Milwaukee mayor discusses Harris campaign and Black voter concerns

Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson recently spoke with me for HYFIN about Vice President Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign and issues affecting Black Americans. The conversation covered various topics, including economic policies, housing affordability, diversity initiatives, and criminal justice reform.

Elected in 2022, Johnson became Milwaukee’s first Black mayor after initially serving as Acting Mayor in late 2021. His administration has overseen several notable developments:

• Negotiation of a new city sales tax to address fiscal challenges
• Securing the 2024 Republican National Convention for Milwaukee
• Overseeing a modest decrease in violent crime and reckless driving incidents

Johnson’s mayoral priorities include reducing violence, fostering economic development, and improving roadway safety. He has ambitious goals to increase Milwaukee’s population from 563,000 to one million residents.

Economic Policies and Job Creation

Mayor Johnson highlighted the Biden-Harris administration’s efforts to create job opportunities for Black Americans. He noted, “Under their leadership, we’ve seen the lowest ever unemployment rate for African Americans in the history of the United States.” Johnson also mentioned increased funding for historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs).

Addressing concerns about artificial intelligence’s potential impact on employment, particularly in communities of color, Johnson expressed confidence that Vice President Harris would work to ensure AI “benefits our economy without displacing American workers.”

This confidence appears well-founded, given Vice President Harris’s active role in shaping AI policy for the administration. As the White House’s de facto “AI czar,” Harris has been at the forefront of efforts to balance innovation with public safety and individual rights. In November 2023, she announced several U.S. initiatives to advance AI’s safe and responsible use during a major policy speech at the Global Summit on AI Safety in the United Kingdom.

Harris has been instrumental in key AI policy initiatives, including securing voluntary commitments from leading AI companies for safe and transparent AI development, establishing the United States AI Safety Institute, and advocating for international norms on AI-generated content authentication. In March 2024, she announced a new policy governing federal agencies’ use of AI, setting security and safety requirements for federal AI applications.

 This stance suggests a commitment to harnessing AI’s potential for economic growth while safeguarding jobs and worker rights, addressing Mayor Johnson’s concerns about AI’s impact on employment.

Housing Affordability Initiatives

Mayor Johnson addressed the critical issue of housing affordability, acknowledging its impact on Milwaukee residents and outlining both local and federal efforts to tackle the problem. He emphasized the Biden-Harris administration’s focus on increasing housing supply and affordability nationwide.

“The president has talked about this at length,” Johnson stated. “He knows, and the vice president knows this as well, that there’s a critical housing shortage, not just in Milwaukee, but across the United States.” He highlighted President Biden’s goal of creating at least 2 million more homes in his next term, demonstrating the administration’s commitment to addressing the housing crisis.

The mayor detailed how federal funds, particularly from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), have been instrumental in local housing initiatives:

1. Homes MKE Program: Johnson described this city program, which uses $15 million in federal funds to invest in city-owned tax-foreclosed homes. The program works with local, small developers—often Black men and women just starting in the field—to redevelop these properties and sell them at discounted rates to owner-occupants, stabilizing neighborhoods and creating affordable homes.
2. Library Development Project: The mayor highlighted a project that combines a new 18,000-square-foot state-of-the-art library with 93 housing units, partially funded by ARPA funds.
3. King Park Neighborhood Development: Johnson mentioned a partnership with Milwaukee County that resulted in the purchase of city-owned lots for a dollar each, leading to the construction of over 100 affordable homes in the King Park neighborhood.

Addressing the issue of out-of-state investors driving up housing costs, Mayor Johnson outlined several strategies:

1. Local Initiatives: He mentioned working with organizations like the Community Development Alliance and Habitat for Humanity to create a “backbone of funding structure” to develop new, affordable housing and compete with out-of-state investors.
2. Acquisition Fund: Johnson described efforts to create a fund to purchase homes before investors can acquire them or to buy properties from landlords to “break up the hold they have on these homes” and get them into the hands of homeowners.
3. Federal Policy Proposals: The mayor highlighted the Biden-Harris administration’s proposal to cap rent growth, stating, “They’re seeking to have federal controls on that. So folks, again, are able to keep more money in their own pockets because that’s what this president and what this vice president are working to do every single day.”

Johnson emphasized the administration’s overall approach: “They’re trying to make sure in this administration that they enact policies to keep more of your money in your own pocket.” He connected this to broader economic policies aimed at reducing financial burdens on families, including efforts to lower energy costs, eliminate medical debt, and reduce college debt.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Addressing recent challenges to affirmative action and diversity initiatives, Mayor Johnson defended the administration’s commitment to representation. He discussed the broader implications of the Supreme Court’s ruling on affirmative action in schools.

Johnson emphasized the administration’s approach to diversity: “They see people where they are. They know that folks need an opportunity. They know folks need a leg up.” He pointed to President Biden’s diverse cabinet appointments and judicial nominations as evidence of their dedication to inclusivity.

The mayor highlighted the administration’s efforts to close the racial wealth gap and provide opportunities for Black and brown families. He stated, “They will enact policies to continue to put opportunities for folks to get ahead. That’s why in this administration, they’ve done all the things that we’ve talked about… helping to lift families up, particularly black and brown families in this country.”

Johnson also addressed the broader societal debate around DEI initiatives. He expressed concern about state legislatures interfering with local diversity efforts, particularly in majority-minority communities. The mayor suggested that a Harris administration could work to “put forward legislation or policies to help local communities circumvent some challenges presented to policies that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion.”

When asked about specific policies he would recommend to address equity issues, Mayor Johnson emphasized the need to combat state-level opposition to DEI initiatives. He suggested that the federal government could potentially use its resources to discourage states from “meddling around in local affairs as cities like Milwaukee or others seek to elevate the diverse voices of their communities.”

Criminal Justice Reform

When questioned about concerns regarding Vice President Harris’s prosecutorial record, Mayor Johnson sought to provide context. He emphasized that as a prosecutor, Harris implemented diversion programs and sought rehabilitation opportunities in addition to holding lawbreakers accountable.

“We can’t simply incarcerate our way out of societal issues,” Johnson stated. “We must find ways for individuals to be rehabilitated, reenter society, and have a second chance.” He argued that Harris’s background in law enforcement, combined with her focus on providing second chances, positions her well to address criminal justice reform at the national level.

To fully understand the context of Mayor Johnson’s comments, it’s important to note that Vice President Harris’s record as a prosecutor and attorney general is complex and often difficult to categorize ideologically. Her career spans roles as San Francisco District Attorney and California Attorney General (, during which she implemented both progressive reforms, such as the “Back on Track” program offering alternatives to incarceration, and more traditional law enforcement policies, including defending California’s death penalty despite her personal opposition.

Harris has described herself as a “progressive prosecutor” and “smart on crime,” with an approach characterized by incremental change rather than radical overhauls. This has led to both praise and criticism, with supporters arguing she worked to implement reforms within the constraints of her roles. At the same time, critics contend she sometimes perpetuated aspects of mass incarceration. Mayor Johnson’s defense of Harris’s record appears to focus on her efforts to balance accountability with rehabilitation, highlighting the complexities of working within the system while attempting to implement reforms.

As the presidential election looms less than 100 days away, Mayor Johnson’s conversation sheds light on a range of critical issues facing Black voters in Milwaukee and across the nation. From economic policies and affordable housing to diversity initiatives and criminal justice reform, these concerns could significantly shape the electoral landscape.