An Open Letter To Our Citizens
By Alderman Bob Donovan
Milwaukee is the city I was born in, the city my family and I have chosen to live in, the city I truly love. It is also, sadly, a tale of two cities. On the one hand it is a city situated on the shores of one of the world’s greatest natural resources. A city with a thriving arts and entertainment culture. A city possessing some of America’s most inspiring architecture, a city active in collegiate and professional sports. A city of festivals, a city that is home to some of America’s most successful Fortune 500 companies.

But we are also a city with monumental challenges. We are a city facing excessive public safety issues. A city facing a disgraceful inner city unemployment rate of almost 50%. A city whose archaic property tax structure is sapping the life out of hard working families, our elderly, and small businesses alike. A city that continues to fund a failing school system, throwing good money after bad. A city whose roads and infrastructure are crumbling before our eyes, and a city lacking a vision, a strategy, a plan to address these problems and more.

Let today serve as a wake up call for our citizens and leaders alike. Left unchecked, these challenges will hasten the demise of a great American city. In a nutshell, Milwaukee needs a plan, a roadmap to revitalization and the bold gutsy leadership to carry it out.

Today you are reading the first edition of a bold new publication called Common Sense, designed to urge a plan for Milwaukee – a plan that makes sense, a plan that galvanizes this community and a plan that provides the much needed light at the end of the tunnel for many of our struggling citizens.

It is my sincere hope that this paper will stimulate thought, spur debate and encourage involvement from all segments
of this community, for there is no limit to what we can accomplish if we are all pulling in the same direction.

It is imperative that this community unite in a sense of urgency to lift the shroud of stagnation which covers much of City Hall.

Milwaukee is a great American city, rich in history and vibrant in its cultural diversity. But, unless we can boldly and aggressively address our mounting challenges, we will remain a city in decline, unable to reach our full potential.
Milwaukee truly needs a new beginning. We need to be a city which attracts America’s best and brightest. We need to be a city exuding a “can-do” attitude and sparkling with the energy, vitality and excitement of optimism. As citizens, each of us can take part in helping to make the transformation to a better Milwaukee and a brighter future.

However, time is short. I stand committed to working with the mayor, my colleagues, and everyone eager to improve Milwaukee and to construct a plan to that end.

Therefore let this be the day we begin to turn the tide. Let this be the day we unite, determined to forge a better Milwaukee, and above all, let this be the day we discard the cloak of complacency and say to our elected officials, respectfully yet firmly, ‘do the job you were elected to do.’

For the love of God – lead.