I would like to thank Roland Melnick of BadgerBlogger for taking this picture of my car driving to the event.  I had 3 other bloggers with me and it is nice to see other bloggers there at the Alliant Center.

Car Picture H/T Roland Melnick of BadgerBlogger

http://badgerblogger.com/?p=11929#more-11929

I looked for Cudahy Mayor Ryan McCue who just last week said this: "The State of Wisconsin is the most screwed up state in America and the state should mind their own business"

With Mayor McCue’s disgust of the state, thus Jim Doyle, wouldn’t he have been there to show how really upset he is?  Makes you wonder if Mayor McCue just said those hollow words or does he mean it?

Isn’t it something so small like the First Amendment to the United States Constitution!

This is the first set.

Click Here for them.

I have received emails about Mayor McCue’s talk of Jim Doyle’s’ state mandate for “Prevailing Wages” where McCue wants jobs, but at a prevailing wage, whatever Doyle signed the state mandate for a prevailing, McCue's words: “I BELIEVE IN UNIONS”!

Please stop at Boots and Sabers’ “Prevailing Wages” for some great info on them!

FYI – Did you notice in the Guest Blog - Recap of State of City Address Mayor McCue was okay with Jim Doyle's use of money on the “Prevailing Wages” part just not others!  Should Mayor McCue not heed his own words when it comes to money and wages are money!

I will be in attendance to show my displeasure of HIGH TAXES and the wrong direction the state and country are going.

Info - http://www.fightbackwisconsin.com/Feedback.php

What: Tea Party - Taxpayer Rally

Date: April 15th, 2009

Where: Wisconsin State Capitol - King Street

Madison, WI

When: 11:30 am - 1:00 pm

Speakers: The Rock Star of Radio - Vicki McKenna

The Honorable Paul Ryan - Member of Congress

Americans for Prosperity State Director - Mark Block

WTAQ Radio- Green Bay - Jerry Bader

WSAU Radio- Wausau- Pat Snyder

Milwaukee God Squad- Pastor David King

Chairman State GOP-  Reince Priebus

Hunters Alliance (HARC) - Tony Ungerer

Wisconsin Family Action - Julaine Appling

Madison Area High School - Melika Willoughby

Free Shuttle Services CLICK HERE

Today is Wisconsin’s Spring Non-Partisan Election

State Supreme Court Justice

State Superintendent of Public Instruction

Local selections might be City Council, Mayoral, County board, School board

Polls opened at 7:00am to 8:00pm. 

Anyone in line at 8:00pm must be allowed to vote.

Before I get into each race, I would like to give some thoughts.

School Superintendents, School Board Directors (Members), and Judicial posts (Supreme Court and Circuit Court Judges) are all to be Non-partisan.

So what does Non-partisan mean? 

Non-partisan - free from party affiliation, bias, or designation

Based on, influenced by, affiliated with, or supporting the interests or policies of no single political party

Well we know that just is not the case.  Part of the problem is when people apply a liberal interpretation to something.  I will explain.

Judges “Legislating from the Bench”!  Creating laws in the Judicial Branch.  Judges who like to make laws instead of interpret and enforce laws.

Separation of powers under the United States Constitution created three separate branches the Legislative Branch and power, Executive Branch and power and the Judicial Branch and power.

Legislative Branch and power creates laws

Executive Branch and power caries out the laws

Judicial Branch and power checks the laws and challenges them if need be

Each one has a specific role to play and together they work as a check and balance.

The role of any non-partisan position should be non-partisan!  The key problem of all of this is you cannot exclude your ideology from the decisions you make everyday in life.  It is the core of your beliefs; the basis of your conscience.  It is what helps give us our morals and boundaries.  It tells us when something is black and white and shapes our gray areas.

Don't get me wrong, I am not talking about Democrat Vs. Republican here.  Again, it is ideology at question.  You can be a Democrat but not a Liberal!  Any decision I make has a fiscal conservative angle to it and I never hide it.

Liberals say they dislike labels yet they hide behind them and try to confuse people when they are the same thing “liberal” or “progressive.”

Side Note – A little misnomer on big business CEOs.  Most of the big bad CEOs for big businesses are liberal democrats.  That many times is forgotten when liberals attack CEOs and capitalism! 

Basically, the rule of thumb for a Conservative is whatever the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (MJS) and the Unions back and endorse we choose the opposite.  Why you might ask because isn’t that voting against someone instead of for?

Well if MJS was not slanted liberal and just reported news as it should and allow the reporters opinions be known as opinions with the Newspaper staying out of it (since when the paper endorses a candidate it does it for all that work at the paper).  Just like the Union telling people who they will vote for!  That is not democracy!

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel recently endorsed Tony Evers for State Superintendent of Public Instruction and Shirley Abrahamson for Wisconsin Supreme Court.

State and County races now.

The State Superintendent of Department of Public Instruction (DPI) candidates

Rose Fernandez   www.ChangeDPI.com

Tony Evers          www.tonyevers09@yahoo.com

State Superintendent of (DPI) Recommendation - Rose Fernandez

I am not basing this decision on the email scandal and ethics violation of Tony Evers.  Rose Fernandez does not support raising the sales tax to cover the shortfall of funds.  She supports breaking up the failing MPS in smaller more manageable units and hold administrators accountable.  She is not a ‘Good Old Boy’ and brings real change and not status quo!  She supports the QEO (Qualified Economic Offer) a mechanism to keeping taxes lower.  Please read more about it here.  Be informed is all I ask!  Have the real information because info is power, just as misinformation is!

The Wisconsin State Supreme Court candidates

Randy Koschnik              www.koschnikforjustice.com

Shirley A. Abrahamson    www.abrahamson2009.com

Justice of the Supreme Court Recommendation - Randy Koschnick

Abrahamson legislates from the bench.  There is much false stink placed on Randy Koschnick because he was the public defender and defended Ted Oswald, the vicious cop killer.  Well as a public defender, he had no choice as you get the cases as they come and even guilty criminals deserve a fair trial.  There is a vast difference between a public defender and a hired criminal defense attorney.  And please don’t give me that line that Oswald himself gave an endorsement since those of you on the left didn’t like it when people on the right talked about Al-Qaeda Terrorist Group endorsed Obama!  If you had any brains don’t you think Oswald did it to hurt Randy Koschnick’s chances since he didn’t get him off!

This might clear up things for some – Click Here

Judicial – Circuit Court Judge

Circuit Court Judge Branch 6

Recommendation - Christopher R. Lipscomb Sr.

Since both Christopher R. Lipscomb Sr. and Ellen Brostrom are both liberals, I would rather see Christopher R. Lipscomb Sr. who has 17 years of experience and is already a judge than someone with a few months as a prosecutor under her belt.

Circuit Court Judge Branch 15

Recommendation - Daniel J. Gabler 

Daniel J. Gabler brings up a very good point that many of the judges don’t want to work even though the case logs are piling up and backing up.  Reminds me of someone else, but I can’t quite put a swipe card on him!

Please Vote April 7th.

Depending on where you live, the pay that a school board member can vary greatly.  From NO pay to $6,588.14 in the school districts, I looked into.

Fox Point-Bayside School Board members serve three-year terms and are not paid.

Maple Dale-Indian Hill School Board members serve three-year terms and are not paid.

Mequon-Thiensville School Board members serve three-year terms and are not paid.

Glendale-River Hills board members serve three-year terms and receive $540 annually.

Nicolet School Board members receive $1,000 annually and serve three-year terms.

Shorewood School Board members serve three-year terms, and the board president is paid $1,300 and all other members are paid $1,000 annually.

Whitefish Bay School Board members serve three-year terms and are paid $1,200 annually.

South Milwaukee School Board members have three-year terms and are paid $3,000 annually.

Brown Deer School Board members serve three-year terms and are paid $3,100 annually.

Germantown School board members are elected to three-year terms and are paid $3,500 annually.

Cudahy School Board members serve three-year terms and are paid $3,600 annually.

Elmbrook School Board members receive $3,600 annually.

Greendale School Board members serve three-year terms, with an annual salary of $4,200.

Menomonee Falls School Board members are elected to three-year terms and earn $5,000 annually.  The president, who is elected by the board, is paid $5,500 annually.

Oak Creek-Franklin School Board members serve three-year terms and earn an annual salary of $5,040, except for the president, who earns $5,400.

West Allis-West Milwaukee School Board members are elected to three-year terms with an annual salary of $6,588.14.

Please help out and watch for these dangerous people.  If you know or have seen any of them, please call the Milwaukee Police Department's Criminal Investigation Bureau at 414-935-7302

Felando Davis was arrested Tuesday, December 2, by officers in the Neighborhood Task Force, Fugitive Apprehension Unit.

While some people give TIF Districts a bad rap, they do have their place and need.  It drives businesses to build in a place that they might not look at.

Many people talk that Portland, Oregon is built up because of light and commuter rail.  That is not the truth whole truth.  Over 2 Billion dollars in TIF money was doled out before the rail was done and popular.

Hartland, WI

Hartland TIF district approved

A new tax incremental financing (TIF) district covering all of downtown Hartland and some of the surrounding area was approved by the Village Board on Monday and a Joint Review Board on Tuesday.

Source and Story

Over in West Allis the old Yellow Freight trucking terminal is being looked at to be setup in a TIF.

Source and Story

From West Allis Now, “City officials believe the property, currently 90 percent asphalt, could be better used than as a truck terminal and is looking to develop it as a light-industrial use.  Officials are in negotiations with Yellow Freight to purchase the property, next to Greenfield Park.”

Roadrunner Transportation Services is looking for a new terminal outside of Cudahy when they combine the old Roadrunner Freight Systems and old Dawes Transport terminals in one building. It has been confirmed to Chantel of Cudahy Now that the terminal is looking to move.  At the time, Chantel was told the headquarters will stay in Cudahy, but common sense tells me otherwise.  This is the same company that just went public stating it has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for an initial public offering and is the company that posted $575 million in revenue last year.  Source  Many of those jobs will be leaving Cudahy.  I don’t think the Mayor has even talked to them about staying.  Anyways, that will be more land for the city to grab (I don’t think the Mayor likes the trucks either) and develop.

TIF districts, when used properly and in the right places, are a valuable tool to spur development and there is a good reason the city chooses the location over another. 

If Obama wins in November, Jim Doyle wants to be the Ambassador to Ireland.

City of Milwaukee’s Mayor Tom Barrett wants to be Wisconsin’s Governor, but first Lieutenant Governor Barbara Lawton would get the remainder of Doyle’s time as Governor (2010). 

That will obviously set off a chain of events such as Barbara Lawton becoming the Governor and what if the first thing she does is fire Wisconsin DOT Secretary Frank Busalacchi?

Who would fill that position, the Lieutenant Governor’s and the city of Milwaukee’s Mayor spot (in 2010)?

This is all “What If’s” just something to ponder.

Wisconsin State Supreme Court rulings favor open records, meetings

If the city of Cudahy doesn’t work out the agreement with Sportsites, the closed meeting may have an impact on the lawsuit.  The situation is different, but the ruling could be applied.  I am not a lawyer, so the specific meanings and exact ruling may not apply, but they might. The court says excluding the public from closed meetings doesn't automatically shield a government body from the open records and meeting request in a lawsuit.

Court rulings favor open records, meetings

Madison - The state Supreme Court said today that government bodies can't keep information from closed meetings from people involved in lawsuits.

The Supreme Court reversed a state appeals court finding that former Whitnall School District gifted and talented supervisor, Barbara Sands, was not entitled to information about what school board members said during a closed meeting about not renewing her contract.

The Supreme Court says people involved in lawsuits should be entitled to such information.  The court says excluding the public from closed meetings doesn't automatically shield a government body from those requests.

Full Story

Referendum wouldn't do what it promises

Citizens should have the opportunity to answer honest questions of public policy via referendum.  However, those who sell the proposed sales tax increase referendum as a property tax relief measure are bald-faced liars.

In 1911, Wisconsin imposed an income tax for the express purpose of property tax relief.  In 1962, a 3% sales tax on luxury goods was initiated to relieve rising property taxes.  In 1969, the sales tax expanded to include most other goods and the rate rose to 4%.  In 1982, the rate rose again to 5%.  In 1987, the lottery was sold as a tool to relieve property taxes.  In 1992, Milwaukee County added a 0.5% sales tax to relieve property taxes.  In every instance, property taxes continued to climb.

Referendum backers insult the intelligence of taxpayers.  Any sales tax increase only will clear room for the property tax to continue growing.  The Taxpayer Bill of Rights would have eliminated this dishonest tax shell game.  However, these same tax increase advocates worked against allowing TABOR to go to referendum, despite overwhelming public support.  That makes them not only liars, but hypocrites.

Funny how only tax increase proposals seem worthy to be put to the voters.

Chris Kliesmet

Executive administrator

Citizens for Responsible Government Network (CRG)

Milwaukee

While it is no surprise that they are moving it is still sad to see them and the jobs go.  Many of us cling to hopes they would stay, but they did state they wanted neutral ground and so we are losing them.  Better in Chicago then Dallas for Milwaukee.

I read the report in the Milwaukee Journal and saw the reports on TV and in the end, I think MONEY did play a part.

Congratulations to Chicago on landing MillerCoors.  Here are two stories one from Chicago Tribune and another from the Denver Post on their take.  Please read the full version, I pulled out some highlights.

Chicago Tribune

Beer tab too high for jobs?

MillerCoors gets $20 million in aid to bring 300-400 HQ jobs to Chicago

In the sweepstakes for landing corporate headquarters, Chicago won one Tuesday when a joint venture of two of the biggest U.S. beer operations announced it will call the city home.

Landing MillerCoors will add 300 to 400 jobs, a tiny number for an economy the size of Chicago's, economic development experts say.  Still, it's a symbolic victory for a city that values its identity as a business crossroads yet has witnessed an exodus of famous names over the past decade through corporate restructurings, among them Amoco, Ameritech and First Chicago.  Chicago's also won some contests, wooing such companies as Boeing from Seattle and United Airlines from the suburbs.

The company chose Chicago because it will have "access to an attractive base of talent, transportation and business resources," MillerCoors President Tom Long said in a statement, adding the company was "grateful" for Illinois' "support."

Merriman agreed winning MillerCoors is a symbolic victory.  "The question is whether the tax breaks are justified. The tax breaks are not symbolic."

The city has offered assistance to MillerCoors in the form of tax-increment financing.  The exact amount hasn't been determined, but Rita Athas, executive director of World Business Chicago, the city's economic development office, said it would likely be $2.5 million to $5 million.

The city has given similar TIF subsidies to other corporate relocations.  But such incentive packages have been criticized because TIFs were set up to fix blighted areas.

Illinois has lined up an $18 million assistance package, primarily involving income tax rebates.

Full Story

The Denver Post

Colorado gets canned for MillerCoors' HQ

MillerCoors has selected Chicago as its headquarters site, rebuffing pleas from metro Denver and Milwaukee to locate the lead corporate office in the historic homes of Coors and Miller beer.

In a consolation prize of sorts, the Coors brewery in Golden will get a $100 million capital infusion to update its brewing and packaging equipment.

The investment will enable the brewery to make both Coors and Miller brands — a key component of the recently completed merger of Coors' and Miller's U.S. operations.

The state of Illinois offered MillerCoors an $18 million incentive package, most of it from corporate income tax credits based on job creation over the next 15 years.

The city of Chicago also agreed to provide a financing package of undisclosed value that will provide tax breaks to MillerCoors if it locates the headquarters in an area targeted for economic development.

The office will be in the downtown area, Kiely said, but a site hasn't been selected.  Leased office space, new construction or purchase of an existing building are all under consideration, MillerCoors officials said.  The company hopes to open the headquarters by mid-2009.

Full Story

According to state law, motorists must have their headlights on during the period beginning 30 minutes after sunset until 30 minutes before sunrise.

"To increase headlight effectiveness, you should use high beams whenever there are no oncoming vehicles because high beams let you see twice as far," said State Patrol Superintendent David Collins.  "But you must dim your high beams whenever you approach an oncoming vehicle within 500 feet, which is a distance of about one city block.  High beams also should be dimmed when you are 500 feet or less behind another vehicle or when traffic is heavy.  Low beams should be used when driving in fog, snow or heavy rain because the light from high beams will reflect off the precipitation and cause glare.  Don't drive with only your parking lights on.  Parking lights are for parking only."

A citation for failing to use headlights when required or failing to dim high beams within 500 feet of another vehicle will cost drivers $148.20 plus three demerit points on their record.

Off Subject

People sometimes look at something and say it must be this because that is what I think it needs to be.  Others look at something and say it is this because that is the way it has to be.  I seem to have a knack that people give me credit of things I don’t do, but they think I did.  That is fine.  I get way too much credit for others hard work and that is not fine.  While supporters in many causes have the identity lost in the cause I would just like to thank those in the shadows of a cause. 

While some wear the mask of anonymous others don’t.  While some cloak themselves others don’t.  This goes out to all Tom, Dick, and Harrys’ who fight for a cause.  This goes out to the average Joe or the Jane Doe.  This goes to those in the grey area and those who stand out.  This goes to defending what you think is right when others say it is not.  This goes out to the supporters and those who are distracters.  This goes out to those who stand up and to those who prefer to sit. 

Thanks for the warmth of doing battle and thanks who don’t.  This goes out to those who stand by me and defend me.  This goes out to those who define their own way while seeing things differently.  While we will never all agree we can agree to disagree as reasonable people do.  While I cannot stop another persons action any more then I can change the day and night.  I can ask that those who do be respectful of others.

For once we are on different sides we might next time be on the same side.  For while we differed on an issue we were the same on the fight, just in opposite directions.  Again, a great big thanks goes out to those helping me and saying nice words and defending me.  A bigger thanks goes out to those defending the cause of whatever it may be.  I cannot and will not take the credit that is all yours.

Thanks.

Here is a place where I break from the Conservative view.

This is my letter to the Milwaukee County Zoo in June of 2007 about seeing if it could go smoke free and the response from them.

While visiting the Milwaukee County Zoo on two occasions this year I have noticed many people are walking around smoking in the zoo areas not designated for smoking and in enclosed exhibit areas.

Philip Morris, the nation's largest cigarette maker, believes secondhand smoke poses indoor health risks but smoking should be permitted outside, says spokesman Bill Phelps. He says the only exception should be areas intended for kids.

I do believe that most adults could conduct themselves in manors that a proper for smoking in the designated areas, but a few don’t.  Therefore smoking should be banned in all areas of the zoo.  The loss of the privilege, not a right to smoke, is forfeited because a few cannot follow the rules.  Just one cigarette butt, if ingested by a young child, can kill them with all the toxins left over.   I am sure the Milwaukee County Zoo’s insurance prohibits smoking in the enclosed areas.  The only way to truly enforce this policy is to ban smoking altogether.  This is a family place; let’s make it as safe as we can.

The zoo is filled with children of all ages, even Philip Morris’s spokesman Bill Phelps has stated that smoking in areas intended for kid poses health risks.  Your policy now states there is no smoking for all Zoo buildings and for the safety and enjoyment of your guests; smoking is discouraged throughout the park.  I do not see evidence of such discouragement as there are “designated smoking areas” throughout the park.  How can the Zoo discourage such behavior when it is actually catering to it?  The Milwaukee County Zoo needs to get with the program as the other County public facilities and stamp out the smoking.  This is not over-reacting, this is being proactive.  Don’t we care enough for our kids to do so?

Sincerely,

Randy Hollenbeck

We appreciate your comments and concerns regarding our new non-smoking policy, and we trust that our visitors will be patient with us during this time of transition for the Zoo. 

We have received many positive comments regarding our new designated smoking areas; but some issues still remain.  Our Zoo Director will be working with Zoo staff to help ensure that these areas are better enforced and followed by our guests.  Also, we are producing an insert explaining our new non-smoking policy that will be added to the Gate Brochure that all visitors receive upon entering the Zoo.  It is our intent to transition the Zoo from a smoking facility to a facility having only designated smoking areas, with the future hope that the Milwaukee County Zoo becomes entirely smoke-free.  We feel strongly that this is in the best interest of our visitors, as well as our animals.

Again, we appreciate and thank you for your suggestions, as they can only help us to better serve our visitors.

Jennifer Diliberti-Shea

Public Affairs

Milwaukee County Zoo

If in doubt    9-1-1

Here are phone numbers, just cut and paste the numbers of interest to you!

Police Department

Cudahy –

Emergency 911 or

Non-emergency (414) 769-2260

Parking permission (414) 744-3444

Fire Department

Cudahy Fire Department Fire Station One

4626 South Packard Avenue

Cudahy, Wisconsin  53110

414-769-2231

Cudahy Fire Department Fire Station Two

3115 East Ramsey Avenue

Cudahy, Wisconsin  53110

414-769-2233

American Association of Poison Control Centers

If you have a poisoning emergency, call

1-800-222-1222.

WE Energies - Wisconsin Electric Power Company

800-662-4PWR (4797)

Electric emergency, power outages

24 hours a day

800-261-LEAK (5325)

Gas leak, odor or emergency

24 hours a day

Or Call

Public Service

Gas Emergencies: 800-450-7280

Electric Emergencies: 800-450-7240

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)

Nationwide 770-488-7100

Digger’s Hotline

Statewide 800-242-8511

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Nationwide 800-426-4791

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

National Office 202-324-3000

State Office 414-276-4684

Information Sharing and Analysis Center (ISAC)

Nationwide 202-331-0479

National Spill Response Center

Nationwide 800-424-8802

Wis. Dept. of Health & Family Services

Statewide 800-222-1222

Wis. Emergency Management Agency

Statewide 800-943-0003

Wis. State Patrol- District 2 Office (Waukesha)

Jefferson, Kenosha, Milwaukee, Racine, Walworth and Waukesha Counties

262-785-4700

Food safety 608-224-4700

Financial and emotional counseling resources 1-800-942-2474 

This is more information to the comment posed by Joe Henika discussing my blog called Wave Center.  Here is what Joe said and an article from the Milwaukee journal/sentinel with key info missed in “Tax for Miller Park didn’t help economy.”

Randy might also want to check JS Online for the following article: "Tax for Miller Park didn't help economy" By MICHAEL ROSEN which was posted: April 19, 2008.  In it he covers the wonderful promises that are made about sport facilities vs. the results of actual college studies of their true economic impact.

Miller Park has provided many benefits to the Milwaukee area

By H. CARL MUELLER

Posted: May 17, 2008

Michael Rosen's column in a recent Sunday Crossroads section, which challenged the findings of an economic impact study of Miller Park, was factually incorrect on several key points.

The authors of the economic impact report, Dr. Leon Schur, professor emeritus of economics, and Dr. Swarnjit Arora, director of the UWM Institute of Survey and Policy Research at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, have done other economic impact reports and specifically addressed the issues raised by Rosen and other critics of such studies.

Rosen's conclusion that the Milwaukee Brewers do not have a positive economic impact on Milwaukee is incorrect.

When the Cardinals, Cubs or Twins are in town, our local restaurants and hotels are filled.  Baseball fans from around Wisconsin and nearby states come to Milwaukee on a regular basis because Miller Park offers a great value and fans are guaranteed the games will be played, rain or shine.  While they're here, they visit other attractions in the area. They also spend a lot of money here, a portion of which goes to pay for the ballpark.

Rosen made some serious mistakes in his critique of the Schur-Arora study, including:

• He cited previous studies by Robert Baade of Lake Forest College and unnamed others who challenge the economic impact of ballparks on local economies, but he failed to mention that those studies and criticisms were addressed directly in the Schur-Arora study.

• There have been other, more recent studies of economic impacts of All-Star games and Major League Baseball that document the positive impact on local economies.

• Rosen cited previous studies of the economic impact of public spending on sports facilities that show that such spending has little or no economic benefit.  These studies correctly raise several reasons for this lack of benefit, all of which are not relevant to the Schur-Arora study.  The principal objection is the so-called "substitution" effect.  This correctly holds that if a given tax had not been levied, the money would have remained in the pockets of taxpayers and spent within the area on other goods and services, including other recreational services.  The Schur-Arora study rendered this objection invalid by including only expenditures by fans from out-of-state and the five-county area that was taxed.

• Rosen also questioned the amount of spending by attendees from out-of-state and out-of-county.  The spending estimate was based on the Chamberlain study for the Wisconsin Legislature.  If Rosen has alternative information, he should make it public.

• Another objection raised by Rosen is that if the money taxed had not been spent on Miller Park, it would have been levied and spent on education or some alternative form of economic development.  I challenge Rosen to name a single political observer who believes that if the tax had not been levied to build Miller Park, it would have levied and spent on some other alternative.

Rosen raised several minor objections which are not relevant to the MLB report and are not significantly serious enough to merit refutation.

The bottom line is that the UWM researchers were careful with their numbers.  For Rosen to state that "Brewers baseball doesn't increase the aggregate amount of entertainment spending in southeastern Wisconsin; it simply redistributes it from one form of entertainment to another," shows that he failed to read the report and failed to do his homework.

Miller Park has been built and, at last observation, is still standing.  It has generated record fan attendance, no doubt driven by visiting fans from other Midwestern locales, enthusiasm throughout Wisconsin and the region, deserved recognition at a national and even international level and, as the MLB study demonstrated, extremely important economic and quality of life benefits.

Rather than continuing to beat a dead horse, as the Rosen article did, should we not join together in a constructive effort to promote the greater economic development of the region and state?

H. Carl Mueller has served as a public relations consultant for the Milwaukee Brewers and Major League Baseball.

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=751682

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,

The high gas prices Milwaukee saw a few years ago (2002-2003), boosting our prices to California prices, was a test by the oil industry to see what price people would still pay for gas.  What better place to test then Milwaukee, Wisconsin a test bed, if it sells here, it will sell elsewhere.  High prices are here to stay, we proved it years ago.

There is enough oil, but we cannot turn it into gas.  The gas refineries do this to fatten the bottom line.  Our problem is the oil companies control the refineries as well.  Gas does not follow the supply and demand that we all learned about in school. 

Oil futures shot to a new record above $100 Tuesday for the first time since Jan. 3 as investors bet prices will keep climbing despite evidence of plentiful supplies and falling demand.

Just a search on Google for “oil jumps” gives us these and more:

Oil jumps more than $2 on U.S. spending report

Oil climbs $2 on surprise drop in supplies

Oil jumps on US stockpile report

Oil jumps 3 percent on supply worries, weak dollar

Oil Jumps on Turkish Iraq Incursion

Oil jumps $4 on central bank move

Oil jumps $4 after pipeline blast

Crude oil jumps $2 barrel on gas concerns

Oil higher on possible strong dollar

Oil jumps more than $1 - Oil pipeline fire kills 2 in Minn.

Oil jumps as Opec refuses to lift production

Crude jumps nearly $3 after mortgage plan; natural gas rallies ...

Oil and Gas jump holiday time

Oil jumps $3 on central bank plan, U.S. stock draw

Oil jumps after attack on U.S. ships, Ecuador halt

Oil jumps to $98 on winter fear - New Jersey Gas Prices

Oil Jumps on News of Nigerian Strike

Oil jumps on tough Iran talk

Oil Jumps As Saudis Shift Policy

Oil jumps $4 after Canada-U.S. pipeline fire

Oil prices push up higher by speculation that there wouldn't be enough when summer driving season begins.  Memorial Day opens that season.  Oil can jump on anything even fear.  Only if the U.S. were in a recession, then it would bring down the price of oil and gas.

It once was if oil moved up so did gas.  That is not necessarily the case now.  Crude oil makes up about 45% of the price of gas; federal, state and local taxes are 23%.  The rest mainly goes to refineries, with a few percent to retailers.

High gas prices raise questions of gouging and when they are found guilty, they get a slap on the wrist.  So where is that money going?  Are profiteers manipulating the market?  Economists say oil producers and refiners, not gas stations, are reaping a windfall.  Judging by history and laws of the market, it will be very hard to find evidence of impropriety if you truly want to look for it.

Collusion: The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has investigated the U.S. oil industry several times over the years but did not find that companies worked together to raise gasoline prices.

It is not illegal under U.S. law for a company to act on its own to restrict supplies or close a refinery that may lead to higher pump prices.  Oil companies are also permitted to practice so-called "zone pricing," where they charge different gasoline prices in a specific location or city, which often result in pump costs being higher at service stations located just blocks apart.

Gasoline could go from 10% ethanol up to 20%

Algae for Fast-Growing Biodiesel

A Texas plant scientist and entrepreneur thinks the microscopic algae plant, aka pond scum, could be the next big thing in the energy sector. About 50 percent of an algae plant is oil that could be used to create biodiesel to fuel vehicles.

Glen Kertz's innovation is a patented system called "Vertigro," in which algae is cultivated in long rows of vertically hanging, movable plastic bags.  This system optimizes surface area for growth, yielding 100,000 gallons of oil per year per acre.

Kertz says that cultivating algae is another way to derive useful energy from solar power, and that his solution could help deal with global warming.  Algae plants are among the world's fastest-growing plant species.

More cars use pricier premium gas