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Free Racine

  • On Liquor License Rebates, Protectionism

    There he goes again. Greg Helding is initiating another plan to discourage business start ups. Previous efforts have targeted convenience stores, landlords, and short term loan businesses. This one targets restaurants and taverns seeking a Class B liquor license. The JT has the story here.

    According to the [...]
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    Posted: November 25, 2009, 6:03am EST

  • Politicians Welcome on Free Racine

    Yesterday I had a chance encounter with a Racine alderman who took the opportunity to criticize my blog and my failure to call him prior to writing my blog entries. When pressed repeatedly to clarify his concerns, he could not, but he did repeat that I should have called him.
    [...]
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    Posted: November 24, 2009, 6:35am EST

  • Random Thoughts

    Now that Fort Hood terrorist Nidal Hasan is both alive and permanently paralyzed, what becomes of the 64 frustrated virgins?

    I spent the better part of the weekend paying tolls in Illinios and wishing I had signed up for I-PASS which would have made driving both faster and cheaper. [...]
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    Posted: November 23, 2009, 8:32am EST

  • Triple Dip Recession Avoided

    President Obama has for the first time acknowledged the possibility of a double dip recession. But at least it won't be a triple dip recession that we would have had without him.' [...]
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    Posted: November 19, 2009, 8:26am EST

  • Kay's Blue House of Unwanted Children

    Sometimes I like to go to Kay's Blue Racine to stir things up. She has a rant going that I didn't bother to read but I was struck by one of her comments thereafter when she wrote "Its the idea that abortion is still in the mix that kills me." [...]
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    Posted: November 10, 2009, 9:35am EST

  • Green Idea #1

    Racine has a couple of meter maids/parking enforcement personnel that drive around all day in a van. Now perhaps there is some reason to have a van but it is not apparent to me. What is apparent is that they really do not need a performance vehicle of any sort [...]
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    Posted: November 09, 2009, 8:58am EST

  • Navratil Volunteers for Environmental Advisory Board

    Recently appointed Racine alderman Kelli Stein has suggested the creation of a new Environmental Advisory Board. The Racine Post has the story, read it here.

    From the Post: "Stein's idea, modeled on several other cities around the country, is to create a strictly advisory board that would develop'" [...]
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    Posted: November 05, 2009, 8:35am EST

  • Walden Students Trying to Destroy World's Forests

    There is a great commentary in the Wall Street Journal today that should be of interest to Walden students but probably won't ever be brought to their attention by their teachers. It is entitled Sins of Emission and I will paraphrase the commentary.

    A new peer reviewed study published' [...]
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    Posted: October 29, 2009, 8:50am EDT

  • On Drug Addiction and Causes

    I kind of like the response I gave to Randy, former Journal Times editor, over at the Racine Post. I thought I would share.


    Denis Navratil said...
    Randolph writes:

    "So, why do people do drugs?

    That’s easy. They’re self-medicating because their lives" [...]
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    Posted: October 28, 2009, 9:37am EDT

  • Indoctrination 101

    On Saturday at Monument Square, some local high school kids rallied in support of United Nations climate change legislation. The Racine Post wrote an article which then generated over 100 comments, many of them critical of the kids.

    Several commenters defended the kids by suggesting that we [...]
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    Posted: October 28, 2009, 7:23am EDT

  • Flu Politics

    I heard on the radio today that the Obama children got a flu shot today but that the president and the first lady will wait and take the shot in accordance with prioritizing guidelines concerning risk etc... Of course this news, if true, would have originated from the White House. [...]
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    Posted: October 27, 2009, 8:32pm EDT

  • Parental Involvement

    Lately there has been lots of talk about parental involvement as the solution to our local public education problems. But does Racine Unified really want parental involvement or do they just want a ready excuse for their collective failings?

    One of the most important decisions an involved parent can [...]
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    Posted: October 23, 2009, 7:55am EDT

  • Parental Involvement

    Lately there has been lots of talk about parental involvement as the solution to our local public education problems. But does Racine Unified really want parental involvement or do they just want a ready excuse for their collective failings?

    One of the most important decisions an involved parent can [...]
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    Posted: October 23, 2009, 7:55am EDT

  • Question of the Day

    Why don't those who want both "power to the people" and big government see the contradiction?' [...]
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    Posted: October 18, 2009, 6:57pm EDT

  • Question of the Day

    Why don't those who want both "power to the people" and big government see the contradiction?' [...]
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    Posted: October 18, 2009, 6:57pm EDT

  • Mayor Dickert and the Money Cycle

    I went to the Racine Taxpayers Association meeting today to listen to Mayor Dickert. It was a nice speech that didn't really cover much new territory, except it shed some light on how Mayor Dickert thinks about economics. Mayor Dickert spent a fair amount of time discussing the money cycle.' [...]
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    Posted: October 13, 2009, 7:51pm EDT

  • Health Insurance Incentives

    As I write this, the Senate Finance Committee is considering a health care bill that would mandate insurance companies to offer health insurance to those with pre-existing conditions. Additionally, the bill would fine/tax those without health insurance by some amount less than $1,000.

    Presently I am paying in the [...]
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    Posted: October 13, 2009, 10:48am EDT

  • Inexplicable City Development Policy

    OK, I'll admit it. I can't make heads or tails of Racine's approach to development. Some folks (Tom Toussis, Brent Oglesby etc...) have to go through an often contentious process that requires approval by the Racine Development Authority and, I think, approval by the full city council. Others get land' [...]
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    Posted: October 11, 2009, 11:22am EDT

  • Nobel Joke

    President Obama has won the Nobel Peace prize this morning, leaving many to wonder what he has done to merit winning the award. Perhaps putting a stop to Chicago's aggressive campaign for the Olympics?' [...]
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    Posted: October 09, 2009, 7:48am EDT

  • Racial Politics Revealed

    There is an interesting battle brewing over a piece of property near a proposed KRM train station. One Brent Oglesby has been seeking a "hold" on the property, arguing that it takes time to secure financing etc... for his proposed project. Meanwhile, Mayor Dickert has announced that the city has [...]
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    Posted: October 07, 2009, 8:43am EDT

  • Lifestyle Guru or Representative?

    "I think you have to lead by example," said Racine Mayor John Dickert as he urges citizens to recycle, to exercise and to use their cars less.

    I quote Mayor Dickert above not to criticize but to pose a more general question about who we elect and for what [...]
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    Posted: October 06, 2009, 9:17am EDT

  • City Hall Out of Touch

    So the powers-that-be at city hall have recommended that the Toussis plan for West Racine be received and filed. In other words, killed. The Racine Post has the story.

    So what does the Racine Development Authority want in West Racine? Not too long ago, the city was about to [...]
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    Posted: October 05, 2009, 8:36am EDT

  • Thought of the Day

    Pacifism is a workable philosophy provided you surround yourself with a sufficient number of people who disagree with you. [...]
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    Posted: September 30, 2009, 9:32pm EDT

  • Parental Involvement, Words vs Actions

    The next time you hear a Unified apologist lament the lack of parental involvement among RUSD parents, know at least that the majority of teachers and the RUSD administation don't really care about parent involvement. RUSD has cancelled the tradition fall open houses in a negotiated agreement between the teachers' [...]
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    Posted: September 28, 2009, 8:31am EDT

  • Parental Involvement, Words vs Actions

    The next time you hear a Unified apologist lament the lack of parental involvement among RUSD parents, know at least that the majority of teachers and the RUSD administation don't really care about parent involvement. RUSD has cancelled the tradition fall open houses in a negotiated agreement between the teachers' [...]
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    Posted: September 28, 2009, 8:31am EDT

  • RUSD and Alternative Reality

    The JT has an article today detailing Racine Unified's efforts to promote inclusion, into regular ed classrooms, for special education students. You can read the article here.

    From the article:

    "At a district data retreat and leadership summit held in August, some educators also heard a'" [...]
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    Posted: September 27, 2009, 8:58am EDT

  • On Goverment in Art and Education

    Every Wednesday evening I co-host a philosophy discussion group in the apartment above my store. If anyone wants to partake, feel free to contact me if you want more info. Anyway, the topic yesterday was whether artist have a responsibility to create morally uplifing art. The politically mixed group was [...]
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    Posted: September 25, 2009, 2:12pm EDT

  • Environmental Car Care

    Some folks came in to my store the other day with some coupons for "green" car washing. I was delighted to hear of their concern for the environment, and I got to thinking that perhaps I should perhaps be more conscious about my environmental footprint. So I decided then and [...]
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    Posted: September 25, 2009, 2:05pm EDT

  • Union Power

    A month or so ago, would-be developer Tom Toussis announced that he would hire union workers to build his proposed West Racine grocery store/restaurant/gas station complex.

    Hmmmm. Is he buying something more than skilled craftsmanship? There is speculation that unions are behind the oh so controversial mailings sent out [...]
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    Posted: September 24, 2009, 8:22am EDT

  • Zoning, Out

    There is an ugly battle brewing over a proposed grocery store, bank, restaurant and gas station development proposal in West Racine. Racine Post broke the story. Read it here.

    Battles such as these are avoidable. Remember zoning? Zoning laws should prevent these problems. Areas are zoned for particular [...]
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    Posted: September 23, 2009, 8:39am EDT

  • What News?

    I have a friend who insists he is better informed on the events of the day because he listens to NPR. Even so, he was completely unaware of the ACORN/Nicaraguan sex trafficking story. Suppose that instead of ACORN it was the National Rifle Association or a Catholic bishop offering advice [...]
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    Posted: September 21, 2009, 8:28am EDT

  • Health Tax

    Forcing an insurance company to provide coverage for those with pre-existing health conditions is like forcing a poker player to bet when his opponent turns over a straight flush.

    At that point, insurance companies are no longer in the insurance business. They are in the income redistribution business. [...]
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    Posted: September 17, 2009, 6:52pm EDT

  • RUSD Indoctrination

    In a rambling letter to the Journal Times,Sister Brenda Walsh quoted RUSD superintendent Dr. Shaw who said "in addition to academic achievement, students need a spiritual and moral grounding" in order to be prepared for life and work. She then paraphrased Dr. Shaw as follows: "He emphasized that teachers must" [...]
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    Posted: September 16, 2009, 9:30am EDT

  • Random Thoughts

    State Rep Corey Mason has proposed taxing the rich and using the money for job training. Bad idea. The rich don't leave their money in shoe boxes. They either spend it or invest it. In either case, they create jobs by doing so. The government will just waste the money' [...]
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    Posted: September 15, 2009, 7:38pm EDT

  • Helding/Navratil Debate

    Alderman Greg Helding has agreed to a debate. Here goes:


    Denis:
    To the best of my knowledge, within the last few years, the city council approved a change involving UNIT. Previously, UNIT had sent out notices of violations regarding the upkeep of property. If violators fixed the [...]
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    Posted: September 06, 2009, 7:45am EDT

  • Just Say No

    The Racine Redevelopment Authority delayed a decision on an 18 month option request by Brent Oglesby concerning city owned property at State and Silver Streets, very near to the proposed KRM stop. This decision should be very easy folks - deny this request outright. Read JT article Here

    [...]
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    Posted: September 03, 2009, 8:16am EDT

  • Debate Challenge for Racine Aldermen

    I happen to know that several Racine aldermen read Free Racine. Alderman Helding and Alderman Maack have even commented on the site. So I know they are out there.

    What perplexes me is a reluctance on the part of Racine aldermen to publicly defend policies that they voted for [...]
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    Posted: August 27, 2009, 8:43am EDT

  • Election Musings

    A few friends of mine were musing the other day about election opponents for John Lehman or Bob Turner. I was not there but my name came up as a potential opponent of Bob Turner. And it was quickly detirmined that in liberal Racine I had no chance of winning, [...]
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    Posted: August 23, 2009, 8:59am EDT

  • Support Slipping Silently

    Liberals and conservatives alike know that I like to talk politics. Hardly a day went by without somebody pointing out what a boob President Bush was at the time.

    I realized yesterday that no liberals are talking to me about President Obama. None. The subject never comes up. [...]
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    Posted: August 22, 2009, 9:15am EDT

  • Elephant in the Alcohol Licensing Committee

    I can't say I am terribly surprised that the Chuns were denied a beer license for their would be convenient store. The city's effort to transform Sixth St into an artist haven has failed miserably. A few art shops have moved from 6th to Main Street and those that remain' [...]
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    Posted: August 16, 2009, 9:54am EDT

  • Action Alert

    Sometimes our problems are so big (wars, health care, recessions etc...) and the deciders so far removed from our lives that it seems that their is little if anything we can do.

    This is one reason I am attracted to local issues. You might know the players involved, you [...]
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    Posted: August 05, 2009, 9:11am EDT

  • Unconstitutional Neighborhood Inspection Team

    I received a bill from the City of Racine the other day. I was being charged $100 for an inspection of my property and $87 or so for labor and administration for the removal of materials from my property. I called up the UNIT (Unified Neighborhood Inspection Team) to find [...]
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    Posted: August 04, 2009, 8:23am EDT

  • Facts Be Damned

    The JT weighs in on the Harvard professor/Cambridge cop flap today. You can read it here.

    After some common sense suggestions such as "know the facts" and "words have consequences" the JT shifted gears and wrote "Did Gates react strongly because he thought he was being targeted, was" [...]
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    Posted: July 28, 2009, 9:15pm EDT

  • Helding for Socialized Health Care

    I have to take issue with Greg Helding with such regularity that I am concerned that he might think its personal. It isn't personal Greg. It is all about policy. The following quote is from the Racine Post article on a local health care forum. Read it all here[...]
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    Posted: July 27, 2009, 9:06am EDT

  • Customer Always Wrong at Jimmie Johns

    I normally don't write negative posts about local businesses, but I am going to make an exception here. Today I went to buy a couple of turkey sandwiches from the Jimmie Johns at Highways 31 and 20. My son wanted only turkey and lettuce while my wife wanted turkey with' [...]
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    Posted: July 26, 2009, 4:04pm EDT

  • Dickert Sighting Update

    Not exactly earth shattering news here but in a follow up to a previous post it now turns out that Mayor Dickert did visit my store last week. And what's more, I was in the store at the time. I was in my office but the mayor opted not to [...]
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    Posted: July 23, 2009, 8:33am EDT

  • JT Welcomes Crude Sexual Insults

    The Journal Times, following the lead of the Racine Post, is now accepting the use of the term "tea baggers" in its letters to the editor. Serial letter writer Earl Christianson used the term today in describing a person who introduced him as a socialist.

    Anyway, to the [...]
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    Posted: July 21, 2009, 10:12am EDT

  • Got Plans?

    Subject: Communication from the Director of the Racine County
    Planning and Development Department and the Principal Planner for
    the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission
    transmitting to the City of Racine for formal consideration of the Draft
    Multi-Jurisdictional Comprehensive Plan For Racine County.

    Got that? Planners plan to announce their [...]
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    Posted: July 21, 2009, 9:23am EDT

  • Call Me

    I called Mayor Dickert a month or so ago, shortly after he took office. I had hoped to speak with the mayor about a range of issues, mostly relating to economic development. The mayor was out of town, I was told, attending conferences etc... and he would get back to [...]
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    Posted: July 20, 2009, 8:53am EDT

  • Equality Extremism on the Left

    I have been arguing a bit with Kay and her pals over at Kay's Blue Racine. Initially I took Kay to task for insinuating that Van Wanggaard is a white supremicist because he used the Norwegian word for "welcome" on his campaign web site. Anyway, the discussion gradually came around [...]
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    Posted: July 16, 2009, 9:23am EDT

  • Free Racine/LiberTEA Racine Social Gathering

    All are welcome on Friday July 24th to the third annual Free Racine social event. And since there is considerable overlap between Free Racine and the goals of LiberTEA Racine, what the heck, let's combine the two for an evening. I will be a guest bartender at Asiana, one of [...]
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    Posted: July 13, 2009, 8:24am EDT

  • No Freebies for Government Employees

    Racine Aldermen Aron Wisneski and Terry McCarthy have proposed a program wherein local government employees would be given land and lower taxes if they built a home on the property and lived their for five years. Read about it here.

    Sorry aldermen but this is just plain wrong. [...]
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    Posted: July 08, 2009, 7:16am EDT

  • Confrontation and Response

    Yesterday before the Landmarks Commission meeting I asked commission member Bob Hartman if I might have a moment of his time. I had to hoped to ensure that my previous remarks at a public meeting were not misconstrued. Too late for that I discovered. I did not deserve a moment [...]
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    Posted: July 07, 2009, 9:22am EDT

  • Triumph for LiberTEA

    Yesterday the City of Racine's Landmarks Commission unanimously voted to "receive and file" (or kill, in other words) the proposed historic homes ordinance which would have compelled certain south side homeowners to obtain permission from the commission before beginning certain renovations and home maintainance projects. The vote is a victory [...]
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    Posted: July 07, 2009, 9:03am EDT

  • Catching Up

    Sorry readers for the lack of postings of late. My excuse - working a fair amount and enjoying summer when not working.

    Yesterday I rented a Jet Ski at North Beach. Great fun I have to say. Perhaps readers recall the recent fuss over Jet Ski rentals at [...]
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    Posted: July 06, 2009, 8:05am EDT

  • Cory Mason's Employee Forced Submission Act

    From the folks who support the Employee Free Choice Act now comes forced unionization. Our own Cory Mason is apparently the driving force for this gem. The Journal Sentinel has the story.

    I guess forced participation in unions is the new freedom. [...]
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    Posted: June 26, 2009, 8:55am EDT

  • Obama on Public vs Private Health Care

    I just caught a bit of President Obama's news conference wherein he stated, essentially, that if private sector health care is so good, affordable, etc... then it ought not have any problem competing with a public sector option.

    So we have a president that ignores or doesn't understand the' [...]
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    Posted: June 24, 2009, 8:09pm EDT

  • Having it Both Ways

    The Journal Times editorial today suggests that those opposed to low-income housing on Sixth Street are unreasonably fearful. The correlation between low incomes and crime happens only in those discredited high rise apartments that "are now being turned into ruble."

    Ordinarily, when the JT or other liberals want [...]
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    Posted: June 17, 2009, 10:38am EDT

  • LiberTEA Racine Chooses Issues

    LiberTEA Racine has selected three issues to pursue. They are, not in any particular order:

    1) Opposition to the proposed Historic District Ordinance.
    2) Support for the Choi's/Chun's effort to open a convenience store with a liquor license.
    3) Opposition to Alderman Mozol's proposal which would extend aldermanic terms' [...]
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    Posted: June 15, 2009, 8:31am EDT

  • It's Good to be the King

    If you are the mayor of Racine, you get to spend taxpayer money on art. No need for oversight of any kind apparently. No approval from commissions, no design review committee, no permits required, no building inspections, no votes by the council.

    But if you live on College [...]
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    Posted: June 10, 2009, 9:20pm EDT

  • RUSD Test Results Form Letter

    An insider at RUSD headquarters has forwarded to me the following test results response form letter. Take a look.

    For immediate release to media.

    The (insert test name) results are in and we are very excited here at RUSD headquarters. We have shown improvement in (choose one: 5th [...]
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    Posted: June 10, 2009, 8:45am EDT

  • Government Causing Housing Problems

    As city officials experiment with various punitive measures to address the declining condition of housing stock in Racine, they would be wise to consider their own role in creating the problem.

    Consider that despite a declining population in Racine, the city has within the last several years approved two [...]
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    Posted: June 09, 2009, 8:25am EDT

  • CityBank (of Racine) Failures

    The Journal Times has an article today, curiously titled "Staying afloat," about a non-profit housing agency that is sinking fast.

    The Racine Mutual Housing Association is a nonprofit organization that provides rental housing at below-market rates, according to the JT. Yet 95% of their clients are behind in [...]
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    Posted: June 08, 2009, 8:29am EDT

  • On Property and Policy

    City officials always seem to be promoting a solution to this or that problem. Seldom do they discuss why the problem exists in the first place. How can you solve a problem if you don't know why it exists?

    Consider the various proposals to keep area homes in good' [...]
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    Posted: June 07, 2009, 8:53pm EDT

  • Catching Up, Random Thoughts

    I have now been to two meetings concerning the historic district ordinance proposal. At both meetings, the powers-that-be insisted that they were there to discern what the people wanted. If this were the least bit true, there wouldn't be a third meeting. They would just scrap the idea that the' [...]
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    Posted: June 07, 2009, 9:37am EDT

  • Q and A with Earl Chrisianson

    Unglued local lefty Earl Christianson had some questions after attending last months tea party demonstration at city hall. He asked them in a JT letter to the editor. Here are a few and I will try to answer them:

    Earl: Was violent or nonviolent action being advocated by the [...]
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    Posted: May 29, 2009, 9:17am EDT

  • Low Income Housing Venture a Waste of Money

    Another day, another proposal for low income housing in Racine.

    This time the proposal is for downtown Racine on 6th Street. The Racine Journal Times has the story. The building in question is a former YMCA owned by Emily Hill. Linda Ring Weber, Executive Director of The Housing Authority [...]
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    Posted: May 28, 2009, 8:12am EDT

  • Walden School and Sustainability

    Walden Students are learning about sustainability according to a small article in todays Journal Times. Good for them.

    According to the article, the class was initially developed by the Keystone Center for Education and funded by Sustainable Racine.

    The first thing these students should be taught - [...]
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    Posted: May 26, 2009, 9:07am EDT

  • Socialism and Poverty

    David Riemer thinks we can end poverty. Riemer is the director of policy and planning at Community Advocates of the Public Policy Institute.

    Riemer argues, in a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel commentary on Sunday, that "potential policy packages must be well-conceived and evidence-based, shaped by the poor themselves and rigorously" [...]
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    Posted: May 26, 2009, 8:05am EDT

  • Owner or Renter

    Yesterday I happened upon some folks from the proposed historic district of Racine whom I have known for quite some time. For several minutes we discussed the pros and cons of the proposed ordinance. The three of them were mostly favorable towards the idea, though they acknowledged some potential pitfalls [...]
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    Posted: May 24, 2009, 7:55am EDT

  • Fact or Fiction?

    Driver: How fast was I going officer?
    Officer: 15 over.
    D: I suppose I am going to get a fine?
    O: No Ma'am, we don't give fines or tickets anymore.
    D: Excellent, then I will be on my way. Nice day officer.
    O: Not so fast Ma'am. I need to' [...]
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    Posted: May 22, 2009, 7:29am EDT

  • Historic Designation Meets Resistance

    I went to a public meeting tonight on the subject of turning the near south side of Racine into a historic district. What this would mean for property owners in the area is that alterations to their property would have to meet the approval of a commission, much like the [...]
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    Posted: May 21, 2009, 10:11pm EDT

  • Teachers Union Using Adult Dupes

    I started a bit of a fight over at the JT blog when I suggested that children shouldn't be used as pawns in political battles.

    There was a protest organized by the Racine teachers union at a recent board meeting. They were lobbying for federal stimulus funds for more' [...]
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    Posted: May 20, 2009, 7:56am EDT

  • Racine Teachers Using Children in Political Fight

    The Racine teachers union (aka Racine Education Association or REA) is now using elementary students to help fight their political battles. The REA and their child allies rallied at a RUSD Board meeting yesterday "in hopes that Unified will use federal stimulus money to bring more librarians to the district's'" [...]
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    Posted: May 18, 2009, 10:10pm EDT

  • Prevailing Values

    One David Backman wrote a letter to the Journal Times on Sunday concerning pending legislation about prevailing wage law.

    He writes: The current discussion to strengthen the state's prevailing wage law intends to protect and sheild workers from unscrupulous business or communities that look to make a profit' [...]
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    Posted: May 18, 2009, 7:38am EDT

  • LiberTEA Racine Launched, Attacked

    LiberTEA Racine, a group of local citizens forming to protect and recover our liberties, has launched a blog, libertearacine.blogspot.com. A web site will soon follow.

    Pete at the Racine Post, a great reporter known the world over for his objectivity, has the story at http://news.racinepost.com/2009/05/libertea-racine-erects-its-blog-outpost.html

    Note that Pete, [...]
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    Posted: May 17, 2009, 7:57am EDT

  • On Efficient City Government

    I spoke with 15th District Alderman Robert Mozol yesterday about his proposal to extend the terms of Racine aldermen from two years to three. At this time, the proposal has been referred to the committe of the whole, according to Mozol.

    I asked him how his proposed change would [...]
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    Posted: May 14, 2009, 8:41am EDT

  • On Nature, Nurture, and Homosexuality

    I was telling a story the other day at a dinner party, not meaning to start a political discussion. Anyway, when my son was three, my wife enrolled him in a class called something like Beginning Movement. When the time came for me to bring him to class, his third [...]
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    Posted: May 12, 2009, 8:32am EDT

  • On Resource Allocation

    I like this sentence from today's Wall Street Journal:

    "But you can only allocate a scarce resource in two ways: market prices or brute force."

    Is there another way?' [...]
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    Posted: May 12, 2009, 8:29am EDT

  • Seeds of Liberty

    On Saturday, a dozen or so local citizens met (including yours truly) to explore the idea of forming a group dedicated to preserving our liberties from the near constant encroachment by government.

    Though nothing has been formalized, nor any spokesperson chosen, it is my understanding that we have [...]
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    Posted: May 11, 2009, 7:57am EDT

  • Congratulations John Dickert

    I know, I am several days late. I always seem to be out of town on election day. Anyway, congratulations are due to John Dickert. As I may have mentioned in a previous post, I have known John since grade school. I believe him to be a person of good [...]
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    Posted: May 08, 2009, 7:55am EDT

  • Pay to Play?

    I was watching the Chris Matthews show the other day as he and his liberal guests were analyzing the Arlen Spector defection. It was assumed that in return for a challenger free Democratic primary Spector must have agreed to push Obama's impending health care plan.

    Didn't that used [...]
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    Posted: May 05, 2009, 2:09pm EDT

  • Going Green

    I heard a radio advertisement for the Racine bus system. Ride the bus, go green, save the environment etc... was the essence of the ad. The only problem is that riding Racine's bus system is NOT environmentally friendly. A huge bus transporting one or two passengers is terribly inefficient and' [...]
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    Posted: May 05, 2009, 1:58pm EDT

  • On Stimulus and Job Losses

    The 1st Congressional District Democrats have elected a new chairman, one Mark Pienkos.

    From the Racine Post:

    "Refering to yesterday's news that Chrysler's engine plant will close as part of the auto company's reorganization, Pienkos said, "Kenosha is losing jobs. Paul Ryan needs to answer for' [...]
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    Posted: May 03, 2009, 4:32pm EDT

  • More Clarity Needed

    Mayoral candidate John Dickert has a letter to the Racine JT editor today wherein he seeks to clarify his position about inpecting Racine properties when they sell. Dickert states that the proposed ordinance would not be aimed at residential properties. Instead, his plan "deals with the multifamily slum properties that" [...]
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    Posted: April 30, 2009, 8:30am EDT

  • On Advancing a Freedom Agenda

    What is the best approach to take in advancing a freedom agenda in Racine? Is it to elect leaders who will protect and expand the freedoms that have been gradually taken from us? Or is grass roots issue driven activism a better idea?

    I am beginning to think that [...]
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    Posted: April 28, 2009, 10:35am EDT

  • Community Organizer Needed

    In my last thread I wrote that at some point we will need to fight for our freedom here in Racine. And Colt has invited me to do just that, regarding Racine's new liquor license policy. I have had a few days to mull this over.

    My concern' [...]
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    Posted: April 25, 2009, 7:56am EDT

  • Liquor Lunacy

    Racine's new liquor ordinance requires license applicants to prove that their establishment will "substantially improve the tax base."

    Yes, the city has outlawed moderate and incremental improvements to the tax base. If you aren't going to sell a *!%#load of liquor, don't waste their time.

    Rather than have' [...]
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    Posted: April 22, 2009, 7:42am EDT

  • City Council Power Grab

    I don't even know where to begin in criticizing Racine's new liquor ordinance. But let us start with the facts. The ordinance, which passed last night with only aldermen Shields and Coe dissenting, pertains only to establishments that sell liquor for off premises consumption. In other words, it does not [...]
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    Posted: April 21, 2009, 8:34am EDT

  • Free Campaign Advice

    John Dickert has a plan. Like most people, I suspect, I don't know what it is nor am I inclined to find out. But I know it is a ten year plan.

    If I were Bob Turner, I would immediately announce an eleven year plan. I would then denounce' [...]
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    Posted: April 20, 2009, 8:40am EDT

  • On Racine's Tea Party

    In my ten or so years living in Racine as an adult, I have been to countless rallies, town hall meetings, council meetings, listening sessions, public hearings etc... but Saturday, at Racine's Tea Party, was the first time I felt a connection to and general agreement with the fellow attendees.' [...]
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    Posted: April 20, 2009, 8:35am EDT

  • Downward Spirals

    I was listening to a pro-KRM/RTA radio program the other day on WRJN. One of the interviewees argued that local transit is in a downward spiral. Costs have gone up and local revenue is down. This is followed by service cuts and fare increases, which results in fewer riders and [...]
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    Posted: April 18, 2009, 4:56pm EDT

  • Informed Decisions

    The Regional Transit Authority wants you to make an informed decision about transit, or at least that is what their flyer says. You be the judge.

    According to the RTA, KRM will raise property values and create 4,700 construction jobs with a $560 million impact on the local community. [...]
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    Posted: April 14, 2009, 6:10pm EDT

  • Closing Gaps

    The easiest way to close achievement or wealth gaps is to discourage achievement and wealth. [...]
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    Posted: April 14, 2009, 11:23am EDT

  • KRM BS #2

    Tim Sullivan, chief executive of Bucyrus (Milwaukee Journal commentary, Sunday, April 12) wants to hire "the best talent from within our communities" to help his growing company. His problem though, is that "a large portion of the region's employable population are unable to work in South Milwaukee because they can't" [...]
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    Posted: April 12, 2009, 10:48am EDT

  • KRM BS

    Racine Mayor Tom Friedel has made the preposterous claim that KRM will "connect our residents with the nearly one million jobs that currently exist within one mile of the proposed KRM stations."

    Here is the problem. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (via Milwaukee 7 web [...]
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    Posted: April 12, 2009, 10:29am EDT

  • Turner vs Dickert

    What is the difference between Democrat John Dickert and Democrat Robert Turner?

    The most obvious difference is that Dickert is white and Turner black. And based on the election returns from the primary, it sure seems as though Dickert won the white vote while Turner won the black [...]
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    Posted: April 11, 2009, 8:58am EDT

  • Natural Born Tyrants

    Several local second graders have all the answers to Racine's problems. The following are a sampling of their proposals, if they were mayor of Racine.

    "If I was mayor, I would take all the smokes away from the stores and say no more smoking."

    "If I was the'" [...]
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    Posted: April 09, 2009, 8:02am EDT

  • Collusion or Partnership

    A friend was telling me recently about an article that he read about the failure of the free market. To bolster his case perhaps, he noted that Henry Ford was once working with legislators to undermine the efforts to build railroads. If true, Ford was not engaging in free market [...]
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    Posted: April 06, 2009, 3:34pm EDT

  • Prediction for Mayoral Race

    Certain to be wrong, but here it is anyway:

    1) Dickert
    2) Harding
    3) Turner
    4) Karas
    5) Helding
    6) Plache
    7) Spangenberg
    8) Shakoor
    9) Hill-Driver
    10) Fay
    11) Charon [...]
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    Posted: April 06, 2009, 12:39pm EDT
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