New MKE Cnty Exec David Crowley takes office in midst of COVID-19 pandemic
Compiled by MCJ Editorial Staff
Like his predecessor Chris Abele, new Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley said he won’t bow to growing pressure to reopen businesses until the threat of COVID-19 is under control.
Just hours after he was sworn into office in front of his North side home before a small group of family, friends and neighbors earlier in the week, Crowley said the county will contine to have businesses closed.
“But it’s extremely important that when we look at reopening our economy that you have government, you have business, as well as our public health officials and medical providers at the table to see what that looks like, Crowley said.
The new county executive made his comments during what might undoubtedly have been his first official act in office: attending the daily teleconference held by county and city of Milwaukee leaders.
There has been a push in some states—with the encouragement of President Donald Trump—to reopen businesses in the middle of the nation-wide COVID-19 pandemic.
Wisconsin’s Gov. Tony Evers isn’t among the dissidents, and has rejected appeals from a small fringe groupbof state residents led by Republican lawmakers to end the stay at home moratorium. If there was speculation as to what direction Crowley would advocate now that he is county executive, he immedately erased those doubts when he declared businesses will remain closed.
“We want to continue to flatten this curve,” Crowley continued. “But we have to continue to focus on social distancing.”
Crowley also wants to keep a focus on the areas being hit hardest by the pandemic. “We have to continue to talk about the racial disparities and health outcomes that we generally see,” he said.
Taking over a new job is never easy, and is unimaginable in the middle of a global crisis, but Crowley says he has a clear blueprint to follow.
“We want to make sure we have one message for everybody, no matter what zip code you live in,” Crowley said.
Someone who is no stranger to the challenges of handling the pandemic, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, said he and other city officials will work with Crowley and the county in facing down the threat the virus represents to their respective government entities.
“We all want to work with you to make sure thart if you’re successful, the county is successful, all the 19 communities in Milwaukee County are successful,” said Barrett.—Source for this article: cbs58.com