Mayor Barrett accepts good government award

The City of Milwaukee honored for two innovative programs

The Public Policy Forum presented two of its highest awards to the City of Milwaukee Thursday morning in the Forum’s annual “Salute to Local Government.”

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett accepted the first award which honored the Milwaukee Foreclosure Partnership Initiative. The initiative was convened by the Mayor to develop and implement coordinated and comprehensive strategies to address the causes and consequences of foreclosures.

A wide range of participants have been brought together through the initiative including homeowners’ advocates, banks, academic institutions, city officials, and neighborhood organizations. One aspect of the Milwaukee Foreclosure Partnership initiative received special praise at the awards ceremony; the Milwaukee Foreclosure Mediation Program, administered by Marquette University Law School’s Dispute Resolution Program, brings together banks and homeowners in mediation. Hundreds of homeowners have worked with lenders through this mediation program.

“The foreclosure partnership has three goals: prevention, intervention, and stabilization. Subprime lending and our country’s economic downturn have greatly increased the number of foreclosures. Our aim is to minimize the negative impacts on individuals and neighborhoods,” Mayor Barrett said. “I congratulate all of the partners who have joined us in making this effort a national model.”

The City of Milwaukee was also honored for the Public Library’s green roof project. City Librarian Paula Kiely accepted the award which recognized the innovative use of technology. The 30,000 square foot roof includes rain water retention, direct energy savings, and energy generation through its new solar panels.

The Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee and the Wisconsin Women's Business Initiative Corporation received an Honorable Mention award in the "Private-Public Cooperation" category for their "Make Your Money Talk/IDA Program".

Other awards went to the Villages of Shorewood and Whitefish Bay, the Southeastern Wisconsin Watersheds Trust, Inc., Richard Maslowski of the City of Glendale, retired Chief David Berousek of the North Shore Fire Department, and Liza Drake of Walworth County.

The Public Policy Forum is a respected, nonpartisan organization that conducts research and analysis on government issues in southeastern Wisconsin.