Number
201318
Version
SUBSTITUTE 2
Reference
Sponsor
ALD. COGGS, BAUMAN, STAMPER, RAINEY, LEWIS, DODD, KOVAC, ZAMARRIPA, BORKOWSKI, SPIKER, JOHNSON, PEREZ, DIMITRIJEVIC, HAMILTON AND MURPHY
Title
A substitute ordinance renaming Old World Third Street, from West McKinley Avenue to West Wisconsin Avenue, North Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.
Analysis
This ordinance renames Old World Third Street, from West McKinley Avenue to West Wisconsin Avenue, North Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive
Body
Whereas, In 1984, when the Common Council sought to rename North 3rd Street to North Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, many citizens including a group called Young Milwaukeeans supported the change with a petition of 17,000 signatures; and
Whereas, A group of downtown business owners from West State Street to West Juneau Avenue opposed the change, claiming that renaming the street in recognition of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. could harm the street’s status as a tourist attraction; and
Whereas, After a prolonged political battle, the Common Council voted to change North 3rd Street north of West McKinley Avenue to North Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, but the portion of road south of McKinley was changed to North Old World Street; and
Whereas, Recent nationwide protests for racial equity and local issues such as Milwaukee’s longstanding racial segregation emphasize the importance of reflecting upon historical injustices in order to build a fairer and more inclusive society; and
Whereas, Renaming this particular stretch of street in honor of King would recognize a past error and represent one small but significant way of dismantling the vestiges of systemic racism in our society; and
Whereas, King was the prominent spokesperson and charismatic leader of the Civil Rights Movement who pushed for desegregation, equal voting rights, labor rights, and basic civil rights for Americans of all races and ethnic backgrounds; and
Whereas, King spoke to audiences in Milwaukee on two occasions and after King was assassinated in April 1968, 15,000 people marched through the streets of downtown Milwaukee, which was among the largest in the country at the time; and
Whereas, There are approximately 900 streets in cities across the US named in honor of King; and
Whereas, The Common Council and relevant City departments welcome discussing with residents and affected business owners a workable timeline to implement the street name change along with possibilities for deploying City resources in order to facilitate the transition process; now, therefore
The Mayor and Common Council of the City of Milwaukee do ordain as follows:
Part 1. Old World Third Street, from West McKinley Avenue to West Wisconsin Avenue, is renamed North Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.
Part 2. For the purposes of this ordinance, the provisions of s. 113-3 of the Milwaukee Code of Ordinances are superseded.
LRB
APPROVED AS TO FORM
____________________________
Legislative Reference Bureau
Date: ______________________
Attorney
IT IS OUR OPINION THAT THE ORDINANCE
IS LEGAL AND ENFORCEABLE
____________________________
Office of the City Attorney
Date: ______________________
Requestor
Drafter
Alex Highley
LRB176527-3
1/27/2021