MILWAUKEE — A meat processing center is no longer relocating to Milwaukee from Franklin. Mayor Tom Barrett said that means the north side is losing out on at least 250 jobs from Strauss Brands.
"To say that we aren't going to allow these jobs there I think was a mistake," said Barrett.
Strauss planned to move a slaughterhouse and meat processing plant to move to Century City. But changed course after protests and Alderman Khalif Rainey went from supporting their move to opposing it. He issued a statement saying, "In keeping true to the vision of Century City, and standing for the interests of the people in the neighborhood."
Some of the people who live in the neighborhood were surprised by the change.
"They didn't ask the whole neighborhood. They should have asked us," said James, 23, who said he would have wanted a job.
"We never heard anything about it," said neighbor Shalita Collins.
"Thumbs up for pulling out," said Al Smith who opposed the slaughterhouse.
The mayor says during public hearings almost no one came to oppose the slaughterhouse, but things did take off on social media.
"People didn't come out. There was a lot of Facebook traffic and people got scared by Facebook," said Barrett.
"We don't need all the extra smells and the things that come with that," said Smith.
But others say it hurts.
"Slaughtering cows ain't bad," said PJ, who didn't want to give his last name. "I would do it."
"A lot of young brothers out here need a job. You know it's right here in the neighborhood," said James.
"Wish they could have came could helped some of these people out. They need jobs around here," said Collins.
