‘Blueprint For Peace’ Goes To Milwaukee Common Council

A newly-introduced plan to reduce violence in Milwaukee gets an initial look Monday by a common council committee.

What’s being called the “Blueprint for Peace” focuses on several goals in 10 priority neighborhoods. It differs from a plan released last year by some council members that proposed adding nearly 300 police officers.

Blueprint coordinator Reggie Moore said the new plan takes a public health approach to preventing violence.

“We need enforcement in terms of holding folks accountable. But we also need to stop the pipeline of pain that’s happening, and start earlier, before they encounter a law enforcement officer. By that point, it’s too late. If we’re going to a funeral, it’s too late,” Moore said.

Milwaukee Health Commissioner Bevan Baker called the city’s violence a “disease.”

“If it’s an epidemic in our community, we would want to go and find where’s that disease originating from and how can we starve it off, to keep it from spreading,” Baker said.

The plan’s goals include ending gun violence, providing more economic opportunity and expanding counseling for traumatized children.

Moore, who also directs the city’s Office of Violence Prevention, said the blueprint may need additional investment from local, state and federal agencies. The newly-passed Milwaukee city budget includes $280,000 for a violence interruption program in some neighborhoods.

Sunday evening, Baker and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett announced Milwaukee-based Bader Philanthropies, Inc. has awarded $100,000 to the city health department to support the 2018 launch of that violence interruption program, known as Ceasefire Milwaukee.