Every Friday, Stuff We Missed (formerly Off The Record, which is now the name of our print-only Colectivo publication) looks to other Milwaukee publications (and beyond) for, well, stuff we missed throughout the week.
• Back in February, Ald. Bob “sir, this stall is occupied” Donovan introduced a resolution to ban food trucks from a one-mile stretch of National Avenue, between South 27th and South 39th streets. Donovan cited “concerns with traffic congestion and complaints from businesses about the loss of parking.” The Milwaukee Common Council unanimously passed the resolution. A few weeks later, Mayor Tom Barrett vetoed the ban, saying, “Responsibly operated food trucks can add great energy to our city. They are also a platform for entrepreneurs to start or expand a business. We should find ways to support the opportunities and great flavors they bring to Milwaukee.”
Now, ahead of a Common Council meeting on March 26 that could overturn Barrett’s veto, Silver City residents and business owners are organizing a rally in support of the neighborhood’s food trucks. In a piece for the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service, Julio Guerrero makes his case:
We want to send a message to the community that if we believe that our Latino brothers and sisters are not being treated with the respect and dignity that they deserve, we will rally behind them as a community and we will support them. If we feel an elected official is not acting in alignment with the best interest of our community, it’s our responsibility as community leaders and members to step up and make it known. Ald. Donovan is free to take whatever positions he chooses; as a community, we are free to come together over tacos and disagree. This is what democracy looks like.
The rally will take place at 6 p.m. tonight, outside of Velobahn Coffee & Cycle at 3618 W. Pierce St. The MNNS piece notes that “taco trucks take cash only, so please stop at an ATM on your way here.” [Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service]
• Organizers of Indian Summer Festival announced that after 32 years, the end-of-summer fest will not return to the Summerfest grounds in 2019. Instead, “Indian Summer Festival will focus on popular aspects and programming will be reinvented and presented throughout the Milwaukee metro area.” [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]
• Black Arts Fest MKE, meanwhile, announced it will return to the Summerfest grounds this year. Sisters With Voices (SWV) will headline the fest, which is set for Saturday, August 3. [88Nine Radio Milwaukee]
• In even more festival news, Bloody Mary Festival-Wisconsin will set up shop outside Fiserv Forum on Saturday, June 22, and Sunday, June 23. [OnMilwaukee]
• New Rose Of The West video! The group will celebrate the release of its self-titled debut album Friday, April 5 at The Exclusive Company, and Saturday, April 6 at Mad Planet. [Audiofemme]
• The Redevelopment Authority of the City of Milwaukee unanimously approved the creation of a “$9 million, developer-financed tax-incremental financing (TIF) district” for the public portions of the currently-redeveloping Shops of Grand Avenue (a.k.a. “The Avenue”). [Urban Milwaukee]
• Milwaukee has a new historic concrete box! The Historic Preservation Commission awarded permanent historic designation to the (mostly empty) Milwaukee Journal Sentinel headquarters in Downtown Milwaukee. Any future exterior changes to the hulking building—built in 1924 and reportedly under contract for purchase—will have to get approval from the commission. [Urban Milwaukee]
• If the thrilling “Selig Experience” at Miller Park hasn’t quenched your thirst for all things Bud Selig, the former MLB Commissioner is prepping a book. Fingers crossed that it, too, contains a historically accurate replica of Selig’s desk. [Milwaukee Business Journal]
• Speaking of baseball, here are some pictures of the new food items coming to Miller Park. Fried barbecue corn! Loaded pork tamales! More! [Milwaukee Business Journal]
• West Bend’s Museum of Wisconsin Art (MOWA) will open a second location in Milwaukee’s Saint Kate “arts hotel.” Saint Kate is expected to open this spring in the former home of the InterContinental Hotel, 139 E. Kilbourn Ave. [Urban Milwaukee]
• The Milwaukee Public Museum will announce the location of its future home “later this year.” We’re calling it now: it ain’t gonna be the Domes. [Milwaukee Business Journal]
• Have a great weekend, Milwaukee!