Issue of the Week: New Berlin or Old Mississippi?
The mayor's residence was vandalized on several occasions. "A sign that read 'nigger lover' was placed in his yard. 'Bigot' was spray-painted on his driveway." The mayor received threatening phone calls at home, his tires were slashed, and his car windows were shot through.
As the mayor put it to a friend at the time, "I am a prisoner in my own home. ... Our city is filled with prejudice and bigoted people who with very few facts are making this project into something evil and degrading ... Unfortunately, I will be doing whatever is in my power to end this project; it will result in lawsuits and making [our city] a community of bigots."
Did these events take place in a rural Mississippi town in the Jim Crow era?
Nope. The federal case is being made against New Berlin, Wis., right now, in response to the predominately white community's reaction against an affordable-housing project that was working its way through the city's approval process.
Not surprisingly, the mayor, Jack Chiovatero, withdrew his support for the project after weeks of threats from New Berlin residents, 95% of whom are white. Although the project had initial support from city leaders, it's now on hold indefinitely. And the residents have gotten their way, at least for now.
The U.S. Department of Justice is suing New Berlin—a "community of bigots," in the mayor's own words—for allegedly violating the Fair Housing Act. Although New Berlin residents may feel that racial discrimination is acceptable, it's immoral and illegal and cannot continue.
Heroes of the Week
Walker's Point Youth and Family Center Volunteers
Located at 2030 W. National Ave., Walker's Point Youth and Family Center provides shelter, counseling and intervention services for troubled youth and their families. These services are made possible by adult and youth volunteers who make four-hour weekly commitments.
Area youth who have experienced abuse, neglect or homelessness can utilize the center's Runaway/Crisis Shelter, which provides a safe environment and counseling services. The center also maintains a 24-hour crisis hot line.
The center's "Transitional Living" program provides shelter and independent living skills to homeless youth, and its "Insights" program offers support services for young adults. "Family Support & Empowerment" classes are offered at locations throughout the city. The center also fields a street team that provides outreach services to homeless youth.
Readers who want to make a difference by helping children in need are urged to contact the Walker's Point Youth and Family Center at 414-647-8200 or www.walkerspoint.org.
Event of the Week
Pastors for Peace Friendshipment Caravan, July 8
The Pastors for Peace Friendshipment Caravan to Cuba will arrive in Milwaukee on July 8 for a potluck supper at the Central United Methodist Church (25th Street and Wisconsin Avenue) at 6 p.m., followed by a program with music and guest Rev. Luis Barrios speaking on "Cuba, Theology and Social Justice." Prior to the pastors' arrival, volunteers at the church will collect donations to send to Cuba. This year, Cubans are especially in need of construction materials to repair buildings damaged by hurricanes, plus bikes and kids' sports equipment. Materials will be collected Sundays through Thursdays, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., until July 7. For more information, go to www.pastorsforpeace.org or contact the Wisconsin Coalition to Normalize Relations With Cuba at www.wicuba.org or 273-1040 or 964-0350.
Yeah- I'm sure you always "joked" about that. YOU are the racist. YOU are the bigot. YOU are the one who stereotypes. YOU are a sick person.
Its starts when they arrive in their rattle trap rusted out cars. Soon the aluminum storm doors fall apart. Baby toys are trown about in the grass. There would be a demand for lottery tickets at Sendiks. Neighboring retailers would need to get security guards. There would be several police cars called to the No Inome housing complex daily. Hookers would be walking up and down National Avenue. Vacancy rates whould skyrocket in nearby shopping centers. Home prices would plunge further Burger King and McDonalds wrappers and cups would be thrown about. The graduation rates at New Berlin schools would drop. Good teachers will quit and go further west. Drug dealers would flock to the area. Roving gangs of men smoking cigarettes and their pants hanging below their waste, armed to the teeth with loaded gun. Loud ghetto blasters in the cars as they cruise the streets. Neighbors will need to get bars placed on their doors and windows. Look at the low rent apartments in Milwaukee. Thats what New Berlin will look like. All the while, the developer gets rich, and yells "SUCKERS" as he drives out of town laughing all the way to the bank.
I understand. Nobody want No Income housing projects in their neighborhood. Bringing in poor people to New Berlin would be like sending 5th graders off to college. They just are not prepared. Of course New Berlin is not a biggotted community. They welcome anyone who can afford to live there and have earned their own way. But to simply build a warehouse for sluggards and underachievers is rediculous.
New Berlin needs people like you. Like they alway say "Go west young man."
I don't believe ChiGuy is really Black. I've never met a Black person who used the term "my own kind" before in my entire life. That sounds more like the vernacular used by white bigots.
Hahaha...Jacob you're funny. So I can assume that because you've "met" a few black people in your lifetime, that makes you an expert on everything we say? Priceless....lol.
OldFriend1968 - The issue isn't for the people that may have, at one time, been affluent and fell upon hard times. The issue is for the people that have no respect for themselves or anyone else around them. Yes I know times are hard now. And if I lost my job, I'd have other avenues before resorting to low-income housing. Those that don't have alternate means may very well end up there. But they aren't the ones walking around with their pants saggin showing their underwear with a wife-beater on driving around in a $500 car with $5000 rims assuming that everyone wants to hear what music they're listening to. If low-income housing was truly used for what it was intended for, we wouldn't likely have these issues. There would be model people, like your friends and mine, who fell upon hard times and are respectful of themselves and their neighbors, and trying to do something with their lives and get out of that situation. If your friends were the only type of people that lived in low-income housing, no one would be opposed to that and we wouldn't be discussing this topic.