MILWAUKEE — A new map was released by Mayor Cavalier Johnson on Wednesday that shows the areas in downtown Milwaukee that are most likely to be impacted by security plans during July's Republican National Convention.
The map is not the formalized "security footprint" that will be released later by the Secret Service. Rather, the "general impact map" shows areas that are "expected to be affected by the operational security plan." It does not contain specific impacts, such as checkpoints or road closures.
You can see the map below, or by clicking here.
The impact map ranges from N. 9th St from the west, to N. Water St on the east. It is bounded to the north by W. Cherry St. and W. Clybourn St. to the south.
Mark Leonard lives along the Milwaukee River in a condo complex. He will be in the impacted area for the RNC.
"On the west side of our condo it's just a straight shot right to the Fiserv area. Right to everything so I'm just thinking that they want to know what's going on in this area," Leonard explained.
Secret Service is scheduled to meet with the residents in Leonard’s complex in the coming days to discuss firm security plans for the convention. The RNC is expected to bring in thousands of people in mid July.
"People from all over the United States maybe the world. We like that kind of energy. Whether it's DNC, RNC, it doesn't matter to me," Leonard explained.
The impacted zone contains many high-profile business and locations such as Fiserv Forum, the Baird Center, UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena, Miller High Life Theatre, MATC's campus, and more.
"Any given weeknight it takes us an extra few minutes anyways. Bucks games...just everything that's going on in this area. It doesn't matter to us," Leonard said about the potential traffic in the area.
Less than half of a mile away from Fiserv Forum is a small boutique. The owner of VittaGlam, Teresa Jackson said she hasn't had any correspondence with the Secret Service.
"I didn't know anything about it, this is new to me," Jackson explained.
Jackson said summer is the busiest time for her shop. She’s concerned about losing business.
"It's already hard for our customers for parking and stuff like that. So it's going to be even harder for people to get down here," Jackson said.
In order to prepare her customers, she needs more information on the impacted area.
A new Frequently Asked Questions page posted by the City has answers to many questions residents and business owners may have - though many of those answers will not be firmed up until the Secret Service's formalized security footprint is released.
The Republican National Convention takes place in downtown Milwaukee from July 15-July 18.
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