Milele A. Coggs
City Hall, Room 205 • 200 E. Wells Street • Milwaukee, WI 53202
(414) 286-2994 • mcoggs@milwaukee.gov • www.milwaukee.gov/district6
Dear Neighbor,
Community involvement is key to maintaining healthy, engaged neighborhoods. What facilitates that involvement is being empowered with useful information—the sort of useful information that I have included in this newsletter. The controversy surrounding the death in police custody of Derek Williams
may have reached a temporary conclusion, but a broader investigation into the department is ongoing to determine whether there exists a pattern or practice of discrimination. I have played an active role in demanding greater transparency and institutional change in our police department, and you can
too. Additionally, I am pushing back against proposals in state government that could change the way Wisconsinites vote and do away with the City of Milwaukee’s residency requirement for municipal employees, which has been on the books for 75 years.
There are other stories that fill me with hope and enthusiasm. New businesses are opening, neighbors are taking a greater stake in preventing vandalism to vacant buildings and, most importantly, our young people are learning early on to get engaged and make the world a better place.
Also, I am excited to announce that I now chair the City Information Management Committee and sit on the Neighborhood Improvement Development Corporation Board, in addition to serving as the vice chair
of the Licenses Committee and sitting on the Finance and Personnel Committee, the Library Board of Trustees and the Commission on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault.
As always, please do not hesitate to contact my office with any questions, or to request a neighborhood meeting.
Peace, Love & Justice,
Milele A. Coggs, J.D.
6th District Alderwoman - City of Milwaukee
Committee Assignments
City Information Management - Chair
Licenses - Vice Chair Finance & Personnel - Member
Neighborhood Improvement Development Corporation - Member
Library Board of Trustees - Member
Commission on Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault - Member
U.S. Civil Rights Division Accepting Tips From Milwaukee Citizens About MPD
Residents who believe Milwaukee Police officers have violated their rights now have an outlet for their concerns, with the announcement by U.S. Attorney James Santelle that the Civil Rights Division of the U.S.
Department of Justice has set up a toll-free tip line and email address. The information gathered through these sources will be used to help determine whether Mr. Santelle and the Civil Rights Division should conduct a formal “pattern and practice” investigation of the Milwaukee Police Department.
Anyone interested in providing information can contact the Department of Justice by calling 1-855-544-5132 or via email at community.milwaukee@usdoj.gov. The recorded phone message is in both English and Spanish.
Tip Hotline Means $$ for Reporting Illegal Dumping
The Common Council has approved a tip hotline whereby callers can be eligible to receive reward
money after anonymously providing information on incidents of illegal dumping of debris and/or
hazardous materials. Illegal dumping includes dumping of items, brush, and/or materials on streets,
sidewalks, parking lots, vacant lots, alleys, or at vacant properties.
If you see or know of illegal dumping, call WeTip at: 1-800-78-CRIME
If the information provided leads to a conviction, you may be eligible for a reward up to $1,000.
Freedom Scholarship Essay Winners
In fall 2012, Alderwoman Coggs announced the winners of the 5th Annual Freedom Scholarship Essay Contest. Alderwoman Coggs said each of the winning entries was exceptionally well-written and struck a
chord about the steep price that has been paid for freedom. “These writers each captured the
importance of tapping into the spirit of our ancestors and our history, because that gives us a fresh perspective on the life and death struggles they persevered through so that we could have many of the freedoms we have today,” Alderwoman Coggs said.
Mikael L. Luter, in his essay, wrote: “To combat and prevent such negativity and inequality, we must begin to educate each other more, as well as more thoroughly on the lifestyles, cultures and spiritualities of the
aforementioned ‘seeds’ of our roots.” He is a 2010 graduate of Dominican High School and now a sophomore at Marquette University.
Imari Conner was also awarded a scholarship for her essay, in which she wrote: “History lessons can be taught, but if no one appreciates or understands the sacrifice ancestors made to make sure there were
opportunities for their children, there will be no progress.” She is a 2012 high school graduate of Ronald Reagan High School and a freshman attending Fisk University.
The annual contest challenges students to put into words what the concept of “freedom” means to them and how they can combat and prevent prejudice, discrimination, and violence in our world today. Both Luter
and Conner have received a $500 scholarship award.
The 6th Annual Freedom Essay Scholarship application will be available in April at:
www.milwaukee.gov/district6
MKE Business Now Entrepreneurship Summit
Back for the second year in a row, the MKE Business Now Entrepreneurship Summit continued in its mission of connecting aspiring entrepreneurs and business owners with the resources
they need to be successful. Sponsored by Alderwoman Coggs, this year’s event included an
address by Mayor Tom Barrett, a panel discussion with local business leaders, business workshops and representatives from more than 25 organizations that offer assistance and resources
to local entrepreneurs.
For more information about future events, call (414) 286-2994.
Pleasant St. Bridge Continues on Schedule
The rehabilitation of the Pleasant St. lift bridge over the Milwaukee River is continuing on schedule, according to the Department of Public Works. The contractor, Zenith Tech, has already completed much concrete work and has focused attention on deck reconstruction, structural steel and other
components, and sandblasting and refinishing all removed bridge machinery. The Pleasant St. bridge project is scheduled to be completed by August 2013.
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