6/11/11 – Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett says the city’s infant mortality rate remains a major problem, especially when looking at racial breakdowns. While speaking to the UW-System Board of Regents, he pointed to a disparity between Caucasian and African-American babies. The mortality rate is two and a half times worse among African-Americans. The mayor says in some Milwaukee neighborhoods, the rate of infants who die surpasses third world countries. However, Barrett had some positive news. There has been progress in reducing the city’s teen pregnancy rate. Barrett also plugs the city’s partnership with the UW-Milwaukee School of Public Health. He says the joint effort will be essential in tackling the city’s high rates of infant mortality, STDs, diabetes and asthma
