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.

The Mayor is still banking on the KRM, probably at the insistence of VandeWalle and Associates.  Pigs flying have a better chance of happening, before KRM.  His view of Utopia for Cudahy does not include Wal-Mart.

McCue, Smith, Pavlic and like types, have no intentions of having their name on the Wal-Mart.  That is it period!

Time is running out…

One cannot make, melt or gain time. 

You cannot even rush it, let alone stop time. 

You can watch it and be ready for it.

Am I blowing this out of proportion?  NO!  I don’t think so!

As you are aware, I am not for the KRM with taxpayer public money.  Here is a list of key business endorsements.  Just ask them to fund it.  You will find out quickly, they don’t want to pay for it just use it to bring in workers at taxpayers expense.

Please Note: this endorsement is for the concept of KRM, and not for any specific financing plan.

I see… ***Head nods***

http://www.transitnow.org/key-endorser-list.html

Fisk Johnson, Chairman - S. C. Johnson & Son

Gale Klappa, CEO - WE Energies

Richard A. Hansen, President & CEO - Johnson Financial Group

Helen Johnson-Leipold, Chairman & CEO - Johnson Outdoors

Scott Kelly, President - Johnson Bank-Racine

Thomas Mahoney, President - Johnson Bank-Kenosha

Christian Lie, CEO - Johnson Insurance Services

John Matthews, V.P. Global Communications - Johnson Diversey

Jerold Franke, President - WISPARK

Robert Mariano, Chairman & CEO - Roundy's

Aurora Health Care

Edward Emma, President & COO - Jockey International

Randy Baker, President - Case New Holland (CNH)

Dennis Kuester, President & CEO - Marshall & Ilsley Corp.

Dave Rayburn, President & CEO - Modine

Jerry Ryder, President - In-Sink-Erator

Carol Skornicka, Sr. V.P. General Council - Midwest Airlines

Brian Klemstein, Vice President - LaSalle Bank

Roch Lambert, Exec. Vice President - Bombardier Recreational

Thomas Bernacchi, Vice President - Towne Realty

Fred Luber, Chairman - Super Steel Corp.

Gary Grunau, Sr. Vice President - GPD Gilbane

Michael Cudahy, President - Endeavors Group

David Gordon, Director & CEO - Milwaukee Art Museum

Paul Matthews, President - Marcus Center for the Performing Arts

Dennis Troha, Chairman & CEO - JHT Holdings, Inc.

Mark Sommer, President - Gormac Products, Inc.

Dennis Barkow, President - Quinte Systems

Jess Levin, President & CEO - Bank of Elmwood

John Burke, Chairman - Burke Properties

Vince Ruffolo, President - S.I.C., Inc.

Alan Ruud, President & CEO - Ruud Lighting, Inc.

Ken Buser, President & CEO - All Saints Health Care

Daniel Risch, CEO - Lincoln Luthern of Racine

Ronald Gibb, President - Wells Fargo-Racine

Mark Ernst, Partner - Engberg Anderson Design Partnership

Dave Perkins, CFO & Vice President - Racine Federated, Inc.

John Hennessy, President - Hennessy Group (Milwaukee)

John Shannon, President & CEO - Quick Cable Corporation

Ralph Tenuta, Owner - Tenuta's

Eric Resch, President - Stone Creek Coffee

Robert R. Henzl, President - Hostak, Henzl & Bichler, S.C.

Michael Stanich, Partner - Lakeview Investment, LLC (Kenosha)

Keith Johnson, President - Pathway Development (Salem, WI)

Lincoln Fowler, Partner - Alterra Coffee Roasters, Inc.

Dana Anderson, President & CEO - Foote, Cone & Belding

Renquist & Associates (Racine)

Steve Johnson, President - Miller Brands

James Eastman, President - Merchants Moving & Storage (Racine)

Mark Irgens, President – Irgens Development Partners

Gerorge Seater, President/CEO – Seater Construction

Now back to KRM, The federal government restored the funds.  Mayor Tom Barrett would rather use the money for streetcars, and County Executive Scott Walker would rather use the money for his plan of the rapid buses.  I sense that Tom and Scott will not agree anytime soon, on ONE PLAN.  While both are honorable men, they won't come together on KRM any time soon!

Here is the part of the KRM equation that no one talks about, yet those in the loop know.

They talk about an extension of Metra (controlled by the Illinois State Legislature) up to Milwaukee.  So, for any extension north of Kenosha, the Illinois State Legislature MUST approve it.  That's right...  The Illinois State Legislature must approve!  What do you think the chances of that are?  Again, pigs fly!!

All counties in Wisconsin involved must agree.

The only reason Metra came up to Kenosha was that it was cheaper and easier to turn around there, rather than at a point in Illinois.  Doyle is beholden to the road builder, and if you had any smarts at all, you knew that I 94 from Layton to the state line was coming up for rebuilding, and you have seen the EPA article about the 4 lanes each way approval.  The road expansion is happening!

Now, if the state and feds are going to spend Billions on that stretch of road, what do you think the chances are of the state putting up some money for Metra in the 09-11 bi-annual budgets?  Again, pigs fly!!

For the same reason that Glowacki wanted the IcePort as his legacy to the city, McCue is banking on KRM, and the value of that property shooting up so high, he would hold it up forever, rather than see a Wal-Mart go there.

Side note, you didn't and don’t see Mayor Richard Bolander (OC), and Mayor Tom Zepecki (SM), holding up every development plan for their cities due to KRM.

Again, you don't see Tom Zepecki holding up all of the development plans for SM, including the Bucyrus site (right along train tracks), for KRM.  Unfortunately, if Mayor McCue plans to wait for KRM, the steel will have fallen down, by the time the trains show up.

Thank you for voting NO on the Milwaukee Connector, with it being a Milwaukee County run project, it will cost the taxpayers of Cudahy for a system that will not work and doesn’t service my area.  Just because the federal government is giving away money, the system has never been tested in the US, and is only in two cities in France, does not mean we have to do it.  Just say NO.  Where is the money to run to come from, us the Milwaukee county taxpayers.  Nationwide rider ship of mass transit has been going down.  This is a flawed system.  Hopefully Scott Walker vetoes it.  God help us, in a time of insolubility to build something and then figure out how to build be saying.  Well we put the money in it, we might as well finish it!  Sounds to me much like the pension scandal.

Sincerely,

Many communities have found the right mix of housing, retail and manufacturing to keep it viable and Cudahy needs to do the same.  Cities are places where people can live, learn, work, visit and play.  They should offer a wide range of services - schools, parks, health care, stores, restaurants and transportation, just to name a few.  Cities that are vibrant, safe, and attractive are where residents, visitors and businesses want to be.  Cudahy has what is necessary to be successful; it just needs to move forward.

To move forward you have to identify your problems, except them and fix them.  Currently our city is in denial of many issues that plague our wonderful city.  Also, Cudahy has a sort of Identity crisis I am told which I covered in “Cudahy's Image Problem”.

Job number one must be to stop the decline in our city’s population, job losses, and keep Cudahy money in Cudahy.  To do that we must lower our crime and taxes.  Crime and population go hand in hand though; do GHOST TOWNS need to worry about crime and we can have all the development in the world and the greatest park system but if everyone is afraid of going there then what's the point?

Job number two is to increase tourism traffic to Cudahy and to bring in money from outside our city.

Look at the pie chart at the bottom of this post as to “The concerns of Wisconsin Residents”

Cudahy needs to find its identity and niche.  Obviously, the economy is foremost...having lost that much of the population I could only assume it was an economic issue again, taxes and a rise in crime (the issue of crime was so big I covered it in two blogs earlier).  By niche, I mean find an industry, which could thrive and then create economic incentives for corporations to move here.  We need to target biotech, drug industry, software and technology businesses.  We must identify areas that definitely need improvement and intervention.

One of Mayor Ryan McCue’s platform statements was “We need to concentrate on keeping businesses in Cudahy and make it easy and attractive for new businesses to locate in Cudahy.”  It is essential for Cudahy to keep the trucking companies that call Cudahy home.  These trucking companies pay good wages and has excellent benefits.  We need to keep the moniker of truck alley.  I know many people in attendance at the common council meetings in the past have talk bad about all of the trucks on the streets of Cudahy.  That is a sign of a living city, I have told them.  One woman told me “I just wish they were in some other city, not ours.”  We will never make everyone happy.  This is the same sediment the Wal-Mart has on some people.

Right now, we are a city losing jobs and people who live in the community.  Our enrollment in Cudahy schools is down.  Some people confuse the issue of specialty stores with big business retailer.  We need the big business retailer, Wal-Mart, to increase the standard of living of the residents who live in Cudahy.  The specialty stores help increase tourist traffic, not to say the Cudahy residents will not shop them because they will, but the very nature of the word “specialty shops” should be a clue.  This is not a daily or weekly destination, but a place to go for a special need, which is why many of them fail.

Once Wal-Mart is given the go ahead “The Shops of Cudahy” will fill-up with tenants.  Currently the prospective tenants would like to hangout in the weeds until Wal-Mart is named.  There is to be a hotel built on this 26-acre property.  That too is in limbo until Wal-Mart is named.  You have the classic “Chicken and the Egg.”

Yes, we need to increase tourism, but it is more important to stem the tide of good residents leaving our community and jobs moving elsewhere.  One-person blogged on the public forum about Generations of pride and that his own kids have moved out of Cudahy.  This is exactly why we need to make a reason for people to stay living in Cudahy.  Having a high tourism and high amount of people moving out will not cancel each other out as some people think.  It starts with this Wal-Mart, which is a destination of Cudahy residents.

Of course, the Mayor doesn’t like this Wal-Mart, check that, is not a fan of Wal-Mart and he doesn’t feel it is a destination spot, because he is looking through glasses marked tourism.  The part of the Master Plan is an excuses, it is not ridged but flexible.  Many communities have a Wal-Mart in them, why would someone from outside our community want to shop our Wal-Mart if they already have one.  They wouldn’t unless their Wal-Mart is out of a particular item, ours is closer to where they work, or they simply like to shop ours.  It is mainly for the residents, not tourism.

Obviously, the Mayor (who shops Wal-Mart) is not concerned enough about the citizens living in Cudahy, and is worried more about just how to drive up tourism to Cudahy.  That is only one side of the problem.  Take off the tourism glasses and use your own eyes to see that both can be accomplished.  Wal-Mart for the Cudahy citizens and the specialty shops for tourism along with the Wave Center.  There are plenty of vacancies dotting Cudahy that would work perfectly for specialty shops besides this need to be placed in Cudahy Station.  We only need find them and to fill them.

The Wave complex can host soccer training in 60,000 sq ft and doubles as a 40,000 sq ft convention center once converted to that mode.  It will have a pull of 100-mile radius.  That includes 60,000 soccer moms and dads shopping, eating and driving around Cudahy.  Talk about large numbers of shoppers!

Cudahy needs this Wal-Mart and we need it to be successful.  Our future depends on it.  This Wal-Mart is not the savior, but it is the first piece of a puzzle called “How to grow and fix Cudahy.”  It is imperative to our revitalization that this large retailer comes to Cudahy and the responsible thing to do for our city to prosper.  Some say that we are just copying what other cities have and that it does not set us a part.  To this I say, why not move out all grocery stores, gas stations since everyone has one.  The answer lies in conveniences.

Cities on the rise are enjoying developmental booms, embracing their history and their geography.  Stimulating the local economy for businesses and the job market, will in turn keep people in Cudahy and will keep us growing.  The military has a saying called the “6P’s”--- Proper --- Planning --- Prevents --- Piss --- Poor --- Performance, and if we follow that, we cannot fail.

What has plagued us in the past will haunt us.  A lack of vision and the carelessness nature of local politicians in the past has cost us dearly.  The town was governed by entirely by old-timers who were dead set against any kind of change and are running the town into the ground.  Status Quo is the term to describe that type of thinking.

It's the "we can do without that" mentality that suppresses new ideas for economic expansion.  I think that is what has kept young people from being drawn to and staying in Cudahy.  We need to engage them and entice them to stay.

Many locals want to retain a mid-sized city atmosphere but there is a great deal of influence from developers to change the demographics.  I am in favor of that as well, as long as the intent is not to push out the lower income elderly.  If we could push out or evict the lower income people who don’t want to work but instead live off the system, let us do it.  Far too long Cudahy has allowed the slumlords to use Cudahy and us.

Renters are fine as long as they care about the property, and contribute to the prosperity of the community.  Many do not.  Sometimes it does follow the lower income, but that is a case-by-case thing.  Would I like have the tax revenue of $300,000 plus homes, yes as long as it doesn’t change who we are.  Too many people would like to remake Cudahy into Whitefish Bay and that will not happen.  Cudahy is hard working class of people.  We can have a successful mix.     

I would support the KRM if taxes didn’t go up and the answer to that is private funding.  Funny how the people upset with the TIF are okay with taxes going up to fund the KRM.

So funny, don’t you think?

Yes, it would be an excellent opportunity existing to lure some of those new transplants into our neighborhood with several mixed-use projects featuring condos, lofts, and apartments in various price ranges.

Yes, tourism development would be nice.  Many proposed projects in Cudahy are shot down because the taxpayers are tired of paying for everything.  With some outside (tourist), revenue coming in we could get some help then the rest could follow.  I am just not convinced the KRM will make it and I don’t want to be the one paying for it then.  We you are on the right side you don’t have to do any convincing!

New residences downtown will generate more foot traffic that will help to sustain existing businesses, encourage new businesses to develop, deter crime, and boost the city's tax base.  We can entice people to move to our downtown, which already has all of the ingredients necessary to sustain residents (library, restaurants, shops, bars, pharmacies, banks, workplaces, houses of worship, etc.) if only Cudahy didn’t have the stigma of land of high taxes.  Adding more taxes for the KRM is not the answer especially as the country heads for a long recession.  We need to conserve our money.  I understand the philosophy that “you have to spend money to make money,” just now is not that time.

The "growth of a city" depends upon each individual in it.  Simply put, how we are treating each other.  I have said this before.  It’s not size.  It’s not money.  The better we treat each other that is the growth.  A modest size city where people treat each other well will attract much to it, everything that it needs to expand.

Yes, I become very discouraged and feel very sad to see so many people bashing my city all the time, but I know only better times are ahead for it (especially if and when I climb the political ladder as many of you would like me to do).

Cities need visionary, non-corrupt governments to progress and grow (I am not necessarily saying ours is).  The officials need to stop focusing on such micro issues, where if they focused on bigger picture problems, the micro problems would eventually be fixed.  The free market place has, in many cases led the change, as long as it was not tampered with.  Good planning leads to orderly growth and helps us to have the type of community we want.  Cities on the rise are enjoying developmental booms, embracing their history and their geography.

The Mayor's job responsibilities vary widely, but all are intended to ensure the well-being of the city and its people.  The Mayor and council members have the responsibility of representing not only the people who elected them, but all citizens.  Council members also serve as a resource to the residents of their district, making sure they receive quality services and helping them to solve problems.  Priority must be given to the well-being of the city and its people and is in an ongoing process to do so.

None of us are Mayors or are in charge (except the Mayor, Ryan McCue), but through this forum/blog our voices may be heard.  We still may not hear from the powers that be, but they will read your comments.

Everyone is looking for a formula that will provide healthy growth and stimulate the local economy for businesses and the job market.  With the challenges and opportunities we have, we can move forward and succeed.  We all must be trying to breathe life into our city and care about each other.  We must stem the tide of population and job loss.  We must lower crime and taxes.  We must, because if you don’t, Cudahy will become a GHOST TOWN.

Does the Mayor and its city officials get a report card?  I am working on that!

Maybe we should do an online one.

What problems does our city have and what suggestions do you have to help our city grow? 

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.

Well, I still have not heard from the powers that be on the potential death trap.  The safety of pedestrians and children is paramount and safety must not be one of their pledges or concerns. 

That truly is sad!  If they only cared a little bit, a tiny amount, but it appears they don’t. 

If this sidewalk were missing downtown, then it would get attention.  Funny how they consider the Cudahy Station downtown and just two roads over is the one in question that needs the sidewalk.

What about “Numerous sidewalks slated for rehab this year to ensure safety” or “The reconstructed roadway will serve as a major link between a heavy industrial area and the Lake Parkway "and  “City Engineer Craig Faucett said addressing the stretch of roadway (South Whitnall and Ladish avenues) now is prudent because of planned redevelopment in the area that could yield higher volumes of traffic” With the increase of traffic will come an increase in accidents.

Do we even need a downtown anymore?  Does it have the same impact as days gone by?  I love how they describe the revitalization of downtown.  If you forgot, here it is:

See how they talk about pedestrian-oriented improvements, yet no talk about this sidewalk issue.  Maybe you should call the Mayor or email him and demand something be done. 

Maybe if I was a developer, they would have jumped through hoops and put the sidewalk in or maybe I could have threatened them with pulling my projects out downtown unless this sidewalk is put in.  But, I cannot because, just like you, I am just a citizen, powerless with a voice.

I cannot even say, “That was it.  No more.  They gave up!”  To give up means they tried to do something.  The City has never acted to fix this problem or except for one email message from Alderman Mark Otto (just asking how I was thinking of paying for it) even acknowledge it.  I didn’t even get the standard line of a study must be done.  We don't need studies, we need action!

If Cudahy is going to attract young families to the area, it needs to present itself as a safe pro-homeowner locale.  Taking decisive steps to improve safety would facilitate that goal.  As most of you know, this is one of the goals, which I have been working hard to illuminate and rectify. 

Does this unwillingness show city leaders who want to improve the city or even care?  How does no action on this improve our city?  Doesn’t action on this truly improve the city?

How much did we the taxpayers pay to fly Mayor McCue to Atlanta for his stay to try and woo the bowling congress?  Could some of that money have been better spent on city improvements?  Maybe Mayor McCue spent his own money for the trip, I didn’t ask him.

My hope is that my advocacy finally draws a response from the Mayor or Common Council, and I hope the council indeed takes action to improve pedestrian and child safety, rather than treat this as a pro-forma or election-cycle exercise in lip-service. 

I know that the Council's collective willpower can make this happen.  Let's hope that the Council isn't daunted by the task, and works to achieve something that benefits all of us--a safer community. 

I do pray that no one gets hurt because a lack of a sidewalk, but if they do, they will have a good case in court.  They can easily prove negligence on the cities part, since the problem was brought to light.  Imagine our image if someone does get hurt.

Don’t worry, in the end it will only cost “WE” the taxpayers, the officials have personal protections called immunity.  We will pay for their failures, as we always do. 

If the city will not or cannot fix this, what hope do we have that they will be able to improve our image?

The status quo will not work.

Please contact the Mayor and your district Alderperson and Alderman Mark Otto (since it is in his district) and tell them to do something about this.

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

^{1. http://www.ci.cudahy.wi.us/CityDevelopment.html}

Let’s see, Muskego took GE away from Cudahy

The Mayor may let The Milwaukee Wave training center slip to Franklin

The Mayor may push Wal-Mart into St. Francis, South Milwaukee, or Oak Creek

What or Who is next?  Ladish, Patrick Cudahy, Roadrunner Dawes, Jeff’s Fast Freight…?

Maybe we will need the KRM train since not much will be left!  We may not end up with “Always low prices,” but we will “always” have the still rusting structure to look up at. 

Please contact the Mayor and your Alderperson and tell them to stop slipping away our future and companies!

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

First, you already know I am a conservative and most conservatives are against light rail for many of the reasons I am giving.

Here is what those in favor of the Metra/Commuter Light Rail are not talking about.

1. It will have to be funded by tax payer money
2. There is no firm date, this is all just possible that the Metra will happen.
3. A study was done for South Milwaukee and here is what was found: “Based on extensive data compiled by the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission, businesses located within one mile of a Metra stop tend to do well, says Plan Commission member Brett Briesemiester.  Under the proposed plan, South Milwaukee is targeted as one of the stations along the commuter line.”  The full article is at the link below.  One mile! 
4. For businesses to do well beyond the one mile, those getting off the Metra will have to walk (not in Winter), take a bus (how does that help businesses not on a bus route) or Cudahy will have to have a streetcar service like Kenosha has (of course Taxpayers paying for it).
5. If the Metra goes through as with any light rail, it will need to be funded by tax increases.  A never-ending tax increase.  Look at Chicago or Minneapolis - where they're contemplating a second light-rail line for $900 million - the plans and the costs would just keep getting bigger.  How many are profitable?  Hint “zero”!
6. They would have to share existing train lines, which means train schedules for both commercial and this Metra will have to be worked out.  That is a large complaint of those using Amtrak. 
7. The other alternative would be to put in new lines at taxpayers cost.  On our dime or in this case Millions!
8. Is this a case of Overstating a benefit, while Understating the cost?
9. Can this have a positive impact?  Sure, it will just cost the taxpayers in the end.
10. Who wins is up for debate, who loses isn’t.  All together – The Taxpayers!

Now my understanding is that the train is used currently in Kenosha to Chicago mainly for those working in Chicago or Kenosha.  That tourism is just a small part.  Some feel that people getting off and on a Cudahy Station would be upset at seeing a Wal-Mart.  I must ask the question, why would they be upset?  The building would have to be approved by our elected officials.  Are they not going to dislike the smell from Patrick Cudahy as someone already pointed out as well?  How is this going to play out if Milwaukee decides to add a backside Amtrak station that would stop on the train lines that runs just west of the parkway at Mitchell Field, continue on to Chicago, and make the turn to O’Hare, instead of connecting with the Metra?  Would that not harm rider ship on the Metra?  I know that there are a lot of “if’s” with even this competing train line as is with the Metra.  At this point, the Metra/Commuter Light Rail and the competing train line are rumors based on the assumption they will happen!  According to the RTA (Regional Transit Authority), the date has slipped from the 2010 to 2012 already.  We have no fact it will happen or that it will not become the next “White Elephant.”

I am also not clear on this.  Is it more for getting people to and from their jobs, I thought it was for tourism?  Boy, I am confused.  Aren’t you?  Why should the taxpayers be paying to offset the cost of it, if it will only save money for those going to work.  If I car pool does the state or city pay for my costs?  Also, if people are going to use it for tourism and going to be walking, what are they going to do when it snows?  Does that mean only the Cudahy Station will see the benefit during that time?  Will the city have to make sure that the areas that they feel will benefit have snow removed first or more often?  Will we put in a streetcar system like Kenosha has at taxpayers expense or are they going to use the bus?  Will the streetcar be public or privately run?  Again, how is this going to help out the rest of Cudahy further south of Layton on Packard or off a bus line?  There is no guarantee that Cudahy will be the only official stop for the airport (what about South Milwaukee or St. Francis), thus taking the wind out of the sails.  Will we have a parking lot to store cars and bikes that the riders may leave behind while they are riding the Metra and gone maybe for days?  Now, you want to talk about a magnet for crime!!

Are we really looking at having people move from Chicago to Cudahy to live in the expensive Condos that are being talked about?  Is that the real reason for it?  Are these the well to do people that someone had mentioned?  Sure the tax base from these Condos would be nice, but at what cost?  Are these socialites going to run us out?  A few people in favor of the Metra at the last Common Council meeting said Cudahy was one of the most underrated property values in the area.  That many homes sit on land worth much more.  What is their angle on this?  When something doesn’t smell right, you know something is not right!  Something doesn’t smell right and it isn’t Patrick Cudahy!!! 

It is tax money that has to pay for the Metra.  Many clamor to have an eco-friendly mode of transportation as the reason for the Metra.  How many “Green” cars could we supply people with instead of using the money on the Metra at the same cost.  I am sure if you were to do a study on the costs it would be freighting.  To those so much in favor, they don’t care that taxes will go up, just build it. 

I am not going to sit on the sidelines as the events that affect me unfold to determine the course of my life.  I'm going to take a stand.  I'm going to defend it.  Right or not wrong, I'm going to defend it.  Do we want another Ice Port debacle to happen? 

This has to be stopped as soon as possible, otherwise this small flame could take the shape of a big fire and then it will become almost impossible to get rid of this mess.  We will face the never-ending task of paying for it or the mindset, “We have come this far.  We must see it thru.”  Or, “We have to finish it or the money we used to start it will be wasted!”

It would be nice for everyone to understand what are we trying to gain by this?  How much is it going to cost?  How are we going to pay for it?  When will it happen?  Do “WE” the citizens have a say?  Who are the players in this, names please?  We need all of these questions spelled out for us in writing, we should not all have to drive multiple times to city hall for answers or play phone tag.  How about this, just have the lawyers draw up a document in plain English and have Cudahy Now post it.  That way the officials can claim, I cannot confirm nor deny any information that was posted due to legal factors.  At least then, we would have some information rather than silence and more questions.

My understanding, to fund this, we are going to use taxpayer money from either an increase in sales tax, which Cudahy has an extra amount already added for other things, or from increase in service taxes.  I guess Cudahy will again be the butt of jokes, now more jokes about being the highest tax area in the state.  In an economic time when finding money to pay for public services is hard, it is tough to swallow more taxes!  This should serve as a notice, that in a time of money crunches, the taxpayers should not be paying for new services while existing services are constantly under attack to be cut.  If we don’t raise taxes then no light-rail or we cut the Police, Firefighters, or the new expensive library to fund it.  Aren’t we taxed enough? 

If taxes go up, will this not push out more people who live in Cudahy that cannot afford to pay more taxes?  Yes, and I think that maybe one thing some are looking for.  Replacement of demographics one of them uttered.

Mark Beling said it best, "The cruelest irony is that all of these “White Elephants” are paid for by the very people who never use them.  So why do we keep building these things?  Part of it is a neurotic desire to copy whatever other cities are doing.  It’s a kind of inferiority complex".  Part of it is narcissistic; I just want it and have to have it.  To those people I say “Better to want something you can’t have, then have something you don’t want”.

If I am wrong, please, someone correct me.

How will the train be policed?  Are we going to have police officers on the train?  Will this not have the possibility of bringing in rift raft with such a cheap subsidized ticket price?  If the subsidizing ends will the rider ship follow?  Didn’t Milwaukee try something like this not too long ago from Oconomowoc to Milwaukee and once the ticket price was no longer free or reduced, rider ship plummeted?  Do we not learn from experiences? 

I am concerned that this date is not even a firm date if the Metra line is even going to happen.  The date has moved for 2008, 2010, and now to 2012.  Will it help the business close to the train station?  Yes!  However, it will act like business welfare since taxes will be paying for this off the coat tails of the taxpayers.  Taxpayers are fitting the bill to prop up the Metra or whatever light-rail connecting train to the Metra.  Our local government should respect themselves as leaders and they should get involved and stop this madness instead of wasting taxpayer’s money.  More taxes are not the solution, but the problem!

http://www.southmilwaukeenow.com/story/index.aspx?id=710147