MILWAUKEE COUNTY

'Let the criminals run': Neighbors fuel crackdown on Milwaukee prostitution houses

Mary Spicuzza
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Grace Hernandez loves the south side neighborhood where she grew up and now owns two grocery stores — and she says she's not letting the area's problems with prostitution and drugs force her out.

"Let the criminals run," Hernandez said. "We shouldn't be running from the criminals, they should be running from us."

Ald. Bob Donovan (far right) speaks in front of a house, to the right of Donovan, at 3200 W. Greenfield Ave. that city officials say has been the site of prostitution and drug dealing. With him are Ald. José G. Pérez (center) and Assistant City Attorney Heather Hecimovich Hough.

On Wednesday, she urged residents to keep "fighting for our neighborhood" after Milwaukee officials held a news conference about a recent lawsuit targeting a house that's been labeled a "haven" for prostitution and drug use.

RELATED:Milwaukee sues landlord accused of owning 'a haven' for prostitution on Greenfield Ave.

The city filed the suit last week against Gregory Jones, saying his property at 3200-3202 W. Greenfield Ave. has been a trouble spot for the neighborhood. The complaint labels the property a "public nuisance" under the state's bawdy house statute. 

Jones could not be reached for comment.

At the news conference, south side Alds. Bob Donovan and José Pérez as well as Heather Hecimovich Hough, an assistant city attorney, praised neighbors for reporting problem properties to the Milwaukee Police Department and aldermen. And they urged residents to keep calling.

"We need this information to appropriately go after houses like this that are deteriorating the quality of life in this neighborhood," Donovan said.

Pérez thanked residents for their persistence and patience, saying it can take time to gather enough information to take action.

"Without you, we do not have any success," he said. "Our hope is you."

In July, the city filed another lawsuit against the owners of a different Greenfield Ave. property linked to prostitution and drug use.

In that case, Richard Williams and Jacquline Kiefer were accused of allowing prostitution at the property, 2412 W. Greenfield Ave. 

The lawsuit against Jones is the third time in recent months that Milwaukee has targeted a landlord using the state's "bawdy house" statute and the second time in as many months the statute has served solely as the basis for lawsuits targeting property owners.

Hough said neighbor complaints made the recent lawsuits possible.

"I encourage community members to be vigilant about their neighborhoods, to take ownership of their neighborhoods and to contact their city officials when they know criminal activity is occurring," she said.

Hernandez said she was encouraged to see city officials taking action, but hopes more will be done to combat the prostitution she sees daily outside one of her shops.

"I'm just disappointed nothing more has been done at this time," she said. "It hurts my business, it hurts my neighbors."

A woman, who did not want to be identified, lives near the house targeted by city officials and listened as officials spoke at the news conference.