The Way I See It!

My response to comments to County Supervisor Patricia Jursik’s response to my post was too long and too important to leave as a comment, so I have made it a new post.  To catch people up I have included Patricia Jursik’s comment to my original post, “The People Have Spoken!”.  Since the comments came in after I posted a new article and people may not have gone back to read comments on older posts it could have been missed. 

I am sorry for the mixing of persons and the shift between talking directly to her and the readers.

“Patricia Jursik   

Randy: Thanks for following this story.  The quote you attribute to me is one that is taken out of context.  My full quote stated that there must be enabling legislation in order for this matter to come back to the county board.  I am committed to property tax relief and would only support any further referendum if it provides this relief.  I obtained the final numbers and your are incorrect; My number indicated that Cudahy voted Yes, 2940; No, 3240. I'd also like to point out that you failed to give some important data.  While about 300 more Cudahy voters voted "NO" than yes, over 3,000 Cudahy residents that voted did NOT answer the referendum question at all.  Finally, a Regional Transit Authority (one that includes Kenosha, Racine and Milwaukee, RTA) may totally co-opt the county board on this issue as they voted to include a .5% sales tax for transit.  Hopefully they will also include the property tax relief by removing transit from our tax bills.  It looks like the Gov. will be including the RTA proposal in his next budget bill.  The Milwaukee referendum, if it ever sees the light of day, will likely change before I ever get the chance to tell my constituents whether I am supporting it or not.  Patricia Jursik”

County Supervisor Patricia Jursik, thank you for responding.  You are our elected official, one who must voice the concerns of your constituents!  I am sorry I didn’t respond to you at the same time as you replied, but I was looking for information on the subject.  I wanted to be as correct, consistent, accurate, honest and through as possible. 

The facts and figures that I used, are what was posted by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel the day after the election and I looked on MJS online for a retraction/correction and didn’t see one.  I also looked on the Milwaukee County Election Commission website and they do not list any numbers nor do I see any results on the City of Cudahy’s website. 

I also included you in an email asking the Cudahy Clerk as to where the numbers can be obtained.  When I was emailed the results, they were the same as the ones I posted.  Spot on! The numbers you obtained were not the final numbers as you stated they were.  They in fact are false!

Update – Cudahy results have been added on the city website at

http://www.ci.cudahy.wi.us/CityDepartments/Clerk/2008PresElecResults.pdf

I included Patricia Jursik in my CC’d email list while requesting the results from the Cudahy City Clerk.

While waiting for the results, I received an email from County Supervisor Patricia Jursik included here from my request for results:

“You might ask the city clerk;  I got my numbers from the county election commission; I had to go to the office and physically obtain some.  I look forward to your factual reporting.  Pat Jursik”

Odd that if Mrs. Jursik would have looked in the address to whom it was sent to, she would have seen that I did ask the Cudahy City Clerk.  Must have been an oversight on her part.

If we look at your (Yes, 2940; No, 3240) numbers they are wrong and I will be waiting for your apology.  It is scary that you do not have a grasp on the facts.  This oversight on your part puts into question other things.”

***I delayed posting this until Mrs. Jursik’s response to my last email arrived.  It did not come, so I posted this without a response from her on that the numbers she held in high regard which in fact were false!***

You can also notice that each breakdown (not sure if they are polling places since there is more than the five districts but that is my guess) voted “NO” as the majority and at each place.  Cudahy does NOT want the sales tax increase PERIOD! 

If the county election commission where Mrs. Jursik received her numbers from is wrong, “why” should be the question we all should be asking!  Are they trying to twist the truth when convenient, mislead on purpose to push an agenda?  Are they trying to water down the results or is it just incompetence on behalf of the county election commission?  Laziness or was the problem from Cudahy’s end?  Either way it doesn’t inspire confidence all around in country government now does it?

While the numbers differ that Mrs. Jursik provided, the result doesn’t.  I understand that you can wonder how those people that didn’t vote on the subject might have voted and one could say the same thing about those that did not vote in the first place and stayed home.  This is called speculation and is not factual.

In all, 74.9 percent, or 9,592, of Cudahy's 12,805 registered voters cast a ballot Nov. 4.  http://www.cudahynow.com/watch/?watch=28&date=11/4/2008&id=48263

I also would like to point out that while she may have felt that I failed to point out “how many didn’t vote on that subject” (which she most likely would have questioned the number on) didn’t vote on it, I also didn’t claim otherwise.  NO disclaimer was made either in the MJS article!  I do not possess ESP nor would like to assume something that is not a fact when it comes to the reason people skipped the question.

It is obvious that she is not happy with the results, but they are what they are!  If they fell her way, it would be easy to vote “yes.”  But they didn’t, the vote was “NO” from the Cudahy people.  She is in a hard place, does she vote against her districts people’s wishes of “NO” and go along with the county or does she vote “NO” as the people have stated? 

A smart person listens to advice.  A wise person takes the advice.

At some point, one must end speculations and deal with the facts we know.  One must surrender to the facts.  Fact (we will use her wrong, invalided, misguided, numbers) Yes, 2940; No, 3240 

Net result is “NO!”  That is what the people that voted said.  That is what the people she represents want her to say on their behalf.  This is why we were asked the question in the first place!

I also listed the source to which her quote came from and a link to it as well.  If I implied something that she felt I took out of context, I am sorry and that was not the intent, but I included all of what she said in the MJS article in that paragraph.  If the MJS misquoted she can ask for a retraction from that party.

While the people still have spoken and even if by one vote, the outcome was “NO” that is the wish and will of the people.  THAT also has not changed!  “NO” was the word Cudahy people spoke with their votes!  It could not be any clearer!

We cannot forget that South Milwaukee, St. Francis and Oak Creek all said “NO” and those are County Supervisor Patricia Jursik’s districts (In Oak Creek just two districts).  The voices of her area DO NOT WANT THE SALES TAX INCREASE!

History teaches us that the sales tax switch-a-roo/scam failed to produce the result the claim of property tax savings in the past.  Didn’t the .5% tax increase that County Executive Dave Schulz in 1991 gave us with the promise that it would bring property tax decrease not help?  Yes, and in the end it didn’t deliver on the property tax savings!  Not one dime!

http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/29291089.html 

“First, history shows that when the County Board enacted a 0.5 percent sales tax in 1991, the resolution stated that it was for “property tax relief,” but the property tax levy went up 55 percent from 1992 to 2002.”

http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/10/27/editorial4.html

The more tax money you give the government the more they spend.

I am a suburban voter who is seeing the bigger picture that raising taxes is not and never is the answer!  The taxpayers don’t bleed green, they bleed red.  We have reached the tipping point and the people pushed back with a loud “NO”!  I am taxpayer hear me roar “NO”!

Taxes are the seed of greed and have been unwisely used.  The taxpayers are not the answer everytime someone thinks we need more money.  How about being fiscaly responsible with what we have already given!

The Milwaukee County sales tax advisory referendum asking for a tripling of the county sales tax to 1.5%.  We cannot ignore the fact that sales taxes are no longer credited against federal income taxes.  The same holds true for all those creative fees, which have been inflicted on us like garbage and such!

“The advisory referendum is being pushed by well-intentioned county leaders concerned with funding for transit, parks and emergency services.

Unfortunately, those good intentions cannot eliminate the harsh reality that, while this referendum can promise a $130 million tax hike that makes Milwaukee County a high sales tax island, it cannot promise much else.

No County Board can bind the hands of a future board with regard to how tax revenues are used.  As such, there is nothing standing in the way of this new sales tax money simply becoming a county spending slush fund.” 

http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/10/06/editorial5.html?ana=from_rss

Therefore, no matter what the promises are, without them spelled out, it will not happen.  While I am happy to hear Mrs. Jursik state, “I am committed to property tax relief and would only support any further referendum if it provides this relief” how can we the taxpayers be assured of that? 

Also, she said “any further referendum”, does that mean this one or a different one?  Are they going to try another one to get a more favorable result for them?

The language in the referendum was broad and vague at best.  That might have been done as part of the design (now I am speculating).  While I do not dispute that the sales tax money would start out for the parks, what guaranty do we have that it would not be raided at a local level like the Governor has done with state transportation funds?  The RTA already wants to raid it before it is even passed.  See how easy it would be of the money to be funneled elsewhere!

Why is the solution always spend, spend, spend?

We have all learned, if we'll admit it to ourselves, that lower tax rates increase revenue collections since they stimulate the economy.  Let us keep more of what we earn, and we'll find ways to earn even more than we were before, and tax collections increase.

There can be no new taxes and there must be spending reductions instead.

By the way, the idea of reducing expenditures when income lags is something that just about everyone of us has had to do at one time or another.

I feel that her response is typical political double-speak.  Classic politics of politicians.

Will she vocally oppose the Dem Governor and the RTA tax? 

Is it OKAY to raise a sales tax at DOUBLE, TRIPLE the amount of the promised property tax relief?  Again, the answer is “NO” much like what the voters in Cudahy said!

If it passes - We will be watching the next property tax levy and see if Mrs. Jursik makes the “damn you people are stupid” remark that “we reduced taxes” when the levy is still raised to just slightly below where is was BEFORE the sales tax was increased.  Slight of hand!  The devil is always in the details.

The (Tax) "Rate" means nothing, the (Tax) “Levy" means everything.

It is not the percent or rates that matters but the levy!  The levy is everything!  We will not fall for the common trick because people are becoming empowered and informed!

As far as the RTA and the Governor, my article was not that.  I could have speculated that the Governor will raise the state sales tax itself to make up for the budget shortfall, but again my article was not that.

On the changes that may be made to the use of the sales tax money, for if there are changes to it, those changes would no longer be valid or in line to which the referendum stated that the people voted on.

My article was on that there is nothing in the referendum that promises or guarantees that the sales tax increase will go to lowering property taxes and the results of the vote.

By her reply that “The Milwaukee referendum, if it ever sees the light of day, will likely change before I ever get the chance to tell my constituents whether I am supporting it or not” speaks volumes that she will not follow the will of the people.  If her intent was to follow the people's will, she would not be on the fence weather or not she is supporting it, because she would know that she is NOT!

In the end, it would be her duty to follow the will of the people as it stands.  To say “NO” to the sales tax increase!  To stand up to her fellow Milwaukee County pals and say “My constituents do not want this!”

On a side note, County Supervisor Patricia Jursik, when people want to clean, paint and volunteer to keep up with the Milwaukee County Parks in Cudahy they are told they cannot because those are county union jobs and only the county union workers can do them.  We have plenty of people wanting to make the parks better, but because of bureaucracy the people who can and want to help are pushed away.  Even members of the Patrick Cudahy Park Friends, who have the resources and donations, are told no.  But their sales tax money would be just fine!

I am not trying to be mean or harsh, but ‘WE” the people need to stand up and make sure the people that represent us in government follow the will of the people.  Some times that means ruffling feathers or heavy-handed talk to get them to listen!

Silence is complicity.  Only by standing up for what's right and never letting down can we say we are doing our part.

If we don’t make phone calls or emails voicing our opinions, then, to them, this means everything is OKAY and going smoothly.  I have said this before “Character is doing the right thing when nobody is watching”!

I will end this with a few Ronald Reagan quotes that are true and apply.

Don't be afraid to see what you see.

Entrepreneurs and their small enterprises are responsible for almost all the economic growth in the United States.

Facts are stubborn things.

Government does not solve problems; it subsidizes them.

Government is like a baby.  An alimentary canal with a big appetite at one end and no sense of responsibility at the other.

Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it.  If it keeps moving, regulate it.  And if it stops moving, subsidize it.

Governments tend not to solve problems, only to rearrange them.

It has been said that politics is the second oldest profession.  I have learned that it bears a striking resemblance to the first.

Man is not free unless government is limited.

No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size.  Government programs, once launched, never disappear.  Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth!

Republicans believe every day is the Fourth of July, but the democrats believe every day is April 15.

Status quo, you know, is Latin for 'the mess we're in'.

The most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the government and I'm here to help.

The problem is not that people are taxed too little, the problem is that government spends too much.

The taxpayer - that's someone who works for the federal government but doesn't have to take the civil service examination.

There are no easy answers' but there are simple answers.  We must have the courage to do what we know is morally right.

We might come closer to balancing the Budget if all of us lived closer to the Commandments and the Golden Rule.

When you can't make them see the light, make them feel the heat.

Government always finds a need for whatever money it gets.

For those of you who have know me for the thirteen years I have lived in Cudahy, you know I have always had a problem with the day the leaf collection and street sweepers come around.

Why does the street sweeper come the same day as garbage pickup? 

Over half of all garbage cans are not correctly on the grass or approach as indicated by Cudahy City Ordinance Chapter 8 section 12 (8.12); instead, they are in the road, which is in the way of the street sweeper.  This is a very ineffective way of cleaning.  So much gets missed, and is a waste of tax payers' dollars.  The five P's must have been missed here, "Proper Planning Prevents Poor Performance.”  The street sweeping should not be done on the same day.  Before garbage day is the preferred day, since some people do not remove the garbage can even the next day. 

I also want a reason as to why this action is being done in the manner.

After all these years, I still don’t understand why Street Sweeping and leaf collection occurs on the same day as garbage pickup.  This is just not the way it should be. 

Common sense tells you that the cleanup is not done as well as it should be.  People DO NOT place the garbage cans correctly, so sweeping should be done days either before or after garbage pickup.  This would save money and cleanup would be better (have to come by or maneuver around as much).  Productivity has never been a strong suit of government.  I understand this is the way it has always been, but that doesn’t make it right.  As far as trucks in the area, so what!!  I ask anyone to go out and watch when the street sweeper comes by, take the challenge, and watch how many people have garbage cans wrong and how hard the cleanup drivers have to dance around to cleanup what they can. 

Why cannot someone step forward and correct this?  Parked cars are always a problem.  A simple change of the schedule and all would be better.  Cleaner Cudahy, people make mistakes so the city should work it out and work around them.

From the Cudahy 2008 Fall-Winter Newsletter 

FALL LEAF COLLECTION

Beginning in October, the Department of Public Works will collect leaves on a scheduled basis using two vacuum units working each weekday from 5:00 AM to 9:00 PM.  We sincerely regret any noise made by these vehicles during the long hours of leaf removal.

It is difficult to keep up with the volume during peak periods.  Your cooperation and patience are appreciated!

You may rake your leaves into the curb and create piles no higher than the curb. Our equipment cannot handle taller piles and the operator will be forced to drive around your taller leaf pile. 

Do not mix garden waste into your leaf pile.  This will cause the sweeper to break down. 

Open truck collection of larger leaf piles and garden waste will be held the first week of November.

LEAF COLLECTION SCHEDULE

Monday – District 1

Tuesday – District 2

Wednesday – District 3

Thursday – District 4

Friday – District 5

• Place your leaves in the curb the night before or before 5:00 AM on the day of collection.

• Due to the amount of leaves, the schedule may vary.  Please take note of the day we are scheduled to be in your district and rake accordingly.

IF YOUR LEAF PILE IS PUT OUT LATE, THE SWEEPER CANNOT GO BACK TO PICK IT UP.

Information provided by the Cudahy Police Department

On 11/10/08, at 8:20pm, the Citgo gas station, 2415 E. Layton was robbed.  The suspect entered the gas station and displayed a silver handgun, fleeing on foot with some type of printed bag.  The suspect is described as a black male, heavy set, with a black mask, blue sweatshirt, black sweatpants, and gloves.

If you have any information on the above Crime PLEASE contact Cudahy Police Department or Sgt Chris Blunt at PHONE:  (414) 769-2260

Please be informed and get involved to make Cudahy safer!

Milwaukee County Sales Tax Advisory Referendum Passes Yes 51% No 49%

Milwaukee County Sales Tax Referendum By The Numbers

Source Milwaukee County Election Commission municipal clerks

Votes Cast

Municipality              Result                  YES                 NO

Bayside                    NO                     1123                1294

Brown Deer             NO                     2866                3395

Cudahy                    NO                     3881                4489

Fox Point                 NO                     1881                2031

Franklin                   NO                     6534                10560

Glendale                YES                    3884                3711

Greendale               NO                      3066                4975

Greenfield               NO                      7332                10342

Hales Corners         NO                      1599                2528

Milwaukee              YES                     107550            79692

Oak Creek              NO                      6313                9169

River Hills                NO                      431                  596

St. Francis               NO                      2082                2469

Shorewood             YES                     3949                3361

South Milwaukee     NO                      4596                5448

Wauwatosa              NO                     11991              14304

West Allis                 NO                    11924              15195

West Milwaukee   YES                    759                  721

Whitefish Bay           NO                     3801                4192

Total                                                   185562            178472                       

Yes 51% No 49%

So let us review what the ballot question said: The yes or no advisory referendum question read,

"Shall Wisconsin grant Milwaukee County the authority to provide property tax relief of at least $67 million by levying a 1% use and sales tax to be used to remove the following three items from the property tax levy: parks, recreation and culture; transit; and emergency medical services?"

First, notice it was an “Advisory Referendum,” not a binding referendum!

Next, notice it states, “Shall Wisconsin grant Milwaukee County the authority to provide property tax relief,” they already had the authority to give property tax relief at any time.  No additional authority was needed.

It started out with a promise of property tax relief and yet legally, there’s nothing in the referendum that promises or guarantees that the sales tax increase will go to lowering it. 

We let the public weigh in on whether the sales tax should be increased and as a county it did pass, but County Executive Scott Walker has vowed to veto it as it comes to his desk again.  This places the County Supervisors in a tight corner.  Do they vote against your districts people’s wishes of NO or go along with the county?  Do they work for the district people or county government!

http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/33947279.html

Some 57% of city of Milwaukee voters voted yes on the sales tax measure and largely offset the suburban vote margin against the plan, a Journal Sentinel review of unofficial vote tallies found.

Remember from the list that only 3 suburban cites passed it.  Glendale, Shorewood and West Milwaukee were the only suburbs where a majority of voters favored the sales tax.

Now comes the part that bothers me and should you as well.

“Supervisor Patricia Jursik said the city-suburban split in voting should not discourage suburban supervisors from supporting the effort to gain state and further county approvals.  The sales tax plan would benefit the entire community, she said.”

So Supervisor Patricia Jursik doesn’t want to listen to what her constituents want and voted against.  The people’s vote doesn’t matter in the end or at all? 

To me, Supervisor Patricia Jursik is saying; do not be discouraged that the voters said NO, we need to vote YES!

Then why were we asked?  If her people don’t want it, she should be voting NO.  She would risk voting against the people’s wishes in her district.

If the city of Milwaukee and the three other cites wish to raise the sales tax, so be it since they voted for it.  However, Cudahy, South Milwaukee, and St. Francis should not have to pay the price because some County Supervisors think they know better or more than the citizens did!

Please Email Patricia Jursik and tell her that the people’s voice matters and has spoken and it was NO from her district.  After all, she works for us!

County Supervisor 8th District

Patricia Jursik   414.278.4231

patricia.jursik@milwcnty.com

Please email your district’s County Supervisor and tell them to honor the people’s wishes!

http://www.county.milwaukee.gov/MapofSupervisoryDist7780.htm

Cudahy, as in the past, is much divided.  Just take a drive through it and you will notice that on the West side many more McCain signs than Obama.  While on the East side more Obama than McCain.

I will not give you reasons not to vote for Obama.  If you want those, and there are many, please stop by the other blog on The Right View Wisconsin http://www.rightviewwi.com/

Instead, I will talk up John McCain with the truth.

I love America and all it stands for.  Even in tough times, as we are currently in, I cannot think of a better place to be!  I love capitalism, freedom of choice, my rights respected and that America is the best place in the world!  I am not ashamed to say that, nor do I think America needs to learn a lesson of fairness from other nations who do not place our interests first.

McCain is not the perfect Conservative Republican.  Heck he is not a Conservative, but a moderate!  That is where Sarah Palin balances the ticket.  I want someone that has my best interest at heart.  Someone who will fight for me.  Not someone who I feel has their own personal agenda before America’s.

In tough times, we don’t need big government to save us.  Big government is what makes the problems in the first place.  Truly only those in government want more and bigger government.  Government needs to stop spending so much on all projects.  Our problems must be solved by its people not the big government.

Some bemoan the Iraq war, but it is needed to keep the war on terror from spilling American civilian blood on American soil.  We needed to bring the battle to them not to us.  People do not forget 9/11 because those same groups of people still want to ruin our way of lives.  They want to bring down the capitalist pigs.  Notice that isn’t socials pigs, but capitalist pigs.  They want nothing more then to make us a third world nation. 

Did we make mistakes in the Iraq war?  Yes!

Did we spend millions of our dollars unnecessarily?  Yes, I have talked how we needed a Marshal Plan.

Did we need to do it?  Yes!

Was John McCain not the first one to say we need a surge?  Yes, he was for the surge before everyone else was for it.

I understand that history will be made even with John McCain.  The first female Vice President, a giant leap for equality of the sexes. 

John McCain knows how to reach across the aisle and say, “Yes we can do this together”.

John McCain wants to put a freeze on all projects and that scares the big government people that rely on the government getting bigger for job security.  Why should they not have to worry about their jobs like the rest of us do?

John McCain has promised to appoint judges who will interpret the law, not make it.  Again, that scares some, as they don’t see a difference from legislating from the bench and the legislative branch.

John McCain has promised to make the Bush tax cuts permanent. That is a real tax cut.  Our taxes are already not fair since it is a progressive tax?  Yes, even the rich should get tax cuts.  Without the rich, who will own the companies that employ people?  See if you want big government, the government will supply the jobs in an ever-increasing venous vicious circle.

John McCain has the experience and the toughness to lead the way and I don’t fall for the scare tactic that Palin is just one heartbeat away crap.  What if a meteor might crash into the Earth?  Should I start to worry about that?

John McCain has the courage, strength, dedication, fortitude and convection to move this country forward without damaging the guiding principles that our forefathers laid out in our pursuit to the American dream.  We left behind the monarchies, dictatorships, and government run systems for a self-government that is fair as long as those individuals bring their own determinations and effort.  We have rejected Communism and Socialism when it could have been the hip thing to do!  The easy path! 

There is no short cut to the American Dream.  It takes hard work, blood, sweet, tears and individual responsibilities not a government handout or program to propel the people and the nation forward to reach the American Dream.  We should not be envious of those that have or wish to punish them either.

John McCain is Pro-Life because he knows the value of life and that life begins at conception.

John McCain has met problems and adversity face on in the past.  He has stared possible death and uncertainty in the eyes during the darkest of times and persevered.

John McCain commands and demands respect.  He doesn’t show or ooze fear and weakness.

John McCain may not look the part of a Hollywood movie actor playing president.  But this is not Hollywood, this is for real, this is America in the here and now.  We cannot tape or script the actions of those wanting to do harm to us, so our responses cannot be taped or scripted either.

John McCain has promised to fight government spending, to veto any bill with earmarks, and to roll back entitlement programs.  Sarah Palin feels that same way.  Doesn’t that sound like Conservative positions that are used to describe a “Republican?”

John McCain has the guts and the cuts that are necessary to bring about a balanced budget and force congress to make that a permanent requirement.

I don’t think we need to change just for change.  That is crazy talk.  Let all the married people just get divorces just to get divorces for change.  Screw working things out and toughing through them.  Just throw in the towel for the heck of it!  If that was the answer don’t you think MPS and many other failing things would just given up and change for change sake.

If you would hire someone solely based on looks or how well they speak from a cue card or teleprompter instead of real qualifications and past experience, unless you are hiring a news anchor or actor, you would be in trouble with the law as that mounts to biased discrimination and not a very good business decision.  So why would you elect a president for those reasons?

John McCain has served and honored his country and during that time brings much to the table as a president should.

I love this country and John McCain puts country first.  I want this country will all of its flaws and imperfections to continue a capitalism path because socialism is change and it scares me.  If it doesn’t scare you, you must be in government. 

Remember when you are in government you work for the people not the other way around.  If you forgot, America is a democratic republic.  You need to read the Federalist Papers and think about “What is the key function of the federal government?” 

I hope you can remember that the key function(s) of government according to our "Founding Fathers" were two-fold.
 
1. Protect your private property
2. Secure your individual liberties
 
I would recommend reading an old, out dated Federal document papers, better known as the Constitution, specifically Article 1 Section 8.  It lays out in detail the powers and duties of the Federal Government.

Please vote for John McCain as between the two choices, John McCain respects the Constitution much more than the other one.  John McCain is the right choice for the right reasons! 

Scott Walker has stated it was okay to reprint his article.

Don't fall for another promise of tax relief
By Scott Walker

Posted: Oct. 30, 2008

Milwaukee County voters on Tuesday will weigh in on this non-binding referendum:

"Shall the State of Wisconsin grant Milwaukee County the authority to provide property tax relief of at least sixty-seven million dollars ($67 million) by levying a one percent county use and sales tax to be used to remove the following three items from the property tax levy: parks, recreation and culture; transit; and emergency medical services (EMS)?"

NoIn 1991, Milwaukee County began collecting a 0.5% sales tax with the promise of "property tax relief.”  From 1992 to 2007, the property tax levy went up 70.9% - more than $100 million.

Now, the Milwaukee County Board is asking voters to approve a referendum calling for a 1% sales tax increase with the promise of property tax relief and more than $60 million in new spending.  Does the board really think we will fall for that trick again?

Here are the facts:

• The referendum calls for a $130 million sales tax increase at a time when businesses and families are struggling to make ends meet.

• Government spending will increase dramatically if the referendum plan is enacted.  The referendum claims to provide $67 million in property tax relief by shifting funding for certain programs currently funded by the property tax to the sales tax, but the County Board gives no explanation of how it will spend the remaining $63 million.

• Ultimately, there is no guarantee of "property tax relief.”  The referendum is non-binding.  It does not prevent the current County Board or future County Boards from raising property taxes.

• Passage of the referendum will make Milwaukee County a tax island, driving shoppers, businesses and jobs out of Milwaukee County. Do we want to have the highest sales tax in the region and in the state?

• County spending has outstripped inflation. Since 1992, the property tax levy has gone up 70.9%.  During that same time, our ability to pay - as measured by inflation - rose by only 38.6%.  As we've learned from the past, increasing the sales tax will only perpetuate out-of-control spending by the County Board.

• There are better options than simply increasing taxes.  My 2009 budget proposal calls for no increase in the property tax levy and no increase in the sales tax.  At the same time, we maintain all transit routes and increase transit services for people with disabilities; we add 26,000 hours of labor in the parks, build a new aquatics center and replace failing bathrooms and playground equipment; and we maintain one of the best emergency medical services systems in the country.

The choice is not either to raise taxes or to cut services.  We need to demand greater innovation from our government to maintain necessary programs and quality-of-life assets.  Implementing a parks district, seeking public-private partnerships throughout county government and exploring a lease of Mitchell International Airport to fund improved transit options that enable our residents to get to work are creative, exciting opportunities for our county and region.

Nearly 20 years ago, the County Board promised "property tax relief" with a half-cent sales tax, and the property tax levy went up 70.9%.  Milwaukee County taxpayers cannot afford more tax relief like that.

I remain committed to submitting honest and balanced budgets that continue to support our parks, transit and other essential services such as public safety, human services and infrastructure improvements.  I also will continue to advance funding solutions that don't further burden county taxpayers.

If the members of the County Board want to provide property tax relief while protecting transit, improving our parks and preserving a quality EMS system, they should pass the 2009 budget that I presented.  It protects both services and the taxpayer.

Around election time, politicians make a lot of promises.  We now have some on the County Board again promising property tax relief.  The public should remember the old saying, "Fool me once, shame on you.  Fool me twice, shame on me."

Scott Walker is Milwaukee County executive.

Update - From Sgt Blunt:
"The hearing date for the Thirsty Moose is Thursday October 23rd at 6:30pm.  All indications are there will be an actual hearing.  I strongly encourage anyone and everyone to attend this meeting."

Awhile ago I commented on Eminent Domain about the city taking over bars in Cudahy as the wrong way and that it should be done with finding violations to shut them down.

Then this story ran on CudahyNow http://www.cudahynow.com/story/index.aspx?id=806124

“Provoked neighbors hope to kill The Thirsty Moose
Complaint filed to revoke tavern’s liquor license
By CHANTEL BALZELL

Posted: Oct. 15, 2008
When Terry Kaminski bought her home one block away from The Thirsty Moose in April 2007, she thought she moved into a quiet residential neighborhood.

But ever since the tavern at 3800 E. Layton Ave. opened in July of that year, the weekends have been noisy and chaotic, she said.

Not only do people trespass through her yard as a shortcut to the bar, but each morning they leave broken glass, beer bottles, cans and litter on her property.

“It’s like a trash bin out there in our yard,” she said.

During an Oct. 7 meeting, a complaint was filed by fed-up neighbors who want the tavern’s liquor license revoked.

Gang members frequent
Several of the residents say the bar caters to gang members, who are disrespectful to neighbors and act unruly.

Many of the neighboring residents have children and do not want them exposed to gang members.

Courtney Marzec, a neighbor and mother of two small children, said the area is usually loud on weekends. But one night she looked out her window and saw a man in the middle of Layton Avenue curled up in a fetal position being kicked and beaten by a group of 15 to 30 people.

“I don’t want to get woken up one night to gun shots and find out that one of my children has been shot,” she said.

Authorities have found gang members in the tavern. During an unannounced visit in March, the Cudahy Police Department and the Milwaukee Police Department’s Gang Unit arrested three people who had warrants and identified four gang members.”

I received this email today from Sgt Chris Blunt on the Thirsty Moose tavern’s revocation hearing.  If you can please attend, the meeting today October 16th at 6:30pm in the Common Council chambers.

Here is the email:

“Revocation Hearing  

Chris Blunt  
 
This e-mail is advise everyone there will be a License Committee hearing regarding the revocation of the Thirsty Moose tavern.  I will be one of the representatives of the police department and probably will be testifying.  This is a public hearing that is taking place today, October 16th at 6:30pm in the Common Council chambers.  I know this is an important issue for many residents.  I hope you consider attending this hearing.

Respectfully,

Sgt Blunt”

Some people may not have heard or read that if you would like to keep getting the TVCUE in the Sunday Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that you will have to opt-in to keep getting it in the Sunday’s newspaper.

You MUST before November 16th go to www.jsonline.com/tvcue or call the request line 1-866-616-5072.  If you do NOT they will stop delivering to you in your Sunday paper the TV Cue which contains the TV Guide.  (To do the website you must log in or if new user to website create username and password)

Now the J/S states this is done to “reduce environmental footprint by delivering the TV Cue to those that only want it.”

“For years Milwaukee- area TV viewers turned to TV Cue to find the week’s listings in one convenient location.  But with the growth of onscreen listings, many copies go straight to the recycle bin”

The claim is just as bothersome as the fact that you have to opt-in. 

Onscreen listings have been around for years, if they would have claimed that the Internet listings that would be fine, but the lame reason of the online listings. 

They should have had people opt-out instead of opt-in as those that don’t want it can do something about it.  There would be no disruption of it that way.  From a customer service point that would have been the correct way to handle it!

I wonder how long until the whole paper is that way? 

This blog is on the J/S system and to me this step and others lately shows that the paper is not in the greatest of shape.  Could the printed newspaper Milwaukee Journal Sentinel be gone by 2015?  Only time will tell, but it is not looking good!

Please checkout the Right View Wisconsin http://www.rightviewwi.com/ for election and political blogs from many authors including Jay Weber of WISN Radio and myself.

I would like to give credit when credit is due.  Our local blogger Steve T. (emailed me of the idea) and WISN Mark Belling, also gave me the idea.

We need to start making more noise on ACORN and I think we need to email the local MSM (Main Stream Media) to try to get them to cover the problems that the MSM currently are ignoring.  Picketing Doyle’s office and the MSM to get them to stop ignoring the problems may be needed.

Issue to email this week: ACORN

“Why are you not covering the ACORN problems in the nation and the problems in Milwaukee with ACORN?  Over half of the records checked in Lake County, Indiana from ACORN are fraudulent and that office running the Indiana voter registration is located in Milwaukee.  Why is not a reporter asking to independently looking into this in Milwaukee?  ”

Please email them and ask them why and get your friends and family to do the same.

NBC - Channel 4
tmj4feedback@todaystmj4.com

CBS – Channel 58
feedback@cbs58.com

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
mkaiser@journalsentinel.com

jsmetro@journalsentinel.com

FOX and ABC don’t list email address, but require you to fill out a form.

Red and Blue that is!

***Color Changes***

When looking at these older maps don’t forget that the colors changed recently.

Blue was the color of Republicans, which once stood for old money, blue bloods

Red was the color of Democrats, which once stood for revolution.

Why did the color change?  No one knows exactly, but Wikipedia states, “Blue was often used for Republicans, and Red was the often used for Democrats until either the 1992 or 1996 election.  Democrats did not like the association with the color red (i.e., the color of communism) and no doubt the use of Blue for Republicans had similar connotations around wealth or royalty (i.e., "blue bloods").”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia_talk:Style_for_U.S._presidential_election,_yyyy

When looking at the county color maps, you will see that many of the blue counties are near water of some sort.  The shipping industry is still heavily labor union and that may have an influence on them as the Union has supported the Democratic Party, except in 1980 some major unions endorsed Ronald Reagan.

We are a center right country and many people, including the media, would like to paint the picture that the country is blue or purple and leans left.  But it is not!  How many areas would be red if the blue side was not stealing the election with voter fraud for many years?

Click on pictures to enlarge