The Licenses Committee, chaired by Alderperson JoCasta Zamarripa, already saw some changes Wednesday morning after the argument between Zamarripa and Alderman Mark Chambers one week ago today. Though Chambers has been removed from the Licenses Committee, his name still appeared on Wednesday's agenda. 

"I put out a statement yesterday afternoon. I have nothing else to add at this time," Ald. Zamarripa said Wednesday. 

That statement says the dispute stems from an argument Feb. 11 in Zamarripa's office, which happened just before a council news conference about policies related to the actions Milwaukee could take before the potential arrival of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The arguments started over part of the "ICE Out Milwaukee" legislation proposed last week. Chambers felt one of the pieces of legislation, related to agents masking, was too similar to another item he was on over a year-and-a-half ago that didn't go anywhere.

CBS 58 obtained the email from Ald. Chambers to his colleagues last week, in which Chambers takes issue with the prohibition of face coverings by law enforcement in the "ICE Out" package.

The alderman says that in July of 2024, he and Ald. Burgelis co-sponsored legislation to ban face coverings for certain purposes. "We worked for a very long time to accommodate exceptions and make the ordinance legal and enforceable," Chambers wrote. "It had always been our intention to include a prohibition of these same coverings by law enforcement, but wanted to work further with both the Milwaukee Police Department and the Office of the City Attorney." The alderman goes on to say, "I find it inconsiderate, then, that the 'ICE OUT' package includes a prohibition of face coverings by law enforcement."

A source detailed the confrontation between Ald. Chambers and Ald. Zamarripa, as they were in the room when it happened, and said Chambers yelled so loud they were nervous those outside the room would be able to hear. Chambers reportedly threw his hat on the ground at one point, stepped in close to Zamarripa, and Perez had to get physically in between them, reportedly asking Chambers four times to lower his voice. 

The city attorney directed the Department of Employee Relations to hire an outside investigator to handle this incident, but a source inside City Hall says that investigation stalled long enough that the city attorney had to remind the department. 

First to comment publicly was Chambers, who wrote on social media this was a "mischaracterization to suggest that because I am a man who raised his voice, anyone was in harm's way, or their safety was in question."

Zamarripa, meanwhile, said she was "confronted, verbally berated, and physically intimidated," going on to say, "This was not just a personal disagreement or just raised voices; when an elected official uses the authority and physical presence of their office to intimidate or silence a colleague, it is a misuse of public power that undermines the democratic process."

"I know the alderwoman, and Alderman Chambers as well," Mayor Johnson said Wednesday. "I want everyone to be able to work together. We have a lot of work to do for the City of Milwaukee. Both recognize that and both want to get back to that as well."

Council President Jose Perez removed Ald. Chambers as a member of the Licenses Committee and as vice chair of the Judiciary and Legislation Committee. On her part, Zamarripa was removed as vice chair of the Community and Economic Development Committee.

Zamarripa filed a formal complaint against Chambers and Alderman Peter Burgelis drafted a motion of censure detailing the incident, though it has not yet been filed.

We asked Council President Perez for comment on the situation; he said he does not comment on personnel matters.