By Manny Perez
General Manager, Esperanza Unida & Former Wisconsin Secretary of Workforce Development.
An important issue affecting the Milwaukee South Side and Esperanza Unida is the lack of economic development, urban planning, and seriously deteriorated conditions along 5th and 6th Street. This makes it difficult for Esperanza Unida to attract and retain tenants at the correct rental rates and hence it negatively affects Esperanza Unida’s ability to generate needed revenue to pay the City taxes; including the tax arrears. While there is enough blame to go around as Esperanza Unida did not make the proper filings on time in years past contesting the assessment rates, it is also true that 5th and 6th Street urgently need improvement and economic development by the City, County, and State.
The time has come to aggressively support Mayor Barrett, Alderman Perez, the business owners on 5th and 6th Street, the Spanish Council, the Walker Point Association, and Esperanza Unida to bring to reality needed development projects to re-energize this area without partisan politics derailing these initiatives. Since my arrival in March 2013, I have been and continue to be adamant supporter of this initiative without partisan politics and with strong commitment to results. A visionary, catalytic concept already exists as we have been jointly working together with the Walker Point Association, Spanish Council, Alderman Perez and City Development in its conceptualization.
We urge the City of Milwaukee Development Office, the Office of the Mayor, Governor Scott Walker and all businesses and civic leaders to unite above partisan politics and past failed attempts, and express their commitment, political and economic support to drive economic development along 6th and 5th Street and to align the resources at State, County and City levels to make this project a reality. Politically and financially supporting this, will help everybody –including Esperanza Unida- and it will strongly add to the City of Milwaukee, County, and State of Wisconsin Tax base and employment goals outlined by Mayor Tom Barrett, County Executive Chris Abele, and Governor Scott Walker.
In 2013, under my leadership, Esperanza Unida completed the design of a new SAGE accounting system, paid the tax arrears with the Department of Revenue, continues to make payments to DWD Unemployment Tax Arrears, is restructuring the IRS debt and seek to structure payments to the City of Milwaukee taxes as well as meeting payroll each month and making payments to debtors each time possible despite current economic conditions. We are re-launching 9 programs and events all aimed at training, well-being, and bringing prosperity to the Milwaukee South Side as well as supporting entrepreneurs.
Therefore, let’s unite and drive economic development at 5th and 6th Streets and National Avenue!
