Milwaukee State of the City address; mayor speaks about key initiatives

MILWAUKEE - Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson delivered his State of the City address Monday, June 26, speaking about his vision for the city. Among the new initiatives, the mayor called for 50 miles of new bike lanes and more money for lead lateral replacement.

Mayor Johnson focused on "One Milwaukee," an idea he wants to use to unify the city to help solve current challenges.

Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson

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The speech came after state lawmakers helped the city avoid a fiscal cliff. Mayor Johnson said he expects the Common Council to pass the 2% sales tax, giving him room to outline his vision for growth instead of drastic cuts.

Inside the BMO Pavilion on the Summerfest grounds, Monday's headliner needed no band to sing his song about Milwaukee.

"Having a central point where everybody can rally around 'One Milwaukee' is powerful," said Mayor Johnson.

It was Mayor Johnson's first State of the City address since winning last year's special election, and it painted a brighter picture for Milwaukee now that the city can fix its own financial problem with a sales tax.

Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson

"Not just in Madison or in City Hall, but in the business community and in our neighborhoods, too, everybody's got a responsibility and a role to play in making sure that the city is the best city that it possibly can be," said Mayor Johnson.

To do just that, Johnson announced a goal of replacing all remaining lead lateral service lines over the next 20 years, shaving 20 to 40 years off the estimated completion date with help from the federal government.

"There is no safe level of lead for the human body, especially for our youngest kids, and we want to be ambitious about removing lead service laterals from the ground in Milwaukee," said Mayor Johnson.

By 2026, Johnson wants 50 miles of protected bike lanes under construction or in active development.

"It's a viable transportation option for people in Milwaukee," said Johnson. "Many people use it as a way to get around town, and I want to work to make sure that we're investing in people-centered infrastructure in Milwaukee."

It's a move that he says will also help curb reckless driving.

Those plans -- rooted in local control -- come after the state forced stipulations upon Milwaukee as part of the shared revenue deal. Still, the mayor says he's confident the city can work around the restrictions. 

"There are enough partners out there, both inside of government and outside of government, I think, to help us to make sure that we continue to push forward," said Mayor Johnson. 

The city also launched a new website aimed at connecting young people with opportunities. The mayor's hoping that can guide people toward a positive path instead of violence or crime.