):

• The city of Milwaukee ‘s per capita income ($19,199) is well below state levels ($27,426)

• Average family income in the city is at $54,203, compared to the $80,551 state average3

• 23.6% of Milwaukee families fell below the poverty line while the State reported only 8.4%

• The disparity between working families’ average incomes by Milwaukee zip codes show an even more detailed picture of wealth segregation–as these bottom incomes are in demographically African-American areas

2012 average income of working families (adjusted gross income of non-elderly married and single state tax filers with dependents)

212 to 1 Income Inequality among Working Families in Milwaukee County: Workforce Challenges for 2014 University of Wisconsin Milwaukee Employment & Training Institute, 20143 http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?src=bkmk

Visualizing the Racial Link

African American Population in Milwaukee Household Income Distribution in Milwaukee

42000 U.S. Census Bureau

Wisconsin: America’s Worst State for Black Children

• Recent study by the Annie E. Casey Foundation ranks Wisconsin LAST in the nation for its ability to prepare black children for success

• Ranking based on 12 metrics ranging from educational opportunity to home life

Attacking Milwaukee from the Capitol

• Public Schools weakened• Milwaukee’s local

control stripped• Restrictions on voting

rights, disproportionate impact on minorities

• 80,000 kicked off of BadgerCare

• No follow-through on ‘Transform Milwaukee’

Hurting Education• Massive Cuts to public education

• $2.6 billion cut from public education in 2011-2 budget, low spending level maintained in 2013-4

• Tax cuts that disproportionately benefit the wealthy• Not all schools held to same standards, accountability

Local Control No More• State Legislature defunds

and decimates Milwaukee County Board

• Residency requirements for city employees eliminated• Measure snuck into budget

• Low-Income and voters disenfranchised by voter restriction bills

• Redistricting shifts power to Republican suburbs and towns

Transform Milwaukee: Promise Broken

• $100 million promised by the governor in 2012 through WHEDA • One year later, $75 million short

• Money shifted away from high-need areas to special interest projects

Gov. Walker Tiptoes away from Transform Milwaukee

Working towards Solutions

Job Preparation• Strong public education• Strengthening MPS• Holding voucher schools

accountable

• Access to higher education• Universities• Technical colleges

• Job training programs• Technical colleges • Community

organizations

Strengthen Milwaukee

• Reinvestment initiative zones• Community and economic development investment• High need areas targeted

• Improved financing for housing and business development • Community based Councils ensuring well-tailored

development planning• Milwaukee residents hired for the redevelopment• Millions invested to create jobs, strengthen communities,

improve the city

Fair Employment• AB 755• Proposed amendment to the

Wisconsin Fair Employment Law

• Makes illegal hiring discrimination based on employment status

• Recent unemployment shouldn’t be a barrier to future employment

• Breaking down unjust barriers to employment, helping the unemployed get jobs

Thank You!• Contact my Office at any time with questions• Phone: 608-266-3756• E-mail: rep.barnes@legis.wi.gov• Online: http://legis.wisconsin.gov/assembly/barnes/