Common Council President Cavalier Johnson December 21, 2020
I was saddened to hear the news that former Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice
Shirley Abrahamson passed away over the weekend. My thoughts are with her friends and family during this difficult time.
Chief Justice Abrahamson had such a profound impact on the legal profession across the state, and there is no doubt her loss will be felt across that community. She broke many barriers in Wisconsin as a pillar of the highest court, including becoming the first woman to serve on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, becoming the first female chief justice (a position she held for a record 19 years), and eventually she became the longest-serving member in the court’s history.
Seeking changes to state law to give city s elected officials control. By Jeramey Jannene - Dec 15th, 2020 04:11 pm //end headline wrapper ?>Milwaukee City Hall. Photo by Jeramey Jannene.
Milwaukee’s 135-year-old Fire & Police Commission (FPC), often billed as the most powerful independent public safety oversight body in the country, will lose some of its power if the Common Council gets its way.
The council passed three separate resolutions Tuesday calling on the city’s lobbying team to seek changes to state law governing the hiring and firing of the police and fire chiefs and the structure of the commission.
“I think it’s a reform that’s frankly long overdue,” said leading sponsor Alderman
Means 30 fewer officers, leaving Milwaukee down by 150 officers in 2021. By Jeramey Jannene - Dec 15th, 2020 12:53 pm //end headline wrapper ?>Milwaukee Police Department officers block a freeway on-ramp from protesters. Photo by Jeramey Jannene.
After months of debate, the Common Council narrowly rejected a controversial federal COPS grant Tuesday morning that would fund 30 new police officers. The decision comes as the council and other city officials grapple with issues related to policing and growing fiscal issues.
The council rejected the grant on a 6-8-1 vote.
But Alderwoman
Nikiya Dodd, who voted against its acceptance, took the unusual step of motioning to “enter the file into the journal,” a parliamentary move to allow the council to take one more vote on it during its January meeting.