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The Actual Lawsuit Paperwork

By Randy Hollenbeck
Wednesday, Jun 18 2008, 11:08 PM
 

The developers of the defunct Iceport project have filed a multimillion-dollar claim against the City of Cudahy, saying the city committed fraud by rejecting a Wal-Mart Supercenter on the same parcel.

 

Below is the Iceport developer’s file claim of fraud lawsuit paperwork that was filed against the City of Cudahy, saying the city committed fraud by rejecting a Wal-Mart Supercenter. 

 

I am sorry for the grainy version.  I am trying to obtain a nice clear electronic version.

 

Please click on the individual picture for it to enlarge.

 

Page 1Page 2

 

 

Page 3Page 4

 

 

Page 5

 

 

From the lawsuit, you can see that as of August 14th 2007 or about Mayor McCue knew the intention of Wal-Mart’s involvement. 

 

Here is an article from October 24 2007.  Talking about Wal-Mart’s involvement.

 

Whispers of Wal-Mart at Iceport site swirl

By Chantel BalzellStaff WriterPosted: Oct. 24, 2007

 

The Common Council, the Community Development Authority and the Plan Commission are hosting a special meeting at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday Oct. 31, to discuss the future of the Iceport property.  The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Oct. 23 that a Wal-Mart representatives will attend the meeting. "It's news to me," Cudahy Mayor Ryan McCue told South Shore NOW on Oct. 23.  "I'm waiting to see what happens just like everybody else." Continental Properties Co. will present its plans for development on the 26-acre site, which was to have housed an ice rink project that never came to fruition.  Continental Properties has a purchase agreement in the works with former developer Sportsites.  "Wal-Mart is definitely on the lowest of my lists of things I'd like to see in Cudahy," McCue said.  But he said city officials will allow Continental Properties the opportunity to present its development plans. "We can only control what they build, but I'm not a fan of Wal-Mart," McCue said. Representatives from Continental Properties and Wal-Mart could not immediately be reached for comment.

 

http://www.cudahynow.com/story/index.aspx?id=678106

 

 

 

 


 

May Top 10

By Randy Hollenbeck
Tuesday, Jun 3 2008, 04:51 PM
  1. April Top 10 – With over 170,000 views for just the top ten of the month of April that is fantastic.  Thank you to all that read my blog!
 
  1. Reminder of Recall Meeting Today –I talked about when and where the meeting was to be held and a few of the reasons I was told for it possibility.
 
  1. The Recall Of Mayor Ryan McCue  – Had a few emails about the recall and voting in the plan commission.
 
  1. Wal-Mart & Wave Pushed Away  – Talked about the plan commission vote, thus ending the Wal-Mart and Wave site plan.
 
  1. I Was Wrong Mayor!  – Satire of an apology to the Mayor.  I go over the Mayor’s platform and highlight important sections.
 
  1. Tar and Feathers For McCue?   – Title came from an email to me from a McCue supporter asking me to stop the recall.  I listed a few of the reasons people emailed me why they support the recall.
 
  1. Questions and Statements  – I took peoples’ questions and statements out of the public forum and answered them.  I had the drawings of the Wave and Wal-Mart buildings.
 
  1. Thank You for Voting Against Wal-Mart Mayor McCue!  – Another satire this time from a person that wrote in the public forum thanking McCue for voting NO.
 
  1. The Forbidden Store – Talked about Cobalt’s email to me and not trying to interfere with the proposal on the table.  This is before the vote.
 
  1. Internet Child Predator Sterotype Changing Study Shows – Talks about how new studies show a change in the habits of the Internet Child Predator.
  

 

Updated 12:42pm - I Was Wrong Mayor!

By Randy Hollenbeck
Monday, May 12 2008, 11:21 AM

Wave may look to Oak Creek for training academy

The Milwaukee Wave and Continental Properties Co. Inc. may be looking to Oak Creek as the site for a soccer training academy and Wal-Mart Supercenter.  The Cudahy Plan Commission rejected the Wave and Continental's proposal May 5 to build a 60,000-square-foot indoor soccer facility at the abandoned 26-acre Iceport site that also would have included a Wal-Mart Supercenter, a hotel and other retail stores.  The proposal to build the project in the Cudahy tax incremental financing district was defeated by a vote of 4-3.  "We were stunned, but there's plenty of land available in Oak Creek in tax incremental financing districts," said Mike Lafferty, president of the Wave.  Lafferty declined to reveal specific sites in Oak Creek.  

http://seattle.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/05/12/story13.html

 
  

Day 7 – Monday May 12th 2008 - Still No response from the Mayor, but a new home for Wave & Wal-Mart 5 miles away in the O.C.

Maybe the Wave with Wal-Mart will offend Oak Creek

 

One starting observation to rid the mind of cobwebs, wake up the thought process, to be coffee for the brain – How is the Iceport the gateway to Cudahy?

 

Gateway - any passage by or point at which a region may be entered.  So no matter where the Wal-Mart is located is that not a gateway? 

 

So the NO crowd will complain no matter where it is!

 

Layton & Pennsylvania – Gateway to Cudahy from Milwaukee

College & Pennsylvania – Gateway to Cudahy from Milwaukee

Lakeshore Drive – Gateway to Cudahy from South Milwaukee and St. Francis

 

So no matter where the Wal-Mart is located is that not a gateway? 

Sorry if I hurt anyone’s feelings!

 

On to the apology

-------------

 

I do have to publicly apologize to Mayor Ryan McCue.  Many of you have known that I have been pretty harsh on our Mayor about the importance of “Communication”.  I have been very critical of him for a failure of “communication” with the citizens, mainly in written format.  I was wrong.  I am deeply sorry!

 

On the Mayor’s website (http://ryanmccue.com/Platform.html), he talks deeply about “Communication.” 

 

It is my fault for one, wanting the “Communication” to be a two-way street and two for it to be in written format.  We see “Communication” differently.  I actually think “Communication” means to communicate to the people.

 

Nowhere does he articulate that “Communication” would be either in his platform.  How about open communication to the citizens?  Is that in there? NOPE!

 

I guess we didn’t read the fine print.  Bait and switch, bait and switch.  Where is Ryan McCue the reformer?  Would the real Mayor please stand up!  You have heard me say that before.

 

Please accept my deepest apology on this matter.  One final thing, Mr. Mayor Ryan McCue, is being silent on the issue to why you voted “NO” and not explaining yourself, open communication?  I will treat residents with the dignity and respect they deserve”?

 

If McCue thinks that silence, and ignoring the people is RESPECT…Wow, we do have a bigger problem on our hands then Wal-Mart.  Instead of standing up, just give your resignation and allow a real Mayor to step forward!

 

Maybe the Mayor is too good for us.  Maybe somewhere in Illinois is better.  McCue is right “we can do better” – he was just talking about a Cudahy Mayor.

 

What is forgotten in the whole mess is the vote was about the usage of the land.  Store names should not have played into it at this time.

 

When Ryan McCue ran for mayor, he campaigned on his frustration of closed-door meetings on his website, and in his attacks.  When they were working out the 6-month extension for the Iceport lawyers, and all the meetings of the council and CDA regarding this MOU with Cobalt on Penn and Layton, the meeting notices all talk about going into closed session.  What happened to his idea of open government?  Maybe I was wrong about this as well!

 

I will leave all of you with then candidate Ryan McCue’s “Communication” talk in written format.  Courtesy of http://ryanmccue.com/Platform.html 

 

Communication

 

Once elected as you Mayor, I will carefully listen to all the points of view of my constituents and then make to best decision for the majority of the people.  My record proves that I am committed to having open communications.  As your Milwaukee County Supervisor, nearly every month since June of 2002 I have held “Round Table Discussions” to listen to what is important to my constituents.

 

Residents: I will return your phone call in a timely fashion.  I will treat residents with the dignity and respect they deserve.  Once elected as your Mayor, I will host “Meetings with the Mayor” to afford residence an opportunity to learn more about city issues, give suggestions and ask questions.

 

Businesses: Working with the Cudahy Chamber of Commerce to improve the local economy is a top priority for me.  I will re-institute breakfast with Mayor for Cudahy’s businesses.

 

Common Council: As a former Alderman, I understand the importance of having open communications with the members of the common council.

 

City Employees:  It is important to have open and honest communication with city employees.  Once elected as your mayor, I will host brown bag lunches with city employees to discuss city issues.

 

One Final thought(s)…

 

(My wife says I truly never have a final thought)

 

I know one of hang-ups to the Wal-Mart was the fact it would be open 24 hours.  To me it makes sense since it is just next door to Patrick Cudahy and other jobs that run around the clock.  It works perfect for the workers who would like to shop.  As Lisa Nelson from Wal-Mart said, "A 24-hour operation is not for us," she said, "it's for our customers.  We're not making a lot of money in the middle of the night."

 

I guess it is okay to over look who can benefit from shopping at the Wal-Mart, everyone.  Where are people who work at odd hours to go?

 

Demand and Ask for honest answers for the hard questions.

 

McCue wants to do what he wanted and that was not allow Wal-Mart at all costs, those costs are to the citizens in the loss, he is answerable to us.  His decision not to explain himself is unacceptable and unreasonable; maybe there is a way around just to remove him based on mental incapacity or failure to do his job properly.  I have to agree with a caller to the Jay Weber show “No public official has the authority to arbitrarily make decisions”!

 

I have been saying the Mayor needs to clue people in on the game plan for months.  Does he have one?  What is the BP (battle plan) for the problems in Cudahy?

 

People, I am not writing to just bash the Mayor.  These are important things a leader should be doing.  Maybe he has no clue besides the personal things he allows to govern over himself and us.  He is supposed to be answerable and accountable to the people, and he is not answering the call from people and I am not talking about his phone use.

 

I would like to put to rest that McCue did not campaign against Wal-Mart or keeping them out of Cudahy as some have wished, but the use of tax dollars going to Wal-Mart.  Wal-Mart didn’t ask for any money. 

 

Here is what the Mayor said, “Wal-Mart:  I do not think that the City of Cudahy should provide a $12 million tax subsidy to the world’s biggest retailer.  Residents may not even see the tax benefits from the development for 20 yearshttp://ryanmccue.com/Platform.html

 

Again, they didn’t and I agree we do not need to give Wal-Mart a tax break!

 

So, it is bait and switch.

 

Is McCue an elitist?  A Mayor is more then just doing what you want! 

 

It is doing right by the city and its people.  McCue has done none of this.  He is just doing his own thing and not explaining it, because he doesn't want to or have to.  He is getting in the way of progress in the city.

 

K9 unit, gangs, violence – the K9 is not 100% the answer, but a huge factor.  It is another tool the police can use.

 

Wal-Mart – It is not the silver bullet, but an economic clog in the wheel, a piece of the puzzle.  People are not busting down the doors to get in Cudahy, we are much like Cuba in many ways.  Just think about it!

 

This is round one - The people pushing for Wal-Mart ousting seem to be winning these battles. But will they win the war?

 

It is a win, be it a small one, that the Mayor is silent for Wal-Mart.  Maybe there is hope a real Mayor who doesn’t govern by personal thoughts, but sound plans will come forward.

 

Maybe it will be Joseph Mikolajczak who is tough on crime, Joe Henika who is tough on taxes, or maybe Joe Halser who is pro-business that will throw their hat(s) in to the ring.  McCue is none of these.

To use the NO Wal-Mart crowd’s battle cry, anything is better than McCue!  No wait – I did change a key word there!!!!

 

On Second thought – No, I am not sorry on any counts!

 
 

A few people said they just about missed my thoughts that I include in the April Top 10 post because they keep up with my daily posts and if it was not that they just wanted to see the order, it would have been missed.  I have included them again in this post.

 

I hope everyone enjoys reading my posts.  You may not agree with me, but maybe what I have to say will shed some new light on matters and make you pause.  I am not a reporter, but a commentator.  I do not get paid, work for the city, or have a secret agenda.  I gain nothing personally from doing this blog other than the satisfaction of being able to put “The Way I See It” out for others to read.  I do it because I think it needs to be said.  I try to be fair and when I see something I don’t agree with, I let it be known.

 

Many people have said I am hard on the Mayor in his first year and I write blogs that don’t show his job performance in a good light.  When I see something that he does great, I will blog on it.  Hey, I am not the only one blogging on the Cudahy Now website, Greg Janisch was McCue’s campaign Treasurer and he can blog.  Just because I am critical of the Mayor’s job performance, does not make me a person who is attacking Ryan McCue personally nor am I character assassinating him!  This is about his job performance period!  We all have freedom of speech and a voice; I just choose to use mine.

 

Here is what a reader, Dave Taylor, said in a comment:

 

Randy, there's a lot of people in Cudahy who back you up, even if they are too scared to admit it.  We should all be thankful that someone is willing to take a stand for what is right for our city; like you said, "...just want Cudahy to be better", too bad there are egos that get in the way of the good the city could do.  There isn't any reason to be shameful of an opinion, that's what makes us human (not robots) and why our country is a great one!

 

Sometimes you may feel your comments fall of deaf ears, but the truth is that people ARE reading and they ARE listening.  We rally behind you and hopefully, you are stronger in your plight for a better Cudahy because of it.  You are a voice that matters!  You are looking out for the betterment of Cudahy!  You are taking a stand, unafraid of whose feathers you ruffle!  Those of us who stand behind will continue to support you, even if the “powers that be” wish we weren’t listening!

 

Keep up the good work…your supporters need your voice!

 

Someone has talked to my superiors at mycommunitynow.com to have my work censored or shutdown.  The claim was I lie, spread rumors, and have false and inaccurate information.  I try to source my work and some comes from people in government that do not like the direction we are headed or people close to a situation that feel some injudicious is being done.  I have always believed in correct information and not disinformation.  If something is truly wrong let me know and I will correct it, but don’t be all that upset and try and shut me down because you don’t LIKE what I am saying!  People, if what I am hearing from those inside is true, some scary things are coming or happening.  Hypothetically, it might even be something like a change of salary ordinances for health insurances that is not fair and done evenly.  Should it not be changed for all and not leave out anyone?  Fair is fair.  That is a hypothetical, but watch,  it might just come true.

 

I will not stop until the misinformation, disinformation and no information are brought to light.  More and more people are emailing me with things.  These are very reliable people and trustworthy people.  Together we can all make a difference.  I will NEVER sell you out and I have been asked who is telling me things.  The wheel of information doesn’t need to stop spinning just because it might ruffle some feathers.

 
 

http://www.620wtmj.com/shows/charliesykes/18804009.html

Please go there a watch the video and read the comments after 

WAL-MART HATERS

By Charlie Sykes

 

Story Created: May 9, 2008

 

Story Updated: May 10, 2008

 

Cudahy Mayor Ryan McCue... and these guys:

 

And more..... here they focus on the role of unions in Wal-Mart hating (WARNING GRAPHIC LANGUAGE; GRAPHIC IMAGES, NUDITY):

 

 

 

Saturday, May 10, 2008

Educating the Idiot Politician of the Week

Time for another installment of Idiot Politician of the Week.  I didn’t want to, but I felt I owed it to them somehow.

Welcome to
Cudahy where the mating call is, “I’m so drunk.”  Yes, the punch line of Milwaukee County is too good for Wal-Mart. Casting the deciding vote was Mayor Ryan McCue.  You may remember him from such documentaries as “Screw the Taxpayers” and “Your Milwaukee County Board: Good Work If You Can Get It.”  According to McCue, well…, nothing.  He’s refused to say why he’s opposed to Wal-Mart.  He prefers to remain silent and be thought an idiot rather than open his mouth and remove all doubt.

 

April Top 10

By Randy Hollenbeck
Saturday, May 10 2008, 06:59 AM
 

Day 5 – Still No response from the Mayor

 

Amazing, the leader (in name only) votes something down, is silent, and will probably gets away with it.  Hey, only in Cudahy!

 

 

It was requested that I do a monthly review of the most looked at topics I wrote.  I will run down the top 10 and give a small overview of each. 

 

Some of these have an unfair advantage because they are older and have had the chance to be looked at longer.  By far, the shorter time Wal-Mart articles have more people view them quicker.  Many people still want to hear about Wal-Mart from both sides of the issue.

 

People keep emailing me offline in private and that is good.  I would like people to start making comments.  The South Shore viewers don’t seem to want to publicly comment, by how many private emails I get vs. the comments feature used.

 
  1. Turf War – What to Build? –Yes it is a Wal-Mart post and I talked about TIFs and how the Mayor doesn’t want the Wal-Mart and how this chance may not come again. I also included a letter from a reader that they sent to the Mayor and my responses to what the Mayor replied.
 
  1. Real Voter Intimidation – I talked about how during the 2006 election my neighbor was intimidated and took down his sign in fear of retribution from his union steward.
 
  1. ** Adults Only **  – The title maybe misleading to a few, but the subject matter was how adult content is on the web and we must watch what our children do on the web.
 
  1. One Must Look Back To See The Future  – Here I wrote about that sometimes one must look back to see the future and how Mayor McCue had some foreshadowing in his campaign pledge about Wal-Mart.  Cudahy, as is the nation, is in a recession and how in a downturn we should not pass up the opportunity of this Wal-Mart.
 
  1. History Repeating Page Two  –I wrote about the info a reader emailed me about a Cudahy School closing and Wal-Mart spin.
 
  1. Plan Commission   – I wrote about what happen at the last Plan Commission meeting about Cudahy Station.  How some members didn’t even understand what they were to be voting on that night.
 
  1. Proposal On The Table  – I wrote about what is the Wal-Mart proposal, TIF, and the Plan Commission.
 
  1. Teen’s Common Sense Sometimes Lacking  – I wrote about a report I came across on how Florida legislators are encouraging a review of their "abstinence only" sex education programs after a recent survey completed by Florida teens returned some curious results of not understanding things like drinking bleach prevents HIV.  By now way am I attacking "abstinence only", just bring to light what they found.
 
  1. Flamethrower  –I wrote about what a person said to me about how I deal with the Mayor and if I hate him.  I may be ruffling feathers and again once you write it, and sign it, you can’t hide from it something I wish the city would do.
 
  1. Keeping Us In The “Noir”  – Keeping Us In The "Noir" is about how we are in the dark (Noir) on may things in government and how with open records laws, the information should be public and easily obtainable.  I wrote about how many of these very things should be on the web at a mouse click away from you and I to read and know.
  

I hope everyone enjoys reading my posts.  You may not agree with me, but maybe what I have to say will shed some new light on matters and make you pause.  I am not a reporter, but a commentator.  I do not get paid, work for the city, or have a secret agenda.  I gain nothing personally from doing this blog other than the satisfaction of being able to put “The Way I See It” out for others to read.  I do it because I think it needs to be said.  I try to be fair and when I see something I don’t agree with, I let it be known.

 

I may use sarcasm at the expense of others that don’t agree with my views or me, but it is not personal just on the material.

 

Many people have said I am hard on the Mayor in his first year and I write blogs that don’t show his job performance in a good light.  When I see something that he does great, I will blog on it.

 

Hey, I am not the only one blogging on the Cudahy Now website, Greg Janisch was McCue’s campaign Treasurer and he can blog.  Just because I am critical of the Mayor’s job performance, does not make me a person who is attacking Ryan McCue personally nor am I character assassinating him!  This is about his job performance period!  We all have freedom of speech and a voice; I just choose to use mine.

 

Here is what a reader, Dave Taylor, said in a comment:

 

“Randy, there's a lot of people in Cudahy who back you up, even if they are too scared to admit it.  We should all be thankful that someone is willing to take a stand for what is right for our city; like you said, "...just want Cudahy to be better", too bad there are egos that get in the way of the good the city could do.  There isn't any reason to be shameful of an opinion, that's what makes us human (not robots) and why our country is a great one!

 

Sometimes you may feel your comments fall of deaf ears, but the truth is that people ARE reading and they ARE listening.  We rally behind you and hopefully, you are stronger in your plight for a better Cudahy because of it.  You are a voice that matters!  You are looking out for the betterment of Cudahy!  You are taking a stand, unafraid of whose feathers you ruffle!  Those of us who stand behind will continue to support you, even if the “powers that be” wish we weren’t listening!

 

Keep up the good work…your supporters need your voice!”

 

Someone has talked to my superiors at mycommunitynow.com to have my work censored or shutdown.  The claim was I lie, spread rumors, and have false and inaccurate information.  I try to source my work and some comes from people in government that do not like the direction we are headed or people close to a situation that feel some injudicious is being done.  I have always believed in correct information and not disinformation.  If something is truly wrong let me know and I will correct it, but don’t be all that upset and try and shut me down because you don’t LIKE what I am saying!  People if what I am hearing from those inside is true, some scary things are coming or happening.  Hypothetically, it might even be something like a change of salary ordinances for health insurances that is not fair and done evenly.  Should it not be changed for all and not leave out anyone?  Fair is fair.  That is a hypothetical, but watch it might just come true.

 

I will not stop until the misinformation, disinformation and no information are brought to light.  More and more people are emailing me with things.  These are very reliable people and trustworthy people.  Together we can all make a difference.  I will NEVER sell you out and I have been asked who is telling me things.  The wheel of information doesn’t need to stop spinning just because it might ruffle some feathers.

 

 

March Top 10

By Randy Hollenbeck
Sunday, Apr 6 2008, 03:06 PM
 

It was requested that I do a monthly review of the most looked at topics I wrote.  I will run down the top 10 and give a small overview of each. 

 

Some of these have an unfair advantage because they are older and have had the chance to be looked at longer.  By far, the shorter time Wal-Mart articles have more people view them quicker.  Many people still want to hear about Wal-Mart from both sides of the issue.

 

People keep emailing me offline in private and that is good.  I would like people to start making comments.  The South Shore viewers don’t seem to want to publicly comment, by how many private emails I get vs. the comments feature used.

 
  1. The Mayor and I – I talked about the fact that Mayor McCue and I were mentioned in the OnMilwaukee.com article In Bars & Clubs and how the Mayor may or may not feel about bars in Cudahy.  You can make up your own mind.
 
  1. Cudahy Wal-Mart Time Line – I talked about and laid out the time line for the IcePort and the Wal-Marts and how we have gotten here.  I pose some questions that still remain unanswered.
 
  1. A Wal-Mart Hypothetical  – I talked about “what if” someone voted NO that had connections to Wal-Mart’s competition and why they voted the way they did and what should happen.  Just a hypothetical, right?
 
  1. Soccer Economic Impact  – I talked about and had info from other cities on how soccer tournaments economic impact were positive for the cities involved and how having a training facility would be even bigger boost.
 
  1. Death Penalty  – I give my viewpoint on the death penalty while the high court weighs in on lethal injection for Death Row Inmate.
 
  1. Crime Part I – How to Reduce Crime In Cudahy  – I talked about what can be done to reduce crime in Cudahy.  This is a six part series.
 
  1. State of Cudahy Address  – I talk about what I would have liked to see in the Mayor’s State of Cudahy Address
 
  1. Wal-Mart What If  – I talked about other possible locations and what if they are working behind closed doors with the city.  Had a very good comment from an informed reader.
 
  1. Lawn Care Part I – Correct Time and Fertilizer Selections  – I talk about the correct time and proper fertilizer selections to have an awesome lawn using the EMIL method.
 
  1. What If Not Wal-Mart  – I talk about what should go there if not Wal-Mart as asking the question, I showed some awesome pictures of the proposed Austin Texas Wal-Mart.  These are truly beautiful.
  

My fastest one day viewer-ship was History Repeating  – This is where I talk about the proposal of closing a school and how in a few years we will be asked to build a new one.  We can learn from history if we choose to.


 
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