Milwaukee County committee declares 'food apartheid' a public health emergency, directs equity-focused response
November 06, 2025 | Milwaukee County, Wisconsin
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The resolution, introduced by Chairwoman Nicholson Bovell and co-sponsored by multiple supervisors, frames “food apartheid” as a policy-driven system of segregation and disinvestment that has left some neighborhoods without access to full-service grocery stores and healthy food. The committee approved the motion to recommend adoption by roll call, 7 ayes, 0 no's.
Why it matters: Sponsors said the declaration names structural and historical causes — including redlining, highway construction and zoning that shaped retail investment patterns — and is intended to shift county policy and budgeting to address disparities. The resolution directs the Department of Health and Human Services and the Office of Equity to measure gaps, partner with state, city and community leaders, incorporate food-access measures into the county’s racial equity budget tool, and to bring back actionable recommendations by the March cycle.
Public testimony: Melody McCurtis of Metcalfe Park Community Bridges described local impacts — closure of the community’s only grocery store and pharmacy, long trips by bus or on foot to reach full-service groceries, and a reported loss of SNAP benefits for many residents — and urged allocation of a portion of emergency funds to Metcalfe Park and similar neighborhoods.
Details and next steps: The committee recommended the declaration by roll call, 7–0. The resolution requests that county offices assess barriers to access (including transit and zoning), partner with community-led efforts, and return policy proposals and budget tools in the March cycle for committee consideration.
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