While Wal-Mart is not everything or all things, it is something.  I do not believe in the dooms day prediction of Packard Ave. if Wal-Mart comes to Cudahy.  I do believe that Wal-Mart is a piece of the puzzle towards recovery in Cudahy.  I do believe that Lee Barzcak can still and will still find tenants of the public market.  I feel it will actually get easier for him once Cudahy Station is finalized either way for the clogs Lee needs to find to complete his wheel called the Public Market.

I will say, as I have said before, that a few places will choose to close along Packard Ave.  I will say that even though I thought it was a bad idea, that some of the shops will move from Packard Ave to the Cudahy Shops (mainly the cell phone shops) and will have a negative effect since it will leave open a shop on Packard Ave.  I will say that by 2011 as many if not more places along the “heart of downtown,” as Mayor McCue likes to call Packard Ave, will be filled.

I will state this again for those who choose to not understand or if it was my fault for not making it clear.  I don’t love Wal-Mart, I like to shop there and would have fought just as tough, hard, and loud if it was a Target, Kohl’s, Costco, K-Mart (of course people then would have said I was biased for working at K-Mart) or any big box store.  I think having a big box store in that area which is NOT downtown was fine and is fine.  It is not as if there will be row after row of big box stores.  I have asked many people to define where Cudahy’s downtown was and is and never received a good description.  I got many well, this or this, but never right here to there.  If you listen to the Master Plan Guy, it is in flux moving west along Layton and will end on Pennsylvania.  He talks as if it is a trolley car. 

In the end, or more correctly to say as time moves forward, a big box at that location will be just fine.  Would it have been nice for Quad to come?  Sure but they high tailed it back to Pewaukee.  Could Cudahy have sat on the land until the right thing happen?  Sure, just ask all the single people still looking for their soul mates after many years, how that is working?  How long do you wait, a year, two, five, ten, twenty?  Could Cudahy have found someone else willing to be the big box store?  Sure, but Wal-Mart was not the first to be asked, but the seventh.  How would it have looked if we sat on the land and after five years it was still a Wal-Mart?

What you have to ask yourself is why didn’t those other big box stores want to come to Cudahy.  If the Wal-Mart goes through, Cobalt Partners will have it easier to get their big box store.  For one reason, Wal-Mart will have blazed the way.  Two, for Wal-Mart is now not on Cobalt’s list and Three, Wal-Mart equals traffic, which equals success and profits.  So the other big box store will know Wal-Mart will drive people into Cudahy even if those people are just Cudahy and St. Francis people. 

A tip to Cobalt Partners, if you need someone to be the voice for your development just ask me, I will help.  It doesn’t matter who it is I will help.  I am very pro-business, yet I understand we cannot give it all away for free.  The other side is, it takes money to make money and there is a cost of doing business.  Others would like to try and single handily give me credit for helping to give a push for the Wal-Mart when the push was needed.  And those are the people against the project not those in favor.  I am not willing to take such credit.  I am a voice, but a single voice.

So Cobalt Partners if it is an IKEA, hell everyone will be for that, but if it is Shopko I will fight along side of you to champion the cause.  I will take the criticism that I must be being paid by them, promised a job, or I love them, just for the cause.  It will benefit Cudahy even if the naysayers don’t think so.

If people took the time to know me, they would understand me.  Some people love me, hate me, don’t care for me, like me, know me, don’t understand me, can’t figure me out, get me, or just plain don’t care about me.  That is all okay will me.  I was never trying to make enemies nor was I looking to make friends.  I most likely made both.  That is all okay will me as long as you have enough respect for me to respect my right to be.  That is all okay will me as long as you have the respect for yourself to respect me and my family.

The city will do what is needed with the business conditions to make the needed protections.  I do have a suggestion that was once talked about that is no longer seen.  Have the developer put the water park connected to the or in the hotel, as it was first hyped up.  Push them to make the retention pond people friendly.  Push them to make more offices above the smaller retail shops to have more mixed use.  Push them to make the building look good within reason.  Push them to have a big American flag displayed.

While moving forward understand that I have not gained anything personally from any of this, expect what we all gain, that is choices.  To shop there or not.  To have the convenience or not.  To have lower prices or not to care.  It is not the silver bullet.  It is penicillin to a patient that has multiple illnesses.  It is the shot in the arm and is now up to time and the rest of the antibiotics with treatments to fix the city.  We cannot stay in the past or idle in the present, but move forward. 

With statements of don’t call or say he doesn’t love Wal-Mart I almost feel the crusade to stick up for Wal-Mart since so many think they are evil.  I will not though.  Wal-Mart is a big company and has plenty of ways on their own to do so. 

Remember twenty years ago at the excitement when Wal-Mart was first coming to the Milwaukee area?  The jubilee people had for this now concerted evil place.  I have stated this before, when the Wal-Mart came to Milwaukee I was at the Hales Corners K-Mart.  Mike Koehler and I would drive over and compare prices and match them.  Just as the Walgreen’s Corp person told me that the sales will dip and then go up.  That is what happened at K-Mart in Hales Corners.  Mike Koehler who also lives in Cudahy can back that up. 

While two years is a long time from now I am sure those places will be just fine.  You can call them if you like, hey as humblepie said I am just an idiot off the street.  So you can call I posted all the info including who I talked to.  Verify it for yourself!

Wal-Mart reaching fuel goals for truck fleet: exec

The world's largest retailer also plans to introduce hybrid trucks into its fleet of more than 7,000 trucks later this year, said Matt Kistler, senior vice president of sustainability for Wal-Mart.

http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSN1347612420080613

First, it was Jobs and that Wal-Mart pushes out small business.

Who is it going to push out?  What companies are going to shut down if Wal-Mart comes to town?  Dretzkas, a used bike shop, a used appliance store and a Laundromat?  Is it just empty fear?

Can somebody, anybody, tell me who is Wal-Mart going to run out, especially downtown?  I walked the shops and didn’t see one that will be knocked out.

30 Minute Photo, Acme Electronics, Cudahy TV & Monitor Services, Dretzkas Department Store, Radioshack, Supreme Cellular, Walgreen’s, Packard Plaza Barber Shop, CVS, Dunham’s

Now these places may or may not see some loss: Radioshack, Walgreen’s, CVS, Dunham’s, Fishing Hole, Pick n save, K-Mart, Merchandise outlet, Aldi, Family Dollar.  Big Lots (oh, they are gone already)

If we don’t let Wal-Mart in, will that make everything better?  High paying jobs will come to Cudahy?

I wish high paying jobs for unskilled workers were around.  It is no longer the 60’s anymore, where you could drop out of high school and get a job like that.  People need skills today.  I am tired of people talking as if everyone that works at Wal-Mart is the sole provider for the family.  Most families are dual income.  Many of these types of jobs supplement other income or are for those still in school.  Even though the perception for Wal-Mart is employing single or unmarried persons with three kids, not all of the employees at Wal-Mart fit these two categories, which, by the way, the persons who do fit those categories are thankful for Wal-Mart being in their area so they have a job!

Then because Wal-Mart finds products outside the U.S.

But, to their credit, they have developed an extremely efficient supply chain structure, one that has become a model for other businesses, and this has propelled them to the number one retailer in the world.  That sounds like someone admiring Wal-Mart, doesn’t it?  Understand that idealism is not always concordant with business realities.  Is Wal-Mart a Monopoly?  Is this not Capitalism?  Everyone except the government is in business to make money.  Is it fair for a store to charge customers $1.99 for a can of cat food, where another store sells it for $2.99?  Ask people living way up north how much things cost when your nearest store is 80 miles away.

History lesson - 

Migration of manufacturing jobs from the U.S. to China and other East Asian countries.  That is what is happening from the 1990’s to today.  Anyone remember the 80’s when Mexico was all the rage?  Automakers moved down there in droves.  Remember the 70’s, it was Taiwan and Hong Kong?  Remember the 60’s it was Japan?

Anyone see a business cycle?  Manufacturing jobs move to where the employee cost is the cheapest, then move on to the next.  You can ship in cheap raw goods from anywhere, but labor costs are different.  Would you like to know once the standard of living increases in China and workers get paid more where the companies will move to?  To the countries in Africa which are less developed. 

As I dust off my economics book, it is all because of “comparative advantage.”  Is a Ford car made in Mexico American or is a Toyota car made in Tennessee American?  Are both or neither?  What about Toyota’s business practices where just last year a man died at a plant after working over 48 hours straight with no breaks?  Does it matter?

Then it was Wal-Mart that does not increase the standard of living

The standard of living refers to the quality and quantity of goods and services available to people, and the way these goods and services are distributed within a population.  It is generally measured by standards such as income inequality, poverty rate, real (i.e. inflation adjusted) income per person.  Other measures such as accessibility and quality of health care, educational standards and social rights are often used too.  Examples are access to certain goods (such as number of refrigerators per 1000 people), or measures of health such as life expectancy.  It is the ease by which people living in a time or place are able to satisfy their wants.

Having a Wal-Mart in Cudahy would, by definition, increase the standard of living.  Wal-Mart is not replacing jobs, but adding jobs and the availability of goods.

BadgerCare and Wal-Mart Health Benefits – Came under attack.

2004 BadgerCare 1,813 employees & dependents $1.8 million 1st

2004 Medicaid 1,952 children (incl. above) 1st

2005 BadgerCare 1,252 workers & dependents $2.7 million 1st

Year 2005

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=328286

The biggest employer of BadgerCare recipients was Wal-Mart, which had 809 of its employees

According to the state analysis, Wal-Mart had 897 workers enrolled in BadgerCare in March and a total of 1,673 when family members are included.  That's down slightly from 904 employees and a total of 1,699 in March 2006.

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=623312

Notice family members vs. workers

In June 2007, the state Department of Health and Family Services posted an updated list of Wisconsin employers with the largest number of employees (or their dependents) participating in BadgerCare, the state’s health insurance program for low-income working families.  At the top of the list was Wal-Mart (largest Wisconsin job provider at estimated 30,000 jobs), which had 897 employees enrolled, plus an additional 776 dependents.  The Department projected the annual cost to the state of those enrollees at $3.7 million.  Other employers at the top of the list were McDonald’s (248 employees; 149 dependents), the non-profit healthcare provider Aurora (193; 162), and home improvement chain Menard (163; 184).  The 116 employers with 15 or more employees on BadgerCare were said to cost the state a total of $23.9 million a year.

So for those upset, don’t shop Wal-Mart, Meanards or eat at McDonalds or see a doctor at Aurora!

In case you don’t get the Milwaukee Journal or missed it in Wednesdays 1-23-08 business section here is the link:

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=710228

Here is a recap:

Wal-Mart says 93% of workers are insured

Wal-Mart said that 79% of its work force - or almost 1.1 million full-time and part-time associates - were eligible for health benefits in its most recent enrollment period.  That contrasts with 57% of workers in the retail sector.

From Muskegonow.com

Wal-Mart is generous

There are others in the community who defend Wal-Mart and favor building the supercenter in the city.  Dennis Koehler Sr. praised the company for its donations to civic organizations and charities.

"Wal-Mart takes very good care of its employees," Koehler said, noting his wife is a department manager at a Wal-Mart. "They move a lot of people up and there are bonuses."

Target matches Wal-Mart prescription drug program

Source

Wal-Mart said in a release that Wal-Mart Stores, Neighborhood Market and Sam's Club pharmacies would now fill prescriptions for as many as 350 generic medications at $10 for a 90-day supply.

A spokeswoman for Target said that the retailer "understands the challenges guests are facing in the current economic environment."

In 2006, when Wal-Mart launched its $4 generic prescription drug program, Target followed suit a few days later.

So look who the leader is.

I am also so tired of people finding a single or exception to how back Wal-Mart is to employees.  Here is what Target did:  TARGET CORP. TO PAY $95,000, IMPLEMENT TRAINING FOR FAILURE TO ACCOMMODATE DISABLED WORKER

Source

Any and every large company will at some point have problems.  Those that use thing like that are a weak argument and anyone with intelligence understands that.   

It was show me success stories.

In Pewaukee, a Kohl’s grocery store was built with additional space for several small retail shops.  Only a couple of those small shops were filled and after a couple years, then Kohl’s groceries were gone.  Pick-n-Save took over that store and still only a couple small shops. 

Then a Wal-Mart was coming!  The small shops began to get occupants as new proprietors banked their success on the Wal-Mart traffic!  An out-lot building was put up for a nice coffee shop and other businesses.  Then the Wal-Mart hate crew showed up and almost put these small businesses out of business.  The “I don’t like Wal-Mart – so you should not have a Wal-Mart” people held up the new store so long, it almost bankrupt at least one store owner that I personally know, others did not make it, likely for the same reason. 

The Wal-Mart is in and the shops are full or almost full.  More strip malls and restaurants keep popping up.  Now an office supply store and large Rec-Room store and Bw3 are a couple blocks away.  Pewaukee is thriving! 

Do you want to know about Delafield at HY83 and I94?  How about Onalaska near Lacrosse or the 2-3 year old store on the south side of LaCrosse, or I94 exit 89 at the Dells.  These are stores that I frequent and have seen the businesses boom around.  Wal-Mart is good for business and the community and Muskego. 

So many of you have said show me a thriving community, the proof is all around us. 

Just look around Germantown, Delafield, Pewaukee, West Bend, Mukwonago, and the list goes on.  As long as you look at the suburb Wal-Mart’s and not the ones in Milwaukee, you will see how well Wal-Mart can work.  Would you call those place dirty non-upscale cities?  I would feel safe living in any of those just as I do in Cudahy.

Just for Cudahy it was – Mayor McCue’s campaign platform was “NO” Wal-Mart!

Show me where it says that he still has it up http://ryanmccue.com/Platform.html

What it really says is: Wal-Mart:  I do not think that the City of Cudahy should provide a $12 million tax subsidy to the world’s biggest retailer.  Residents may not even see the tax benefits from the development for 20 years.

Add I agree that Wal-Mart doesn’t get a TIF, and they are not!  So if he was campaigning on NO Wal-Mart it is not there!

What does McCue want on the Ice Port Site?

He has said offices and a convention center.  While talking to Elizabeth Sanders in the

The Business Journal of Milwaukee on May 16, 2008 - Cudahy is ready for hotel, convention center Cudahy Mayor Ryan McCue is making the case.

If you remember Continental Properties' proposal includes both.

Show me a Big-box retailer has economic benefit

From the J/S

WAL-MART

Big-box retailer has economic benefit

Letter writer Pamela Fendt made several incorrect assumptions about Wal-Mart ("Don't welcome store," May 13).

She incorrectly stated that Wal-Mart is using the state's publicly funded health insurance, BadgerCare.  This program is not used by stores.  It is set up for individuals.  Being a Wal-Mart employee is not an eligibility requirement for BadgerCare, which is based on income and other factors.  These folks would be getting BadgerCare whether or not they worked for Wal-Mart.

While it's true that Wal-Mart has used public subsidies, Fendt ignored all the revenue it brings to the state through sales taxes.  Without taxes, BadgerCare would not exist.

The claim is made that for every job Wal-Mart creates, 1.4 retail jobs are eliminated in the local economy.  Economists have questioned this claim.  At the University of Missouri, economist Emek Basker found that a Wal-Mart's move into a community increases employment.

We shouldn't forget the jobs created indirectly from Wal-Mart's distribution network. Many local businesses buy supplies from Sam's Club.

Successful economies are diverse.  Big-box retailers like Wal-Mart contribute to that diversity.

It was look at Crime and the substation

The Franklin PD asked Wal-Mart to put it in – Again asked and answered before.  The reason was not because of Wal-Mart the reason was just a location so they did not have to drive all the way to hwy 100, so yes, you knew the answer.  Call and ask the Police Captain.  I am glad you know more then the real police of Franklin.  Was this crime reports you have show just the Wal-Mart crime with the criminals stating how bad Wal-Mart is?  My parents live just 10 blocks from it in Franklin.  Come on, check with the police Captain or Chief!  Call them.  Even the Cudahy city people know the answer, they have called.

Any business is a magnet for crime.  Look at all the bank robberies.  Should we close all the banks?  Common sense should prevail.

Then it was I was not asked for the Wal-Mart

You can’t for the life of you remember being asked by anyone what I think about the Wal-Mart/Wave proposal?  Mainly you were asked at the open public meetings.  The Mayor did/does not want it to be a referendum on it.  It was asked of him to do so!

Next Wal-Mart did send out a lit drop about the Wal-Mart.  By the way, over 80% of Wisconsinites shop at Wal-Mart and the number is about the same from Cudahy.  Most of the time Wal-Marts get the approval in a referendum.  Just look it up!

It will hurt Cudahy’s Image

I don’t think Wal-Mart neither hurts or helps Cudahy's reputation among the south shore suburbs nor does anything to hurt Cudahy’s image.  Does Wal-Mart hurt Germantown’s image?  If you answer it honestly, you know it does not, just as Wal-Mart will not hurt Cudahy’s.  The Wal-Mart has not hurt Germantown.  No effect.  So for you only way to look at it is will it improve.  Sorry it doesn’t work both ways.  One way or the other.  Wal-Mart has no effect.  (By the way, what is this “Cudahy Image” you are afraid of hurting?????)

Cudahy’s Imagine right now is what bars and the smell from Patrick Cudahy?

What is the image of Cudahy?  Some think of the amount of bars we have, the smell of Patrick Cudahy, industrial, the parks, crime, a city losing companies and people, old, poor, dying, trucks, aged, old JC Penney’s outlet store, dirty, high taxes, pay loan, used car lots, and tariff free zone.  That is the comments I have received while traveling around the metro Milwaukee are asking people.

Why is Wal-Mart okay for Delafield, Pewaukee, Germantown, Mukwonago, Muskego, and Franklin’s image?  Do you think the Mayor of those cities feels the same as Mayor McCue?  Has McCue even talked to his counterparts?  By the way, all of those cities have higher income levels then Cudahy!  Is that not what we are trying to achieve?  Maybe having a Wal-Mart and increasing the standard of living has something to do with it.

Wal-Mart’s image is in harmony with Cudahy!  Both working classes.  My brother-in-law lives in a $750,000 home in Germantown and doesn’t feel Wal-Mart degrades his city.  He loves to shop and save money.  When you think of Germantown or Franklin, honestly, do you think of Wal-Mart?  Does Wal-Mart even represent a city’s image?

As I have said before, the community makes the store, not the store makes the community.

If you look at the story, “City's image needs a boost before shoppers will come”

http://www.cudahynow.com/story/index.aspx?id=729610

It states “Area business owners shared ideas for promoting economic growth in Cudahy, including opening a movie theater, a national-franchise restaurant and a name-brand outlet mall.”

I am positive the wording outlet mall just scares and makes Mayor McCue cringe.  If we are trying to improve, our image will and outlet mall that sells – scratch and dents, seconds, discontinued items improve our image?

How is Wal-Mart not coming to town going to help our image?  What about the crime and amount of bars and problem bars, oh wait Mayor McCue when asked about the problems presented by taverns, McCue pointed to the charitable work and team sponsorships of many bars and chuckled and said the city has "a very fine police department" to take care of any problems.

So if you think bars are a problem in Cudahy McCue doesn’t!!!!!!!!!!

Why does Cudahy need a Wal-Mart?

Cudahy needs the convenience.  Why do we need gas stations in Cudahy?  The Supercenter part draws from just 4 miles away.  Retail stores look at 7-9 mile radius.  Choices!!!  Economic increases as people drive into and around Cudahy.  Sales Tax and revenue.

Here is what it really is about – Unions, more correctly, lack of unions

The biggest problem people have is it is non-union.  Period!  

Chicago was held up as the bright and shinny land.

Chicago doing well?  You really mean the burbs right?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5069992/

Alderman Emma Mitts countered that people in her West Side ward need the jobs that Wal-Mart can bring.

"Take a ride in my area and see what I am dealing with day in and day out.  There's a lack of jobs and opportunity," she said.

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=19286

The new Wal-Mart Stores Inc. location opening Friday in suburban Evergreen Park received a record 25,000 applications for 325 positions, the highest for any one location in the retailer’s history, a company official says.

http://taxprof.typepad.com/taxprof_blog/2008/03/chicago-gets-hi.html

Chicago Gets Highest Sales Tax in U.S.: 10.25%

Most of Chicago’s Wal-Mart issues are again union.  Large grocery unions.  That is why the size limit was place in Chicago.  Always comes back to unions.  Dems/libs for Reps/con against.  Why have all of this pretence with claims of other things.  That is the issue.  Just say it! 

The real big problem for Dems/libs is Wal-Mart would rather close a store then let it unionize.  I wish people could just come out and say the real reason.

The biggest problem people have is it is non-union.  Period!  That is the biggest hang-up.  That is why libs hate it.  It took all that just to get to the real problem.

Would you have been happy with Target?

Yes.  I would rather have Wal-Mart to save money, more money then Target.  Yes, I would have been happy if it were Target as well.  I don’t love Wal-Mart.  I am a supporter, but to say I “love Wal-Mart” is not correct.

If this Wal-Mart doesn’t happen, the lawsuit from Sportsite IS REAL!  Sportsite WILL follow through, it is not just talk.  McCue has backed Cudahy in a corner.  Most of you “No” Wal-Mart people just don’t understand it was a vote on land use not Wal-Mart.  As a whole, you are just happy that the vote was NO without understanding it was wrong for the agenda.  Even the Great Greg Kowalski who champions himself on procedures and government correct-fullness in Franklin is taking a blind eye to the fact the vote was wrong for the agenda.  He was just happy to was shot down.

Wave may look to Oak Creek for training academy

http://seattle.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/05/12/story13.html

Day 7 – Monday May 12th 2008 - Still No response from the Mayor, but a new home for Wave & Wal-Mart 5 miles away in the O.C.

One starting observation to rid the mind of cobwebs, wake up the thought process, to be coffee for the brain – How is the Iceport the gateway to Cudahy?

Gateway - any passage by or point at which a region may be entered.  So no matter where the Wal-Mart is located is that not a gateway? 

So the NO crowd will complain no matter where it is!

Layton & Pennsylvania – Gateway to Cudahy from Milwaukee

College & Pennsylvania – Gateway to Cudahy from Milwaukee

Lakeshore Drive – Gateway to Cudahy from South Milwaukee and St. Francis

So no matter where the Wal-Mart is located is that not a gateway? 

Sorry if I hurt anyone’s feelings!

On to the apology

-------------

I do have to publicly apologize to Mayor Ryan McCue.  Many of you have known that I have been pretty harsh on our Mayor about the importance of “Communication”.  I have been very critical of him for a failure of “communication” with the citizens, mainly in written format.  I was wrong.  I am deeply sorry!

On the Mayor’s website (http://ryanmccue.com/Platform.html), he talks deeply about “Communication.” 

It is my fault for one, wanting the “Communication” to be a two-way street and two for it to be in written format.  We see “Communication” differently.  I actually think “Communication” means to communicate to the people.

Nowhere does he articulate that “Communication” would be either in his platform.  How about open communication to the citizens?  Is that in there? NOPE!

I guess we didn’t read the fine print.  Bait and switch, bait and switch.  Where is Ryan McCue the reformer?  Would the real Mayor please stand up!  You have heard me say that before.

Please accept my deepest apology on this matter.  One final thing, Mr. Mayor Ryan McCue, is being silent on the issue to why you voted “NO” and not explaining yourself, open communication?  “I will treat residents with the dignity and respect they deserve”?

If McCue thinks that silence, and ignoring the people is RESPECT…Wow, we do have a bigger problem on our hands then Wal-Mart.  Instead of standing up, just give your resignation and allow a real Mayor to step forward!

Maybe the Mayor is too good for us.  Maybe somewhere in Illinois is better.  McCue is right “we can do better” – he was just talking about a Cudahy Mayor.

What is forgotten in the whole mess is the vote was about the usage of the land.  Store names should not have played into it at this time.

When Ryan McCue ran for mayor, he campaigned on his frustration of closed-door meetings on his website, and in his attacks.  When they were working out the 6-month extension for the Iceport lawyers, and all the meetings of the council and CDA regarding this MOU with Cobalt on Penn and Layton, the meeting notices all talk about going into closed session.  What happened to his idea of open government?  Maybe I was wrong about this as well!

I will leave all of you with then candidate Ryan McCue’s “Communication” talk in written format.  Courtesy of http://ryanmccue.com/Platform.html 

Communication

Once elected as you Mayor, I will carefully listen to all the points of view of my constituents and then make to best decision for the majority of the people.  My record proves that I am committed to having open communications.  As your Milwaukee County Supervisor, nearly every month since June of 2002 I have held “Round Table Discussions” to listen to what is important to my constituents.

Residents: I will return your phone call in a timely fashion.  I will treat residents with the dignity and respect they deserve.  Once elected as your Mayor, I will host “Meetings with the Mayor” to afford residence an opportunity to learn more about city issues, give suggestions and ask questions.

Businesses: Working with the Cudahy Chamber of Commerce to improve the local economy is a top priority for me.  I will re-institute breakfast with Mayor for Cudahy’s businesses.

Common Council: As a former Alderman, I understand the importance of having open communications with the members of the common council.

City Employees:  It is important to have open and honest communication with city employees.  Once elected as your mayor, I will host brown bag lunches with city employees to discuss city issues.

I know one of hang-ups to the Wal-Mart was the fact it would be open 24 hours.  To me it makes sense since it is just next door to Patrick Cudahy and other jobs that run around the clock.  It works perfect for the workers who would like to shop.  As Lisa Nelson from Wal-Mart said, "A 24-hour operation is not for us," she said, "it's for our customers.  We're not making a lot of money in the middle of the night."

I guess it is okay to over look who can benefit from shopping at the Wal-Mart, everyone.  Where are people who work at odd hours to go?

Demand and Ask for honest answers for the hard questions.

McCue wants to do what he wanted and that was not allow Wal-Mart at all costs, those costs are to the citizens in the loss, he is answerable to us.  His decision not to explain himself is unacceptable and unreasonable; maybe there is a way around just to remove him based on mental incapacity or failure to do his job properly.  I have to agree with a caller to the Jay Weber show “No public official has the authority to arbitrarily make decisions”!

I have been saying the Mayor needs to clue people in on the game plan for months.  Does he have one?  What is the BP (battle plan) for the problems in Cudahy?

People, I am not writing to just bash the Mayor.  These are important things a leader should be doing.  Maybe he has no clue besides the personal things he allows to govern over himself and us.  He is supposed to be answerable and accountable to the people, and he is not answering the call from people and I am not talking about his phone use.

I would like to put to rest that McCue did not campaign against Wal-Mart or keeping them out of Cudahy as some have wished, but the use of tax dollars going to Wal-Mart.  Wal-Mart didn’t ask for any money. 

Here is what the Mayor said, “Wal-Mart:  I do not think that the City of Cudahy should provide a $12 million tax subsidy to the world’s biggest retailer.  Residents may not even see the tax benefits from the development for 20 years” http://ryanmccue.com/Platform.html

So, it is bait and switch.

Is McCue an elitist?  A Mayor is more then just doing what you want! 

It is doing right by the city and its people.  McCue has done none of this.  He is just doing his own thing and not explaining it, because he doesn't want to or have to.  He is getting in the way of progress in the city.

K9 unit, gangs, violence – the K9 is not 100% the answer, but a huge factor.  It is another tool the police can use.

Wal-Mart – It is not the silver bullet, but an economic clog in the wheel, a piece of the puzzle.  People are not busting down the doors to get in Cudahy, we are much like Cuba in many ways.  Just think about it!

This is round one - The people pushing for Wal-Mart ousting seem to be winning these battles. But will they win the war?

It is a win, be it a small one, that the Mayor is silent for Wal-Mart.  Maybe there is hope a real Mayor who doesn’t govern by personal thoughts, but sound plans will come forward.

To use the NO Wal-Mart crowd’s battle cry, anything is better than McCue!  No wait – I did change a key word there!!!!

On Second thought – No, I am not sorry on any counts!

A few people said they just about missed my thoughts that I include in the April Top 10 post because they keep up with my daily posts and if it was not that they just wanted to see the order, it would have been missed.  I have included them again in this post.

I hope everyone enjoys reading my posts.  You may not agree with me, but maybe what I have to say will shed some new light on matters and make you pause.  I am not a reporter, but a commentator.  I do not get paid, work for the city, or have a secret agenda.  I gain nothing personally from doing this blog other than the satisfaction of being able to put “The Way I See It” out for others to read.  I do it because I think it needs to be said.  I try to be fair and when I see something I don’t agree with, I let it be known.

Many people have said I am hard on the Mayor in his first year and I write blogs that don’t show his job performance in a good light.  When I see something that he does great, I will blog on it.  Hey, I am not the only one blogging on the Cudahy Now website, Greg Janisch was McCue’s campaign Treasurer and he can blog.  Just because I am critical of the Mayor’s job performance, does not make me a person who is attacking Ryan McCue personally nor am I character assassinating him!  This is about his job performance period!  We all have freedom of speech and a voice; I just choose to use mine.

Here is what a reader, Dave Taylor, said in a comment:

“Randy, there's a lot of people in Cudahy who back you up, even if they are too scared to admit it.  We should all be thankful that someone is willing to take a stand for what is right for our city; like you said, "...just want Cudahy to be better", too bad there are egos that get in the way of the good the city could do.  There isn't any reason to be shameful of an opinion, that's what makes us human (not robots) and why our country is a great one!

Sometimes you may feel your comments fall of deaf ears, but the truth is that people ARE reading and they ARE listening.  We rally behind you and hopefully, you are stronger in your plight for a better Cudahy because of it.  You are a voice that matters!  You are looking out for the betterment of Cudahy!  You are taking a stand, unafraid of whose feathers you ruffle!  Those of us who stand behind will continue to support you, even if the “powers that be” wish we weren’t listening!

Keep up the good work…your supporters need your voice!”

Someone has talked to my superiors at mycommunitynow.com to have my work censored or shutdown.  The claim was I lie, spread rumors, and have false and inaccurate information.  I try to source my work and some comes from people in government that do not like the direction we are headed or people close to a situation that feel some injudicious is being done.  I have always believed in correct information and not disinformation.  If something is truly wrong let me know and I will correct it, but don’t be all that upset and try and shut me down because you don’t LIKE what I am saying!  People, if what I am hearing from those inside is true, some scary things are coming or happening.  Hypothetically, it might even be something like a change of salary ordinances for health insurances that is not fair and done evenly.  Should it not be changed for all and not leave out anyone?  Fair is fair.  That is a hypothetical, but watch,  it might just come true.

I will not stop until the misinformation, disinformation and no information are brought to light.  More and more people are emailing me with things.  These are very reliable people and trustworthy people.  Together we can all make a difference.  I will NEVER sell you out and I have been asked who is telling me things.  The wheel of information doesn’t need to stop spinning just because it might ruffle some feathers.

http://www.620wtmj.com/shows/charliesykes/18804009.html

WAL-MART HATERS

By Charlie Sykes

Story Created: May 9, 2008

Story Updated: May 10, 2008

Cudahy Mayor Ryan McCue... and these guys:

And more..... here they focus on the role of unions in Wal-Mart hating (WARNING GRAPHIC LANGUAGE; GRAPHIC IMAGES, NUDITY):

Saturday, May 10, 2008

Educating the Idiot Politician of the Week

Day 5 – Still No response from the Mayor

Amazing, the leader (in name only) votes something down, is silent, and will probably gets away with it.  Hey, only in Cudahy!

It was requested that I do a monthly review of the most looked at topics I wrote.  I will run down the top 10 and give a small overview of each. 

Some of these have an unfair advantage because they are older and have had the chance to be looked at longer.  By far, the shorter time Wal-Mart articles have more people view them quicker.  Many people still want to hear about Wal-Mart from both sides of the issue.

People keep emailing me offline in private and that is good.  I would like people to start making comments.  The South Shore viewers don’t seem to want to publicly comment, by how many private emails I get vs. the comments feature used.

1. Turf War – What to Build? –Yes it is a Wal-Mart post and I talked about TIFs and how the Mayor doesn’t want the Wal-Mart and how this chance may not come again. I also included a letter from a reader that they sent to the Mayor and my responses to what the Mayor replied.

2. Real Voter Intimidation – I talked about how during the 2006 election my neighbor was intimidated and took down his sign in fear of retribution from his union steward.

3. ** Adults Only **  – The title maybe misleading to a few, but the subject matter was how adult content is on the web and we must watch what our children do on the web.

4. One Must Look Back To See The Future  – Here I wrote about that sometimes one must look back to see the future and how Mayor McCue had some foreshadowing in his campaign pledge about Wal-Mart.  Cudahy, as is the nation, is in a recession and how in a downturn we should not pass up the opportunity of this Wal-Mart.

5. History Repeating Page Two  –I wrote about the info a reader emailed me about a Cudahy School closing and Wal-Mart spin.

6. Plan Commission   – I wrote about what happen at the last Plan Commission meeting about Cudahy Station.  How some members didn’t even understand what they were to be voting on that night.

7. Proposal On The Table  – I wrote about what is the Wal-Mart proposal, TIF, and the Plan Commission.

8. Teen’s Common Sense Sometimes Lacking  – I wrote about a report I came across on how Florida legislators are encouraging a review of their "abstinence only" sex education programs after a recent survey completed by Florida teens returned some curious results of not understanding things like drinking bleach prevents HIV.  By now way am I attacking "abstinence only", just bring to light what they found.

9. Flamethrower  –I wrote about what a person said to me about how I deal with the Mayor and if I hate him.  I may be ruffling feathers and again once you write it, and sign it, you can’t hide from it something I wish the city would do.

10. Keeping Us In The “Noir”  – Keeping Us In The "Noir" is about how we are in the dark (Noir) on may things in government and how with open records laws, the information should be public and easily obtainable.  I wrote about how many of these very things should be on the web at a mouse click away from you and I to read and know.

I hope everyone enjoys reading my posts.  You may not agree with me, but maybe what I have to say will shed some new light on matters and make you pause.  I am not a reporter, but a commentator.  I do not get paid, work for the city, or have a secret agenda.  I gain nothing personally from doing this blog other than the satisfaction of being able to put “The Way I See It” out for others to read.  I do it because I think it needs to be said.  I try to be fair and when I see something I don’t agree with, I let it be known.

Many people have said I am hard on the Mayor in his first year and I write blogs that don’t show his job performance in a good light.  When I see something that he does great, I will blog on it.

Hey, I am not the only one blogging on the Cudahy Now website, Greg Janisch was McCue’s campaign Treasurer and he can blog.  Just because I am critical of the Mayor’s job performance, does not make me a person who is attacking Ryan McCue personally nor am I character assassinating him!  This is about his job performance period!  We all have freedom of speech and a voice; I just choose to use mine.

Here is what a reader, Dave Taylor, said in a comment:

“Randy, there's a lot of people in Cudahy who back you up, even if they are too scared to admit it.  We should all be thankful that someone is willing to take a stand for what is right for our city; like you said, "...just want Cudahy to be better", too bad there are egos that get in the way of the good the city could do.  There isn't any reason to be shameful of an opinion, that's what makes us human (not robots) and why our country is a great one!

Sometimes you may feel your comments fall of deaf ears, but the truth is that people ARE reading and they ARE listening.  We rally behind you and hopefully, you are stronger in your plight for a better Cudahy because of it.  You are a voice that matters!  You are looking out for the betterment of Cudahy!  You are taking a stand, unafraid of whose feathers you ruffle!  Those of us who stand behind will continue to support you, even if the “powers that be” wish we weren’t listening!

Keep up the good work…your supporters need your voice!”

Someone has talked to my superiors at mycommunitynow.com to have my work censored or shutdown.  The claim was I lie, spread rumors, and have false and inaccurate information.  I try to source my work and some comes from people in government that do not like the direction we are headed or people close to a situation that feel some injudicious is being done.  I have always believed in correct information and not disinformation.  If something is truly wrong let me know and I will correct it, but don’t be all that upset and try and shut me down because you don’t LIKE what I am saying!  People if what I am hearing from those inside is true, some scary things are coming or happening.  Hypothetically, it might even be something like a change of salary ordinances for health insurances that is not fair and done evenly.  Should it not be changed for all and not leave out anyone?  Fair is fair.  That is a hypothetical, but watch it might just come true.

I will not stop until the misinformation, disinformation and no information are brought to light.  More and more people are emailing me with things.  These are very reliable people and trustworthy people.  Together we can all make a difference.  I will NEVER sell you out and I have been asked who is telling me things.  The wheel of information doesn’t need to stop spinning just because it might ruffle some feathers.

Thank You for Voting Against Wal-Mart Mayor McCue!  Yes, thank you for keeping Cudahy safe from the big bad Wal-Mart.  Wow, you kept a campaign promise.  How are you doing on the rest?

You quickly and bravely exited after saying NO, like anyone would.  This was your glory moment, you peaked at your zenith!  If they and  you are so proud where is your public statement?  A message from the Mayor is coming just as fast as the KRM –Metra to Cudahy.  Maybe you can phone it in!

A Wal-Mart in Cudahy would have been a tragic addition of jobs and showing we are business friendly.  You could not have that!

This is a great first step toward a new Cudahy, no wait – it is the same old Cudahy.  Thank you Mayor McCue for status quo!  We are going backwards not forwards.  As other cities go up, we shall be going the opposite way.  Once again - the opinion and wishes of the people are irrelevant.  All that matters is the Mayor.

Hail Caesar McCue!

I am thrilled that Mayor Ryan McCue voted against a Wal-Mart so people can see the softer side.  No wait that was a Sears commercial jingle.

Cudahy can be, there I go again, I mean Cudahy is already dying a slow death from McCue slowly leaching life from the vitality of the city.  How we could have grown.  How we could have prospered. 

Wal-Mart was not a silver bullet, but a piece of the puzzle to recovery.  McCue would rather burn the city wait, here I go again, that means there's no bend with McCue and if the earth is scorched, so be it.  He would like to start over and remake Cudahy instead of build on what we have.

Please people go watch the cult Wal-Mart hater videos.  Like I said before if you watched a movie on how they kill and process the meat we all eat, one could become a vegetarian or how much bugs we eat in our grains and not want to eat grains.

If “No Wal-Mart Is Best For Our Community” I hate to see what is the worst!  Maybe it will come.

Who is a Mom & Pop store?  Could someone please tell me!!!!  Please!!!!  Dretzka's?  Is that who we are worried about?

Wal-Mart is moving, but not way down the road, just five miles to a city that is pro business.  Heck to a city that enjoys and wants to have an upswing in their economy.  To a city where, eek a mouse – sorry I could not help myself with the eek.  To a city where over 500 people will be able to make a living with new jobs from Cudahy.

Even the owner of City Lights is questioning Cudahy’s pro-business, oops, mistake, I meant, anti-business climate and should he leave. 

It was very nicely written that I needed to include it right in the middle of what I am writing.  I was almost finished and thought it was that good I should just place it in.

Sorry, that it broke up such a good parody!

Wal-Mart is the flagship corporation among those that have prospered in transforming a once prosperous people into a nation of wage slaves.

Slavery was abolished in the U.S. with President Lincoln

I am still a proud prosperous people.  Look at the skill set needed for a job there.  He is angry because good jobs are not around like the 60’s and 70’s

 "business friendly" not with McCue at the helm!

As Goes Wal-Mart, So Goes the Nation

For a better understanding of our budget consciousness, check out the world's largest retailer.

By Jennifer Barrett | Newsweek Web Exclusive
May 7, 2008 | Updated: 4:32 p.m. ET May 7, 2008

No matter how bad the economy gets this year, Americans aren't about to stop buying groceries or gas.  But as fuel tops $4 a gallon and the costs of basics like bread and milk rise, consumers are learning to economize.  How?

For a clear view of our readjusted shopping habits, head to Wal-Mart.  With an average of more than 100 million customers a week, the world's largest retailer offers a telling glimpse of how consumers are responding to the economic downturn.  Not surprisingly, the company has largely benefited from the increase in budget-consciousness: it reported record sales of more than $106 billion for the quarter that ended Jan. 31, the majority of that coming from its domestic stores. 

What's hot and not?  During a presentation to analysts last week, Eduardo Castro-Wright, CEO of Wal-Mart's U.S. stores, pointed to strong sales in groceries, health and wellness products, as well as flat-screen televisions and other consumer electronics.  Clothing and furniture, however, are not selling well.

Apparently, new wardrobes and home-decorating projects are giving way to economic woes.  Recently, the Labor Department said clothing prices nationwide fell by 1.3 percent in March, the largest monthly drop in nearly a decade.  Recent markdowns, say analysts, haven't done much to move clothes off the racks or furniture off the showroom floors.  Furniture stores have reported slower sales in the first quarter of the year.  "It's less about the new couch and more about a new slipcover," says Pam Goodfellow, a senior analyst at BIGresearch, a firm that tracks consumer behavior.  "The losing categories in this downturn include things you can make last a little longer or things that you don't really need like furniture and jewelry."

As in previous downturns, Americans are once again tightening their fiscal belts by eating at home.  Stephen Quinn, Wal-Mart's senior vice president for marketing, says the company's sales of frozen dinners and premade pizzas are up.  So too are sales of coffee and cappuccino makers.  That's more bad news for stores like Starbucks, which last week reported a 28 percent drop in profits during the last quarter.

As for brand loyalty, it's not something retailers can count on anymore.  Wal-Mart, for example, has seen double-digit growth in sales of its more than 1,000 private-brand, or generic, products--from toaster pastries to pain relievers.  That supports findings in a recent nationwide survey by BIGResearch that found nearly 29 percent of consumers are now buying store-brand products, up more than 6 percent from a year ago.

That's when they are buying.  The Commerce Department reported last week that consumer spending grew just ..1 percent in March, after being adjusted for inflation.  And it was clear why: income rose just .3 percent while inflation was up 3.2 percent from a year earlier.  And the situation isn't likely to improve anytime soon.  The Conference Board, which administers a monthly survey of 5,000 households, said consumer confidence has plummeted since last summer.  It described consumers' short-term outlook as "quite grim.”  Peter Hooper, chief U.S. economist for Deutsche Bank, says he doesn't expect consumer spending to pick up significantly until next year when economic conditions improve.  In the meantime, Americans are going to have to keep coming up with ways to cut back.

"Consumers at all [income] levels have become value-conscious," says Dana Telsey, founder of the Telsey Advisory Group, an independent equity research and consulting firm focused on the consumer sector.  "The overall uncertainty of the economic environment is making both consumers and retailers cautious."

Wal-Mart is responding with price reductions and promotions targeted to its most popular products, along with the offer, announced last week, to cash tax rebate checks for free.  Though no purchase is required in return, the retailer is clearly betting that consumers will spend all or most of the proceeds there.  Data compiled last month on behalf of the company found at least six in 10 Americans expected to use their stimulus checks to cover groceries and other necessities.  To encourage them to do so in its stores, Wal-Mart is further discounting household items like shampoo, juice and cereal in the coming weeks.  "It's a different time," says Quinn.  "Customers are changing their behavior.  We've really had to make sure we're competitive."

The retailer is also trying to capitalize on some of the other ways consumers say they are cutting costs: like substituting "staycations" for vacations this year, and entertaining at home instead of going out to movies or restaurants.  The company hopes to offset lower sales of indoor furniture, for example, with an increase in sales of patio furniture and outdoor grills.

In the short run, such changes may benefit Wal-Mart a lot more than the overall economy, which is heavily dependent on consumer spending.  But by trimming their budgets and seeking out bargains, Americans themselves should be better prepared to weather the downturn until the economy improves.

With a tie vote (Alderperson First District Joseph Mikolajczak voted YES), Mayor Ryan McCue votes NO sending the Wal-Mart & the Wave Center (Which would have 500,000 visitors yearly, much more then the KRM) to a border city.  Killing our hopes and dreams of a better Cudahy.  A stronger economically viable Cudahy gone.

People have asked me who in the common council voted yes and no for the Cudahy Station.

Alderperson First District Joseph Mikolajczak as part of the Plan Commission voted YES

Alderperson Fourth District Sean Smith as part of the CDA voted NO

Alderperson Fifth District Name Thomas Pavlic as part of the CDA voted NO

Alderperson Second District Mary Schissel never got a chance to vote – My guess would have voted NO based on a readers reply from her.

Alderperson Third District Mark Otto never got a chance to vote – My guess would have voted YES based on personal talks with him.  He seems truly open-minded.

Remember the Commissions are appointed positions.

Surprisingly retiring Engineering Department Head Craig Faucett was very rude to the citizens when asked to speak up.  He replied “I don't care I  am not talking to you” to the audience. Forgetting the city works for the residents.

That was the tone for the meeting.  The city people minus a few don’t talk to the people, don’t talk with the people, but talk down to the people.  Craig Faucett voted NO.  He was conflicted.

This is truly a sad day and comment on our community. Thank you Mayor!  In the end, the Mayor did what was best for him and his Utopia not Cudahy!

A small amount of people clapped, but the majority booed (75 of those in attendance with YES Wal-Mart signs) and shouted, “RECALL THE MAYOR”.

A Wal-Mart rep said they are done with a city like this and I am told, if you draw a circle 5-mile radius from the proposed Wal-Mart site, that is where the Wal-Mart and Wave center will end up together.

You can thank your Mayor for having this one slip, no I am sorry, pushed away and with it 500 jobs and MONEY.

I will be doing more blogs on topics that have been slipped away or pushed away this summer; I know we will be losing more.  I will be adding to my posts, courtesy of the Mayor.

How to Recall a City Mayor Follow this link here: Link

According to one person in the crowd, he knew how the vote was going to go when the Mayor asked the Vandewalle & Associates person what he felt of the proposal.

A representative from the Wave organization said when leaving the building "I feel sorry for you people here in Cudahy."

Let the lawsuits start.  Joe Henika thought the amount was high before, just double that amount.

McCue what was the thought of asking what the people wanted if you really didn’t care.

I will tell you what, you didn’t like what the people had to say, so you made sure at this meeting you would not have to listen to them.  You were going to tell us!

As a reader emailed me this right after the meeting, I thought I would share it.

“I cannot believe what just happened.  They let the greatest opportunity in Cudahy pass us by without giving the people the chance to speak, now with no Wal-Mart coming or any other business, Cudahy is now going to be a backward hick town.

After the meeting and even how the Continental people about Cudahy "this is the worst treatment we've gotten in any city."”

Now that Wal-Mart is dead, and I truly believe it is, I wonder if the Mayor will answer the following questions.

1.  Since Mayor Ryan McCue stated that the liens against Sportsites have been paid off; the question is “Who” paid them?

2.  Now that the Wal-Mart / Wave is dead, and if Continental does not bring back another proposal before July 1st (the extension agreed to by the city), does the City of Cudahy get the land back free and clear with no additional payments by the City?

3.  When will the City of Cudahy demolish the shell of the Iceport and clear the land for future development?

Currently the city will have to cleanup the land and because the land is contaminated and people and kids are walking around the land, a fence for public safety needs to go up restricting people from the dangers, all of this at our expense.  Thank you Mayor.

Parents, maybe it’s time to contact the health department to see if they have any information regarding the safety of this land, i.e. the contaminated dirt. Maybe we need to contact our Alderpersons to find out what the city knows about the condition of this dirt.  Is it really safe to be walking near it or around it? Do we need to take precautions and have our family physician test our children for unknown toxins? What is the city going to do about this vacant, tainted land that is just going to sit here for who knows how long? Don’t you think it is time to erect a fence around the known sullied property? The city and THIS MAYOR have not had the due diligence to erect a fence around this area.

The Mayor quickly slithered out of the room with a smirk on his face.

Please watch this blog for information on the RECALL of Mayor Ryan McCue as it unfolds.

He showed us!

Now show him and your Alderperson your displeasure.

Contact the Mayor and your Alderperson and tell them this was a big mistake and actions have consequences!

Contact:

Mayor Ryan McCue

Phone Number: (W) 769-2222

Address: 3927 E Plankinton Ave

mccuer@ci.cudahy.wi.us

Alderperson First District Joseph Mikolajczak

Phone Number: (H) 483-1255

Address: 3754 E. Plankinton Avenue

mikolajczakj@ci.cudahy.wi.us

Alderperson Second District Mary Schissel

Phone Number: (H) 744-0420

Address: 3836 E Munkwitz Ave

schisselm@ci.cudahy.wi.us

Alderperson Third District Mark Otto

Phone Number: (H) 769-6626

Address: 3324 E Mallory Ave

ottom@ci.cudahy.wi.us

Alderperson Fourth District Sean Smith

Phone Number: (H) 486-6221

Address: 5618 S Rosewood Ave

smiths@ci.cudahy.wi.us

Alderperson Fifth District Name Thomas Pavlic

Phone Number: (H) 483-7116

Address: 6015 Summer Winds Ct

pavlict@ci.cudahy.wi.us

____________________________________________________________________

Here is an email from a reader who would like to share their thoughts on Wal-Mart and the city with you.

There are some things about Wal-Mart that you probably didn't know about and I

think you should share with your bloggers.

Wal-Mart has helped Cudahy and others in the South shore more than you think.

Two products from Cudahy are carried by Wal-Mart that includes the Patrick Cudahy meats in the Supercenters plus some paper that is made in Cudahy.

It's (removed, by request), again, I decided to write to Alderwoman Schissel about the Wal-Mart plan because apparently she was another alderperson who is against it.  So, once again I decided to write another letter.

Dear Ms. Schissel,

My name is (removed, by request), and I’ve been a Cudahy citizen for 17 years living in the district you represent.  I’m writing to discuss something that has been on my mind and the citizens of Cudahy’s as well and that is the Wal-Mart plan that‘s coming to Cudahy.  I’ve heard that you are not a supporter for the Wal-Mart plan but I would like to tell on how this would be a great thing for Cudahy.  This is probably the one and only time we will get something like this as a gift to Cudahy, this will help us in the long run, it will bring jobs and people that this town so desperately needs.

Wal-Mart has helped Cudahy and the other South Shore cities in the past and they are willing to help us clean up the Iceport debacle so we don’t get stuck with it.  I told this to Mayor McCue before; you need business and not tourism.

Business is what Cudahy desperately needs and they will bring it to us, Wal-Mart is not that evil big box company that people make it out to be, they have the guts to at least come to Cudahy and say “will help you, will fix it.”

Ms. Schissel, I believe that Cudahy is at a turning point, it is on that edge to where it could tip in the favor of Wal-Mart and bring back the business and the spark back that Cudahy once had.  Or it could tip into saying no to the Wal-Mart and the land will remain vacant and empty, nothing will be put there, it will be empty for years and the remaining businesses will leave, the people will leave and Cudahy will be deserted.

I know from what people have said that you are against this, but you have to put this into consideration, nothing else has worked, the more we stall the more Cudahy will dig itself into a debt that we will never get out of.  This could be the last chance that Cudahy has, and I ask as a representative of your district that you support the Wal-Mart plan.

                               A Cudahy Citizen,

                                       (Removed, by request),

I sent it out, and I got a message on the machine a week later from her saying that she is not against it, however she is going to vote the way that the districts wants.  I live in District 2 of Cudahy and she told me that I'm am the 5th person to say yes to the Wal-Mart and everybody else in the district doesn't want it.  I find it hard to believe that only 5 people want it when city wide 1,150 people want it.

Like I have stated to you before, my mother is a Wal-Mart manager and there is a display there where people from Cudahy can sign up to have the Wal-Mart built.  And my mother has stated that more and more people are signing it.

Something else I found out, Schissel actually has a job [Industries of the Blind] that is boxing and shipping pencils and those pencils go to the Wal-Mart stores.  Imagine the lies people will do to better themselves.

I hope you read the articles that I sent you about McCue's former job, especially the ones about the taxes going up.  That person was right, my mother has a good friend in Cudahy who is 65, works as a secretary, single, taking care of her 91-year-old mother, her taxes went up a lot and she barely and I mean barely got them paid off.

I don't know what McCue wants in Cudahy, he needs to realize that he's is making a huge mistake not bringing this in.  I guarantee you this Randy, if McCue denies the Wal-Mart, I know this, heads are going to roll.

One more question, what are these meetings on the 5th and the 13th about, are they both public meetings or closed meetings?

One more thing I forgot to add, share my email with your bloggers and everyone else, this town needs to realize what is going on, as Hamlet stated in Act I "SOMETHING IS ROTTEN IN THE STATE OF DENMARK" Well, something is rotten in the city of Cudahy and all arrows point to McCue.

I don’t know if many of you go back to the older posts to check for comments.  Since I post everyday, some good comments can be buried quickly.  Since this subject matter is time sensitive I thought I should include it with another post in the same subject.

Randy, I see the Cobalt people are making a statement that if Monday’s meeting is shot down, there may be hope for Wal-Mart   “If Continental Properties' proposal for a Wal-Mart is not approved by city officials on Monday, a Wal-Mart could potentially be constructed on Cobalt Partners' site at Layton and Pennsylvania avenues.”

I just wonder if Cobalt is just saying this so that proposal is shotdown on purpose?

Randy you posted a letter from the Wal-Mart person saying Layton and Pennsylvania are not an option just a day before this story breaks.

Do you think it is real?  Maybe someone from the city asked Cobalt to say it so people back away from the Ice port.

With Cobalt saying this doesn’t it make a conflict for in good faith?

Yes I would like a bigger store, but is this real?

---

Randy how is office space a destination?  Is that not what McCue said he would like to see on the Ice Port instead of Wal-Mart and the wave at the last meeting?  Does that fit with the master plan he raves about?  No. What a hypocrite he is!  It fits that master plan when he wants it to and not when he doesn’t.

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Randy with McCue not a fan of Wal-Mart and the others in the city showing their hand on Wal-Mart what do you think the chances of Cobalt getting Wal-Mart in? McCue will make his claim that downtown includes the Cobalt land, thus the master plan covers it so no Wal-Mart.  That guy from the place helping on the master plan he doesn’t like Wal-Mart. That is forsure. I think those who don’t want Wal-Mart and Cudahy Station to go forward make the statements to kill that project. In the process kill Wal-Mart. You pointed out before that McCue was against Wal-Mart on the Cobalt site before and noting has changed.

I just don’t like how this is all going down. Again how in good faith is this Cobalt thing? A lawsuit is coming. More money the city will have to waste. I know Joe is all about the money and with a lawsuit wasting more of our money how does it help the cause. Joe wants it to go forward with Cobalt, was he involved with them before? Is it not a part of sour grapes with the Iceport people and he worked with Cobalt? Who in the city tells the truth? Cudahy sounds like a mob city.

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Randy one other thing. You have to question the timing of all of this with Cobalt. As the Wal-Mart people said the size is what is right for Cudahy so would the size not be the same on the Cobalt development? It is based on what the cities needs are not by the location. We all assume it will get bigger, but we don’t know that is the case. Many people feel that is one reason to kill the Iceport one. But we don’t know it will be bigger. Again that questions Joes push for Cobalt if it may not be bigger.

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Larry, I don’t see Joe as having a connection with Cobalt.  He is looking out for the amount of taxes we the citizens must endure.  He may have been in office when they were looking at developing the land, but I think that is it.

You are right about the timing; yes, it strikes me as odd.  I think you hit on the same thing I said before; there is no guarantee the store on Penn and Layton will be any bigger or will happen.  

I wonder if the meeting on Monday May 12 with cobalt, is a result of a closed door meeting somewhere sometime.  Is it to backdoor Wal-Mart to the cobalt site or to force a NO vote on the Iceport?  

Look at it this way, you have those not in favor voting NO, then the YES people are divided with wanting the Wal-Mart as it is and those who want a Wal-Mart just a bigger one (a promise that may not come true) on the Penn and Layton site who would vote NO for it on the Iceport.  This could move some of the YES people over to the NO vote (but still supporting Wal-Mart) to end the Iceport with Cudahy Station.

I wonder if someone has loose lips, and has let some of this word out.  

I would not even be surprised if more people attend the Monday Plan Commission meeting (May 5th) and help to try and SHOOT DOWN the site plan.

They are going to use the argument that retail development on that site, will ruin Cudahy's downtown. (Especially, if it brings a Wal-Mart).  That is why you are hearing the extreme rumbling out there on the street.  

There is a reason why the Commission doesn’t want to vote just on the land usage like it was originally to do.  They lumped in the site plan (which had to be rushed) to help force the end to Cudahy Station.  This is all the plan.  You are right about the lawsuits that will be coming.

Could Lisa Nelson from Wal-Mart be playing me on both sides?  Sure, then again, does it matter which site Wal-Mart goes on?  NO!  Just as long as we get a Wal-Mart.

I do think you are right and have made that same conclusion that VandeWalle and Associates are not for Wal-Mart and will try to include Penn & Layton in the downtown master plan.  I was told that the former dumpsite was never even considered for anything in the old master plan, since the 1st drawings of 794 had a ramp running through the middle of the Penn and Layton site, the 2nd set only brought it up to Layton.  Remember who drew up those plans (VandeWalle and Associates) and the later expansion to Edgerton, again, no one ever gave thought that the land could ever be used for anything.  I take that back, the last Mayor and Cobalt did.

Again, Monday May 12th could be extremely interesting.  Watch to see if Wal-Mart shows up.  If they have no interest in the site, why would they come to Cobalt's presentation?

On a side note, I checked with the K-Mart store manager and the Cudahy K-Mart is 97,000 square feet and the Wal-Mart at 3355 S. 27th Street is138,000 square feet. Wal-Mart had proposed a new 99,000-square-foot Supercenter store on the south side of Kenosha.

Not sure if the timing of Barczak putting his downtown market on hold (if Wal-Mart comes in he pulls out), and Cobalt coming to the plan commission at this particular time, will help, or hurt the Wal-Mart / wave proposal.  My guess is it will kill the project and that is what the powers that be want, just not the people.  Are we getting the “We know better” than the people do attitude?  When you stand too far from the people, you cannot tell the difference of a person saying NO or YES.

I get the impression Wal-Mart is NOT really interested in the Pennsylvania and Layton site as some people would wish they should be.

This is our last, best hope for a Wal-Mart!  Period.  People please don’t fall under the spell that a gift like this will come again!

In working with Cobalt, the long narrowness of the site, coupled with the environmental problems, won't generate enough revenue to probably make it economically affordable.

I respect Joe Henika very much, but I think he is “Naïve” in thinking Wal-Mart will want to stay focused and willing to build in Cudahy.

Contrary to belief, everyone’s driveway is a destination!  I strive to park my car every day and plan my day to do so.  Maybe some don’t feel that way and don’t want to go home.  I want to see my family!

Wal-Mart is a destination!  Any shopping place is!  Unless you are talking tourism.

Based on numbers run by Cobalt, to get about $10 million in TIF assistance on the environmental on that site, they needed to create $53 million in development for the numbers to work.  People, they will ask for TIF money!  Any business building in Cudahy in a TIF can! 

Is it that all TIFs are bad or just bad at Cudahy Station?

Is 10 Million the most ever asked for?

What is the most ever received?

I just wanted to clarify something Wal-Mart is not getting a TIF; the TIF is for the Wave.

In the Mayor’s 2008 State of the city address, 36 minutes into the speech, he states “Wal-Mart itself is not asking for a tax [TIF] subsidy.”  I just think it needs to be said again.  Taxpayers are not paying for Wal-Mart.

Again, anyone can ask for a TIF.  Not all do, Joe Halser (City Lounge Co-Owner) was kind enough to inform me that City Lounge is in a TIF district but they have never received nor requested to receive any tax dollars for their venture.  It has all been privately funded.

Does Cudahy have a master list available to look at what TIFs have been requested and approved over the years?  Does the Mayor have the last say if one is approved?  Who’s name is stamped on the document?

With all of this fuss over the Cudahy Station TIF, don’t you think the city should have the records posted for the public to see?  After all, we are paying for it!

As Mayor McCue said, “Once elected as your next mayor, I will work hard to attract new business that will benefit and enhance our community.  At the same time, I will not give unnecessary incentives to developers.”  Source

How do we know if unnecessary incentives are or were given to developers?  Remember the classic Ronald Reagan quote “Trust, but verify.”

Cudahy offered $8 million in TIF funds for the United States Bowling Congress to locate in a new 70,000-square-foot building at Cudahy Station, located at the intersection of Layton and Nicholson avenues.  The building would have cost $13.5 million to build.

http://www.entrepreneur.com/localnews/1603842.html

The part about Cudahy offering the $8 million tax [TIF] subsidy to get $13.5 million building is truly amazing.  If the residents of Cudahy knew about that one, they would go ballistic! 

Oops, I guess I just told them if they didn’t see it already.

I am told from Mayor McCue, that the information from The Business Journal of Milwaukee is wrong.  Neither the city nor the Mayor can offer a TIF.  The developer must request one.  Mayor McCue said it should be that the developer Continental Properties, offered it to the Bowling Congress. I just wanted to include what Mayor McCue had to say.

Can you imagine if Joe Henika knew that they were giving $8 million tax [TIF] subsidy to get $13.5 million building?  Again, I just told him.  Please, someone check in on Joe.

I can't believe that the Milwaukee Journal did not report about the incentives offered.  Well, I guess I can.

Pennsylvania and Layton site - Even when the market was booming, at most, with a Wal-Mart Supercenter, two to three medium box stores (size of Best Buy), and a couple of small special stores or a restaurant closer to Layton, top end you could only push about $47 million in assessed value on the site.  (Remember there is a height restriction of no more than three floors.)

That is why, if Wal-Mart doesn't feel that they can get the city to move in the next 30 days, they will probably throw in the towel on Cudahy, and move onto other sites in other cities.  Other more cooperative and welcoming, not to mention, an organized city.

In the end, we will be driving, and the steel will be rusting, the city will be cowering (having to cleanup the site) and because of the issue those NO group are making on the TIF, the next developer will not come forward because of the false stigma of asking for a TIF.  Nothing like shooting yourself in the foot.  We will sit on it, just as the Mayor wants us to do. 

We can drive for our goods.  We don’t need a convenience of having a Wal-Mart in Cudahy. Right? Why have any retail in Cudahy, we can all drive to Oak Creek. 

Those that twist the truth when convenient shall be tangled in their own ways!

If I'm the problem, then I'm the one that needs to get out of the way so it can get better.  If somebody else is the problem, then they've got to be big enough to step out of the way or do what is right!

Maybe it is my own “Naïveté” that sees this!

Here is an email I received and my response back, with some additional comments.  Please people keep the emails coming.

Here is my response back!

I think you got the double talk politician answer.  Answering the question without answering it.  He has not to mine or many others stated what should be in there instead.

Also, if you look back at his campaign platform ( http://ryanmccue.com ), he talks about Wal-Mart coming to Cudahy.  That was when Wal-Mart was not on the Iceport, but Pennsylvania and Layton.  So all of this gobbledy-gook about Wal-Mart is fine just not on the Iceport is not so much truthful as a political answer.

Yes, I do think his mind is made up, yet I do think he is softening.

The Master Plan is flexible and not rigid as the Mayor makes it out to be.

If he was misquoted “Why not have it fixed right away”?  When the paper misquoted me, I have them fix the online on and run a retraction.  Which they did.  Why is it now he is just bringing it to light?

Maybe the reader is wrong, maybe he misheard Mayor McCue, maybe not.  I was not there to know the truth (on the phone).  Why would the reader lie?  Why would the Mayor deny it?   What can be accomplished from this?

It sounds to me that the Mayor is still banking on KRM, probably at the insistence of VandeWalle and Associates and is willing to just sit out the 20-30 years before it happens.

Didn’t your parents teach you to bank on something you know is real?

The Mayor’s view of utopia for Cudahy does not include Wal-Mart

He, Smith, the Pavlic types (remember they voted against), have no intentions of having their name on the Wal-Mart.

When I offered “YES Wal-Mart” signs to some of the city personnel they acted as if I was giving holy water to a vampire.

People, think back to the 2004 election and it was no surprise that Bruce S (lost reelection), Tom Centernowski and Jill Gestwicki (decided not to run) disappeared from the political landscape, and all voted in favor of the Iceport development.  Smith survived because he had no challenger, and truth be told, if the construction had not have stopped in Feb 04, probably Jack Vaccaro would have been Mayor of Cudahy from 2004 to 2007.

Today I have posted TWO articles

Malls, retailers hunker down

Store vacancies grow with consumer angst; still, the strong thrive

April 6, 2008

Schools in risky business?

5 districts may need taxpayers' help to avoid default if investment schemes sour

April 6, 2008

Just look at the Milwaukee Journal Business Section headlines for Sunday’s paper.

Okay let us start with the first one in how it relates to Cudahy.

We are in a recession whether the government wants to admit it or not.

In Cudahy, we have a Mayor who doesn’t support Wal-Mart for coming into Cudahy.  Don’t let his talk of “Just not at the Iceport” fool you.  Look back at the public statements he has said.

Now he tells a reader on the PHONE he was misquoted by the paper and Chantel Balzell of the CNI of his famous quote “I am not a fan of Wal-Mart!”

Image - form; appearance; semblance, the general or public perception of a company, public figure, etc., esp. as achieved by careful calculation aimed at creating widespread goodwill, to picture or represent in the mind

Illusion - something that deceives by producing a false or misleading impression of reality.

Improve - to bring into a more desirable or excellent condition, to make (land) more useful, profitable, or valuable by enclosure, cultivation, etc., to increase in value, excellence, etc.; become better

Don’t confuse image and illusion.

As many people feel Cudahy needs to improve its image, one must reflect on the meanings of the words.  Also, many people feel Wal-Mart’s image is less than desirable.

Is it that Wal-Mart paranoia of the community and the perception that is unfounded and untrue?  I think so.

Why is Wal-Mart okay for Delafield, Pewaukee, Germantown, Mukwonago, Muskego, and Franklin’s image?  Do you think the Mayor of those cities feels the same as Mayor McCue?  Has McCue even talked to his counterparts?  By the way, all of those cities have higher income levels then Cudahy!  Is that not what we are trying to achieve?  Maybe having a Wal-Mart and increasing the standard of living has something to do with it.

What is the image of Cudahy?  Some think of the amount of bars we have, the smell of Patrick Cudahy, industrial, the parks, crime, a city losing companies and people, old, poor, dying, trucks, aged, old JC Penney’s outlet store, dirty, high taxes, pay loan, used car lots, and tariff free zone.  That is the comments I have received while traveling around the metro Milwaukee are asking people.

Do we have an image problem or is it perceived?  What does the survey or studies show?

Wal-Mart’s image is in harmony with Cudahy!  Both working classes.  My brother-in-law lives in a $750,000 home in Germantown and doesn’t feel Wal-Mart degrades his city.  He loves to shop and save money.  When you think of Germantown or Franklin, honestly, do you think of Wal-Mart?  Does Wal-Mart even represent a city’s image?  Answers are rhetorical.

A cities image is what would be on the cities flag or logo if you were to design one.  Look at Milwaukee’s flag, which has not been updated in many years.  Honestly, would any city put a retail establishment on it?  Would Menomonee Falls put Kohl’s department stores (Their corporate headquarters is there) on their flag?  First off don’t go searching the Internet, they don’t have a flag yet.  Answers are rhetorical.

 

Where is Ladish or Patrick Cudahy on our logo?  Do they represent Cudahy?  What does?

Why is this such a hang-up for a few that have chips on their shoulders and feel Wal-Mart is the devil.  Attitude Adjustment!!! Get over your paranoia and self-image problem.  It is just my mirror theory in reverse.  Don’t be so self centered and self involved to think Wal-Mart defines Cudahy.  Many of the people against the Wal-Mart are just lashing out for some personal shortcomings or resentment.  We all know the joke and cliché “When men buy fast expensive cars.” 

As I have said before, the community makes the store, not the store makes the community.

Does our maybe city “image problem” keep out-of-towners away?  How is our business climate?  Could the real problem be Cudahy suffers from not having a specific marketing plan or the marketing has lacked vision?  If it is image, is it the citizens’ fault?  Is the image problem big or small?

If you look at the story, “City's image needs a boost before shoppers will come”

http://www.cudahynow.com/story/index.aspx?id=729610

It states “Area business owners shared ideas for promoting economic growth in Cudahy, including opening a movie theater, a national-franchise restaurant and a name-brand outlet mall.”

I am positive the wording outlet mall just scares and makes Mayor McCue cringe.  If we are trying to improve, our image will and outlet mall that sells – scratch and dents, seconds, discontinued items improve our image?

How is Wal-Mart not coming to town going to help our image?  What about the crime and amount of bars and problem bars, oh wait Mayor McCue when asked about the problems presented by taverns, McCue pointed to the charitable work and team sponsorships of many bars and chuckled and said the city has "a very fine police department" to take care of any problems.

Cudahy may not be Darfur, but it is not the Garden of Eden, either!

"The reformer is always right about what is wrong.  He is generally wrong about what is right.”  - G. K. Chesterton ILN 10-28-22

Here is Vandewalle & Associate’s Cudahy Comprehensive Plan Website.  

Click here à

Most of the pages on it are in PDF format, so you made need Adobe Acrobat Reader if it is not already installed.

You may want to review my post on What is a Comprehensive Master Plan?

After the Master Plan meeting, a citizen came up to me and asked if I was gunning for the Mayor’s job?  To which I said no!  Too bad, she said, you have a big mouth and the attitude to go with it.  She went on to say, “I would vote for you and you would make a very good Mayor”!

At first, I was upset and shocked about her statement.  Then I started to think about what my K-Mart regional manager said to me just after I became a manager.  He told me you are an arrogant, pompous, know it all that has to be right and most of the time you are.  I am glad you work for me and not against me.  He coined the phrase that I was “body temperature right,” and that I was right 98.6 percent of the time.  That has mainly held true, all you have to do is ask my professors, teachers, wife and parents.  I am not trying to blow my own horn.  It felt nice that someone who never met me before knew me from the public forum and my blog.  She said see saw my face and had to tell me.  I think I crushed her when I told her I do not have the time to be Mayor.  I do want to thank all of you who have made similar statements in the public forum on Wal-Mart.  It is very nice to know how some people view me.  I am flattered and I will keep up the fight!

To hold a public office, one must throw oneself into the position, all of oneself, if you want to be good at it.  I feel at some point in my life, I will aspire to hold such a job, but with my family and my company, that time is far off in the future.  It may not even be in Cudahy.  If the wrong people get their way, it may cost too much to live here.  They use a statement called “Replacement of Demographics,” simply put, change who works and lives here.  They do intend to run us out.  Don’t take my words lightly!  It is one thing to say the low-income housing is not the most desired or best option for the city and us.  However, will they stop there?  That remains to be seen.  My feeling is NO! 

I even heard snickering, from a few of these types, on the need to dump or change the city’s motto from “Generations of pride.”  To me, these people are the type to trying to sell us snake oil.

Do I want the low-income housing gone from Cudahy, YES, just not for senior citizens.  Senior citizens that have lived in Cudahy and those wanting to move to Cudahy deserve a place in our community.  They are still very productive members of society and we should show them the respect they have earned.  That is why this Wal-Mart is very important to fixed income people and those not.  Are the same people who are against the Wal-Mart against the elderly?  Is the city doing anything to help out the elderly? 

Not if they vote against the Wal-Mart!

I hope the city is cautious about the Eminent Domain and its repercussions.  If you missed my piece on it check it out “Has the Genie already been let out of the bottle” I had very good hits on in.

This is now the second meeting at city hall I have gone to where a perfect stranger comes up to me and introduces themselves.  It is nice that I am having a positive impact on some.  Next time any of you see me, just introduce yourself, even if you disagree with me.  Reasonable people can disagree and agree to disagree.  I know not everyone loves me, or for that matter, likes me.  You know what?  That is okay.  I am not trying to make friends, if I do then great.  I am trying to show people how I see it. 

Some people get mad at me because I don’t play nice and am not “PC” (Politically Correct).  I am sick of "Political Correctness" and of all the suck ups that go along with it.  Sorry, but I don’t believe in being “PC”.  I think that does more damage then good.  Call it a Christmas tree if it is one.  For God’s sake, oh no I said the “G” word. 

I believe more people are like me than not.  I think society has just made them go dormant.  I feel we need to be “Color Blind” and the best person should get the job based on merit not skin color or physical condition.  I don’t like the “Check The Correct Box” for race.  By simply labeling oneself different makes segregation possible.  We are all Americans (Except the illegal aliens)!!!

I have said this before, I don’t know if Cudahy would be ready for someone like me!

Could I do a good job?  No, I could do a great job!  All you have to do is read my bio on my blog, I don’t hide how I feel.

Right now, our Mayor is only just coming up to the end of his first year on the job.  We still don’t know how history will view him.  Let us give him the support he needs and push him in the right direction when you feel he is drifting off.  I hope I have harped enough that communication to the citizens becomes his number one job.  Some of my neighbors feel he is “one and done or should be recalled”, to that I say not enough time has passed to say that.  Some of you have too little faith when things don’t change overnight.  Change takes time and we all have to work together.  We must see some changes though and we must know change is happening.  We must not rush to judgment nor crawl and drag our feet to a decision.  The status quo will not work. 

Don’t take my pushing and tugging as negative, it is a means to be positive.  I am a realist by definition. 

Not being a government employee and not having anyone explain what the master plan is, again shows that there is a lack of communication from the government to its citizens.  I will try to do (again the job of government) and explain what it is and what it was.  Mr. Mayor, if you would have explained what the “Master Plan” was and is many people, including myself, would have not been so hard on you about it.  Again without sounding like a broken record or skipping CD, failure to communicate.  

First, we must know what a Comprehensive Master Plan is. 

The Comprehensive Master Plan consists of a study of existing area conditions with a discussion of future trends, goals, and objectives.  The Plan is an important document for the city because it articulates a broad vision for Cudahy’s future and directs all development activities.  It also guides the city's capital improvement projects.  It sets out strategies for coordinating and leveraging city investment, policy and programming to maximize economic opportunity and the quality of life for all citizens of Cudahy.

By state law, all cities have to have one in place by 2010 and from that day forward the city has to maintain a master, or comprehensive, plan and review it.  The Master Plan serves as a guide to direct development toward established community goals it is considered a “Living Document” and must be reviewed to make sure that situations and technological changes also reflect changes to the plan.

The Master Plan is futuristic in orientation, as it reflects what we want Cudahy to ultimately become.  It is not a blueprint of the city's future nor is it rigid.  Rather it is a flexible tool used to direct, coordinate and evaluate the city's development and progress and to ensure continued orderly improvement of our community.

The Master Plan is not an attempt to keep any change from taking place in the community.  It simply shows a compatible pattern for land uses in the city.  Alternative land uses may be viable and should be considered on their individual merit.  A basic principle of the Master Plan is flexibility, which allows it to continually identify and monitor changing conditions and circumstances in order to effectively guide future change toward established community goals.

Annual review of the plan, as mandated by state statute, prevents it from becoming obsolete and making sure it accurately reflects city policies and the changing needs of residents.

Cudahy’s first plan was a comprehensive plan done in 1994 which helped to setup the process of achieving a Comprehensive Master Plan and Master Plan for Downtown reconstruction. This process took much time to have all the voting and committees look at. Contaminated land had to be removed and cleaned up. 

The Comprehensive Master Plan was finished in 1999.  The main objective of that plan was to help construction of downtown and the new Mitchell Field International (airport) business park.  I am told the main objectives in the plan were met.  My understanding was the two former Mayors did fail in keeping up with reviewing the plan, but that is in the past.  As Mayor McCue correctly pointed out, “We are moving forward.”

Vandewalle & Associates are helping Cudahy craft this new plan.  They have done this for about fifty other cities.  Our old plan is way out of date.  I have to say I am very impressed with them.  I don’t impress easily so that should tell you something.  They seem very interested in listening to the citizens and communicating to them as well.  Maybe some of this will rub off on the Mayor and other city officials.  Vandewalle & Associates would like to have a workshop sometime in late March or early April for the citizens to attend.  If the Mayor found them then Kudos to him or whoever found them.  The new master plan is anticipated to be completed by the end of the year.

From the meeting, I got a sense that Cudahy residents can and will help shape the future of our great city.  It is going to take bold leadership and will respect the desire of the direction the people want.  My only concern is that the government will hear us and follow the direction the people want.  So far, this Cudahy Station and Wal-Mart is not giving me the “warm fuzzies” or inspires confidence that our leaders hear us.  If our current plan is out of date, then how can the Mayor say, "I do not feel that Wal-Mart follows the spirit of the Cudahy master plan?"  Since the obsolete plan was not looked at and neglected, Wal-Mart may very well be what the Master Plan wanted or needed.  The plan is flexible if the Mayor wants it to be, but he isn’t a fan of Wal-Mart, so it is ridged and frigid.  Can you say politics?  I can.

I am told the problem with Wal-Mart is it is not a point of destination.  Destination means the place to which a person or thing travels or is sent, the purpose for which something is destined, the place to which one is going or directed, the ultimate purpose for which something is created or intended.  Point means to direct or give direction, a place.  Destination Point defined – a place to which something or someone is going.  Sounds like it fits to me.  Again, unless they are talking about tourism, then doesn’t the Wave center fit the bill?  Remember, “Ridged and frigid”. 

We must plan to get ahead of the game, respond to change, help shape change, and most importantly be proactive, not just reactive.  How tired you all must be to hearing me say that. 

The Mayor has be given the challenge, charge and burden of selecting people for this group or board (steering committee) to help craft the document (Master Plan), I just hope the people he picks understand the gravity of the situation and set aside politics and personal beliefs to make the decisions for the whole.  They must work from a position of strength and success, not from the position of fear and failure.  The decisions must be based on a calm assessment not a knee jerk reaction.  Our future is counting on them.

If you have any questions or comments you can post or email, I will always answer you and you don’t even have to drive to my work or house to catch me in the office.  You have the power at your fingertips, called a mouse, keyboard and the Internet.