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News

Latest crime figures show a Milwaukee in trouble

2022 drop still leaves crime levels in city well above those as recent as 2019

By Sean Kennedy

When Milwaukee’s year-end crime figures for 2022 were released, Mayor Cavalier Johnson and Police Chief Jeffrey Norman touted their success in lowering crime levels. Johnson said, “There were some very positive trends that emerged in 2022, but I’m not here to celebrate.” Norman echoed that by saying, “I’m pleased to report overall violent crime within the city is down 7%. Again, overall violent crime in our city is down 7%.”


Although cautious in their optimism, both leaders are misdirecting Milwaukeeans about the state of public safety in the city.


Milwaukee is significantly less safe than it was a short time ago.

Read the Report

Education Freedom

Video: Some public schools ARE underfunded

Innovation in public education is a good thing. You can hear it in the voices of students from Pathways High, where diverse needs are met through personal attention and creative collaboration.


The state sends a different signal, however — especially when it comes to funding those students.


Independent charter schools like Pathways are public schools. Yet they receive thousands of dollars less per student than traditional public schools.


For kids like Gianna, Mariel and Darcel, the message is loud and clear. You are immediately worth less when your needs are different.


That’s why, in the words of Board President Julia Burns, “The state Legislature needs to get to funding parity for these schools. Bottom line.”

Watch the Video
Read the Story

Badger Rewind

Free Exchange Podcast

While most of the state is relatively safe compared to five years ago, troubling trends in Milwaukee are undermining the safety of the state in general.


In part one of the podcast, Sean Kennedy analyzes the last five years of corrections data and offers insight into the current state of crime and justice.

Play Part 1

The Milwaukee Police Department is facing an attrition crisis, undermining the frontline administration of justice in Wisconsin’s largest city.


In part two of the podcast, Kennedy discusses the state of MPD and the alarming trend of unfilled positions across all levels of law enforcement.

Play Part 2

Quotable

Source: Wisconsin must tackle labor shortage.

That means rolling back expanded aid.

Related resources:


Altering Wisconsin’s Safety Net to Encourage Upward Mobility

Wisconsin residents receive at least $9 billion in federal assistance through means-tested programs, and the state contributes another $3 billion. Can more money dedicated to a flawed federal safety net effectively reduce poverty and increase upward mobility? Without addressing the underlying causes of poverty, namely limited employment and unmarried parenthood, the answer is no.

Mandate Chapter
Fact Sheet

Weekly Survey: Do you feel more or less safe in Wisconsin today compared to five years ago?

Answer below!
More safe
Less safe
Neither more nor less safe

Previous Poll Results:

What We’re Reading





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