KEY POINTS:

• WisPolitics will hold a buffet luncheon at The Madison Club on December 15, 2022 with mayor Cavalier Johnson and David Crowley.
• Check-in begins at 11:30 a.m. The program will start at 12:00 p.m. and end around 1:00 p.m.
• Cavalier Johnson was one of the leading advocates at City Hall pushing for defunding the Milwaukee PD.
• In 2017, Johnson co-sponsored a resolution that called to eliminate mandatory minimum sentencing.
• Milwaukee homicide rates are up 100% from 2021.
• Crowley was elected to join the Wisconsin Legislative Black Caucus and vowed that at all times, the caucus would be “unapologetically black” with their actions. 
• His page on the Milwaukee County website includes his priorities as County Executive, where “Achieving Racial Equity” is at the top of his list. He fails to mention public safety or crime.
• David Crowley released an inflammatory statement regarding the shooting of Jacob Blake, a statement that took a clear stance in support of the rioting that took place.

WisPolitics will hold a buffet luncheon at The Madison Club on December 15, 2022, for a discussion with two Democratic leaders: Milwaukee’s County Executive David Crowley and Mayor Cavalier Johnson. 

The event will be held at The Madison Club, 5 East Wilson St., Madison, WI, on Thursday. Check-in begins at 11:30 a.m. The program will start at 12:00 p.m. and end around 1:00 p.m. Members of Wispolitics.com and members of The Madison Club can enjoy discounted pricing of $22.50 per person; the price for the general public is $25 per person.   

Register to attend this event here. 

Who is Mayor Cavalier Johnson?

Johnson was first elected to the Milwaukee Common Council in 2016; moving forward, he became Council president in 2020 and then became acting Milwaukee mayor in late 2021. He was also the first African American mayor elected in Milwaukee. 

Mayor Cavalier Johnson did his best to convince Wisconsinites that he was tough on public safety and supportive of law enforcement. However, not too long ago, Cavalier Johnson was one of the leading advocates at City Hall pushing for defunding the Milwaukee PD. They pushed so hard that it would have eliminated two entire police districts, including the sensitive crimes unit. 

Johnson also referred to the police as an oppressive institution that has caused “death” to people of color. He also advocated sending a BLM leader, Vaun Mayes, to respond to violent crimes instead of a qualified and trained police officer. The same man, Vaun Mayes, was allegedly accused of being involved in a failed attempt to firebomb a Milwaukee police district station. 

Johnson also urged the state Legislature to reduce tough sentencing, claiming that harsher punishments don’t deter criminals from engaging in crime. In 2017, Johnson co-sponsored a resolution that called to eliminate mandatory minimum sentencing, all while the state Legislature was considering imposing them for violent, repeat felons with gun charges. 

Cavalier Johnson’s response to being tougher on criminals was, “I think that one of the things we’re losing is this idea that we are all human, and that we are all connected, and that we all need to invest in one another.” But unfortunately, his compassionate approach to violent criminals has not proved very beneficial or valuable for the city of Milwaukee. Yes, we are indeed all human; but some humans want to live life peacefully without breaking the law, being violent, or killing others.  

Without a doubt, violent crime has skyrocketed in Milwaukee under Mayor Cavalier Johnson’s Common Council leadership since 2020. We have seen two solid years of record-breaking amounts of homicide within the city, numbers unheard of in Milwaukee’s history. Milwaukee homicide rates are up 100% from 2021. 

Mayor Johnson’s anti-police and anti-public safety agenda were established before he even ran for mayor. Now that he has been the Mayor of Milwaukee since December 2021, we haven’t seen any noticeable reduction in violent crime in the city; you could say it has gotten worse. Milwaukee is the most dangerous city in Wisconsin and has also made the list of the most dangerous United States metro areas. 

Who is County Executive David Crowley?

County Executive David Crowley is the first African American to serve as the county’s top official and one of the youngest at age 33. Crowley and Johnson are pretty similar in terms of easing up on crime and making black lives a focal point of their progressive agendas. 

Crowley was elected to join the Wisconsin Legislative Black Caucus and vowed that at all times, the caucus would be “unapologetically black” with their actions. 

His page on the Milwaukee County website includes his priorities as County Executive, where “Achieving Racial Equity” is at the top of his list. In addition, multiple paragraphs explain why we need to address the “systemic racism that has plagued our system.” 

Nowhere under Crowley’s priorities list is crime or the safety of Milwaukee residents mentioned, almost as if he ignores the fact that Milwaukee is the most dangerous city in Wisconsin and violent crime is out of control. 

David Crowley released an inflammatory statement regarding the shooting of Jacob Blake, which ended up being justified, and the involved officers were not charged. The flame-fanning by Wisconsin officials could have very well contributed to the utter chaos and destruction that followed in Kenosha. 

“I join the family and friends of Jacob Blake in praying that he will survive the critical injuries suffered last night as he was shot in the back multiple times by Kenosha police. As a father, it breaks my heart to know that Blake’s children went to sleep last night, not knowing if their father would make it through the night. It cuts even deeper to know that he is not the first person of color to have their lives endangered at the hands of law enforcement in this state or nation,” Crowley said.

He adds, “Make no mistake, Blake’s wounds are the result of systemic racism, the policies, and practices that entangle our institutions and produce racially disparate outcomes, regardless of the intentions of the people who work within them. It’s the reason why Wisconsin is ranked as the worst place to raise a black child….”

Perhaps the most disturbing part of his statement is when he encouraged and welcomed more rioting. He said, “After the murder of George Floyd, Milwaukee County residents took to the streets to demand justice, equity, and accountability for Black lives. Months after Floyd’s death, the people continue to make their voices heard and call for a fundamental change in the way we handle police-community relations, the way we treat communities of color, and the way we include each and every person in our society to have their voices heard in our democracy.” 

He continues to show solidarity with the rioters, “It’s time to listen to the voice of the people and take action to prevent the unnecessary loss of Black lives at the hands of law enforcement. The time for change is always now. I stand with my brothers and sisters, standing up for Black lives and making their voices heard.”