MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee police walked back citations issued to several people staying in campers and vehicles at the Holt Avenue Park and Ride on Friday.
Friday marked the first day Milwaukee’s winter parking rules went into effect for the season.
After initially issuing several citations there, the Milwaukee Police Department (MPD) in a statement said that “it has been determined that city parking ordinances are not applicable to the park and ride.”
“We were living on the streets in parking spaces and they told us to go to a park and ride and you will be fine there,” said Kevin Perez, who initially received one of the citations and evictions on his car overnight. “Now they are trying to push us out, which doesn’t give us a lot of hope.”
Perez said he’s been staying in the lot for more than three months.
While the citation won’t be enforced, Perez said it still surprised him.
Perez said he — and everyone else living at park and rides — needs more help from the city.
“If the housing would actually go through and call people back and help them instead of just taking their info and they don’t even leave messages to contact you back,” said Perez. “They don’t call back. They don’t do anything, so if they would follow through with what they were supposed to do, that would be greatly appreciated.”
Perez said he is also concerned about staying warm at the park and ride as temperatures drop.
“We try to look out for everyone here and if we have extra propane, we will hook up those that don’t have propane,” said Perez. “We give what we can because this is one of the best communities I have ever lived in. I have lived in other places, but as far as people, we are all in this situation. We all got here some different ways, but we stick together and we all help each other.”
That’s why he said he hopes others staying in the park and ride know he will help them in any way he can, as they brace for the cold months ahead.
MPD also said it will continue to prioritize community safety and thoughtful responses to quality of life issues.
“The balance of addressing the concerns of the surrounding community with meeting the needs of the unhoused is often difficult. We do the best we can but sometimes in retrospect we know we can do better. Moving forward, MPD will work closely with our intergovernmental and system partners to build sustainable long-term solutions to address the needs of those affected by the Holt Avenue Park and Ride situation and similar issues involving the unhoused throughout the City. MPD is committed to viable housing options for the Holt Avenue Park and Ride occupants and will work with our county partners on this front,” MPD said.