Milwaukee committee confirms arts-board and BID appointees, holds several nominations to chair’s call

The Milwaukee Common Council’s Community Economic Development Committee on May 21 confirmed a set of mayoral appointees to the Milwaukee Arts Board and to local business improvement districts and postponed several other nominations until the chair calls them back.

The committee, chaired by Alderman Russell W. Stamper II, confirmed Natasha Perez to the Milwaukee Arts Board and approved reappointments and appointments to multiple Business Improvement Districts (BIDs), including Kevin McElroy (BID No. 41), Linda Jackson Conyers (reappointment to BID No. 4), Adela Deacon (BID No. 32) and Derek Goodman (BID No. 32). Several other nominations — including Mikhail Wesley (reappointment to BID No. 39) and Steve Field (reappointment to BID No. 48) — were “held to the call of the chair.”

Why it matters: BIDs shape neighborhood-level economic development, property improvements and merchant services. The Milwaukee Arts Board advises the city on arts funding and cultural policy; new members may affect future arts programming and community outreach.

Natasha Perez, confirmed to the Milwaukee Arts Board, told the committee she is a baker and Milwaukee High School of the Arts alum who grew up on the city’s South Side. “I am born and raised on the South Side, and I really do enjoy art,” Perez said. Alderman speakers noted Perez has provided baked goods for council events and described her as an entrepreneur.

Symphony Swan Zawadi (also reported in the meeting as Symphony Swan Zoeti), another…