The state is providing money for struggling Milwaukee neighborhoods. Governor Scott Walker announces his administration is directing $4.5 additional state money to Milwaukee, “to help build the workforce in the city of Milwaukee, and help rebuild neighborhoods in the city of Milwaukee.”
The Republican governor held a press conference with Democrats including Mayor Tom Barrett and County Exec Chris Abele. “The number one issue, if we want to create more jobs, higher incomes, better opportunities, is workforce,” Walker said.
Barrett says some money will put residents to work repairing or demolishing hundreds of forclosed homes in the Sherman Park area. “We know that there are thousands of people in this neighborhood who need work,” the mayor said. “That’s a short term solution, and it’s real and it’s visible.”
Friday’s press conference came just about two weeks after riots in the Sherman Park neighborhood, sparked by the fatal police shooting of Sylville Smith. Smith’s funeral also took place on Friday.
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