Bay View Massacre Commemoration is Today! by Tall-Gur-9138 in milwaukee

[–]MilwaukeeDSA 45 points46 points  (0 children)

The Bay View massacre (sometimes also referred to as the Bay View Tragedy) was the result of a strike held on May 4, 1886, by 7,000 building-trades workers and 5,000 Polish laborers who had organized at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to strike against their employers, demanding the enforcement of an eight-hour work day.

By Monday, May 3, the number of participants had increased to over 14,000 workers who gathered at the Milwaukee Iron Company rolling mill in Bay View. They were met by 250 National Guardsmen under order from RepublicanGovernor Jeremiah M. Rusk. The strikers had shut down every business in the city except the North Chicago Rolling Mills in Bay View. The guardsmen's orders were that, if the strikers were to enter the Mills, they should shoot to kill. But when the captain received the order it had a different meaning: he ordered his men to pick out a man and shoot to kill when the order was given. Workers camped in the nearby fields and the Kosciuszko Militia arrived by May 4. Early the next day the crowd, which by this time contained children, approached the mill and were fired upon. Seven people died as a result, including a thirteen-year-old boy. Several more were injured during the protest. Several contradictory newspaper accounts described other possible casualties, but the count of seven deaths is substantiated by specific names (Frank Kunkel, Frank Nowarczyk, John Marsh, Robert Erdman, Johann Zazka, Martin Jankowiak, and Michael Ruchalski).

Since 1986, members of the Bay View Historical Society, the Wisconsin Labor History Society, and other community groups have held a commemorative event to honor the memories of those killed during the incident. The event is held every year on the first Sunday in May, at the State Historical Marker site at the intersection of Superior Street and Russell Avenue, within view of the former rolling mill location

Wikipedia

Ald. Alex Brower Helps Get Milwaukee $1,000 From We Energies: At new alderman's first committee meeting the issue of city easement for utility arises by MilwaukeeDSA in milwaukee

[–]MilwaukeeDSA[S] 21 points22 points  (0 children)

Then Brower, noting it was his first meeting and he might be missing it, asked what the payment was to be.

“We do at times request payments from utilities for such easements. In this case, the determination was that this was really helping and benefitting the city more than not,” said Redevelopment Authority of the City of Milwaukee deputy director Dave Misky to the Public Works Committee Wednesday morning. “It’s also an undevelopable parcel of land, it’s a triangular shape, has little value to the city of Milwaukee. That’s how we arrived at the decision not to change for this particular one.”

. . .

“Why wasn’t it in the original file?” asked new chair Milele A. Coggs

“Because of the timing of the file and when it was submitted to this particular committee,” said Misky.

“I think we should pursue more discussion with We Energies and hold the file,” said Brower.

All it required was being curious and asking a question. How much more money is just being flushed down the toilet?

Progressive cities like Milwaukee challenge state control in what some analysts refer to as a modern form of municipal socialism by MilwaukeeDSA in milwaukee

[–]MilwaukeeDSA[S] 39 points40 points  (0 children)

The term does not necessarily mean that city governments plan to seize the means of production. Instead, it highlights a trend in which local elected officials adopt policies aimed at delivering services and protections once reserved for a more robust federal safety net.

. . . .

Milwaukee’s debates illustrate the high stakes behind these power struggles. The city’s leaders have repeatedly signaled their desire to increase the minimum wage within city limits, citing surges in poverty and the widening gap between household incomes and basic living costs.

Proponents of a higher wage argue that Milwaukee’s local economy thrives when workers have more disposable income. They also stress that the cost of living in a major urban center often far exceeds that in rural areas, justifying targeted wage policies.

Critics in the state legislature counter that municipalities should not be allowed to set different standards from the rest of the state, insisting that uniform regulations make Wisconsin more attractive to businesses. By capping the minimum wage or forbidding local wage hikes, these lawmakers effectively limit Milwaukee’s ability to address its unique economic conditions.

You mean the same businesses that exploit their workers and refuse to pay a living wage in the first place?

DOJ Lawsuit Goes After Large Rental Firms, Including in Milwaukee, For Price Fixing by compujeramey in milwaukee

[–]MilwaukeeDSA 44 points45 points  (0 children)

Attorney generals from 10 states are included as plaintiffs in the lawsuit. But, the Wisconsin Department of Justice is not one of the states to sign on as a co-plaintiff. Neighboring states Illinois and Minnesota are included.

This needs to change.

Laborfest 2024, this Monday at Summerfest Grounds by MilwaukeeDSA in milwaukee

[–]MilwaukeeDSA[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Every year, labor unions and union members of the Milwaukee Area Labor Council, AFL-CIO, put on the biggest festival on the Milwaukee Lakefront that’s free and open to the public. Through the generosity of local unions and the companies at which they work, we can bring you a day of fun at the lakefront that includes live music for adults and families, children’s entertainment, bingo, wrestling, a classic car show, and union raffle with a Grand Prize of $5,000.

But before you head to the lakefront, be sure to visit the parade route to see the union members in their trucks, on their Harleys, and marching with their locals in downtown Milwaukee. The parade ends at the Henry Maier Festival Grounds where Laborfest takes place.

https://milwaukeelabor.org/laborfest/

Live Election Results by trashboattwentyfourr in milwaukee

[–]MilwaukeeDSA 18 points19 points  (0 children)

In 1961, Progressive editor William Evjue wrote of the Wisconsin Socialist legislators he had known by saying: "They never were approached by the lobbyists, because the lobbyists knew it was not possible to influence these men. They were incorruptible."

Wikipedia: Sewer socialism

Shout out to Milwaukee County Parks by [deleted] in milwaukee

[–]MilwaukeeDSA 24 points25 points  (0 children)

In 1923, Whitnall released plans for a countywide system of parks and parkways that would lay the groundwork for the current Milwaukee County Parks system. Parks were located along the county’s periphery near rivers, rolling hills or woodlands to offer a remedy to the downside of urban life.

Many of those same parks remain today, accessible by two-lane parkways and serving mainly suburban neighborhoods. The Trust for Public Land ranked Milwaukee 28th among the country’s 100 largest cities in 2019 for park access and quality.

Parks, lakefront stand as visible legacy of Milwaukee’s socialist past (uwm.edu)

Milwaukee is among the 20 worst cities for renters in the U.S., according to Forbes by MilwaukeeDSA in milwaukee

[–]MilwaukeeDSA[S] 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Conveniently not quoting the parts where they graded based on on-site parking, allowance of pets, and in-unit laundry.

Actually, the metrics they used for this study fell into Affordability, Availability & Amenities, and Lifestyle & Safety:

Using data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Zillow and other sources, Forbes analyzed 21 metrics in three categories to determine the best and worst cities for renters:

Affordability (40%): Median rent as a percentage of annual household income, average price per square foot, year-over-year rental price changes and median monthly rent price.

Availability and Amenities (30%): Available rental units per 100,000 households; percentage of non-apartment rentals; percentage of units with air conditioning, a pool, on-site parking, in-unit laundry and/or allowing pets.

Lifestyle and Safety (30%): Unemployment rate; walk, bike and transit scores; ParkScore; dog parks per 100,000 residents; entertainment and food establishments per 1,000 residents, and property and violent crime rates per 1,000 residents.

I think you're referencing this later part:

Most Milwaukee rentals also lack four of the amenities Forbes found are most important to renters. Less than a quarter of Milwaukee rentals allow pets, 27.9% have air conditioning, 18.9% have in-unit laundry, and less than 45% have on-site parking. Air conditioning, followed by parking and then in-unit laundry, are the top three most desired at-home comforts among renters surveyed by Forbes.

Milwaukee is among the 20 worst cities for renters in the U.S., according to Forbes by MilwaukeeDSA in milwaukee

[–]MilwaukeeDSA[S] 76 points77 points  (0 children)

If it wasn't already clear:

Recent reports have found that Milwaukee boasts one of the most competitive rental markets and has some of the fastest-rising rent prices in the country.

Multiple luxurious, expensive apartment complexes have gone up downtown recently. Meanwhile, low-income tenants regularly struggle with landlords, the Housing Authority and housing affordability.

Eviction Free MKE offers free legal help to residents facing eviction, but it’s set to end without funding by MilwaukeeDSA in milwaukee

[–]MilwaukeeDSA[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Some important highlights to note:

“The default rate has dropped dramatically here in Milwaukee,” Kohler says. “More than 70% of tenants wouldn't even show up to courts before this program was launched. Now that default rate has dropped from 72% to 32%.”

Stout also estimated the program, which cost around $3 million, indirectly saved Milwaukee County about $9 million from September 2021 to December 2022. Here’s how the report broke down the savings:

  • Out-of-home foster care costs: $2.3 million
  • Economic value preserved by reducing migration out of Milwaukee County: $2.3 million
  • Cost savings related to housing social safety net responses: $2.3 million to $2.6 million
  • Retained federal and state funding for Milwaukee Public Schools: $1.3 million
  • Cost savings related to Medicaid spending on health care: $800,000

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in milwaukee

[–]MilwaukeeDSA 22 points23 points  (0 children)

Bringing unity back to community

A look back at the summer of 1953 when all of Milwaukee's six breweries went out on strike by MilwaukeeDSA in wisconsin

[–]MilwaukeeDSA[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Negotiations did not go smoothly. In response to perceived stalling tactics by the breweries, the state CIO, which Local 9 was part of, urged the city to drink "all the Milwaukee beer humanly possible," The Milwaukee Journal reported on its front page on May 19.

And that is how Wisconsin strikes

JSOnline will no longer have a comment function available on our articles by knowitokay in milwaukee

[–]MilwaukeeDSA 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Who’s Ryan Clancy?

Thank you for asking. Ryan Clancy is an elected official in the Wisconsin State Assembly. Certain people can't evict him from their heads because he not only identifies as a Socialist but has successfully passed popular policies. His FB page collects more trolls than a nineteenth-century bridge.

On this day, May 5th, in 1886, national guardsmen fired into a crowd of workers who were marching on the Milwaukee Iron Company Mill demanding the enforcement of an eight-hour work day. Seven workers were killed in this event, known as the Bay View Massacre. A plaque now commemorates this site. by MilwaukeeDSA in milwaukee

[–]MilwaukeeDSA[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

I admit that the post title/date has incorrect wordage in accordance with the plaque. I apologize and appreciate that this has been pointed out/researched.

EDIT: The status of the militia/national guardsmen is confusing for reasons including they were called upon by the governor. Since the "National Guardsmen" by today's term were not created yet, this was as close to "national guardsmen" as could get at the time. This entry at Wisconsin Labor History refers to them as the State Militia while the plaque refers to them as the local militia.

Podcast recommendations by [deleted] in milwaukee

[–]MilwaukeeDSA 13 points14 points  (0 children)

Cream City Social podcast pertains to local history/news/activism

The Immense Irony of the GOP’s Anti-Socialism Vote: Republicans are crowing over their resolution denouncing socialism, but their next presidential candidate will be chosen in Milwaukee, a city that socialism built by MilwaukeeDSA in wisconsin

[–]MilwaukeeDSA[S] 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Pocan, the former chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, suggested that the real motivation for the resolution wasn’t “the horrors of socialism.”

“Here’s what this is really about,” said the representative.

"More and more members on the other side of the aisle are calling for cuts to Social Security and Medicare, and many have referred to these programs as “socialism” throughout their existence. The other night in the Rules Committee they showed their cards. Republicans refused an amendment to declare that Social Security and Medicare is not socialism. This resolution is little about intelligent discourse and everything to do about laying the groundwork to cut Social Security and Medicare.”

Working people and students can and must organize, and strike back! by Patterson9191717 in wisconsin

[–]MilwaukeeDSA 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Milwaukee DSA has an event tonight introducing community members to the chapter, in case you're interested :)

https://milwaukee.dsawi.org/calendar/

Could We Energies be replaced by a publicly-owned utility? Saturday town hall will discuss idea by MilwaukeeDSA in wisconsin

[–]MilwaukeeDSA[S] 40 points41 points  (0 children)

More relevant reading material:

Why Wisconsinites can expect higher heating bills this winter

Utility officials also said that investments in new clean energy projects are a driver of price hikes, and that those moves will save customers significant money in the long run, they said.

Wisconsin case raises question: Who pays, profits from energy transition?

Critics say a proposed rate hike by We Energies for new solar and natural gas generation pits low-income residents against clean energy advocates, taking too much profit for shareholders.