Tackling Green Bay's increase in violence, increasing supply of affordable housing. Mayoral finalists share their solution ideas
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GREEN BAY - Mayor Eric Genrich and challenger Chad Weininger are in the final stretch of their campaign to determine who voters elect April 4 to head the city for the next four years.
The Green Bay Press-Gazette asked both candidates to answer how they'd address key topics affecting Green Bay's next mayor, including:
Reducing violence, like the shootings that have occurred in the city in the past several months.
Increasing the amount of affordable housing available for sale or for rent, so people earning wages typical in Green Bay can afford to live in the city.
Ensuring the safety and privacy in City Hall for the people who are in the building to work or to conduct business with government.
More:Here's your Green Bay-area voters guide to the Wisconsin spring election
Eric Genrich (i)
Age: 43
Occupation and highest education level attained: Mayor, master’s degree from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Relevant experience to the office you’re seeking? I was born and raised in Green Bay. After graduating from high school I received a bachelor's degree from University of Wisconsin-Madison and attained a graduate degree from UW-Milwaukee. Since being elected mayor I’ve pursued professional development opportunities, including attending the Mayor’s Institute for City Design in summer 2019 and the Bloomberg-Harvard City Leadership Initiative in the fall of 2021. Before becoming mayor, I served three terms as a Democrat in the Wisconsin Assembly, representing the 90th District, which comprises the majority of Green Bay. Before my election to the Assembly, I worked in the state and federal governments, and later for the Brown County Library. I have been involved in a number of community organizations, including Big Brothers, Big Sisters and Neighborworks Green Bay, on whose board I served for six years. My wife, Emily, is a public school teacher. She and I live on the east side of Green Bay with our children, Henry and Amelia.
Website: www.genrichforGB.com
Chad Weininger
Age: 51
Occupation and highest grade completed: Brown County administration director; Master's degree, Cardinal Stritch University
Relevant experience to the office you're seeking: Current director of administration for Brown County, small business owner, former Wisconsin state representative (Republican), former Green Bay city clerk, former chief of staff to mayor of Green Bay, former member of Green Bay Board of Appeals, former member of Green Bay Planning Commission. St. Nobert College bachelor's degree graduate, fellowship to Harvard University for executives in state and local government.
Website: www.chadformayor.com
What should the city be doing to track and reduce violence associated with recent shootings in the city?
Genrich: When I became mayor our police and fire departments had seven fewer employees in each respective department. We worked to change that, adding seven new police officers and seven new firefighters to the force. In addition to new personnel, we rolled out high-tech cameras to prevent crime and identify offending vehicles. We implemented cutting-edge drone technology for the fire department that has helped in stand-offs, warehouse fires, and ice rescues. Our police department has worked with nationally recognized experts to study the causes of gun violence and are in the process of rolling out a strategy to supplement the work of our officers with community-scale interventions to break the cycles of criminality. As mayor, I’m proud of that accomplishment but we need to build upon it.
We need to ensure that we keep adequate staffing levels in our departments, meaning we need to compensate our employees appropriately and competitively. We need to ease the burden felt by the police department by implementing violence prevention programming in partnership with our Community and Economic Development Department and community-based mentorship organizations. We must expand upon the city’s efforts to deploy trained and specialized behavioral health officers and county clinical social workers in crisis situations.
Weninger: I believe the majority of shootings and violent crimes are related to hard drugs – especially opioids and methamphetamine. If we are going to address our drug problem properly, we need more officers on the street to target drug houses and dealers in our community. Despite what he says, the fact is there are seven fewer sworn officers in the Green Bay Police Department today than when Eric Genrich took office. I’ll add police to our city and get us back up over the number of officers we had when Mayor Schmitt was in office. Currently, officers are spread too thin and are too reactive instead of proactive. With more resources to the police department, we can unleash law enforcement to be its most productive.
I would also restart the neighborhood clean-sweep program which was a joint taskforce of multiple city departments including the police focusing on high crime neighborhoods. This community engagement and enforcement program led quickly to reductions in crime. We also need to better utilize data analytics for proactive policing to deploy officers to areas prior to escalations instead of waiting for situations to occur and dealing with aftermath.
How would you increase the supply of housing that is affordable to people who earn salaries typical in Green Bay?
Genrich: This is a problem gripping communities all across Wisconsin. The solution isn’t simple but it starts with working with both private and public partners to ensure that an adequate number of new-builds are affordable units. It means creating local economic incentives, ensuring that localities get assistance from the state and lobbying our Legislature, when appropriate, to ensure that they hear our local governmental needs above the partisan noise that’s getting louder and louder.
We have made progress with incredible developments across the city from The Rail Yard project, to working with the United Way and future developments like our JBS site at Imperial lane. We undoubtedly have more work to do on this topic, but I’m eager to continue to roll up my sleeves in my next term and continue to find solutions to this growing problem.
Weininger: First, we need to change Green Bay’s reputation of being one of the worst places to build and develop. We need to eliminate outdated rules, including allowing for smaller homes and lot sizes for starter and senior homes. This will allow a lower price entry point for those with limited incomes. We also need to be more flexible with existing backfill lots in urban areas. I’m worried we missed an opportunity to push redevelopment when borrowing was much less expensive.
Second, hold the line on property taxes. Under Genrich, property taxes have increased by nearly $8.5 million. High taxes are pricing people out of owning a home.
Finally, in the urban areas along main corridors we need to engage in multi-block density redevelopment that supports commercial activities to attract amenities folks want. This is being done in larger communities across the country and it works. I’ve spoken with local investors who are willing to invest in larger projects as long as someone is willing to lay out the vision, and lead, to promote corridor developments.
Editor's note: The amount the city collected in taxes increased by $6.6 million from the $55.8 million levied in the 2020 budget to the $62.4 million approved in 2023, city figures show.
More:Brown County United Way provides key piece to help move Green Bay affordable housing project forward
More:Green Bay City Council seeks common ground to confront affordable housing crisis
What should be done to ensure safety and privacy in City Hall?
Genrich: We should follow the guidance of public safety officials who are much better equipped to answer this question than I am or any other elected official claims to be. We’ve let the political motivations of some get in the way of the greater goal which should be keeping city employees safe. As mayor, that’s what I’ve done and what I’ll continue to do. That is why I have asked our Common Council to come up with additional safety measures to ensure that city staff, visitors, voters and the press feel safe at city hall. With something as important as public safety, we owe it to citizens to not play political games and instead deliver real results for Green Bay.
Weininger: The first step is to permanently remove the secret listening devices Mayor Genrich installed. We still don’t know how Genrich used these recordings. I think the public deserves a full account of this mess and it is unfortunate taxpayers are now having to foot the bill to defend Mayor Genrich because it took a judge to force him to turn the listening devices off. I agree with the ACLU who said Genrich’s recording devices are a “serious privacy violation” and “unlike anything they had seen before.” We can ensure safety in city hall without spying on unsuspecting citizens.
Editor's note: Asked at a March 7 City Council meeting if he had viewed or listened to any recordings, Genrich said he had not.
More:Green Bay City Council votes to remove audio recording equipment from City Hall
What are your greatest accomplishments while working in the public sector?
Genrich: My administration has gotten a lot done in the last four years — from investing in infrastructure to making our city safer. We’ve repaired 22 miles of city streets and 11 bridges, invested millions of dollars in award-winning small business programs, and hired seven new police officers and firefighters, respectively.
I am proud that we have brokered an agreement with our Native neighbors, the Oneida Nation, negotiated 27 acres of land for housing and economic development and started the first municipal Conservation Corps in Wisconsin history. And we are just getting started.
Weininger: I have a proven track record of bringing people together to tackle tough issues. In my current position, I’ve helped manage Brown County to historically low debt levels and tax rates while still making smart investments in critical infrastructure and economic development. I played lead roles in purchasing the former WPS Pulliam Plant site for redevelopment, allowing for the coal piles to be moved, and the $500 million Green Bay Packaging expansion. As a state lawmaker, I authored bipartisan legislation creating economic development tools that helped spur redevelop in Green Bay including the Rail Yard District and the Hotel Northland.
What are the greatest strengths you'd bring to the mayor's job?
Genrich: I have a track record of delivering progress for Green Bay. Progress has never been easy. I won’t run on platitudes or vague promises — but on concrete accomplishments. That’s the biggest difference between me and my opponent and it’s the greatest strength I bring to this job.
And we’re poised to build on that progress in the next four years. Green Bay deserves a mayor who invests in our infrastructure, funds public safety, supports workers' rights, defends our democracy and does not play partisan games to score points.
It has been an honor of a lifetime to serve as your mayor.
Weininger: I’ve never forgotten the lessons I learned growing up in a blue-collar family. Hard work matters. Honesty matters. Results matter. As I raise my four young children, I’m concerned about the direction of our city. Our roads are crumbling, taxes are too high, neighborhoods are less safe, and the city lacks a visible champion for economic development. I want to ensure Green Bay remains a place where families can get a good job and afford to live, work, and raise children. That will be my mission every day if you give me the honor to serve as your next mayor.
Email Doug Schneider at DSchneid@Gannett.com, call him at (920) 265-2070 and follow him on Twitter @PGDougSchneider
This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Mayor hopefuls discuss Green Bay's increase in violence, increasing supply of affordable housing.
