Conflict Of Interest Raised, After The Majority Of The Milwaukee Common Council Voted To Implement A 2% Sales Tax To Benefit Their Own Pensions Instead Of Letting Taxpayers Decide By Referendum To Increase Taxes

Was it a conflict of interest for the majority of the Milwaukee Common Council to vote in favor of approving a 2% Sales Tax increase to benefit their own pension growth in the guise that they were preventing the loss of City jobs, instead of letting City taxpayers decided by a referendum vote? The City will face a 7.9% Sales Tax hike for some purchases, where's the outrage?

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

July 12, 2023

Milwaukee,  Wisconsin - On Tuesday, July 11, 2023, the Milwaukee Common Council on a vote of 12-3 passed the 2% sales tax increase.

What a bunch of fools! The City will face a 7.9% Sales Tax hike for some purchases, where's the outrage?

Any public elected officials that support and votes for a tax increase without a fight to get additional Share Revenues from the State, shouldn't be re-elected.

Alders that voted in favor of the 2% Sales Tax:

Jóse G. Pérez (Council President); JoCasta Zamarripa; Marina Dimitrijevic; Jonathan Brostoff; Robert Bauman; Lamont Westmoreland; Kalif J. Rainy; Larissa Taylor; Michael J. Murphy; Mark A. Borkowski; Scott Spiker and Russell J. Stamper II

Alders that opposed the 2% Sales Tax increase 

Andrea M. Pratt; Michele A. Coggs and Mark Chambers Jr.

The 2% Sales Tax increase will go into effect January 1, 2024. It is expected to generate $198M for the City, which most will be used for the City employees pension that continues to increase.

So far, no taxpayer including the City of Milwaukee and Milwaukee County have attempted to challenged or filed a legal challenge against the State of Wisconsin for unfair distribution of Share Revenues. 

For example, the City of Milwaukee and Milwaukee County keep the State afloat economically because both contribute the largest combine tax revenue than any other municipality and County in the state. But, both get less in Share Revenue to operate efficiently per year.

In other words, the City and County taxpayers pay more than their fare share of combined taxes, but get less in Share Revenue from the State.

Milwaukee County pays nearly $3B in taxes to the State per year and the State only returned $230M in Share Revenue for 2023.

The City of Milwaukee also pays the State more than its fair share of combined taxes to the State and it only returns about $219.4M for the City of Milwaukee to operate efficiently. The estimated total of combined taxes that the City pays the State is undetermined, but it pays more than any other municipality in the State.

Since 2018, the Republican controlled legislature made it possible for the Wisconsin Department of Revenue to stop reporting or tracking how much municipalities pay the State in totaled taxes.

For any elected public official to support and vote for a tax increase in Milwaukee County and the City should not be re-elected, simply because they have failed to challenged the State for not returning more of the Share Revenues needed to operate the City and County efficiently.

The State of Wisconsin reported a $7B tax surplus for 2023.

Lastly, It also looks like the majority of Milwaukee Common Council members who voted for the 2% Sales Tax increase seemed to benefit because they are included in the pension fund, which no doubt can be considered a conflict of interest.

The Common Council failed to put the 2% Sales Tax increase in a referendum vote for the City of Milwaukee taxpayers to decide, if an increase was needed, instead for the Common Council who will benefit in securing additional tax funding for their own pensions to decide a 2% Sales Tax increase was actually needed, through the guise that it would save City jobs instead of suing the State to get more Share Revenues returned to the City in order to operate efficiently and without an annual Gap.

Low Pre-sale Tickets For Harley-Davidson 120th Anniversary Outdoor Concerts At Veterans Park Triggered Additional Cancelations Of Security Contracts

Apparently, the H-D 120th Anniversary outdoor concerts at Veterans Park is not reaching its estimated goal of more than 175,000 attendees, according to sources.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

July 10, 2023

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - The Harley-Davidson 120th Anniversary organizers are experiencing a low turnout in pre-sale tickets for scheduled outdoor concerts at Veterans Park, according to sources. The 120th Anniversary events continues to book music venues attracted to traditional White H-D motorcycle riders, groups and enthusiasts has not crossed over to attract a majority of Latino and Black H-D riders for the last decade.

The H-D Motorcycle company has been struggling to survive against competition from other motorcycle makers. H-D sales report April 2023: https://tinyurl.com/ssnk2sv9

The H-D 115th Anniversary, an estimated 150,000 motorcycle riding attendees were reported to have contributed more than $95M of an economic boost to the Milwaukee metropolitan area in Milwaukee County, according to Roadapart dot com.

In the H-D 110th Anniversary, at least 100,000 H-D riders made it to the motorcycle events in Milwaukee, the Roadapart dot com reported.

In the H-D 105th Anniversary, an estimated 125,000 H-D riders attended the motorcycle festivities in Milwaukee, the Motorcycle dot com reported.

In the H-D 100th Anniversary, an estimated 200,000 H-D riding attendees were in Milwaukee and 150,000 were handed out free for the H-D Elton John outdoor concert, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.

This Year, the H-D 120th Anniversary will take place in Milwaukee from July 13 - 16, 2023.

Most Milwaukee County H-D Motorcycle dealerships during the 4-day H-D Anniversary run will have ongoing music entertainment, food, beer and vendors at their local dealerships including the Milwaukee H-D Museum on W. Canal and S. 6 Streets  in the Southside of Milwaukee where the predominately Latino/Hispanic community resides.

Richard Cordero, 56, Charged With 1st-degree Reckless Injury After Shooting Neighbor For Aiming Live Fireworks At Him During Confrontation In A Southside Milwaukee Alley

Cordero was released on bail after he was taken into custody and charged for shooting his neighbor, after his neighbor allegedly aimed lighted fireworks at him in an alley.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

July 10, 2023

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On July 4, 2023, Milwaukee responded around 12:09 a.m. to the 2600 block of S. 12 Street and located a 45-year-old man with a non-fatal gunshot wound to his upper back in his garage. The male victim was conveyed to a local hospital for treatment for a non-fatal injury.

Police arrested Richard Cordero, 56, in connection with the shooting. Cordero confessed to police that he and his neighbor had a confrontation over lighting up fireworks in the alley. His neighbor then allegedly aimed a lighted fireworks at him and Cordero told police that he then shot the neighbor in self-defense. The neighbor was shot in the upper back and Cordero was taken into custody and charged on July 6 with a felony.

Police were able to recover video surveillance footage from a nearby home showing the neighbor shooting fireworks into the alley. It also showed Cordero pointing a handgun at the neighbor and shooring him.

Police were able to recover two .380 Cal. spent brass cartridges at the shooting scene in the alley. They also recovered a .380 Beretta semi-automatic handgun from Cordero's kitchen cabinet, according to police.

Cordero was charged with one felony count for 1st-degree reckless injury and use of a dangerous weapon.

If convicted, Cordero is facing up to 25 years in prison and up to $100,000 in fines and is facing an additional 5 years in prison for use of a dangerous weapon.

Cordero will be summoned by the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office to appear at a Milwaukee County court hearing on August 24, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. in room 221 at the Safety Building.

It's illegal to have and light fireworks in the City of Milwaukee and the fine ranges from $500 to $1,000.

Milwaukee police were not responding to illegal fireworks complaints on the 4th of July, until July 6, according to a police source.

Police and the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office have not released any information, if the 45-year-old neighbor that was shot by Cordero was actually cited for using illegal fireworks within the City limits.

Conguero Cecilio J. Negrón Sr. Live On Stage With Caché MKE At Summerfest 2023

Milwaukee's very own Conguero, Negrón Sr. is scheduled to perform live at Summerfest 2023 on Friday.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

July 7, 2023

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On Friday, July 7, 2023, Milwaukee's popular Conguero Cecilio J. Negrón Sr. confirmed to Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA) that he will be performing live with Caché MKE at 4:00 p.m. at the Summerfest 2023 grounds, at the Briggs & Stratton Stage.

All patrons arriving from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. will enter free to the Summerfest grounds.

Caché MKE will be among multiple Salsa, Ecuadorian and Caribbean groups scheduled to perform on Friday at the Briggs & Stratton Stage at the Summerfest grounds.

Beginning at 12:00 p.m., the Caribbean Sounds with Thomas Vegas; at 2:00 p.m. Edcuador Manta; 4:00 p.m. Caché MKE; 5:45 p.m. Salasbrositas; 6:00 p.m. Tito Puente Jr.; 7:45 p.m. Salsabeositas; 8:00 p.m. Carlos Adames, and at 10:00 p.m. Grupo Niche from Colombia.

At the Tiki Hut stage in Summerfest, on July 7, 2023, Septeto Charambó will be performing at 8:00 p.m.

Negrón Sr. created the Caché MKE 20-years ago and the ensemble (group) performs Afro-Latin Caribbean and Latin-American music.

On Saturday at midnight, Summerfest ends its 9-day music festival, which this year, it's celebrating its 55th Anniversary in Milwaukee.

Also, Summerfest's CEO Don Smiley will step down at the end of the year from the Milwaukee World Festival Incorp. that operates Summerfest.

Fiesta Patrias 2023 Organizers Denied Parade Permit For September 17 Event, City Of Waukegan Wanted $6,000 Payment For Unrendered Services

The Fiesta Patrias organizers in Waukegan of the annual traditional Mexican Independence Day Festival 2023 say that the City of Waukegan allegedly attempted to extort at least $6,000 of rendered services, which the Fiesta Patrias Organizing Committee confirmed, the City never provided the services and they should have never been billed for it, according to documents obtained by the organizers.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

July 4, 2023

Waukegan, Illinois - On Tuesday, Margaret Carrasco,  the President of the Fiesta Patrias Organization, a non-profit organization confirmed that in September, the Fiesta Patrias Organizing Committee (FPOC) will host multiple events from September 1st to September 17, 2023 for the Mexican Independence Day festivities in the City of Waukegan. The FPOC has been organizing and operating the Mexican Independence Parade and Festival for 40 years.

The City of Waukegan denied the FPOC parade permit this year, because according to the City, FPOC allegedly owed $6,000 for rendered services the City was claiming. FPOC applied for the September 17, 2023 parade permit on January 1, 2021 and was denied. Carrasco says, that the FPOC owed at least $3,200 for police service and wanted to pay it off to the City, but the City refused payment until the bill amount was correct, which took seven months. By then, the City of Waukegan approved a Mexican Independence Day parade and festival permit to Puro Futbol, which FPOC was denied the permit.

Carrasco said, "we only had a BALANCE of $3,200 for Police which they billed us in October but the City billed us for an additional $9,000. We had already paid them prior to event approximately $10,000 for City of Waukegan. They charge us $1,800 just in Application FEES."

Carrasco says, that the City did admit that the $6,000 of rendered services was an error, according to correspondence Carrasco received from the City, but by then, the City had approved the parade and festival permit for Puro Futbol, the novice Mexican Independence Day parade and festival organizers. The Puro Futbol business (newspaper) is not registered with the State of Illinois, according to Carrasco. (Waukegan City Council meeting date, 7/3/2023, Fiesta Patrias testimony at time 2:10:29 in video: https://www.youtube.com/live/1iQCZewuorQ)

On Monday night, at the City of Waukegan Council meeting, it was revealed that Waukegan Mayor Ann B. Taylor had taken out an ad with Puro Futbol Newspaper, which was paid by taxpayers, which definitely looked like a political ad and should have been paid by Taylor's political campaign. Carrasco confirmed, that the Mayor Taylor's ad in the Puro Futbol Newspaper was paid by the City.

The operator of the Puro Futbol Newspaper is Oscar Zepeda.

Carrasco also says that the Puro Futbol organizers of the Sunday, September 17, parade and one-day festival hosted in Waukegan do not reside in Waukegan.

Currently, Mayor Taylor and the City of Waukegan Facebook page are promoting the Puro Futbol Mexican Independence Day parade and festival event. It certainly looks like Mayor Taylor and the City of Waukegan favors one Mexican Independence Day event over another, which is a disservice (political suicide for Taylor) to the Mexican-American voting population in Waukegan that elected her to office. The mayor and City should promote all events equally that bring an economic boost to the City instead of favoring one event over the other, unless they were allegedly bought off or receiving a kickback, some might inappropriately imply.

Carrasco says, that the Fiesta Patrias organization will host a Mexican Independence Day Festival and a vehicle Caravan on Sunday, September 17, instead of a parade leading to the festival. The one-day festival will be held at a private property.

The Fiesta Patrias Organizing Committee also confirmed to Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA) that it is "considering legal action at multiple levels for discrimination and racism in Mayor Ann Taylor's administration and also for  criminal extortion."

Editors note: HNNUSA checked Waukegan City ordinances and could not find one that actually limits the number of permits for multiple events in the City, parades and festivals for any given day. In this case, Mayor Taylor and the City of Waukegan seemed to have definitely discriminated against Fiesta Patrias organization by not providing a City permit for their Mexican Independence Day festival and parade in September 17, which Fiesta Patrias decided to hold their event in private property after being denied a City permit.

19-year-old Carlos E. López From West Bend Fatally Shot During A Suspected Armed Robbery In The Southside Of Milwaukee

López died at a local hospital from after suffering several gunshot wounds at the 2800 block of W. Burnham on early Sunday, police reported.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

July 3, 2023

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On Sunday, police responded to a shooting at the 2800 block of W. Burnham St. around 2:50 a.m. in the Southside of Milwaukee. Apparently, Carlos E. López, 19, of West Bend was shot multiple times during an armed robbery. Some individuals transported López who was critically injured in their vehicle, but the vehicle became disabled at the 1900 block of S. 28 St. in a construction area, according to police.

They were able to call for medical assistance for López. López was conveyed to a local hospital for life-threatening injuries and he succumbed to his injuries at 3:49 a.m. on Sunday at the hospital, according to the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office.

Police reported that three suspects were arrested, a 22-year-old man, an 18-year-old man and a 17-year-old male remain in police custody pending criminal charges related to the López homicide.

Corruption And No Accountability Prevails In Waukesha County Family Court, Wisconsin State Supreme Court Denies Writ Of Mandamus Petition Filed By Julie Valadez

A sad day for domestic abused victims (spouses) and their children that go through a family court process in Waukesha County, the Wisconsin State Supreme Court denied a Writ of Mandamus petition that exposed numerous alleged illegal acts by both Waukesha County family court Judges Michael J. Abrahamian and Ralph M. Ramirez during the Julie Valadez v. Ricardo Valadez divorce case. Writ: http://bit.ly/40PkEWY

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

July 2, 2023

Madison, Wisconsin - On June 22, 2023, the Wisconsin State Supreme Court denied the Writ of Mandamus petition filed by Julie Valadez against Waukesha County Judge Ralph M. Ramirez. The Writ of Mandamus included all the alleged illegal acts committed by Judge Ramirez in the Julie Valadez v. Ricardo Valadez divorce case.

What does the denial of the Writ of Mandamus petition filed by Julie mean for other domestic violence abused spouses and their children going through the Waukesha County family divorce court? Well, it means that these judges have no accountability to legislate from the bench, illegally take children away, create their own law interpretations not consistent with state laws, ignore state laws that protect domestic violence abuse spouses (victims) and their children in the process of a divorce and Guardian Ad Litems (attorneys) assigned to children can also engage in alleged illegal acts and go beyond their limited legal representation as required by law without being held accountable or disbarred.

The Wisconsin State Supreme Court failed to provide an explanation why it denied the Writ of Mandamus petition filed by Julie Valadez. According to Wisconsin State law if, No explanation is provided to Julie in the decision rendered, then it's a violation of her rights under Wisconsin State constitutional article 1, sec. 9 and 9m, which requires an explanation as Julie invoked this right in her writ as a victim of a crime.

In another issue, Kathryn Jack Alamea-Xian, who was Julie's domestic abused advocate claimed that she was threatened by Wisconsin Attorney Peter Schuster and Ricardo Valadez. Alamea-Xian says, that she "suffered extreme anxiety due to these threats and to other retaliatory acts of Ricardo Valadez and his accomplices. On Thursday, June 29, 2023, I harmed myself in a state of distress and suicidality and taken to the Sechelt Hospital by RCMP Officer Nguyen at approximately 2pm. After assessment and outpatient services, I was released at approximately 4pm. I would like to pursue charges and prosecution."

 

Julie and Alamea-Xian along with other plaintiffs filed a federal Civil Rights lawsuit against more than 30 named defendants (judges, attorneys, a Walworth County assistant District Attorney, multiple police from Waukesha and Delavan) from Wisconsin including Ricardo Valadez in Hawaii, which is ongoing. https://tinyurl.com/2buebday

Julie has not released any statement regarding the Wisconsin State Supreme Court denying her Writ of Mandamus petition or if she will pursue her claim in the U.S. Supreme Court.