Mayor Johnson prioritizes public safety in Milwaukee’s State of the City address
The mayor drew particular attention to the decline in violent crimes.
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In a warehouse on the city’s far northwest side, Mayor Cavalier Johnson took the podium on Monday, March 4, 2024, to deliver the State of the City address, emphasizing public safety.
“I have no higher priority than making sure Milwaukee is as safe as possible,” said Johnson. This commitment comes in the wake of crime statistics released regularly by the Milwaukee Police Department indicating a nine percent decrease in violent crime, including robbery, rape, and assaults, from 2022 to 2023.
Statistics show a notable shift in the number of homicides from a record-breaking 215 cases in 2022 to 171 in 2023.
This year’s figures point to a slight decrease, with 20 homicides so far, compared to 21 at the same time last year.
Johnson said the city has introduced additional police officers and strengthened collaboration with prosecutors and courts to ensure accountability.
“We must make sure people who commit crimes are identified and brought to justice,” Johnson said. “The consequences should be appropriate and timely.”
In addition to addressing crime, Johnson highlighted ongoing infrastructure efforts to combat reckless driving.
The mayor said the city is implementing 45 traffic- calming projects this year, reinforcing his commitment to Milwaukee as a “Vision Zero” city, striving for zero traffic deaths by the year 2037.
