Members of 'Common Ground' urge Common Council to adopt new school bus ordinance



MILWAUKEE -- The group "Common Ground" is pushing for a new rule that the group believes would improve safety around school buses in Milwaukee.

Common Ground representatives held a news conference Tuesday morning, October 20th, urging the Milwaukee Common Council to adopt the new ordinance.

It would require bus drivers to use flashing red lights and a stop arm any time kids get on or off the school bus.

Currently, buses don't have to do that if there's a sidewalk on either side of the street.

Milwaukee Public Schools officials and the chair of the Public Safety Committee oppose the plan.

"We feel this is as common sense, no brainer, easy solution that our city officials have the power to enact a change without resistance or push back, and that's our expectation," Kevan Penvos with Common Ground said.

"In this case, you`re taking 56,000 children and they`re the ones who are the experiment here, they`re the ones who would have to be crossing the street in front of that stopped bus," Alderman Terry Witkowski, chair of the Public Safety Committee said.

The Common Council's Public Safety Committee is set to meet on Thursday, October 22nd.