On Ceasefire Sabbath, Mayor Barrett spreads message of peace: "We want this to be a safer city"

MILWAUKEE -- Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett on Sunday, May 15th visited three churches on the 12th annual "Ceasefire Sabbath." This, as the 37th homicide of 2016 was recorded in the city of Milwaukee this weekend.The latest homicide happened on Saturday, May 14th near Richards and Hadley.Police say three individuals were sitting in a car when two suspects approached the car and began shooting.

"It's wrong:" Mayor Barrett speaks out after Gov. Walker signs into law so-called "zombie homes" bill

MILWAUKEE -- Governor Scott Walker has signed into law a bill that will give lenders up to a year before they must sell abandoned properties known as "zombie homes." It is a move Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett believes will lead to an increase in crime in Milwaukee.Barrett says these so-called "zombie homes" are unwanted by the lending banks.According to Barrett, more "zombie homes" means more places for criminals to conduct illegal activity in Milwaukee.

Mayor Barrett asks Scott Walker to veto bill that could lead to more "zombie homes"

MILWAUKEE -- Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett is asking Governor Scott Walker to veto a bill that he fears would create more so-called "zombie houses.""Zombie houses" are homes abandoned by their owners, but unwanted by the banks.Currently, banks are forced to put a "zombie house" up for sale five weeks after the home is found to be abandoned.A new bill would move the deadline back to 12 months, and it has already made it through the Assembly and the Senate.Barrett says it would mean more empty houses in Milwaukee, and potentially more crime."This is a transfer of responsibility potentially in many different cases from financial institutions to the taxpayers of the city of Milwaukee and it's bad legislation and we're asking the governor to veto it," Barrett said.Currently, there are more than 350 "zombie houses" in Milwaukee.

Milwaukee one of six cities to participate in Bloomberg Philanthropies' "What Work Cities" initiative

MILWAUKEE – Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett has announced that the City of Milwaukee has been selected as one of six cities to participate in Bloomberg Philanthropies’ “What Work Cities” initiative – one of the largest-ever philanthropic efforts to enhance the use of data and evidence in the public sector.Launched in April 2015, the initiative is currently providing support to 21 cities and will admit up to 100 cities on a rolling basis through 2017.Working with Bloomberg Philanthropies, Mayor Barrett and the City of Milwaukee will increase access to government data and support app development around City services and amenities.