With business from visitors in the city for the Republican National Convention falling far short of expectations for many Downtown restaurants and bars, Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson on Wednesday called on residents of the region to come to the rescue. He also addressed Tuesday’s fatal shooting by police from Ohio of a man near a park a mile away from the convention.
Johnson was a staunch supporter of Milwaukee’s bid for the RNC, and local coverage of the impact of the convention has depicted nearly empty dining rooms and far lower foot traffic than typical midsummer weekdays.
“I’ve certainly heard some concerns from businesses that are outside of the immediate convention area. Some have said that their expectations have not been met,” Johnson said during an early morning press briefing on Wednesday. “While it’s absolutely true that millions and millions of dollars will be spent in connection with the convention, that money is not necessarily flowing through every corner of the economy. I’ve heard that some restaurants and businesses Downtown were expecting a little bit more. The same is true of businesses in neighborhoods near Downtown.”
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Johnson said he’s been using every opportunity to encourage convention attendees to explore the city and patronize local restaurants and other businesses.
“Today, I have an additional request, as well,” he said. “I encourage people who live in Milwaukee, live in the region, those regular patrons to businesses and restaurants in the city, particularly here Downtown, the Third Ward, Walker’s Point, Bronzeville and the like. I encourage those folks to come Downtown and enjoy everything that Downtown and the nearby neighborhoods have to offer. They deserve our patronage and they have been working very hard to make sure this is a welcoming place for everybody, including those who call our community home.”
Some local businesses that are taking part at Convention Fest, a marketplace of local vendros outside Fiserv Forum, are benefitting from the RNC, Johnson said. “It’s a kind of street fair that we’ve got going on within the confines of the convention activity,” he said. “I like the fact that local companies are earning money and that the revenue is coming from out-of-towners.”
Johnson said he had a brief telephone conversation on Tuesday with Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, who was the target of an attempted assassination while speaking at a political rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday that left him with an injury to his ear.
“Mr. Trump had positive things to say about his experience so far here in Milwaukee and he shared his gratitude for the security and for law enforcement preparations,” Johnson said. “I did appreciate the call and I wished him a speedy recovery from his recent injuries.”
Johnson began the media briefing with comments about the fatal police shooting Tuesday afternoon near North 14th and West Vliet streets, immediately west of Downtown and less than a mile from Fiserv Forum.
Five police officers from Columbus, Ohio, shot and killed a man armed with a knife in each hand. The officers, who were brought in as part of the RNC security effort, were in the area for a briefing when they saw an altercation between two people near King Park, according to Milwaukee police. No Milwaukee police officers were involved.
In body camera video released by Columbus police, the officers are standing outside appearing to discuss abortion protesters when someone says, “He’s got a knife.” Multiple officers run toward the two men, who move from the sidewalk area to the street. The man does not obey officers’ commands to drop the weapons and appears to lunge toward or charge the other man. The officers fire numerous shots, and he falls to the street.
“I was saddened by the death yesterday afternoon as a result of an officer-involved shooting. No one wanted this outcome,” Johnson said. “I anticipate a full as well as thorough investigation. The deceased individual had family and friends and my thoughts certainly are with them. My thoughts are also with the police officers from Columbus, Ohio. I’m sure that they did not expect to be drawn into a tragic situation such as the one that they were involved in yesterday.”
Media reports identified the man as Samuel Sharpe Jr., who lived in a tent encampments in the area around King Park.
Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman strongly defended officers’ actions. “Someone’s life was in danger,” he said at a press conference Tuesday. “These officers who are not from this area took upon themselves to act to save someone’s life today.”
The mayor said preliminary information from police “leaves a clear impression” that the officers’ actions saved the life of the unarmed man, or at least prevented serious injury.
An estimated 4,000 officers from law enforcement agencies outside the city were brought to Milwaukee for the convention. Johnson said he has spoken directly with Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther about the situation. “We agreed to stay in communication,” Johnson said. “Other than the fact that out-of-town officers were involved in this incident, I know of no other connections to the convention.”
The convention has proceeded with relatively few security or safety concerns, Johnson added.
There were no arrests overnight and during the day on Tuesday the lone arrest stemmed from “some pushing and shoving,” he said.
