A Letter from Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett to Yi Jianlian

July 11, 2007

Dear Mr. Yi:

On behalf of the City of Milwaukee, congratulations on your success in the NBA draft and welcome to our great city!

As one of the largest cities in the United States, Milwaukee has much to offer.  We have a bustling downtown district, as well as many exciting urban neighborhoods that feature vibrant nightlife, world class restaurants, boutiques with the latest fashions and great entertainment.

Milwaukee is home to a world-class art museum and a nationally-recognized arts and culture scene.  Galleries dot our city landscape, and our ballet, symphony and theater are among the finest in the country.

Milwaukee sits right on the coast of the Great Lakes, the largest freshwater system on earth.  Milwaukee is naturally beautiful and has terrific parks, great trails and countless recreational opportunities on Lake Michigan you just can't find in other places.

We are home to Summerfest, the world's largest outdoor music festival that showcases the biggest names in rock 'n roll, pop and hip-hop, to name a few.  And all season long Milwaukee is host to ethnic festivals that celebrate Milwaukee's rich diversity.  Quite frankly, there is no better place to be than in Milwaukee during the summertime.

And Milwaukee is a great sports town.  Whether Brewers, Packers, Badgers, Marquette, UW-Milwaukee and more, we cheer on our teams with great energy and enthusiasm, and embrace our teams' athletes as fellow members of our community.  The same is definitely true of our beloved Milwaukee Bucks.

Your arrival in Milwaukee comes at a time when our City is developing strong ties with your homeland.  In 2005, I became the first Milwaukee mayor to lead a business mission to China, further cementing Milwaukee as an international city.

While travelling to Beijing, Shanghai and Ningbo I was thrilled to learn more about the great culture, history and economic opportunities that exist in China.  I met with government officials and business leaders; saw factories, universities and mass transit systems.  I even had the opportunity to enjoy a Beijing Ducks practice session, and the Ducks spent a week here in Milwaukee in 2005 working with the Bucks staff.

I was proud to return the favor last year and welcome a delegation from Ningbo to Milwaukee.  We signed a friendly exchange agreement between our two cities, including trade missions and educational, cultural and people-to-people exchanges.

As a result, many Milwaukee businesses and educational institutions have opened doors to China.  And with the Chinese community growing here, an active chapter of the Organization of Chinese Americans and a Chinese language elementary school opening in September, it is clear a Milwaukee-China network has emerged.  

So welcome to Milwaukee!  Our City and Bucks fans everywhere are thrilled you will be joining our team, and I know that in Milwaukee you will find a warm and welcoming community you will be proud to call home.

Sincerely,

Tom Barrett
Mayor, City of Milwaukee