Tony Zielinski, Curtis Sliwa, and Milwaukee's Crime Crisis

At the invitation of Alderman Tony Zielinski of the 14th District, Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa came to Milwaukee on Friday to discuss the feasibility of establishing a Guardian Angels chapter in the city.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel had a story online on Friday, but it was posted at 7:03 a.m.

So while the report explained what the Guardian Angels are about and gave the day's schedule of events, there was no coverage of what was said or what happened when Sliwa was in the city.

Sliwa is visiting the city on the invitation of Ald. Tony Zielinski, who will meet with Sliwa along with Common Council President Willie Hines and Ald. Bob Donovan, head of the city's Public Safety Committee.

Today's meeting, scheduled for 2:30 p.m. at City Hall, will also include six officers from the Milwaukee Police Department's command staff and other dignitaries.

The meeting will follow with a tentative itinerary that includes a sample Angel walk-through with aldermen at S. Kinnickinnic and E. Lincoln avenues in Bay View and S. 13th St. and W. Oklahoma Ave. Later in the evening, Sliwa will start a walk-through at N. Hopkins St. and W. Villard Ave.

"The police can't be everywhere, and the Guardian Angels have shown an ability to get in touch with people in tough neighborhoods and to get the people in the community involved in trying to make a difference," said Zielinski, a proponent of stepped-up public safety efforts who has sponsored measures to add more Milwaukee police officers.

On FOX 6, Tami Hughes covered Sliwa's visit. She referred to the Guardian Angels as "the neighborhood watch kicked up a notch."

For the most part, the Guardian Angles serve as an extra set of eyes and ears for police.

Ald. Zielinski said that more than the Neighborhood Safety Initiative (NSI) needs to be done. He said, "As far as public safety is concerned, the government needs to be as proactive as possible. We need to be able to think out of the box."

Hughes reported that the police representatives didn't say much during the meeting, but they are interested in meeting with Sliwa at another time that's "more private."

At the meeting, inner city business owner John Veidal expressed his concerns about safety and community relations. He said later, "[Sliwa's] got some great ideas."

But for the Guardian Angels to work in Milwaukee, Sliwa needs volunteers and open minds.

Sliwa said, "If it is to be, it's up to me; that one person can make a difference and begin to turn things around."

I give credit to Ald. Zielinski for initiating the contact with Sliwa and looking into a Guardian Angels chapter in Milwaukee. Ald. Donovan deserves credit, too, for supporting Zielinski in this effort to tackle the crime problem in Milwaukee in an innovative way, with citizens volunteering to protect their neighborhoods.

Unlike many do nothing aldermen, Zielinski and Donovan are leading the charge against increasing crime in Milwaukee. They are pressing other city leaders to act. They aren't willing to surrender, to sit back and watch as thugs take over Milwaukee's streets.