Category Archives: Milwaukee Economy

SDC: Scandal, Deception, Chaos plagues the Social Development Commission.

Posted by Wonder Woman on

SDC:  Scandal, Deception, Chaos plagues the Social Development Commission.

Taking a closer look at the largest poverty resource agency in Wisconsin and their accountability in Milwaukee.

SDC, The Social Development Commission has come under fire lately for some of its practices, spending, and accountability.

Suppose I were to tell you Governor Scott Walker used and flew in the most expensive consultants from Michigan, treated his staff to aromatherapy, lavish parties with expensive menus and party frills, provided dental and mental health evaluations for administration and his staffers, okayed first-class flights for incoming consultants, and despite having qualified staff, used outside contractors costing the state $633,999 you would be outraged! Recall would be eminent.

This is exactly what is going down at SDC right now.

The Journal Sentinel too has reported on some unsettling discrepancies within SDC. One example being that $20,000 was spent training the board on new policy governance which the board untimely did not use because the policy change gave the CEO way too much power with little oversight. $20,000 up in smoke! Imagine if a government official did this. There would be outrage and recalls and heads would roll. But SDC kept on moving with very little mention of this waste. Money that could have been used for the poor, money desperately needed in these tough economic times. Debacles like this are of the utmost importance to us especially in the Black community because we depend on these services heavily to help make ends meet or to survive at all. With the Black unemployment rate being so high in Milwaukee, the services that SDC provide are critical to inner city families, single parent homes, and the elderly.

Some of the assistance SDC provides are Head Start, service to the elderly, energy assistance, tax preparation services, Wisconsin Works, Ways to Work, and the W-2 emergency assistance to families to list a few. Some of their programs have been suspended or ended because of financial issues or in the case of Ways to Work, too many delinquent accounts caused the program to collapse. They service a good number of people who desperately need these resources to stay alive literally. They also have other programs designed to strengthen the family, assist those who need help for addiction education, and sponsorship of programming for the community by the community.

Money is scarce and to waste thousands to hundreds of thousands is unconscionable.

SDC has come under fire because of their accountability, releasing an internal audit showing many flaws in the agency’s bookkeeping and accounting specifically. Some issues are being corrected like filing for charitable non-profit status, others still await attention. These flaws directly impact the monies available to the poor, keep possible donors from giving to the organization, and question the group’s commitment and intergrity to the community the agency claims to serve religiously.

SDC’s CEO, Deborah Blanks defends the agency’s practices and activities. She oversees $54 million dollars of SDC’s budget. Her current salary is $144,000. That is quite a hefty salary for an anti-poverty agency CEO. Some board members including Fred Royal Jr. (and remember that name), defend Blanks and SDC’s actions and believe this is a media attack, but is he right? Not in the least bit!! It is called accountability and caring about the very community we see as needing protection from predators that see agencies like SDC as stomping grounds for their cavalier lifestyles. No Mr. Royal Jr. this is not an attack, this is called protecting our fellow neighbor in need.

Using the same analogy with Governor Walker in the opening, we in the Black community would have been outraged! To know that a poverty agency tasked to help a sadly growing number of poor in Milwaukee seeing fit to spend money without caution or best practices is even worse. It is almost criminal. Our lack of outrage is also very upsetting to me. Reading the Milwaukee Community Journal the other day, the “Question of the Day” responses had no problems with the revelations of the SDC. I personally was sickened by it. Sometimes I think we forget about others and as long as we have been helped, who cares? We need to care! We can no longer live by the code that “I got mine, better get yours” mentality. People made fun of those lined up last week in preparation for the WE Energy moratorium lift but why is that funny? Regardless of our judgment of those people, they still needed assistance. Families needed energy and electricity and so we should laugh at their plight not truly knowing what their plight may be? This is what I saw constantly in the last weeks posted in social media chat rooms and networks, judgment and laughter. When one thinks of it, we may never know when that person we laugh at may be one of us.

Promise and Hope

Courageously some of the SDC board members have spoken out against the waste and lack of good oversight in SDC programming. They think it could run more efficiently and provide better service to more of the poor if the SDC would get its act together. They are actively seeking resolution to the issues facing the organization. Just by their courage to voice their concerns, change is eminent I pray.

SDC is no stranger to controversial spending and unfair practices. For example some summers ago during a scorching hot heat wave, SDC board members gave away air conditioners to family and friends instead of the elderly it was supposed to give them to. Some of these elderly people died in that heat wave. SDC was slapped on the hand but no one saw jail time. In fact one of those who did this went on to be honored as a community hero. I won’t name the person since they have left this earth and cannot defend themselves.  Another board member who did this is still in public service and was never reprimanded for her role in this scheme. Those who remember this horrific episode know exactly who I am referring to. It has been over a decade now and this board is not that same board. However with the board at odds with SDC practices, one wonders how SDC can serve the poor until it cleans its fiscal house? Blanks, who has held this position an adequate amount of time, allowed for these issues to fester causing possible loss of funding. She oversaw the hiring of someone unqualified by SDC standards to manage a program minus a degree the position required, and bends the rules as she sees fit.  Exactly how long do we continue to let her and those who agree with her to manage $54 million dollars if they have proven they are not good stewards of the poor and defenseless? Maybe SDC needs to clean house altogether.

Where SDC is at Now

As it stands SDC stands to loose its funding for Head Start and will have to bid on the program. This program serves over 3000 children and was designed to help little ones reach their maximum potential. The end result is to have these children at the same learning potential as their counterparts that we find are already at or above national kindergarten standard abilities. These kids need Head Start and without it or some type of programming similar to it will face a terrible uphill climb alone.

As an aside even President Obama is working to fix Head Start as many educators and experts in early learning education have reported that Head Start has become an outdated and an ineffective program that needs major reworking. President Obama has assigned a task force and finances to help the Federal program retool its curriculum and revise its outcomes-based goals to once again better meet the needs of those in the program. Locally many area daycares and childcare centers are no longer using the Head Start Program because of the inadequacy of the curriculum and are now using alternative educational methods that have shown aggressive and proven results preparing young ones to compete and excel at a much higher level once they reach school age.

Back to SDC

SDC’s board is comprised of 18 members, 6 members from community agencies, 6 members from the community at large, and 6 members holding public office. Two member positions remain vacant at present. For board member information see the inserted link:

http://www.cr-sdc.org/About/BoardofCommissioners.htm

The Executive Team:

http://www.cr-sdc.org/About/ExecutiveTeam.htm

Some board members say SDC would be more efficient if it was accountable and transparent in its business practices. It needs to hold program directors accountable to acceptable standards, and spend wisely. As we all know given this economy, agencies like SDC are overwhelmed with the number of those in need. They are the first responders for poverty assistance and need to take this position with more seriousness now more than ever before.

Family we need to be the advocates for the poor always. What is going on at SDC needs to be addressed immediately and vigorously. The poor in our community depend on us to be their voice as they find ways to stay above water. This means contacting SDC and being vigilant about SDC’s progress in dealing with their accountability issues. No more first class flights or aromatherapy, this is money better spent helping more people find resources to make ends meet. As it is often said silence is compliance. Let us voice loudly our concern for the poor and helpless. Let us make SDC a more reliable source in the fight against poverty and show compassion in its work.

For more about SDC and contact information lease visit the link below.

http://www.cr-sdc.org/index.htm

Peace Family,

WW

Wonder Woman Speaks to the Candidates: Milwaukee County District 5

Posted by Wonder Woman on

Image

Russell Stamper II: I Am Prepared

Stamper has taken a leave of absence from the Social Development Commission (SDC), where he was a community liaison. He said his academic background—he earned an MBA from Cardinal Stritch University—and his work at SDC would help him balance the diverse needs of District 5.

Stamper said the Downtown area is mostly comprised of businesses with economic concerns, while the residents of the rest of the district are mostly focused on jobs, foreclosed homes and safety.

He said his top issues are fiscal responsibility, finding a dedicated funding source for transit and helping businesses to become sustainable job providers.

He said he would reduce duplication of services provided by the county and other municipalities and take a balanced approach to budgeting, so that the burden of reduced services is fair and the most important programs are protected.

Stamper said he wanted to encourage employment in the district, since most of the new jobs are created outside of Milwaukee, which is out of reach for those who take public transit. He said he would work to expand opportunities to develop the 30th Street Corridor, which runs through the district, and the Park East land owned by the county. He said he would also encourage more small businesses to launch and ask residents to patronize the small businesses in the district.

“I have prepared myself for this moment through my education and my work in the community,” Stamper said.

To learn more about Russell Stamper II, go to Russell Stamper II for 5th District County Supervisor on Facebook.

Nurses group endorse Stamper for County Supervisor
“The Wisconsin Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals (WFNHP) recently announced its endorsement of Russell Stamper II for Milwaukee County Supervisor, 5th District.
“Mr. Stamper is a strong advocate for healthcare workers’ and patients’ rights,” said Candice Owley, president of the WFNHP. “We need more strong, dedicated progressives like Russell on the County Board to continue to improve the healthcare services provided by Milwaukee County.
Owley added that Stamper will be a great asset to his constituents and to all those who are a part of the Milwaukee County healthcare system.

A REAL COMMITMENT TO TRANSPORTATION is essential to our economic and environmental future. We must maintain adequate county bus lines so that our residents can get to and from home, work and appointments.

PROMOTING HOME OWNERSHIP AND STOPPING FORECLOSURES.
I believe that we must work with the Department of Neighborhood Services and their Vacant Building Registration program, WHEDA, Common Ground, and Habitat for Humanity, to help maintain home ownership and make vacant, nuisance properties a distant memory.

ESTABLISHING BUSINESS AS A SUSTAINABLE JOB PROVIDER.
The 5th District has a wealth of thriving businesses; it is our job to patronize these businesses and allow our dollars to remain in our community.

Russell Stamper II is one of Milwaukee’s native sons. His family instilled in him a legacy of service and commitment to strengthening Milwaukee communities and empowering its residents. Russell’s father served as a city of Milwaukee judge for many years; prior to her death his mother was a professor at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and an MPS administrator. Russell is a graduate of Messmer High School and Alabama State University. Upon graduating from Alabama State with his Bachelors of Science, he returned to Milwaukee and completed his MBA at Cardinal Stritch University.

Taken from the Shepherd Express

Russell is a lifelong Sherman Park resident, and spent several years serving on its board. For nine years Russell served as the Program Supervisor for New Concept Self Development Center, where he managed and administered effective delivery of adult and youth social service programs. His most recent position of service was with SDC as a Community Liaison. His primary focus was to address the immediate needs of Milwaukee county residents with resources such as: job training, emergency assistance, GED attainment, driver’s license acquisition and reinstatement. This was all done with the goal of helping residents become more self sufficient. Russell mentors many youth throughout the city, and spends a lot of his weekends refereeing MPS basketball games.

Russell lives in the Sherman Park area with his wife Latoya.

http://voterussellstamper11.com/

Russell Stamper II has dedicated his life to continuing a legacy of service instilled in him by his parents. He is dedicated and committed to serving the residents of Milwaukee County’s 5th district and would appreciate your vote on February 21, 2012Signifyin’: Wanted: More Tree Shakers

by Mikel Kwaku Osei Holt

Dear Russell Stamper II:

Congratulations. It has been with great anticipation that I waited for you and others from the class of 1994 to officially stake your claim as emerging Black leaders. You are now the second from your class to enter the political arena, as a candidate for the Milwaukee County Board’s 5th supervisory seat to be vacated by Lee Holloway.

I should say from the outset that I’m somewhat at a loss in explaining to you the mess we’ve left you with. Brothers and sisters of my era fought beyond measure with the hope that we would leave the world a better place for the next generation. Instead, it looks like we’ve left you a Black community in a state of total disrepair and dysfunctionality.

When you and your classmates were growing up, it seemed as if our quest for basic civil rights and equality of opportunity were within reach. We knocked down most of the barriers, and slightly cracked open the doors of Black empowerment. It was our hope to implant the seeds in your generation to take the struggle to the next level.

I remember attending your graduation and telling someone seated next to me that your class represented what W.E.B. Dubois had called the “Talented Tenth.” Your smiling faces and confident demeanors illuminated the Messmer High School auditorium. My son, and your best friend Malik, was part of that class, and the fact nine out of 10 of you were headed to college, successful careers and leadership positions was a foregone conclusion. A few years of seasoning and we would confidently hand over the reigns and the future of the Black community to you.

Unfortunately, while most of your classmates fulfilled your end of the bargain, we kinda fell short. We blinked, turned our backs, let our guards down and when we looked up again, the Black community was in shambles.

Before we could pay off our cultural debts, the community we invested our life’s work into building collapsed like a snowman in July.

Before we knew what was happening, a large segment of the community gave up on our African culture, our time tested mores and even on our quest for equality. They either forgot what we were fighting for, or became drunk off the Kool-Aid of social and economic dependency.

One day we were talking about community control, and the next day we were being controlled by the larger community.

Apparently, someone lied and said we had won the fight, when in reality we merely exchanged chains.

Our community stepped backwards into the shadow of poverty, and let the missionaries and special interests redirect the Freedom Train– dropping us off at Misery Avenue and Hopeless Drive.

Poverty pimps took over our neighborhoods (along with foreign merchants and payday loan stores). We threw marriage and morality out the door, and turned on each other while the media told us how to think, dress, speak, act and even how to willingly accept the miseducation of our children.

Much to my chagrin, we left you a situation far worse than what confronted us in 1994: 50% drop out rate, forth most impoverished state in the country, nation leading teen pregnancy, out of wedlock birth, infant mortality and Black incarceration rates.

It’s a perplexing situation, but not a hopeless one.

One important piece of the puzzle is that new political leadership must emerge, not only to address the external factors that plague us, but also to break the cultural chains that bind us.

That means if elected, you must redefine the role of politician to become an elected leader.

Fortunately your unique upbringing, world vision and cultural foundation make you uniquely qualified for the job. A culturally attuned education, supplemented by community activities and strong mentors has grounded you. You have also had the advantage of being brought up in a superior Black nuclear family, including a father who is a culturally attuned judge and a mother who was an educational pioneer who specialized in African culture and linguistics.

And at every step of your journey you were advised and mentored by strong community leaders and were a willing recipient of their wisdom.

You turned out all right, my village son, along with the other members of the Talented Tenth we hope will soon join you in the battle to reclaim Black America.

And that’s exactly what is at stake. It’s not simply a political position you seek, but a position of leadership, trust and responsibility. Black Milwaukee doesn’t need another accountant to balance the governmental budgets or beg for crumbs to moderate our pain. We need a visionary, an advocate for Black Milwaukee and a field general who is willing to put his soul on the line for Black people.

We need someone to advocate and raise questions about why Milwaukee leads the nation in seven negative social indicators, and unabashedly point fingers at the culprits, whether it is them, or us. We need someone to join the ranks of the few Black politicians who put the people before their political party, and finally, we need someone who is willing to challenge his Black colleagues to come together around an agenda, and to put to the fire the feet of those who bury their heads in the sand.

That latter point continues to loom like an invisible vulture over the Black community. A case in point:

Several years ago the state was deciding how to distribute over $4 billion in federal stimulus money. As it turned out, Black politicians were not even at the table. Lenard Wells, Jason Fields and I (at the time pundits on a weekly talk show on WMCS-1290) issued a joint challenge to our legislative corps to develop an agenda with specific dollar amounts to ensure the Black community got its fair share; whether it took the form of business investment capital, job development or a mini-Marshall Plan created specifically for a Black workforce. We asked the Black reps to take a stance and refuse to vote on a budget that didn’t earmark funds for the Black community.

They not only ignored that sensible plea, but also couldn’t even come together to discuss the proposal. As a result, the Black community got nothing. Not even an IOU for our blind faith in the system.

Since then, how many times have you heard a Black politician, much less a ‘unity caucus,’ decry the 55.8% Black male unemployment rate? Can you recall the last person or group to call for a state of emergency when it was announced the city has the fourth highest poverty rate in the country? Last week, it was announced Milwaukee fourth graders continue to have the worse reading and math scores of any Black children in the United States of America. Not a noun, verb or adjective out of anyone.

It’s as if acceptance of our abysmal state is the new norm. Or maybe they don’t have any answers. Or maybe they feel impotent.

Whatever the case, it’s become apparent that silence has not served us well and the plight of the Black community has become a passing thought even to some Black elected officials.

Simply put, Russ, we need more tree shakers and fewer excuse makers. We need someone to take the city, county and state to task, to scream from the highest mountain and take our issues to the national level if necessary. We need another Mike McGee who is willing to threaten boycotts and throw verbal hand grenades until someone starts to listen and something is done.

The reality is we’re not on anyone’s priority list. No political party, no special interest, no branch of government. And that’s not going to change until we have bold leadership that puts our interest before the status quo.

I don’t have the solutions. But I’m among the last few hundred that can help come up with some if we have someone to channel them through. I also strongly believe we need fresh ideals, new energy and a youthful spirit. That’s where you come in.

Your right hand must shake a mighty fist, while your left should be extended to point the Black community back in the right direction. You must be a 24-7 role model, advocate for Black youth, champion of Black business and provocateur for Black self determination and empowerment.

You come from an excellent family, have the right education and motivation and are culturally grounded. Yours was a household where Kwanzaa was celebrated, and Black history was taught and understood. You attended schools that stressed community service and critical thinking. And your resume is ripe with community involvement, political awareness and Africentric values.

All of that said, I’m ready to hand you the baton, to clear the path and to push and prod. If you’re in this race to improve the quality of life for Black Milwaukeeans, as I wholeheartedly believe, I’ll be with you every step of the way.

Hotep.

http://www.communityjournal.net/?p=18977

WW Says…

I would like to thank Mr. Stamper for taking time to provide insight into this campaign, especially for the people in District 5.

Statements from the other candidate for this district where not made available at the time of press.

At this time I will disclose that I am endorsing Mr. Stamper for this seat. I do not live in District 5, but as a concerned county resident, this district needs some serious, well-vetted leadership and work to restore it as an economically viable presence in this city.

Peace Family,

WW

Housing and the government solution?

Posted by Little tortillas on

Crony capitalism combined with big government solutions is a bad mix, this is the legacy of Democrats from New York to Detroit and yes here in Milwaukee. It sucks the vitality out of our communities and harms the good families that sustain them.

Ribs, Recalls, and Reality. Milwaukee Blacks Wined & Dined for Votes!

Posted by Wonder Woman on

Ribs, Recalls, and Reality

August 2nd the group “Wisconsin Jobs Now” held a barbecue with free prizes and food aimed at potential Black voters in a part of the highly contested district of Alberta Darling who is facing Sandy Pasch. The effort fed people then took them to vote absentee afterwards. This activity is being questioned as to its legality since bribery is forbidden in our voting process. However these tactics have never stopped groups like ACORN or Citizen Action of Wisconsin and others from bribing people, namely Blacks in the past. Remember the “Smokes for Votes” in the Gore/Bush presidential race? In 2000, Connie Milstein of New York, provided homeless Milwaukeeans cigarettes in exchange for their “Democratic” support/vote. She was fined $5000 for her lethal campaign. Subsequently, the Milwaukee Police Department released a damning report about the state of voting and election fraud in Milwaukee city. The report exposed voting fraud in Milwaukee and the lack of action to thwart these attempts from either the Government Accountability Board or Milwaukee’s Election Commission.

But here we are again, Black folk whoring out the tiny bit of Darling’s district that is Black not for cigarettes but ribs. FOR RIBS? Seriously? And you wonder why people want to see ID’s? We didn’t sell out for jobs (because Pasch helped them get away), not for OUR community (because she had to use a GPS tracker to find us), not to say sorry about not honoring those college tuition reimbursements Doyle and her party trotted out last time and NEVER delivered on. I guess she figured the best she could do was offer a healthy “alternative” in ribs and hope to smooth over the whole “jobs /college thing” as if it was no big damn deal. Yes she does have direct ties to these organizations so she might as well have helped Speed Queen glaze the ribs herself!

Darling took the hardline and stood with Walker on the Collective Bargaining agreement. There is no need to rehash the events that followed. There is a need to point out all that has come from the historic votes and events that occurred thereafter.

  • Schools and local municipalities that did not make back door agreements with unions saw unexpected savings in their budgets. Those schools no longer were forced to work with WEA Trust, the union entity that charged extreme premiums for healthcare plans. With this savings they are now able to keep positions that were once on the chopping block, re-fund extinct or soon to be extinct programs.
  • Union members did not voluntarily sign up for memberships like we were told they would which showed that many union members were forced into the unions and when offered the chance to keep their memberships, they opted out. The unions are now going door to door begging and pleading for payments and union dues.
  • Walker also caught a break because Illinois chose to go the route our Democratic leadership wanted us to take, that being the route of tax hikes and increased fees. Businesses from all over Illinois are flocking to Wisconsin for relief and therefore bringing jobs, a healthy tax base, and prosperity to our state.
  • Our new found popularity across the nation also increased tourism and filed the hotels and attractions. Guess folks wanted to see what the hell is wrong with Wisconsin. They came for the fight but stayed for the after party!!
  • Homeowners and tax payers are not seeing increases in services and instead are able to depend on at least a few more years of financial freedom from a ridiculous tax burden.
  • We began to pay our debts to neighboring states and replenish the Dem/Pasch raped Patient Health Care Fund that the Dems had no intention of paying back.
  • For the months of May to June, Wisconsin created over 9000 jobs and voted to extend unemployment. We did good!

However Sandy Pasch and the Dems would have you to believe Wisconsin is a doomed forbidden rotting wasteland! That is simply not the case. We are moving FORWARD!!! If not than why would Lena Taylor and the 14 fleeing Dems support Milwaukee’s new cadillac streetcar if we were so desolate and forsaken? Because we can!! (Although to me that is still debatable.) You don’t see them out there screaming to the world that Wisconsin is closed for business right now. No more “Ed Show” or MSNBC fame and fortune. You want to know why that is? In part because it is tourism season and that is taboo. Secondly, they just do not have  the factual evidence to support such nonsense! They would be telling a lie even they could not get away with.

Pasch is part of the old Doyle regime of tax and spend until it hurts, and then tax some more. Her recall effort was to stick, jab and duck. She never discussed her insane voting record that inferred she never had a thought of her own and was void of any deep leadership qualities. Darling on the other hand takes it on the chin and keeps fighting. She has proposed legislation for our seniors and for our kids. Among her many battles she has proven herself a gladiator in the good old boys Wisconsin boxing ring.

Sandy is in this for Sandy alone. Let’s not get it twisted. She has not shown a care for us and nor will she ever. Darling, she is a politician. I am not a fool, but she has shown support across the aisle and across Lake Drive and her record speaks to that. Pasch went on all the radio shows and line for line recited her script of how Alberta Darling was the “devil incarnate” and how she would be the savior of us all.

Who wants to go back to the past Ms. Pasch? Please answer that question. And Mr. Ingram cannot help you answer; this one is all on you. Depleted funds, owing other states so we become like Obama and crew owing the Asians, taxing businesses to demise, raiding funds, small Black business owners not having any power or finances to fight for what’s left of the inner city, not making good on promises to OUR youth to get them into college. Sure we want to go back to that place. That and a plate of ribs to go please and thank you! NOT!

To the little part of Darling’s district that is Black; did you sell out your vote? Who thought getting a plate of ribs was worth their integrity? Did you bother to ask whitey if he would reimburse those college tuitions like he promised us? Or did you just do a little happy dance and smile for the white cameras, eating your barbeque like good little negro soldiers? Or did you take your plate and get on the bus, no questions asked? If it had been Walker or Darling would you have screamed racism? Since it was the Dems they got the Black access pass? I guess 2012 will bring us malt liquor or Icecube and Coors? What y’all want next time? Fried chicken from JJ’s? They will get it for you as long as you keep delivering your souls/votes and never cash in on the promises they make over and over again.

Black people, I am telling you we are worth more than cigarettes and the ribs we took in exchange for our pride and self-worth. We deserve better from both parties but going back to what was, is not sending a message to anyone other than our pocket books. A vote for Pasch to get back at Scott Walker won’t be felt until many years from now if at all. If you had been waiting to get payback, maybe taking a minute or two to see what was and what is, could benefit you and me. You don’t have to trust me; the facts are issued by the state and the feds. Even Obama is hanging his hat on us to save his own behind. You calling him a liar? Investigate for yourselves and be freed!! The numbers do not lie, the countless businesses moving here do not lie, and the school districts no longer beholden to their beloved unions do not lie. We are mending a broken Wisconsin.

Is there more work that needs to be done, hell yes!! We didn’t defeat Evilina and can now start singing “Can you feel a brand new day…” We are not there yet. We have only just begun, but we have to pledge our allegiance to us and not to the mighty “unions inc!” who poured hundreds of millions of dollars into the state to get their cookies back. If you do not like the Koch brothers, than you should really hate the fact that unions spent all this money to get back their playground at your expense. Think about it…The 2012 elections are right around the corner and if the unions had this much for small potato recalls in one battle ground state, something’s burning and it ain’t the ribs evidently. They had too much damn money, more than any Koch, more than Scott Walker, more than Darling or the others facing recalls, more than the entire state put together! That is a lot of power and money. If we were facing reality we would be honest and say maybe Scott Walker, on this one issue, had a point. Say it in secret and watch how good it feels to actually be stating a truth. Maybe you will join me and start saying it out loud. Watch out now!!

Seems we just do not want to admit our wrongs. What are you afraid of? Lena Taylor won’t like you? We might catch a break? You might not have to pay more for wheel taxes and photo ID fees and whatever else they can think to tax or increase? In this case whether you like the man or not, Walker made the right choice and fought the right enemy, so did Alberta Darling and so did all those who stood their ground in the face of a most nasty political fight. We are still here. Don’t let the ribs take you back to ground zero. Hell Speed Queen ain’t even that good anymore. It certainly is not worth my vote. If you are going to wine me and dine me, it’s got to be steak or lobster and nothing short of that will suffice.

Now let’s continue this movement and walk in reality and leave the ribs and the other white man’s poisons alone and get together on this road to recovery. We can do this but it takes some healthy discourse and not the crap spewed all over the TV, the radio, the billboards, and everywhere else the unions, Pelosi, and the Dems think we be at. We are not owned and the unions have shown beyond a reasonable doubt that they have been sucking us dry for far too long. They are the evil rich!! Now it is time to give them a reality check and give this governor the okay to keep moving in the current direction. And to be perfectly clear (for those of you who seem to want to tie me on the man’s buttock constantly) I am not in agreement with Walker 100%. We got work to do on him, but moving backwards to prove a point is not the answer.

Reality vs. Ribs? Which one will win? I hope at least y’all had the beef ribs or did you partake of the swine?

Peace Family,

WW

PS….A BIG THANK YOU to all those who came out to support the Frederick Alexander Meade event. More to come but I could not rush that piece. It was too significant to be rushed. It was historic, magnificent, sealed and anointed by God and thank you to The Milwaukee Drum and Earl Ingram for giving me the tools to help get the event its proper due. Thank you Milwaukee!! WE did it, YOU did it, Meade indeed did it!!

 

For more information on the Ribs for Votes Debacle:

http://maciverinstitute.com/2011/08/free-bbq-and-prizes-for-voters-raise-questions-of-legality-collusion/

A $treetcar Named $egregation

Posted by Wonder Woman on

Family I am telling you I am neither against streetcars nor urban development. However I am against development for the city that is void any meaningful, deep exchange and void all representatives of the city at the table (not including aldermen as the single Black voice, we are not the Borg, we don’t all look and think alike). I understand there were “stake holders” at the streetcar meetings, but yet no one has named as of this blog, one Black business person or Black organization that attended or were welcomed at ongoing discussions regarding the streetcar. However I find it peculiar that off the top of their head Alderman Kovac and his legion had 150 emails of support which included area business leaders and groups that were not invested into the entire city of Milwaukee. Some of these supporters bragged about their countless hours of meetings. So to be blunt the inner city was absent in these discussions unless you include the alder people, who may or may not have been given a bone. Just mere speculation.

Addendum to Streetcar Named Debt

What we did not know last week regarding debt is that ATT & WE Energies will either find a way for the city to pick up their expenses, including consultant fees and the ripping up of streets and removal and restoring their lines elsewhere. Those utilities have said they could pass on those costs to the customers, you and I. The city is looking into tax hikes and other solutions to finance this piece of the project which is not included into some of the figures we have seen from the city.

Instead of spending money on the streetcars this pothole ridden city should first repair streets and help neighborhood business districts.

The city is spending a lot of money to benefit very few people, white people. This proposal does not pass one Black business or person unless you ride the train frequently and live in the downtown district. My apologies to all 5 of you brothers and sisters!!

Ongoing Operating Costs

Big capital spending has to make sense for the long term!

Unforeseen costs and higher project rates for ongoing and implementation expenditures could mean a loss of city services or tax increases to residents of the city. Loss of services could include fire and police, city services, road maintenance, tax hikes, MPS support. Those of us who were outraged at Walker should take note of these operating costs if we are serious about the need to improve MPS. You will be deciding if MPS or streetcars are more important.

Additional Expenses

What about all the money we just spent in the same proposed area for bike paths, costing millions? We are going to rip those up to lay tracks? The paint isn’t even good and dry on those fancy bike paths.

Due to our weather, street bulking and other maintenance cost could be astronomical. We already have severe pothole damage, imagine a streetcar and the mess from the tracks.

MCTS VS. Streetcars

Busses can go around traffic delays, streetcars must wait behind street obstructions further slowing their travel times.

Speed and reliability are eternal values; going forth, people will still choose a faster service over a slower one. The “on-the-go” business person will not be patient; they will opt for the faster more reliable product.  If we need proof, we need only look at Amtrak and how pretty and empty it is. It has not seen a profit, nor will it, but it does see subsidies, you and I picking up the tab. Looking in to my crystal ball I am not certain people will choose an electric vehicle on rails over a bus of the same size and shape, with many of the same characteristics, running on tires.  MCTS and the county have worked hard to make our busses look sleek, run smooth, be green compliant, and you can even watch TV onboard. They have bike racks and kneel easily for the disabled.

But operations in mixed traffic in the slow lane are only going to get slower and less reliable as traffic increases with development.  The cost of ongoing maintenance and upkeep or development of the streetcars will also play in the aforementioned loss of services or tax hikes. MCTS is the heart of urban city life. Already the feds and state will be cutting aid and if the city follows suit than we will see higher costs in fares and possibly a competition between the two which would pit the bus rider against a small number of streetcar riders that are only going in a few places for the next few years to a decade until expansion is created or the streetcar fails.

Studies can be found supporting coexistence of both, or support for one over the other. It depends on which you prefer to side with. However I am going to use the debate from the past weeks as my premise for Milwaukee’s streetcar debate. Based on the somewhat loosely racist comments, I am choosing not to support the streetcar of debt and segregation. After I got past the financial components, I started to really listen to the mostly white audience and their message was pretty clear! We want to get away from you negros not help you get closer to us. There were a few who were generally streetcar enthusiasts, but a bit naive.

Eco Friendly

The only green in this proposal will be the green coming out of your pockets.

Segregation Streetcar

In my opinion the current streetcar proposal seeks to bring “wanted” visitors to Milwaukee’s downtown business district. To make this streetcar “user friendly” they must eradicate the “unwanted.” As possible riders theoretically move in, we will be moved out.

 Remember what happened at Northridge? Well the same arguments are being made here. This small starter rail some are now calling “white rail” is the catalyst to making downtown and surrounding areas more attractive to potential streetcar riders. These areas would fill up with businesses dedicated to those riders and not so much to MCTS riders. We see MLK is already aligned with condos and some unaffordable living spaces. We can then speculate the blight will be replaced with even more white sprawl and businesses. The last thing the city would want is ghettos in their cherished business district that would “scare off” potential home/condo owners and consumers.

The Promise of What’s to Come

The city, Mayor Barrett and Alderman Kovac specifically promise this starter car will create even more development and therefore connect us to jobs and businesses in time. Alderman Kovac says that once the streetcar is built there is intention to keep developing to the inner city, Bronzeville, Walnut Way, Midtown and so forth. How high are we on that priority list? What if Tosa comes in and says they want a piece of the action, than we get pushed back even further. However didn’t the mayor already promise to fix up these neighborhoods from what they are now? Does he not see the sun warped signs promoting Bronzeville, emptiness and blight in Walnut Way, incomplete and failed businesses in Midtown? If we wait longer (probably another decade) masta says we will get something from this streetcar that is worth waiting for. Really? How much longer before we send this mayor packing? The unemployment of Milwaukee is the highest for Black males and the segregation is still the worst in the country. He had years to fix this or even show some action and work toward these goals. He only stops in to check on us at election time or when escorted by his personal body guard Chief Flynn to tell us to be good little negros and not shoot each other up. This mayor is the biggest slum landlord of Milwaukee. At least with Norquist (who also tried to implement segregation) he rode the bus every day, walked amongst us, stood with us. This mayor is unreachable for the most part, unless you are a church pastor or crime fighter.

Reality

In their words…

“as someone who sat through the committee testimony for hours, all arguments against the streetcar are totally bogus. You can call it a train to nowhere or a boondoggle, or lament the lack of inner-city focus, this money can’t create jobs in Bronzeville, and you can’t get the votes to get the project there…”

“Many of my friends won’t ride the bus, but I know they will (and Republicans will too) ride that streetcar.”

“This growth in public transportation ridership has proven to be the catalyst that finds people in other neighborhoods demanding streetcar service.”

“I’d say to a large extent what Bronzeville needs is private investment, working with the city and WHEDA.”

“The goal of the past few year’s worth of transportation initiatives has been to link people with jobs – and not just the entry level entertainment-type jobs Bronzeville would attract, but family sustaining jobs at a higher pay scale than McDonald’s.…”

“Furthermore, there are very legitimate reasons to be suspicious that a streetcar will intentionally avoid the ghettos. Cities across the nation and around the world design their public transit to keep people from the ghetto away from wealthy areas and downtown.”

“I used to live in Portland, and have many friends there. I go back and visit regularly. One thing I notice is that as the light rail has developed and the city has gentrified, poor people and people of color have been pushed out of the city into the suburbs. It is a pity that our very segregated city rarely does anything to address these issues and often promotes gentrification and the development that precedes it. I would not be surprised if after the city develops Bronzeville that some years from now the folks living around there get pushed out…”Furthermore, there are very legitimate reasons to be suspicious that a streetcar will intentionally avoid the ghettos. Cities across the nation and around the world design their public transit to keep people from the ghetto away from wealthy areas and downtown. In order to calm this fear, @Nik, please give solid commitments to expand the streetcar into the ghettos after this first stage. You will garner far more support and respect from residents if you do. I would like to see a map of proposed future lines after this first one.Furthermore, there are very legitimate reasons to be suspicious that a streetcar will intentionally avoid the ghettos. Cities across the nation and around the world design their public transit to keep people from the ghetto away from wealthy areas and downtown. In order to calm this fear, @Nik, please give solid commitments to expand the streetcar into the ghettos after this first stage. You will garner far more support and respect from residents if you do. I would like to see a map of proposed future lines after this first one.

Back To Me

In my debates I found people saying things that I deemed borderline racist. I found some of the comments “color coded” and some buzz words and terms that mean for whites only!

This means that the city by any means necessary will get this street car one way or the other unless we take a stand and either demand this streetcar be created linking Amtrak to us first, or by demanding our neighborhood projects come first, the ones we have been waiting to have completed for decades in some cases. This streetcar will be used to grow and expand the business district alone for years without expansion. This streetcar will remove urban blight to the further corners of the city where it will once and for all be out of sight and out of mind.

Why do I think this? If we are trying to develop more jobs and a healthy prospering tax base, why would you not start in the bleakest part of the city? We are desperate for job creation and business development that is not “McDonald’s type businesses,” but real jobs that pay living wages and sustain families and communities. We did not bring this upon ourselves so the thought of doing it on our own with a city that seems to accept segregation and racism, is working just as hard against us as we are trying to build us up.  However I am not easily fooled so I know the only way out of this mess is for us to come together. Waiting on the mayor and most elected officials is a futile exercise. Whenever we decide to get our act together and be the people this mayor must answer to, only then will we get all the finances other parts of the city enjoy. No vote for you until we get our 40 acres and a mule!

So I say to you, please do take a minute longer to read this long blog and then make a call or email to your alderperson and tell them just say no. It is not feasible in this economy, Milwaukee shows clear lack of ability to create and sustain far too many projects, and the community most in need should be the community where emphasis and development is focused first, not the areas that have the least population per capita.

That is the way I see it and I don’t see any welcome mats in Mr. Rogers neighborhood laid out for us.

Peace Family,

WW