HACM residents sign letter demanding mayor meet their candidates for open board seat

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- More than 300 HACM residents signed a letter sent to Mayor Cavalier Johnson Tuesday morning. In it, residents ask Johnson to meet with them and the candidates they’re putting forward.

“Mayor Johnson thinks if he chooses people, we’re just gonna roll over and take it. But we’re not gonna take it,” said Roye “Chris” Logan, a resident at Mitchell Court.

At Mitchell Court apartments, people recounted the issues they want to see fixed.

“I done found syringe needles, drug bags, everything over there in the playground area,” said Keisha Tate-McCullum, a resident at Hillside.

It’s one of the residences under HACM – which has been under scrutiny after it misused $2.8 million intended for Section 8 housing on payroll and other items, in addition to owing the City of Milwaukee $4.1 million.

“Mayor states that these things are getting better, we’re doing what we can. No, you’re not,” said Vivian Jones, a resident at Lapham Park.

Residents say they want a voice on who represents them on the HACM board, and in their letter to the mayor, presented four candidates.

“So we want somebody that lives in this building, that’s going through these things, to be on that board,” said Jones.

Currently, Jackie Burrell serves on the HACM board and is a HACM resident after being nominated by the mayor last year on the recommendation of Common Ground.

In a statement sent to CBS 58, Mayor Johnson’s office says he has “nominated Ramona Ramos who is a HACM resident…” and "believes HACM residents should be part of the HACM board.”

“This is not about Ramona, this is about the mayor’s process here,” said Kevin Solomon, with Common Ground.

Residents say they want the mayor to halt this nomination process until he’s met with their candidates.

“I haven’t heard from him, so he don’t even know what I’m all about. He don’t know my qualifications, he don’t know anything about me,” said Jones.