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Vol. 33 No. 41 • Thurs., Oct. 23 , 2014 - Wed., Oct. 29, 2014 • An NCON Publication Serving The Milwaukee Area • 65¢

Common Ground: ‘No to use of tax dollars for new arena’

Pastors United sponsoring educational forum October 30, 2014 Goal is to increase voter participation

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Common Ground held a community meeting at Parklawn Assembly of God Church to discuss public money for a new Bucks arena. Assembly Co-chair Lloyd Johnson addressed the crowd . Common Ground delegates voted overwhelmingly Sunday, October 19, 2014 during a meeting at Parklawn Assembly of God Church to reject the use of public money to build a new Milwaukee Bucks arena in downtown Milwaukee. The rejection of the use of tax money was passed when a formal motion was presented to the group at which time the delegates held up orange astrobright signs bearing the word ‘yes.’ Delegates on stage made presentations describing the horrific conditions which plague many of the city’s recreational facilities. The cost for building a

new state-of-the-art arena has been estimated to cost between $400 million and $500 million. And at one time, Common Ground did say at one time it could support building a new arena if the plan included $150 million for recreational and playground spaces in this area. Common Ground has requested a meeting with Bucks’ owners, Wes Edens and Marc Lasry, but have been denied a meeting. However, Bob Cook, Bucks’ vice president, reached out to the leadership of Common Ground. Sunday’s delegates also learned that Bucks’ owner, Wes Edens, is a major player

in a company named Nationstar Mortgage, a mortgage servicing company owned by Edens’ Fortress Investment Group, is responsible for several abandoned homes in Milwaukee. Public officials attending the Common Ground meeting included two members of Milwaukee’s Common Council: Aldermen Joe Davis and Bob Donovan. Both aldermen made an unequivocal commitment to work with Common Ground in securing funds for Common Ground’s Fair Play campaign and to consult with the organization before a vote is taken.

Development Leader Vangard Group is awarded WHEDA tax credits for downtown Germania Building Vangard Group announced that it will convert the Historic Germania Building at 135 W. Wells St., into beautiful apartment homes with street-level commercial space. During an Oct 6, 2014 press conference, Vangard was named a recipient of the 2014 High Impact Project Reserve and awarded $8.1 million in reserve tax credits by the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) for this project. Vangard Group and its partners have a proven track record for expanding and developing innovative projects nationally with significant downtown catalytic development experience. Vangard will honor the legacy of the Germania Building, once the largest publisher of German-language newspapers in the nation.

Vangard Group president Kalan Haywood and Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch Vangard Group president Kalan Haywood believes that high-level of recognition can be discovered again. “This can be the template for other cities on how to recharge and revive downtown areas," he said. This is the heart of downtown - we can create spaces so people can live,

work and play, he added. Construction on the 18 month project is expected to begin in January 2015 and is expected to provide 73 construction jobs, according to Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch, who was on hand to congratulate Vangard Group.

vember 4, 2014 and to give candidates seeking political office the opportunity to meet some of the electorate they’ve never met. The Informational Forum will be held on Thursday, October 30, 2014 at the Wisconsin African American Women’s Center, 3020 W. Vliet Street from 6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Commenting on the numMin. Gregory Lewis ber of co-sponsors of the Informational Forum, MinPastors United, a non- ister Gregory Lewis, presiprofit organization founded dent of Pastor United, said: in 2013 and comprised of “We’re definitely honored over 350 faith, business and and pleased and so many orcommunity leaders are host- ganizations are joining Pasing an Informational Educa- tors United to put on this tional Forum geared to the mid-term election on No(Continued on pg. 12)

Rev. Frederick Jones to be installed as pastor of Canaan Baptist Church Mirroring a long lineage of God-fearing ancestors, Rev. Frederick E. Jones, Sr., will be installed as Pastor of Canaan Baptist Church on Sunday, November 9, 2014, at 3:30 p.m. The theme for the installation will be, “A Man Sent By God,” taken from Jeremiah 3:15. Raised by Christian parents, who at an early age helped lead him to Christ, Rev. Jones’ great-granduncle was a minister and he has two uncles who were called by God to preach the Gospel. His great-granduncle —the late Rev. Nathaniel Jackson—also served in the National Baptist Convention USA, Inc. A life-long member of Canaan, Rev. Jones served under three different administrations. He has been a servant leader in the capacity of deacon, has served in the Christian Education Ministry, and on the executive team, under the late Dr. E. F. Bridges. He has also served as Chairman of the Trustee Ministry, Men’s Ministry Chair, Church School instructor, and in various other capacities throughout the church, as needed. Rev. Jones attributes his knowledge of church policy— based on sound Baptist doctrine—to the leadership

Rev. Frederick Jones and tutelage of the late Pastor H. Matthew Beecham, who was a strong proponent of Christian Education. He also credits Rev. John F. Johnson for being one of his mentors and for helping him recognize the importance of embracing a community and world vision for the church. Rev. Jones’ passion, faith and focus have served him well as a businessman and community leader in Milwaukee for most of his adult life. His love of God has always played an integral role in his life—spilling over into the community, as he provided a beacon of hope to those around him, preparing him to serve humbly and guiding (Continued on pg. 2)


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