Press Release - Green Outlines Plan to "Move Milwaukee Forward"

Green Outlines Plan to "Move Milwaukee Forward"

Would headquarter Department of Workforce Development in Milwaukee, increase funding for faith-based and community groups, expand Milwaukee Parental Choice program

MILWAUKEE - Citing its high unemployment, glaring student achievement gap, failing work force development efforts, and staggering crime rate, gubernatorial candidate Mark Green laid out his plan Friday to move Milwaukee forward after four years of neglect under Governor Jim Doyle.

"Wisconsin simply cannot succeed if Milwaukee is failing," Green said. "Under Jim Doyle's watch, Milwaukee has lost jobs, violent crime is on the rise, poverty is spreading, and the high school graduation rates for African Americans is just about the worst in the country. Instead of trying to sweep these challenges under the rug, I want to address them head on. I'll refocus worker training efforts, promote education reform, and partner with faith-based and community organizations to cure the ills that plague too many Milwaukee neighborhoods. Where Jim Doyle has failed to lead, I will."

According to a recent study by the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, a severe disconnect exists between Milwaukee businesses and the city's worker training programs. The study concluded that, despite the city's high unemployment and high demand for workers, "the work force development 'system' in Milwaukee is not meeting employer needs" (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 6/12/06).

To provide the leadership Milwaukee's work force programs clearly lack, Green would headquarter the Department of Workforce Development (DWD) in the city. This relocation would give the DWD secretary steady, first-hand contact with Milwaukee business and education leaders to ensure Milwaukee's work force development programs are successfully training employees for Wisconsin's businesses.

"Without a properly trained workforce, Milwaukee-area businesses won't grow, but poverty and crime most certainly will," Green said. "By headquartering DWD in Milwaukee we can focus our job training efforts where they are needed most."

Green also highlighted some troubling racial disparities in Milwaukee, including the poverty rate among African Americans - seven times the rate for whites - and the graduation rate between black and white males - 31 percent versus 66 percent (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 2/12/05; Manhattan Institute, Civic Report No. 48).

To tackle these societal ills, Green pledged to engage the help of Milwaukee's faith-based and community organizations. As governor, he would provide $500,000 in grant funding for faith-based groups, and direct his Office of Community and Faith-Based Partnerships to develop a comprehensive strategy for securing additional federal support for their efforts.

"Faith-based groups have been leading the fight to rid our communities of plagues like poverty, substance abuse, violence and apathy - and they've been doing it with little help from the state," Green said. "It's time we lock arms with these outstanding organizations and move Milwaukee forward together. My plan will help ensure the state is an equal partner in the battle for our streets and neighborhoods."

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http://www.votemarkgreen.com/site/apps/nl/content2.asp?c=klIZIhN3JyE&b=1332301&ct=3169425