Members of the Milwaukee Common Council are outraged at a Facebook photo showing an employee of a subcontractor hired by a company working for the Department of Public Works openly brandishing a handgun next to two coworkers open carrying holstered handguns, at a worksite near N. 19th and W. Meinecke Streets.
Alderman Russell W. Stamper, II, in whose 15th District the photo was taken, said he is shocked and angered by the image. “Behavior as dangerous and disrespectful as this is appalling and has no place in any neighborhood and by any city contractor, subcontractor or representative,” he said.
“If this is a real, untouched photo I would like this individual and that crew removed immediately from the site and barred from any future city projects,” said Alderman Stamper, chair of the Common Council’s Community and Economic Development Committee.
“I will be working with my colleagues on possible legislative measures to make sure this type of behavior will not happen again on any future city projects,” Alderman Stamper said.
Common Council President Ashanti Hamilton said he has been told the owner of the contracting company has been summoned to meet tomorrow (Tuesday, December 5) with DPW Commissioner Ghassan Korban. “I will be immediately following up with Commissioner Korban to see what was discussed and to determine future worksite requirements and supervision with this contractor,” he said.
Alderwoman Milele A. Coggs, chair of the Finance and Personnel Committee, said the photo reflects poorly on the subcontractor and is now being shared widely on social media.
“The behavior exposed in this photo is something we do not tolerate or dismiss or condone in any way with individuals who work with or for the city,” she said.
“I and other members of the Council appreciate it when the public steps up and shares information about city projects and city work in general that we may not be aware of,” Alderwoman Coggs said.
“This is a prime example of public input and information-sharing that can help us do our work more effectively and that could actually lead to important changes in city policy,” she said.
- Facebook photo shows workers of city- hired subcontractor carrying handguns - December 4, 2017
They have constitutional rights to carry! Get over it! Dosent Milwaukee’s Common council have anything better to do? How about doing something with the stolen cars, shootings, the opiate crisis . How your respond times for Milw Fire dept will result in longer wait times for residents which could mean loss of lives. Do your job and don’t dictate to law abiding citizens what to do! They have Constitutional rights too!!