Petition in support of anti-displacement and anti-gentrification
Collaborating with other organizations working for racial justice in the greater Milwaukee area is a key part of the work that Bay Bridge does. Our neighbors in the 5 Points Neighborhood Association (5PNA) have been strong supporters of Bay Bridge and representatives sit on the Bay Bridge board.
Recently, 5PNA and 5 Points Art Gallery & Studios together with long-time neighborhood residents have raised concerns about the expansion of the Historic King Drive BID into the 5 Points Neighborhood. They feel the city isn’t listening to their objections. Bay Bridge shares their concerns and has written a letter to elected officials in support. Now we are joining 5PNA and 5 Points Art Gallery & Studios in a call for Wisconsin residents, and in particular City of Milwaukee residents, to sign and send in petitions to support their 10-point anti-displacement/anti-gentrification plan.
Below is 5PNA’s 10-Point Anti-Displacement / Anti-Gentrification Plan, which is going to be proposed at the city and state level for legislative change. If you would like to support the cause, print, sign, and mail in your petition to the 5 Points Art Gallery & Studios at the address below. Please also share the petition with anyone who might be interested in joining the cause.
5 Points Art Gallery & Studios
3514 N. Port Washington Ave.
Milwaukee, WI 53212
10-Point Anti-Displacement / Anti-Gentrification Plan
Tell the City to reject the $400,000 in private funds from large private corporations, philanthropic organizations and other entities who are complicit in gentrification and, instead, utilize the millions in expiring Tax Increment Financing (“TIF”) towards offsetting rising taxes for homeowners and small businesses
Stop the expansion of the streetcar and re-allocate those millions in public funds to alleviate the financial distress caused by the downtown development and enhance the existing public transportation system.
Grandfather the tax level and tax relief to family members or the rightful heirs of homeowners and small commercial property/business owners. This will reduce sending families into poverty and allow for generational wealth.
Stop the predatory administering of property inspection violations. Provide financial relief options for owners to repair violations even with property tax delinquency up to 2 years.
Require Elected Officials/Alderpersons to host community meetings within the subject neighborhood for all new developments entering the area. This includes commercial property transfers.
Require the City to send detailed mailings to all residents and businesses within .25-mile radius of any development over $1 million, receiving any City and State funding. The mailing must include a “Support” and “Oppose” option to be filled out and returned. Any un-returned mailings cannot be considered a vote of “Support”. Determination of project support should be determined by majority rule of returned mailings.
Business Improvement Districts (“BIDs”) must comply with the same detailed mailing requirements to residents and businesses as required $1 million developments, but within a .25-mile radius. The mailing must include a “Support” and “Oppose” option to be filled out and returned. Any un-returned mailings cannot be considered a vote of “Support”. Determination of project support should be determined by majority rule of returned mailings. BID cannot redraw opposing submissions from its boundaries to manipulate results in its favor.
Change BID origination, annexation, and dissolution laws to permit only one vote per property owner within planned, annexed, and existing BID boundaries. No inflated or devalued votes based on property assessments or quantity of amassed properties.
Give residents, small area businesses, and neighborhood associations first rights of refusal towards purchasing city properties and vacant lots in their neighborhoods. Development should be controlled and fostered by the people residing and working daily in the immediate community so that growth occurs at a sustainable pace and they’re not priced out of their communities.
Affordable housing developments should be geared to creating immediate homeownership opportunities versus amassing rental units. This will allow residents true access to generational wealth opportunities and will stabilize neighborhoods.
