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Black Chamber of Commerce hoping next Milwaukee Mayor keeps central city in mind

Posted at 6:25 PM, Nov 20, 2019
and last updated 2019-11-20 19:27:27-05

MILWAUKEE — After Mayor Tom Barrett announced his intent to seek re-election for a fifth term, the Wisconsin Black Chamber of Commerce says they need to see more before supporting him or any candidate.

"You better have a vision for the future of the central city or you will not get our support," Ruben Hopkins, Chairman and CEO of the Wisconsin Black Chamber of commerce said. "We will not come out for jobs, jobs, jobs. We're not coming out for generalities."

During his speech, Mayor Barrett touted several accomplishments over his four terms as mayor.

"Look at all the work we've done, not just in this building, but throughout the community," Barrett said, standing inside the new Sherman Phoenix building. "Look at the Menomonee Valley where, at one point, you needed an all-terrain vehicle to get from one end of the valley to the other. Now, it's jobs and jobs and more jobs."

However, Barrett chose to look forward to what he hopes to do if elected.

He says he wants to upgrade or build 10,000 homes in 10 years, keep crime down while retaining the police force and doing more with early childhood education.

But he says all of those things hinge on more jobs, especially in areas of high unemployment in the city.

"We need family supporting jobs in the central city," Barrett said. "That's my commitment and continues to be my commitment."

"You need to be specific," Hopkins said. "What are your plans for the future of this community?"

Even last month, when the meat processing plant Strauss Brands backed out of a $60 million investment at Century City, eliminating 250 potential jobs, Hopkins wasn't so concerned about the loss of jobs.

His focus is on what jobs can mean for the quality of life for people in the area.

"If those jobs had came, then what?" Hopkins said. "You're not going to put a movie theater next to a slaughter house or bowling alley. What was the long term plan for the area? We deserve the same quality of life others have in their communities. We've been lulled into a sense of somehow, we're not deserving and that's got to change."

It isn't something lost on Mayor Barrett.

"I know there is too much poverty," Barrett said. "I know that there are challenges we have because of racism, because of segregation. I want to be involved in addressing those issues because I think we can really make some strong, strong progress."

Hopkins says the Wisconsin Black Chamber of Commerce hasn't decided which candidate they will be backing in this election.