Category Archives: MMSD

Wednesday Rants. WW Wednesday All Over The Place!

Posted by Wonder Woman on

Wednesday Rants. WW Wednesday All Over The Place!

There are so many fun issues to talk about where to start?

On the Federal Front:

President Barak Obama’s speech to the CBC (Congressional Black Caucus) created quite the stir. I cannot find too many people who liked it or gathered hope and change from it. What we did see was a very desperate man making a feeble attempt to get back his blackness by preaching to us in “our lingo.” He should really stay away from shoe references at this point. From his “lacing up his shoes to join with us on the picket lines” to telling us to “take off our slippers and fight with him,” he just doesn’t see how his policies and lack of leadership has hurt Blacks to the point that even his most avid defenders are sick of hearing him talk. His speech, in my opinion, was a misguided fling to get Blacks back in step. He tried to simmer the boil of the CBC and other Black leaders who are tired of going back to their constituents and explaining why things are only getting worse. He tells us if we love him we will make calls and get his bill passed, but he has yet to submit a bill that is defendable. He has only more stimulus money to hand out and we all know how version 1.0 turned out.

Obama’s attack on Libya and his Palestinian missteps show that even his cabinet may not be helping him out of the hole but putting him further in one.

And if that was not enough, Michelle Obama was caught in a “candid” viral moment at a 9-11 ceremony lipping her distain for the flag folding and utter distain in her eye rolling for the pomp and circumstance that patriots and veterans took notable offense to.

However I must say that I enjoyed how Obama handled the “antichrist” heckler and have to acknowledge his moment of levity which was appreciated by all who tuned in! Good one Mr. President!

State Silliness:

In desperate attempts to remain relevant, Lena Taylor seems to be all over the Wisconsin Eye Channel as of late arguing with anyone who crosses her path. First a little cat fight “meow” with Alberta Darling about ???? It simply made no sense. Then we find her attacking Leah Vukmir in a hearing about Voter ID, specifically online usage and Student ID’s. Her rant was a failed attempt to get some press and face time. If she really cared about ID usage, she would be at Aurora, Columbia, or Wheaton Franciscan fighting the disenfranchisement and racism at hospitals that require ID for treatment or medication. Her argument of disenfranchisement and anyone else’s for that matter, is nonsense to me until I see them at the hospitals, in the welfare lines, or at other poverty/minority resource facilities that require ID for any type of service.

http://www.wiseye.org/videoplayer/vp.html?sid=7006

Lena’s Facebook shenanigans landed her in a bit of trouble when she called for a boycott of Koch Brothers financed products. Not doing her research and not understanding the damage she was doing to local workers here in Wisconsin, she recanted a bit. Her childish boycott controversy, which others gravitated to, was another failed attempt to get back on MSNBC. I gather she misses Ed Schultz and she is doing all she can to find her way back in to the national scene. When she had to quick back pedal her initial boycott statement, she showed us her true intentions were of a self-serving nature and that even she has a line she will not cross. That silent majority is a group you do not want to contend with unless you have your ducks in a row. Smoothing things out and clarifying (separating fact from fiction) only weakened her stance and her movement. The boycott became another money making venture for the listed rivals and an embarrassing moment for her and her blind followers.

Lena’s Facebook postings which look more like teenage diary entries, document her supposed daily routines including Bible study which does not seem to be helping her with her anger management problems. Somehow these postings rally her faithful and they just pour out the love, even though she is nothing more than rhetoric at this point. For such a spiritual person, she sure could use a sermon or two on human compassion and good stewardship.

What I do not see from her are job creation meetings or issues directly impacting her district. I do not see her insisting on face time with Walker on behalf of her district or even her attending Walker’s meetings for job creation in the state. The meetings she should be at so we can have representation there with those bringing jobs or thinking of doing business here in Wisconsin. She does not address the MMSD Sewage overspending and misspending issues recently brought to light. Nor does she discuss why she thinks Milwaukee homeowners should cough up $3000 each to repair the sewers. You really have to search long and hard to find how she is relevant to “us.” If you think Obama has turned a blind eye, you really should question Lena’s actions and wonder where she is headed. Sorry hun, they got a Black guy on MSNBC, they usually don’t take too many more. If your hope is to become relevant past your district, try the old-fashioned route of being a way maker and not a destructive typical angry blowhard. If you are going to go off on state officials, take a page from Rep. Jason Fields. He called out the nonsense and opened up some eyes to the reality of our people and this community. You could say something nice once in a while and remember that Spiderman speech… “with great power comes great responsibility…” If you are trying to lead a movement and truly stand in conviction then be someone approachable and not a leader of the unionistas. Try to give us something we can get behind and fight for. Her need for affection and attention from her new found union friends is still not helping those in HER DISTRCIT!!!! Hello Lena, we are still here!! Time to move on past the infamous “fleeing 14” incident and find a new gig.

Local Lunacy:

M.I.A. Mayor Barrett came out of hiding and released his budget for 2012 this week. While others don’t seem to know it or care to talk about it, he got his political payback against our firefighters by axing some of their jobs. He raised property taxes by 4.4% and scaled back library hours meanwhile saving $8 million to compensate city workers pension plans and benefits “just in case.” Really?

Firstly, our firefighters are the first responders and they are needed. His blatant attack on firefighters is a blatant attack on us. Do remember he closed fire houses in the last budget and left firefighters with few tools to continue to save lives and do so in a timely and well-staffed manner. Shame, shame, shame!! But no outrage, no call for those jobs to be saved. Where are the marches from homeowners already fighting to save their homes in this economy and no protests to save our libraries that are much more than book storage facilities. They are the places we go to create and send resumes, to apply online for jobs, to get online resources. In the inner city where online communication is not prevalent in every home with the capabilities we need to do adequate job searching or learning, the library is our best hope at obtaining any chance of opportunity. We also do not have kindles but we do have lots of Blacks in schools needing to access libraries.

At a time when we need more first responders, Barrett felt revenge against Gov. Walker and some unions (who mind you did not ask to be put out of the Collective Bargaining mess), was even more paramount. This very brazen act will eventually hurt or kill someone. When it comes to saving lives, politics is the one area you do not want to play with. Again no outrage or protests? This lack of outrage leads me to believe that we are a very hypocritical people in Milwaukee. We pay for these services and now they are taken from us. We have over $50 million for streetcars but no money for libraries, a crucial resource in the inner city. We have no money for firefighters our first responders. We have unlimited resources and funding for streetcars that may or may not create a new business district? Despite all the reports that the streetcar will not be successful, despite the reports that the streetcar will cost us more then we can imagine, despite the countless data that these streetcars will become travel hazards and weigh heavily on our County Transit service (another vital service), we cut services to pave the way for mess and political turmoil we cannot afford. We have read many times how other municipalities are saving even more than they first realized using the tools provided in the Budget Repair Bill but we do not question why they are not being used here. Barrett is the reason why and no one calls him on it.

In Conclusion:

So here we have a fine hodgepodge of political problems with no end in sight. I think people are finding it all too sickening and are beginning to enjoy the cool breezes of autumn and are turning off to the hate that has filled our space. This to me is a good sign. A few weeks back Steve Forbes penned that from the ashes of this political fighting we will raise again and politics will take on a new form. This new form will include new parties and new players. I certainly hope he is correct. We need hope and change, but this time real hope and change evidenced by action and not fancy teleprompter talk!

This Week’s Honorable Mentions:

Milele Coggs is once again running to represent the 6th district. Her campaign kick-off is tonight at Coffee Makes You Black, 2803 N. Teutonia Avenue from 5:30 pm to 7:30 p.m.

 

Penny Skiora is running for the 18th Supervisory District and plans to hold a Kick-Off on October 10th at the MJ Cafe 6901 W. Brown Deer Rd from 5 pm to 7 pm.

 

Chris Christie is not running. Yes we love his style of leadership. His candor and straight to the point, no nonsense character is refreshing. He would knock Obama off his throne instantly. However I can’t blame the guy for not wanting to get in the pool right now. It’s a bit polluted!

Mayweather sucker punched Ortiz and I am trying to get my $60 back from TWC. That’s some bs. C’mon man!!!!! Boxing is going to be a thing of the past with this type of mess. But yes I will be buying the rematch!!!

Al Sharpton and MSNBC…I guess they too have an Affirmative Action quota to fill.

Local News….what’s with all the new faces on TV? You can tell there is no Affirmative Action quota here in Milwaukee as far as media is concerned! Still few Black faces reciting lines or overseeing the big projects like Contact 6 or Dirty Dining or anything that is ratings worthy. But a shout out to Shelly Walcott because she keeps pressing on and is active as she can be.

 James T is gone (is he?) and white Rights are in peril. Hello, he was not a lone cowboy on a dessert! Bob Moore is gone from the airwaves someone as well told me? Well that’s messed up too. We have no one yet to step up and fill DeMarco Morgan’s shoes in this community. Maybe someday. But I will say some of our local media peeps give little to build an audience anyways. They feel they do not want to be linked to “Blacks” and why is that? I see their point (don’t want to be labeled), but then I see a movement that needs a voice. Speaking of which keep supporting WMCS and help it grow. They made changes based on what we said WE wanted and now that they have. Are we supporting by dollars and passing it on? We have this one radio station for news that is important to us and Black conversation designed to inform and engage. Keep supporting and listening and passing it on!!

Peace Family,

WW

 Links…

“Obama Gets Black” CBC Speech!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4CVxNOojIc

Obama Called Antichrist!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlFYw22SXvM

Lena Taylor Won’t Let Me Speak!

http://www.wiseye.org/videoplayer/vp.html?sid=7006

Barrett’s Ridiculous Budget! Pants on Fire!

http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/60876407.html

Turning Earth Day Black!

Posted by Wonder Woman on

 

Turing Earth Day Black!

Environmental Injustices Affecting The Black Community and Earth Day

You think of Earth Day and you think of white folks planting trees and other such fluff. What you need to know is that African Americans, especially those of us in the highly populated areas of Mother Earth are the ones who need to be vigilant about Earth Day, every day!

What Is Earth Day?

Short version…April 22, 1970, Gaylord Nelson-Governor of Wisconsin declared Earth Day, a way to call the nation’s attention to the issues of Earth and our need to be better caretakers of it.

This year’s theme is “A Billion Acts of Green.”

Why?

“Black Americans are disproportionately exposed to environmental injustices and life-threatening pollutions and toxic hazards. These dangerous problems are local, statewide, regional, national and international. In Harlem, South Central Los Angeles, Southside Chicago, Houston, Philadelphia, Detroit, Cleveland, St. Louis, New Orleans, and in just about every other place in America where we reside, we find ourselves disproportionately with high rates of asthma and other respiratory diseases, multiple forms of cancer, and other sicknesses that are directly related to harmful exposure to environmental hazards in the air that we breathe, as well as in the water and food that we consume.”

 Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr.

There are many reports that link the food we eat to the ever changing hormonal imbalance our young girls especially, are facing. PMS (Premenstrual Symptoms) or worse PMDD (Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder), cause ongoing depression, anger and rage, difficulty concentrating, overeating, and fatigue to name a few. You may also notice that our young girls are bigger and “curvier” than ever before. How many times have you walked passed a young woman and noticed that she is built like a full grown woman? This has also been linked to the hormones found in our food and water supplies that can cause lifelong imbalances in all of us.

Think of all the toxins farm animals are injected with and that our fresh produce is really jacked up with hormones to make it bigger, grow faster, and be more appealing to the eye. We are poisoning ourselves while we think we are eating healthy. In fact some of our produce and bottled water is as cancer causing as a lit cigarette! We read about lead poisoning and our water supply and the connections to cancer every day!

We can’t even swim in Lake Michigan but yet we are exposed to its effects every day. As soon as it gets warm where do we all head? You really want to know what MMSD has swimming around in those “overflows” and sewage dumping that we keep side stepping?

What are we as a community doing to ward off some of the toxins we are exposed to especially in big metropolises like Milwaukee? Earth Day is OUR chance to remind the entire community about the need to be good stewards of our planet. It is not a white issue at all. It is definitely a black issue as well. It’s an “everybody” issue! We all need to work together to begin making our urban areas safer.

Another case-in-point for you:

“Did you know that many of the growing lists of so-called “learning disabilities” that affect too many of the children in the Black American community maybe environmentally related to exposures from lead poisoning and other toxic substances laced in many of our neighborhoods?”

 Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr.

This is indeed scary! Is it any wonder why our kids are falling so far behind? If they live and breathe toxins every day and can’t focus, how can we expect anyone to teach them anything?

So How Do We Make Earth Day Black?

Taking Earth Day and making it Black must remain a priority issue for us. It does not have to be trivial, stupid, or a labor of wasted time. In fact families can use the time to do something useful and unifying like planting that tree or starting a garden, or cleaning up. When is the last time you saw a young person walking around your neighborhood with trash bags and gloves and repairing the damage some of their friends cause? How many people do we see littering all over the place but we keep on walking and think what a horrible person?

Do you talk to your kids or young people, or even talk to some of us “adults” about how we livin’? Does the inner city have to look like one big garbage can filled with trash and blight everywhere? Can we unite to call our mayor and aldermen to find grant money to spruce up that abandoned building we all know is sitting there, over a decade, with no promise of anything to come? Can we petition for a park or a place for us to begin gardening or co-ops? We have grants for everything else under the sun! We can use this day to teach our youth that they are not just responsible for themselves, but teach them that they are global citizens. What happens in Japan happens in our backyards too! This is a good time to build community and remind ourselves of our pledge to Kwanzaa the seven guiding principles that should be worked on every day of our lives.

If you are looking for event s in your area, please visit “earthday.org”

And let us not forget to send a shout out to Growing Power a nonprofit entity with an emphasis on this African American community which helps people grow, process, market and distribute food in a sustainable manner. They did just receive a major grant to help move them and us forward. We need to see more of this kind of “out of the box” thinking in this city!!

Please support them in this major undertaking!

http://www.growingpower.org/

More about African American Environmental Efforts Can Be Found Here:

The Grio

http://www.thegrio.com/specials/earth-day/

I leave you with some statistics to help us all understand the damage of Asthma because we all know someone with it. It is one of the largest infiltrators of the Milwaukee African American yet we have some power to change its destructive course if we start to focus on Earth Day and its immediate impacts on our community in particular. Over 3 million African Americans have Asthma and we are 3 times more likely to die from it. Asthma thrives in large part because of our quality of life, or lack thereof.

Peace Family,

WW

Asthma and African Americans

• In 2009, about 2,380,000 African Americans reported that they currently have asthma.

• African American women were 30% more likely to have asthma than non-Hispanic White women, from 2001-2003.

• In 2006, African Americans were three times more likely to die from asthma related causes than the White population.

• From 2003-2005, African American children had a death rate 7 times that of non-Hispanic White children.

• African Americans had asthma-related emergency room visits 4.5 times more often than Whites in 2004.

• Black children have a 260% higher emergency department visit rate, a 250% higher hospitalization rate, and a 500% higher death rate from asthma, as compared with White children.

• Children in poor families are more likely to ever have been diagnosed with asthma.

http://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/templates/content.aspx?ID=6170

 

African Americans & Asthma

African Americans have the highest asthma prevalence of any racial/ethnic group. The current asthma prevalence rate among Blacks was 38 percent higher than that for Whites. African Americans account for 26 percent of the 4,200 deaths attributed to asthma in 2001. African Americans were three times more likely to die from asthma than Whites.

http://blackdoctor.org/content.aspx?counter=96

 

A Black American Earth Day

By Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., NNPA Columnist

http://keyconversationsradio.com/?p=1888

 

Top 10 Environmental Issues Affecting Urban America

By Talia Whyte

http://www.thegrio.com/slideshow/the-top-ten-environmental-issues-affecting-america.php

 

Earth Day turns 40 this year, but many African-Americans have never seen environmentalism as a priority until recently. With Van Jones and Majora Carter becoming household names, green is now the new black. Here is a list of 10 environmental justice issues affecting the black community that should be given full attention by all Americans.

1. Air pollution

Air pollution is a serious problem in communities of color, as poor air quality can contribute to a host of health problems.

2. Industrial Sites and Illegal Waste Dumping

Most communities of color live near power plants, oil refineries or waste management facilities. Industrial waste that is not disposed of appropriately (or legally) can get into the water system and land used for housing and agriculture.. Improper waste dumping creates a host of health problems, ranging from asthma to lung cancer.

3. Mercury Exposure

Fish is an important source of animal proteins and other nutrients, but it can also contain a high percentage of mercury emissions generally from incinerators, coal-burning power plants and other industrial sites, which can have a devastating effect on people of color.

4. Water Safety

Water is considered a fundamental human right, but many communities of color lack safe drinking water, swim near waste-contaminated beaches and live near polluted flood waters.

5. Transit Justice

Public transit is used at a higher rate by more people of color and low income communities than whites.

6. Food deserts

Communities of color are more likely to live in “food deserts” — areas where communities lack access to supermarkets and other sources of affordable, nutritious foods necessary for maintaining a healthy diet. Food deserts play a major role in poor health and environmental degradation.

7. Urban Green Space

As more skyscrapers and industries find homes in urban areas, less green space becomes available, especially for communities of color.

8. Lead poisoning

Lead poisoning is possible the most damaging environmental injustice.

9. Climate Change and Basic Living

The growing climate change problem means that people of color and low income communities will soon have to pay more for basic necessities.

10. Heat in the City

Since most people of color live in inner cities, they are twice as likely to die in a heat wave, and suffer from more heat-related stress and illnesses.

And Then The Flood Gates Opened

Posted by Wonder Woman on

The city has not kpet up on its crisis action plans.

Flooding is a result of inept government, years in the making!

Is our city prepared for a 2012-type of incident if this unusual, but not rare, flooding crippled us and shut us down on every level.

This latest flooding should be more than an expression of sadness for those who lost life and possessions; it is a wake up call that Milwaukee is inept at dealing with crisis situations. If we don’t evaluate this disaster to see the devastating effects of negative, inattentive, and abusive politics in our community, the next disaster will be much worse!

Those Involved:

DPW

When it begins to rain why is there no action plan for known flooding streets, underpasses and bridges. We all know Capitol by 31st floods, why not start redirecting traffic or build better sewerage outlets? This has been a problem in that area for over a decade.

Why are the brand new sewage tunnels on Teutonia and Hampton and other areas not working and people in these areas seeing flooding typically each year? Is it time to sue the contractors or use different ones?

Use the media to provide useful information like alternate routes and streets that are going to be closing so that you don’t have to find that out 1 block away from the affected area.

MMSD

This organization has often been cited for misappropriate use of tax dollars. Is it any wonder why the massive over flow tunnel that was built for the “one-in-a-hundred” storm never works? How much more dumping can Lake Michigan take before we become like the Gulf States? This IS impacting our quality of life. You want to fish in the lake? Swim in it? Why build up Bradford Beach just to have it closed because if excessive dumping?

City Government

The cutbacks to our Fire Departments really showed during the flooding. The Milwaukee Fire Department is the first responder to any situation so their cutbacks impact us on a life or death basis.

Why were MPD directing traffic way too close to blocked streets and unable to provide alternate routes and assistance? Why were many complaining about the rudeness of our civil servants and how unhelpful or lost they were?

Why does the city not hand out free or discounted sub pumps to homeowners in high flood areas? I am certain we can find a program to support this financially!

And not to go on because I could, I would like to thank the American Red Cross Volunteers who always give 110% of their time, talent, and treasure to those in crisis. They keep us calm, provide shelter, compassion, and a friendly face in a turbulent times. God bless those people!

Hope you are dry and safe and remember if this chaos happened over some rain, imagine how ill-prepared we are for a major disaster or attack. Be safe and learn to swim!

Me, personally, I think I will be building a bomb/safety shelter for the next time!

Just my Two-cents!

WW

http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/99178609.html

http://www.jsonline.com/multimedia/photos/99069099.html

Incredible Video Of Flooded Milwaukee Neighborhood

Posted by Giant on

This is a note we received along with the video clips.

Hello ALL,

We (Rain Harris & Patrice Johnson) have footage of the water backup/ sewerage that have destroyed our neighborhood twice within one week (7/15/10 & 7/22/10) We also have footage of the City’s so called “rented emergency pumps”. A DPW crew dropped it off @ 11:45am and never connected it to anything. Even if it had been connected, where would the water have gone?

Our basements backups levels are becoming higher and higher reaching electric outlet. There is no time to waste, we can’t afford to wait until Labor Day. Our flood recovery crew had just completed clean up and mold remediation @ 4:00pm leaving industrial fans and dehumidifiers until tomorrow.

If another claim needs to be filed, surely we will be dropped from our insurance company. The dumpster to haul away all of our soaked possessions is still outside our homes. Our entire neighborhood reeked of gas to the point of having to cover our mouths and noses.

As you can see by the time of this email, we are still awake not only dealing with another cleanup but we are literally DRAINED!! Hopefully by noon our videos will be uploaded on YOU TUBE, however what can not be captured is the HURT and PAIN in our hearts. We are drowning in sewerage. This is the FOURTH backup…..

1. June 5th, 2008

2. June 19th, 2009

3. July 15th, 2010

4. July 22nd, 2010

We do recognize that yesterdays flood is a City-wide issue, however NO neighborhood has been effected the way that we have. Emotionally, physically, financially and spiritually we are a broken community.

Flooded street and homes… BMW driving down flooded street floods… SUV drives over a manhole cover.

Flooded streets and homes.

Flooded basement.