Two weeks ago, I warned that the 2010 Milwaukee County budget had a big black hole in it that was not being addressed properly.
Last week, after the County Board finalized the budget by voting whether to override Scott Walker’s vetoes, I pointed out that it was an epic [...]
Earlier this month, about the time that the Milwaukee County Board was considering a wheel tax, State Representative Steve Nass (R-Whitewater) announced that a bill that was being introduced that would eliminate the possibility of local governments of enacting a wheel tax:
State Representative Steve Nass (R-Whitewater) introduced a bill [...]
From a press release from Holiday Folk Fair:
SPECIAL EVENTS AND EXHIBITS SHOWCASED AT HOLIDAY FOLK FAIR INTERNATIONAL
MILWAUKEE, WI – A variety of special events and exhibits will be highlighted throughout the grounds at the 66th annual Holiday Folk Fair International, America’s premiere multi-cultural festival, to be held Fri., Nov. [...]
Representative Jon Richards had an interesting editorial in this morning’s Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Here is a key part of it, but please do read the whole thing:
Over the past 2 1/2 decades, our parks, once a national model for their size and quality, have been experiencing a slow decline. [...]
The final results are in and the 2010 Milwaukee County budget is done. There are only two words for it: Epic FAIL.
As I have pointed out numerous times during the budget process, Scott Walker’s proposed budget was a fraudulent document that should never have been accepted. It was based on [...]
The following is the official news release from the County Board regarding the veto override votes on the 2010 budget:
COUNTY BOARD OVERRIDES 21 OF COUNTY EXECUTIVE’S 34 BUDGET VETOES
Even with property tax levy increase, average Milwaukee homeowner will pay $2.17 less
Milwaukee, WI – The Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors voted [...]
There was a touching story in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel over the past weekend. The story was about a couple that was going to get married, but due to Scott Walker’s furlough days, the clerk’s office was closed and the groom was not able to get their marriage license.
Gotta give the guy credit. With one fell swoop of his veto pen, the county executive has at once catered to the wishes of his hard-line conservative base and out-done fellow Republican gubernatorial candidate Mark Nemann by trying to strike away the domestic partner benefits law (correction: authorization to conduct [...]
From today’s “Letters to the editor” of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
Thoughtless developmentThe idea of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee expanding as a research facility to create economic development has been discussed and challenged, but the decision to locate the engineering school and research park at the Milwaukee County Grounds, northeast [...]
We have already seen how Governor Jim Doyle and Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker are both failing our elderly and disabled citizens by threatening the funding for the vital service of paratransit rides. Without this service, many of our elderly and disabled citizens will become [...]
Supervisor Marina Dimitrijevic has been named the “Best Supervisor” by the Shepherd Express for the second year in a row:
For the second year in a row, Milwaukee County Supervisor Marina Dimitrijevic has been named the Best Supervisor by the Shepherd Express weekly newspaper.
“Once again, I’d like to thank the [...]
County Executive Scott Walker released the schedule of department and building closures affected by the four furlough days for 2009. Please reference the document link below that lists exceptions by County agency of departmental closures and facility closures.
County furlough dates:
· Friday, November 13
· [...]
To be honest, I am flabbergasted at Scott Walker’s audacity. It has become increasingly obvious to even the most casual observer that he has completely put his own personal and political aspirations before the common good of Milwaukee County. His level of personal responsibility to Milwaukee County has deteriorated to [...]
This just broke from Dan Bice and John Diedrich of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
Milwaukee County Supervisor Toni Clark is the subject of a secret criminal investigation into possible campaign finance abuses, the Journal Sentinel has learned.
Clark declined Tuesday to answer questions about the matter. Last month, she filed three amended [...]
As most of you are probably aware, the Milwaukee County Board went through the amendments in a marathon 17 hour session yesterday. As is my wont, I took the day off yesterday so that I could attend the hearing.
For a complete results of the votes, I would refer you [...]
The Journal Sentinel reports the latest news from the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors’ work on the proposed county budget. So far, the board has rejected “outsourcing of housekeeping and security jobs,” as well as “mainframe computer technician jobs and 25 airport firefighter jobs.”
The board also voted to “to [...]
Dan Diliberti, Milwaukee County Treasurer, submitted a letter to Supervisor Elizabeth Coggs, the Chairwoman of the County Board’s Finance and Audit Committee. This letter was reproduced by BizTimes.com.
In the letter, Diliberti paints a very grim, but completely accurate, picture of the County’s finances, which [...]
From a press release from Supervisor Dimitrijevic:
BUDGET AMENDMENT PROVIDES FULL-TIME SUSTAINABILITY DIRECTOR
Position needed to save tax dollars and oversee County’s environmental and recycling efforts
Milwaukee, WI – Milwaukee County Supervisor Marina Dimitrijevic is introducing a Budget Amendment at the Finance & Audit Committee meeting this afternoon to create a Sustainability [...]
This year, the Milwaukee County Board has been given a budget proposal the like of which has never been seen before. It is singular in its unrealistic and unattainable expectations.
Yet, it is your task to take what is nothing more than a grandiose campaign statement from County Executive Walker and [...]
This is not to be tolerated.
Today, County Supervisor Marina Dimitrijevic issues a press release in defense of a resolution she cosponsored with Supervisor Chris Larson, which would authorize a study of extending health care benefits to the domestic partners of qualified county employees. Her words were quite polite, [...]
It was revealed today that Milwaukee County is facing a new deficit crisis that no amount of cuts or higher taxes will resolve.
In fact, this new deficit crisis of which I speak has nothing to do with money. Well, okay, maybe it does, but only in an indirect manner.
The deficit [...]
Last night was the first time I had attended a public hearing on the Milwaukee County budget. While driving in to Washington Park, I was struck by the sheer number of cars parked along the street and in the parking lots. It was evident that a lot of people had [...]
Jason Haas, our secretary, and I were at the Annual Public Hearing last night.
It was a very good turn out, with at least 500 people there. About 90 people took their turns to speak their views and give their input on what the County should do in the upcoming [...]
Tonight, Monday, November 2, 2009, the Milwaukee County Board will be holding its annual Public Hearing on Scott Walker’s bogus and irresponsible 2010 Proposed Budget. The information regarding the meeting is thus:
Public Hearing on 2010 Milwaukee County Budget
Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors
Monday, November 2, 2009, 7:00 p.m.
[...]
I’ll side with common sense every time, thank you very much.
From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, a very well written and must read column by John Gurda, a Milwaukee historian:
As needs mount and resources decline, what are local governments to do? There are, and always have been, only two real [...]
We reported a couple of weeks ago that paratransit services might be cut for those that live more than three quarters of a mile from one of the dwindling bus lines.
County Supervisor issues a press release today that states that these service cuts might be delayed for up to [...]
While speaking at one of our events last week, my good friend and Secretary of Milwaukee County First, said these words that still reverberate for me:
“While some political groups have taken on the guise of a not-for-profit charity to get big money from reactionary interests, we don’t do that. We’re [...]
In this morning’s paper, among a number or errors, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that the County Board’s Finance and Audit Committee had passed an amendment stopping Scott Walker’s plan on adding a new tax on people parking at the lakefront to enjoy the [...]
We have previously written about the County Grounds, and how County Executive Scott Walker and the County Board want to renege on their promises to preserve this unique natural space, and home of the Monarch Trail, in order to sell the land at cut rate prices in a sweet [...]
It was definitely a pleasant surprise when I saw Item #3 on the agenda for the upcoming meeting of the County Board’s Personnel Committee:
A Resolution by Supervisors Larson and Dimitrijevic authorizing and directing the Director, Department of Administrative Services – Division of Employee Benefits, working with the Office of [...]
Tonight, at the Mitchell Domes, there was a celebration commemorating the “gold medal” won by the Milwaukee County Parks and its director, Sue Black.
The winning of this award is quite an accomplishment, especially when one considers that the parks budget has been cut every single [...]
This morning’s Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported this morning that County Executive Scott Walker’s 2010 county budget proposal includes severe cuts to the paratransit system that many of Milwaukee County’s elderly and disabled people rely on to make it to programming, medical appointments and even to the store.
[...]
Two months ago, we had discussed Estabrook Dam, which had been allowed to fall into deep disrepair. This was alarming for more than the obvious mess of the park and the river, but also because of the dangerous levels of PCBs that had been accumulating over the years [...]
From JSOnline:
Official actions of the Milwaukee County Board would be easier and quicker to track, under an automated records program given preliminary approval Tuesday by the board’s finance committee.
The panel voted 6-0 to include nearly $134,000 in the 2010 budget to purchase and install an electronic system “that completely [...]
Rather than allow the beloved Koscuizko Community Center and Pelican Cove Pool to be closed at will by the county executive, the people of Milwaukee’s near west side have taken it upon themselvse to save their community’s resources. Here’s the text from their event’s Facebook page:
Please Join us for [...]
Cory Liebmann has been doing some excellent work on his blog site, “Eye on Wisconsin, ” regarding the Targeted Case Management and Community Support Program offered through the Behavioral Health Division.
Cory has found that Walker’s purported savings by trying to privatize these two programs isn’t quite what Walker is [...]
In a press release, with an alarming story, Supervisor Lynne De Bruin makes a very good point:
Some residents of the 15th Supervisory District have requested that Supervisor De Bruin provide written public comment on the recent statements made by County Board Chairman Lee Holloway regarding County Executive Scott Walker. [...]
In last Sunday’s issue of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, there was a must read opinion piece by Marc V. Levine, a professor of history, economic development and urban studies at UW-Milwaukee.
In this piece, Levine does a great job explaining in no nonsense terms why UWM’s plan to build a [...]
According to the Journal Sentinel, the County Board was able to devote $500,000 for the construction of a “30-unit housing development for low-income residents with mental illness.”
The money for this came from a $2 million trust fund that the county had created for the purpose of aiding the county’s [...]
From Fox6Milwaukee:
Milwaukee police cite a man for shoving a woman and throwing another man to the ground. All this was captured on video by FOX6 News outside a rally at Serb Hall on Sunday. Those protesting outside were union workers opposed to budget cuts proposed by Milwaukee County Executive [...]
Here is the press release [PDF, 144 KB] from Milwaukee County Supervisors Marina Dimitrijevic, 4th District, Johnny L. Thomas, 18th District, John F. Weishan, Jr., 16th District, and Chris Larson, 14th District. According to the release, “The Supervisors developed the plan as an alternative to County Executive Scott Walker’s [...]
CBS 58 WDJT-TV has coverage of both the Milwaukee County First press conference, as well as the earlier press conference at which several county supervisors unveiled a plan to enhance existing pools and at the same time they create new revenue streams for the County.
WUWM 89.7-FM had [...]
A break from the heat of the budget debate can be found at the Mitchell Park Domes, which are now running a concert series. Reverend Raven & His Chain Smoking Altar Boys, who are apparently playing tomorrow night; the below information is from Facebook:
“The Mitchell Park Domes Concert Series [...]
Tomorrow morning, Milwaukee County First will proudly be hosting our first press conference. The following his our press release (slightly modified here to reflect some changes) regarding the event:
Groups Unite to Oppose Walker’s County Budget(Milwaukee, WI) – State representatives, transit users, city council members, park people, county board representatives, [...]
There was a good turn out at the pro-Milwaukee County rally today which was held by AFSCME and Milwaukee County First.
The vast majority of rally-goers were union people, but there were also disabled and elderly people concerned about losing their services, and subsequently, their ability to [...]
For those that haven’t been exposed to the radio ads, the offensive robocalls and/or the condescending mailers, the ironically-named Citizens for Responsible Government, aka Scott Walker’s unofficial campaign team, is holding a rally on Sunday at Serb Hall.
The pretense of the CRG rally is to show support for Walker’s phony [...]
To be perfectly honest, Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker’s 2010 Proposed Budget regarding transit was not as bad as it could have been. That said, there is still significant room for improvement.
Every year, the transit system, as with the Parks, in in the unenviable position of begging for budget scraps. [...]
Last night, I posted a piece which pointed out to a banner promoting Americans For Prosperity which also had the official Milwaukee County Parks logo on it. I questioned if Milwaukee County was sponsoring the event, and sent emails of inquiry to County Executive Scott Walker, Parks Director Sue [...]
A few days ago, I was on board the nortbound #15 bus, sitting in the back as I usually do, and devoted the time I would have otherwise spent on driving to actually reading for one of my classes. (It’s amazing how much you can get done when you don’t [...]
It has come to our attention recently that the logo for the Milwaukee County Parks appeared on at least one of the banners at the Americans For Prosperity-sponsored Tea Party Rally, which was held at the lake front on September 19th.
This is evidenced by a photo reprinted here, with [...]
I was alerted by a member of the Riverkeepers who pointed out some timely news. The following is from the Riverkeepers website:
UWM master planners are re-thinking the placement of their new engineering campus. It was originally slated to go on the County Grounds in Wauwatosa, an area Milwaukee Riverkeeper has fought to [...]
Here is the press release we sent out this morning regarding Scott Walker’s proposed 2010 budget:
Milwaukee County Executive and Republican gubernatorial candidate Scott Walker formally presented his 2010 proposed budget for Milwaukee County today. Much like a Hollywood studio set, the budget looks nice on the surface, but proves to [...]
State Rep. Christine Sinicki (D-Milwaukee) has a bill in the state Assembly that if passed would authorize Milwaukee County to create a property tax-reducing sales tax levy. Here’s the text of the bill:
•••
AN ACT to create 77.70 (2) of the statutes; relating to: a Milwaukee County sales and use tax [...]
Yes, as hard as it is to believe, some people don’t believe mass transit is that important, and don’t think that Milwaukee County should invest much money into it. But the benefits of transit keep showing themselves time and time again.
For example, just this morning, we see that mass transit [...]
According to a recent entry on the All Politics Blog, Jerry Heer, Milwaukee County’s auditor, said his office is reviewing a big backlog of maintenance work in county parks, work that could allegedly total $300 million. Heer’s auditors will pass judgment on whether that is an accurate figure, and [...]
According to a recent entry on the All Politics Blog, Jerry Heer, Milwaukee County’s auditor, said his office is reviewing a big backlog of maintenance work in county parks, work that could allegedly total $300 million. Heer’s auditors will pass judgment on whether that is an accurate figure, and [...]
For the past few weeks, Scott Walker has been “leaking” out parts of his budget. With every revealing glimpse, we see not a masterpiece, unless your into The Picture of Dorian Gray, but what appears to be pandering to his political base.
This morning’s copy of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel [...]
OnMilwaukee.com has a fine article that shows the benefits of having bike racks on Milwaukee County Transit System buses. It makes it clear how easy the racks are to use (be sure to let the driver know you’re either loading or unloading, though) and suggests some great destinations that [...]
It seems Scott Walker feels at home with the Tea Party folks. He was a speaker at the anti-government and non-grassroots rally that happened in Milwaukee today.
This is the same non-grassroots rally that Joe the Contractor Plumber apparently got into a fight at.
Renee Crawford was there, and has an [...]
After years of cutting the routes and services provided by the Milwaukee County Transit System, Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker has once again flashed the possibility of having “express buses” in the County. While express bus service is not bad on the surface, there are several points that need a [...]
The County Board’s Finance and Audit Committee will be holding their fourth and final public budget hearing tonight:
Wednesday, September 16th
Gordon Park Pavilion
2828 North Humboldt Boulevard
6:00 to 7:30 p.m
Despite what Scott Walker says, they are a productive use of your time. Let the Supervisors know how you want [...]
The County Board’s Finance and Audit Committee will be holding their third public budget hearing tonight:
Tuesday, September 15th
Wilson Park Senior Center
2601 W. Howard Avenue
6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
Here is an interesting article called “Buses and Beyond: 10 Cities With Great Transit.“ No, Milwaukee is not included. These systems were all progressively designed and implemented. Their success comes from a few things, the most common is that all of these systems have multi-modal methods of transportation to [...]
There was good food, wonderful entertainment by Jay Bullock, gracious tour guides. The weather was ideal, the sunset was stunning and everyone had a good time. The only thing that could have made it better if the Monarchs had arrived en force.
Unfortunately, due to the dry and warm weather, the [...]
Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker owes Milwaukee County tax payers an apology.
Steve Schultze reported earlier today on JSOnline that Walker had given orders forbidding his department heads from attending any of the public budget hearing session being held by the Milwaukee County Finance and Audit Committee. The reason he gave [...]
The second public budget hearing with the County Board’s Finance and Audit Committee is tonight:
Thursday, September 10th
Franklin Law Enforcement Center
9455 W. Loomis Road
6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
I am hoping to personally be at this one. See you there!
Just a reminder that the first public budget hearing with the Milwaukee County Board’s Finance and Audit Committee is tonight:
Wednesday, September 9th
Brown Deer Public Library
5600 W. Bradley Road
6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
Make sure that you attend this one or one of the others scheduled this week or [...]
Today, Governor Jim Doyle held a press conference at the Milwaukee Intermodal Station to announce his new plan for a regional RTA. It isn’t really any different than the RTA plan previously issued, with a few exceptions regarding funding sources and initial implementation.
Instead of having Racine and Kenosha [...]
Some good news finally came out of the Milwaukee County Courthouse today when Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker announced that he would be restoring funding to the Emergency Medical System, which supports the paramedic programs in the county.
Milwaukee County First applauds that decision, but points out that it should [...]
As mentioned here and other places, Milwaukee County First was at Laborfest at the Summerfest grounds. There was a great crowd of people celebrating the workers that have gone before them, winning them rights such as the 40 hour work week, weekends, and child labor laws.
We also met a lot [...]
Wishing all the hard working men and women a happy and safe Labor Day.
Remember to come see us at Laborfest today.
[...]
We have recently discussed the problems facing Estabrook Dam, including the accumulation of debris and the growing issue of dangerous levels of PCBs in the river, making it unsafe to even be in the water or to eat the fish.
Milwaukee County Supervisor Theodore Lipscomb [...]
The latest issue of the Shepherd Express asks some of the right questions about the local transit situation. Specifically, they wonder if a sales tax could rescue local transit.
Remember that the people of Milwaukee County voted by a large margin in favor of having a sales tax in order [...]
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has yet another story highlighting the short comings of Milwaukee County’s administration. This is becoming an all too common occurrence for the past number of years.
Today’s story is about the County’s failure to follow the Green Print policy that was enacted two years ago, and [...]
For many years, riders of the Milwaukee County Transit System has seen its routes get cut and the fares go up, as less and less money is available for it. Once a standard for the nation, it has been in steady decline. This year, it has been recommended by the [...]
Milwaukee County Supervisor Elizabeth M. Coggs, Chair of the County Board’s Committee on Finance and Audit, has announced a series of public meetings next month to hear comments from citizens about the funding of County programs and services.
“The 2010 budget will be the most difficult budget in my 21 years [...]
The very first ever All-City People’s Parade was scheduled for August 8th. Unfortunately, Mother Nature did not cooperate and rained out the festivities.
But all is not lost. The People’s Parade has a second chance to celebrate. They will be joining Milwaukee’s working men and women at LaborFest:
On Aug. [...]
Here is a piece written by yours truly, and was kindly published by BizTimes.com:
Gov. Jim Doyle recently announced that he will not be running for a third term as governor. In his announcement, he promised that he would continue to work for the people of Wisconsin.
He said he would [...]
There was once a fear that the beloved showcase of Milwaukee’s culture and history known as the Milwaukee Public Museum would need to go into bankruptcy and sell a portion of its collections, all due to an experiment in privatization gone horribly wrong. But the worst case scenario did [...]
As Jason Haas pointed out yesterday, the State of Wisconsin announced that they are rejecting Milwaukee County’s bid to keep the Income Maintenance Program housed in the Coggs Building. The State had taken over the Income Maintenance Program earlier this year, when the County’s failure to meet minimal standards [...]
According to the Journal Sentinel, the State of Wisconsin has told Milwaukee County that it cannot operate its food, medical and health assistance programs at the Marcia P. Coggs Human Services Center, located at 1220 W. Vliet St. Instead, the State has ordered the County to use a building [...]
It was finally formally announced today that Milwaukee County will be getting $25.6 million from the federal government to be used on transit. The county will be buying 45 40-foot long buses. This will replace about one third of the current fleet. It is a good start to getting [...]
The Chill on the Hill is still running, with the next two shows being the last for 2009. Today starting at 6:00 PM, Milwaukee’s own folksy Jay Bullock will be the opening act (we’ve seen him before… and we love his work!), and alternative bands The Lilies [...]
For almost two decades, the maintenance of Estabrook Dam has been severely neglected. It has now gotten so bad that there is a debate going on as to whether the dam should even be saved, and in what form it would take if saved, or if it should simply be [...]
It’s encouraging to see that there is a cogniscent debate happening about what will happen with the Hoan Bridge, which provides a link between the southeast and northeast sides of Milwaukee and the greater area. As previously discussed here, a group that favors keeping the bridge intact has been [...]
Stevens Point, even though a fraction of the size of Milwaukee County, knows the importance of mass transit and how to make the most of it.
Seven years before Milwaukee County Supervisors were finally able to get the bus racks on our buses, Stevens Point had theirs already in place.
They [...]
In today’s Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, there is an editorial piece arguing against the DOT’s proposal to rebuild and expand the zoo interchange. It does a good job of succinctly explaining the damage that this would do to the Monarch Trail (or what’s left of it):
There’s [...]
I have some fond childhood memories of splashing in a lazy part of the Milwaukee River. As the late ’80s wasn’t all that long ago, I really have to wonder just what me and my friends were splashing in.
We hear about PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyl, or phenols) being in the [...]
Johnsons Park is located on Fond du Lac Avenue, between 17th and 20th Streets. It is a historic area as that it once played an important role in the Underground Railroad during the Civil War.
Work has started in an unprecedented renovation of a park, cleaning it up and restoring it [...]
Earlier this month, Governor Jim Doyle announced more stimulus money coming to Milwaukee to do clean up on sites.
Tom Daykin of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported on this:
The former Tower Automotive Inc. site will be the target of $1.1 million in federal stimulus cash to help redevelop the property [...]
Earlier today, Governor Jim Doyle announced that he will not be running for a third term as governor. In his announcement, he promised that he would continue to work for the people of Wisconsin:
He said he would have an aggressive agenda over the next 16 months, focusing on education, [...]
On Saturday evening, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett was at the State Fair with some family members, enjoying the rare bit of personal time. On the way back to their car, they came across a scene of a young man threatening a woman and a small child.
Without a moment’s hesitation, [...]
Did you know that there is a fish fry offered at four Milwaukee County parks each Friday during the summer? I didn’t until tonight. Indeed, you can partake in the great Milwaukee tradition of the Friday night fish fry from May 22 through Labor Day weekend. They’re held at four [...]
New York City is having their own traffic issues. Their Mayor Bloomberg has come up with a very interesting idea: Free bus rides cross town.
The article lists a number of possible advantages to making the crosstown buses freee:
MTA Bus engineers recently clocked “dwell time” — those maddening seconds and [...]
