Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson apparently thinks everyone in the suburbs eats at “Cracker Barrel” and considers the chain a “fine dining experience.” It would also seem that Johnson thinks the suburban counties around Milwaukee don’t have any good restaurants.
“I thought (Josh Schoemann’s comments) were unfortunate knowing that all communities need revenue,” Johnson told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, responding to comments by the Washington County Executive pointing out the new sales tax hike. “If folks are looking at a high-quality dinner or a theater or a fine dining experience, they can come here, or go to Cracker Barrel there.”
Milwaukee Mayor @CavalierJohnson: "I thought (Josh Schoemann’s comments) were unfortunate knowing that all communities need revenue. If folks are looking at a high-quality dinner or a theater or a fine dining experience, they can come here, or go to Cracker Barrel there." https://t.co/S6RWJzCaBO
— Mary Spicuzza (@MSpicuzzaMJS) January 4, 2024
It’s not lost on us that the word “cr*cker” is also a racial slur for white people. Of course, Cracker Barrel is a real restaurant, so we’re not sure Johnson meant the double entendre, but still…
By the way, the only Cracker Barrel store that comes up in any of the counties surrounding Milwaukee County on the chain’s website is in Germantown, and that store is located in extreme southern Washington County, only 3 miles from the City of Milwaukee.
The mayor’s swipe at the suburbs came after Democratic leaders in Milwaukee so mismanaged their pension system that a regressive sales tax increase (hitting the poorest Milwaukeeans hardest) became the only way out. The sales tax subsequently skyrocketed to 7.9% in the City of Milwaukee; the statewide sales tax is 5%.
Johnson was replying to Josh Schoemann, Washington County Executive, a fiscal conservative, who wrote on X, “Come to Washington County for the savings, stay for the quality of life! Exhibit A: In the City of Milwaukee, today you will pay an additional $60 for this bedroom set: ashleyfurniture.com/p/arkenton_que.”
Schoemann criticized Johnson’s Cracker Barrel comment, which Johnson made to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
“The working people who eat at Cracker Barrel are the same ones who will be paying your sales tax at Brewers, Bucks & Summerfest to bail out your poorly run govt, but by all means imply we’re deplorable,” he wrote to Johnson on X. “The real tragedy is the hardship you’ve put on the working people in MKE.”
The working people who eat at Cracker Barrel are the same ones who will be paying your sales tax at Brewers, Bucks & Summerfest to bail out your poorly run govt, but by all means imply we’re deplorable. The real tragedy is the hardship you've put on the working people in MKE. https://t.co/nFasKLrylw
— Josh Schoemann (@JoshSchoemann) January 4, 2024
Public officials’ gaffes – sneering at whole groups of people – used to provoke big news in the Milwaukee area. Consider the heat former Brookfield Mayor Kathryn Bloomberg got in 1996 when she referred to two stores, TJ Maxx and Burlington Coat Factory as “Schmuckville.” The NAACP accused her of racism.
Nationally, we are reminded of Hillary Clinton’s comments when she said half of Donald Trump’s supporters fit into a basket of deplorables.
But now Johnson’s comment slips by with little uproar. The same occurred when LaTonya Johnson, a state Senator from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, declared “f*ck the suburbs” last June.
We suggest that Johnson take a trip to the ‘burbs and try some of the actual “fine dining experiences” in the WOW counties since he’s so abysmally unfamiliar with them. No, Cracker Barrel is not considered a fine dining experience by anyone out there.
He might try:
Wine Maniacs Wine Bar & Bistro in Oconomowoc
Bryant’s on the Round in Okauchee
The Fox & Hounds in Hubertus
Tofte’s Table in Waukesha
Mantra Indian Bistro in Oconomowoc (Great food!)
Weissberger’s Golden Mast in Okauchee
I.d in Delafield
Artisan 179 in Pewaukee.
Fishbone’s Cajun & Creole Restaurant in Delafield
Coco’s Seafood & Steakhouse in Oconomowoc
Lots of things in Cedarburg
The list goes on and on.
