Open Honest McCue

I saw on CudahyNow (Plans in works for former Kohl's Food site) that the CDA met in closed session, then came into open session and voted unanimously to approve the financial structure in concept at the Kohl’s Site. 

While that old building is a dump, how much city money is going into the development, and what are the plans?

If Mayor McCue, who ran on an open meetings platform, can't come out and tell the public how potentially taxpayer dollars are going to be used, shouldn't he eat his words?

Why is the CDA always meeting in closed session, and then giving candy away to everyone who walks into the city, except Wal-Mart!

I don’t want to give the store away nor do I think Wal-Mart should get funds, but be fair to the developers and the businesses they bring!  The name on the building should not matter!

I would love to see a comment out of the Mayor, other than, “No Comment”!

A quick check of the new website http://www.cudahy4business.com has the following:

Source Page

Former Kohls Site – The CDA has begun discussions with a business looking at revitalizing the former Kohl's building on KK.  Because real estate negotiations are currently underway, and the CDA does not want to jeopardize these negotiations, the name of the business cannot be disclosed at this time.

From CudahyNow

Plans in works for former Kohl's Food site

The identity of the developer has not been disclosed at this time.

The site at Plankinton and Kinnickinnic avenues is outside the city's tax-incremental finance district, but the project may be eligible for TIF funding because the state now allows TIF funds to be spent within a half-mile of a TIF district.

Tax-incremental financing, or TIF, is a mechanism that allows municipalities to borrow money to fund infrastructure improvements for an area that otherwise would be difficult to develop or redevelop.  The increased property tax revenue from the improved land is then diverted from the tax roll to pay off the loan.

Eberhardy said the allocation of TIF funds are key to getting the proposed project accomplished.

Plans for the vacant site are consistent with the Cudahy 2020 Comprehensive Master Plan, she said.

"Those of us who know about the plans are very excited," she said.

Specifics on the proposal likely will be disclosed next month, she said.

Side Notes Source Page

Cobalt Site - On April 14, 2009 the City of Cudahy Community Development Authority (CDA) voted to stop negotiations with Cobalt Partners and recommended termination of the Memorandum of Understanding.  This matter is expected to appear on an upcoming Common Council agenda.

Downtown Décor – The new banners have been ordered replacing the old tattered ones.  The will be installed for this Summer from Cudahy to Holmes along Packard Avenue.  The flower baskets are expected to be installed at the end of May but no later than the first week of June. 

Here are questions from readers:

Mayor Ryan McCue, you are an Irish Catholic and a church going person why did you pick this Thursday, during the largest religious week, the holy week to hold this important meeting.  As you are aware that you cannot even have a funeral after 5:00pm Friday until Monday after Easter!

What are the plans for the site formerly Thirsty Moose?

What current negotiations are happening with businesses to revive the City of Cudahy?  Please be specific.

Schools, PTAs, Police, Fire have all used the PhoneBlast system to notify important information, has the Mayor and local officials thought about using this to get out information?

How are the Cudahy Schools doing compared to local, state and national?  Please be specific in ranking of each section.  What plans and actions are being promoted to increase quality education in Cudahy?

Have local businesses been approached to help in mentoring and volunteering at local schools for programs such as LegoRobotics, Odyssey of the Mind, or other educational and artistic enrichment programs?

What are the duties and responsibilities of the City of Cudahy?  Are these different from other cities?  If so, why?

Did you run on an anti-Wal-Mart platform?

Why is the city proposing to pay $30 million dollars for the ice port site? 

Why did you move from the old mayor's office, which you said was too closed off and dark, yet was open and easily accessible to the public?  Then you chose to move from that old office to the glassed in office only to spend thousands to wall it off.  Would it not made more sense or better yet, any sense to just remodel the old Mayor’s office?

Why was a referendum not done for Wal-Mart in Cudahy?

Is it true that there was/is another Tannery company interested in moving in the Cudahy Tannery?

Is the city still looking into purchasing the Cudahy Tannery to put a road in on Edgerton?

Did you turn in for any reimbursement of costs or damages due to your house being vandalized to the city?

Since I will not be able to attend Mayor McCue’s State of The City Address, I have made up a list of questions that maybe someone in the crowd could ask and hopeful Mayor McCue will answer them.  There are an awful lot of questions Mayor McCue could just demystify for us!

Mayor McCue it might help you to divulge some of these in your speech instead of making your speech a pre-campaign diatribe. 

How would you grade yourself as Cudahy’s Mayor?

What are your job duties?

Do you feel the Cudahy Mayor’s job is part time?

Does the city staff work for the Mayor?

What are the goals for Lara Fritts?

Who keeps track of your sick, personal days, and vacation time?

Why is there no City car use policy and log put in place yet?

Once the city takes possession of the property, when do they propose beginning environmental remediation, and how much will it cost the taxpayers?

Why could we not get a scout or school group to adopt and plant flower baskets rather than paying thousands of dollars to a company which no longer has it's business located in the city of Cudahy?

With residential homes devaluing at a rate of 5 to 10 % per year, how do you to propose to balance the budget yearly with the cities overall value in a declining mode?

In your 2007 campaign platform you claimed, “The past two budgets, Mayor Hohenfeldt has presented deficit budgets” do you have an evidence to back up that claim?

Why doesn’t Cudahy have a defined downtown and since it doesn’t how can the Master Plan call for certain things to happen downtown if one is not defined?

Are you going to hold a referendum so the citizens can vote on the KRM since this is a very big deal that will affect the Cudahy residents vastly?

Was it your idea to put flowerpots on the light polls downtown?

Are you okay with 97 of 250 city jobs being held by non-Cudahy residents including our Police Chief, Superintendent of our schools and now our Fire Chief?

Complaints resonate amid higher tax bills, lower property values

http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/36734324.html

Nice quiet small town type community on Lake Michigan. The main disadvantage is the high cost of property taxes. Wisconsin has some of the highest property taxes in the U.S.

If you have a question for Mayor Ryan McCue just post it in the comments section!

Mayor…

As I look at my numbers of views on the city, Mayor and Wal-Mart blogs – NO!  They are still very high in people looking.

Could some people look at this and say, “What can I do?”  Sure, I think the thought of you cannot fight city hall coupled with people accepting McCue’s non-answer of I have outside council some will and have just move on.  After all the CDA and Common Council has authorized the RAZING of the building.

In less than 60days the city will own the land back, maybe!

There is an auction and some talk about bidding 30 Million Dollars. 

McCue said the city can bid on the property for about $30 million, but Eberhardy said a decision has yet to be made by either the Community Development Authority or the Common Council on such a bid.

I thought the City was getting the land, free and clear?  So we have to buy it?  Taxpayers paying for this land?  Okay Mayor you spoke in public explain the 30 Million Dollars for the land!

There are people out there that say, the fat lady has already sung her swan song of goodbye.  Just accept it that the City will get the land back for $30,000,000 of taxpayer’s money!

That is exactly what McCue wants.  I can hear him agree right now while he reads this.  He wants people to put this behind him and just feel okay.

Wrong answer!  Stand up and fight.

That is the wrong action and message to send!  People, we do not have to accept this.  If you keep demanding, he will have to give a real response.  Why are we paying for this land to have to pay again and clean it up?

Yes, at some point, we can move on, most likely with a new Mayor who sees the picture, the big picture.  One who understands that the job of Mayor means that you must do what is best for the city, not just what you think, but also the direction the people want. 

It means more than putting in x amount of hours, but make those hours count!

It means that full time is full time, not the full time you learn in county government, the kind of full time you have as the Mayor of a city!

It means that when you make a mistake you own up to it and fix it!

Ask yourself this question – What has McCue done as Mayor?  Then minus out the many things that maybe McCue has taken credit for that the previous council started or has been working on.  What do you have left?

All of this time, energy and money invested in McCue as Mayor, is it worth it?

I hear there is interest for the Wal-Mart in nearby cities. 

I hear there is interest in the Wave from Greenfield and Brown Deer.

I hear there is interest for other Cudahy companies from many of our near by cities.  That way McCue can build his condos without problems from businesses.

Cudahy “Land of Condos”

How much of McCue can the city of Cudahy afford to handle?

If this were sports, he would have been traded by now.  Maybe it is three strikes and your out!

Taken from 2008- In the Milwaukee Business Journal from Friday, Cudahy is ready for hotel, convention center Cudahy Mayor Ryan McCue is making the case that the General Mitchell International Airport area needs......

Correct me if I am wrong, didn’t the Cudahy Station have a hotel and convention center?  Did it not just get voted down?  So McCue thinks that is what Cudahy needs.  Well duha?

I think I have figured something out.  If we make McCue think he came up with Cudahy Station all on his own, he just might vote for it!  This Mayor is an egomaniac.

Looks like he needs to see his name behind the word Mayor, needs to be the one coming up with the ideas, and he might just be the type to take credit for others work or ideas.

WOW…

Take a look at this - Moving to Milwaukee from Chicago

A lot of the suburbs on the inner ring are older and more established, so new housing stock is more limited.

I would say FRANKLIN again would be a great bet as there is quite a bit of new housing construction still occurring there (very rapidly growing, nice suburb - big landmass).  Muskego has some new construction, as do the Lake Country suburbs (Pewaukee, Delafield, etc.).

No mention of Cudahy but look - FRANKLIN (Wal-Mart), Pewaukee (Wal-Mart), Delafield (Wal-Mart), and Muskego (Wal-Mart)

Another pointer to how Wal-Mart may not be the killer of cities people make it out to be!

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

On a final note, could Wal-Mart and others be playing me?  Have me do the dirty work of others while they stay clean?  Aren’t they all pleased to see citizens do their dirty work?

Sure!  But someone has to do it.  Has anyone thought that Cudahy could play Wal-Mart for many things?  Paying for Police Officers salaries, donation of money for new playgrounds, lights, sidewalks, stoplights, or donation of school supplies to the schools.  Wal-Mart has deep pockets and we should use them or tap that resource.

Here is what someone said about and to me:

“I encourage CudahyNOW blogger Randy Hollenbeck to look a little deeper into his actions, and hopefully see how he and his supporters were being used and played around with by Continental Properties and Wal-Mart on the Cudahy Station proposal.”

I have said that Wal-Mart could be playing both sides – That was with Continental Properties and Cobalt Partners.  Could I get burned by talking to Wal-Mart & Co?  Yes, and the same is true when I talk in public and private with the city personnel.  I just know I will not be the one lighting the match, so to speak.

If you knew me personally, you would know I will not be played like a cheap piano, I am a leader and don’t let people tell me what to do.  I fully understand how to be a TEAM player, but I am not being played.  They cannot be played if you choose to participate.

The citizens of Cudahy still should know why Mayor McCue said “NO” to Wal-Mart and some new information about Wal-Mart.

A story about Cudahy, Muskego, Wal-Marts, Lawsuits and Recalls

Fun, fun, fun

Go To Story

The Salvation Army - Wal-Mart donation Press Release.

Christmas Toy Drive Brightened by Wal-Mart Donation

MILWAUKEE, WI, December 18, 2008 –

The Salvation Army’s annual toy drive has received a major helping hand from Wal-Mart’s four city of Milwaukee stores.  The four stores have collaborated in making an $11,000 donation, responding to The Salvation Army’s need to accommodate twice the usual number of requests for gifts for needy Milwaukee area families.

            Additionally, The Salvation Army’s toy barrels will be at each of the four Milwaukee stores from Friday through Sunday (Dec. 19-21) where last minute shoppers can contribute toys for the annual drive.  Included are the company’s stores at 401 E. Capitol Dr.; 5825 W Hope Ave.; 8700 N. Servite Dr., and 3355 S. 27th St.

            “The donation and timely toy collection are greatly needed and appreciated especially this year with the economic downturn and the substantial increase in requests for toys.  It will help brighten Christmas for thousands of families,” said Major Jesse Collins, Salvation Army Milwaukee County Commander.

            He added Wal-Mart’s contribution and full cooperation surfaced after recent news reports regarding the challenges facing The Salvation Army for this year’s campaign.

About Wal-Mart

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. operates Wal-Mart discount stores, supercenters, Neighborhood Markets and Sam’s Club locations in the United States.  The Company operates in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Japan, Mexico, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico and the United Kingdom and, through a joint venture, in India.  The Company's securities are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol WMT.  More information about Wal-Mart can be found by visiting www.walmartstores.com.  Online merchandise sales are available at www.walmart.com

and www.samsclub.com.

About The Salvation Army

The Salvation Army, an evangelical part of the universal Christian church, has been supporting those in need in His name without discrimination since 1865.  Nearly 33 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through the broadest array of social services that range from providing food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter to the homeless and opportunities for underprivileged children.  About 87 cents of every dollar raised is used to support those services in nearly 9,000 communities nationwide.  For more information, go to http://www.SAmilwaukee.org

If you didn’t catch that - $11,000 donated from Wal-Mart to the Salvation Army locally in Milwaukee from four stores. 

Now let’s look at this article from Forbes.com - America's Most Generous Corporations for a national prospective.

The No. 1 most generous company overall, Wal-Mart Stores (nyse: WMT - news - people), gave away $301 million in 2007, including total cash donations from the company foundation, and excluding free product and service offerings, otherwise called "in-kind" donations.  That amounts to 1.3% of the company's 2006 operating income.

Beneficiaries of Wal-Mart's goodwill include the Children's Miracle Network, America's Second Harvest, the Salvation Army, the American Red Cross, the United Way of America and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

Just how much of that untapped amount could have been donated to Cudahy?  Maybe for Parks, streets, put in the sidewalk I have been requesting, schools, churches, and other charities.  The thoughts are endless of what could be asked for!

Is the Mayor and the Alderpersons that voted NO and sent Wal-Mart packing, going to make up the difference? 

That is a foolish question because we all know they could NOT!

This post was very long and so I am dividing it into two parts.  This is the first and than the math part will be the second.

Take a look at what the Mayor of Waukesha had to say about getting a new Wal-Mart Supercenter:

The Supercenter would bring 350 jobs to the area, about 60% of those full-time with average hourly pay of $10.91 and benefits.

Nelson said the store would bring a stronger retail presence to Waukesha's south side.

That part of the city has been somewhat underserved by retail businesses, Nelson said.

Nelson expects construction to begin in spring.

"All we need to do is have the weather warm up," he said.

The store has a scheduled opening sometime in 2010, Nelson said.

http://www.jsonline.com/business/36380809.html

Now Cudahy residents, I know you are on board with Cudahy having a Wal-Mart and it is just a few knuckle brain Cudahy officials standing in the way.

True this Wal-Mart Supercenter would be a little bigger (I think Wal-Mart shot themselves by not proposing a bigger store in Cudahy.  Maybe they will come back with at least as large as the Waukesha store) and would have fifty more jobs, but let us take a closer look.

Related info for this and math portion

http://www.dwd.state.wi.us/dwd/publications/erd/pdf/erd_9247_p.pdf

http://www.laborresearch.org/print.php?id=391

Wal-Mart employs more than 2 million associates worldwide, including more than 1.4 million in the United States.  Most associates are full time associates (34 - 40 hours per week), but there are part time jobs available, as well. 
Wal-Mart Careers

Benefits - Wal-Mart benefits including incentive/bonus plan, health insurance, profit sharing, 401(k), education, store discounts and other Wal-Mart employment benefits.  All Wal-Mart associates (full and part time) can become eligible for insurance benefits. 
Wal-Mart Benefits

Let us take a look at whom and what are part-time retail jobs.

Part-Time Retail Jobs

A job in a retail store can be a great way to earn extra cash, get great discounts on your favorite stuff, and meet new people.  Many retail stores look for people to work shifts on weekends and evenings, when business is busiest, which is why GrooveJob.com feels retail jobs are a perfect job for students and teens looking for a job that fits around their busy schedules.

You can work at a retail store that specializes in particular merchandise, like electronics or clothing, or larger retailers and department stores that carry lots of different products.  The nice thing is that retail shops are in every corner of every neighborhood.  They offer part time work to teens and students on a regular basis.  Larger retailers, like Wal-Mart, Circuit City, and Macy's, hire hundreds, sometimes thousands of hourly workers every year.

Depending on trends in consumer buying, some retailers concentrate most of their hiring around key shopping seasons (see seasonal jobs), but many companies have year-round staffing needs and are always on the look out for fresh faces to greet customers and staff their stores.

Whether you like meeting lots of people, like to help others find the products they're looking for, or are simply looking for some great discounts ;), a retail job can be great way to spend a few hours of your week making some cash.

http://www.groovejob.com/jobs/retail-jobs/

Okay, but you might say what else did the article say.  The site is a few miles from an existing Wal-Mart store on Highway 164 on the east side of Waukesha.

A spokeswoman for Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer, could not be reached for comment regarding the fate of the existing store.

What is the fate of that store going to be? 

It will close and unless the city of Waukesha in the developer agreement put in a clause (which the Cudahy would have) that either Wal-Mart / developer has to find a suitable new tenant or Wal-Mart / developer put money aside in a city fund to remove the building there is not much protection for store jumping! 

Cudahy was going to place such a clause in the business developer’s agreement. 

For those that have no idea how a big box brings traffic to the small boutique shops here it is explained for you:

"There's going to be a massive sea change in the retail landscape," said Nina Kampler, executive vice president with Hilco Real Estate, which advises retailers on their property management.

She said many strip shopping centers already have multiple big-box vacancies after several large stores filed for bankruptcy in 2008.  Some eventually went out of business.

When that happens, the smaller stores in the strip centers can't attract the requisite customer traffic to stay productive and profitable.

It's about survivability,"  "Retailers have to really fight to live another day and do what they can to get through to 2010."

Burden said that means closing underperforming stores, shedding stores under bankruptcy restructuring, and even "right-sizing" stores - shrinking the store size or moving to a smaller location.

"We'll see a lot of shaking out of the industry," he said, adding that no sector will be spared.  "Apparel, home furnishings, home improvement, electronics, luxury sellers will all close stores."

Retailers across the board from top-end luxury to mom-and-pop stores on Main Street are feeling a gigantic consumer [spending] choke from people's perceived and actual loss of wealth," said Kampler.

"At the end of the day, people are buying far less stuff.  They are buying what they need as opposed to what they want," she said.

This spending slump, which started in early 2008, has already claimed a number of retail casualties.  Prominent national chains such as Linens 'n Things, Steve & Barry's, KB Toys, Whitehall Jewelers and Shoe Pavilion have gone out of business.

http://money.cnn.com/2008/12/31/news/economy/retail_closures/index.htm?cnn=yes

Oh yeah, don’t forget that in most households both parents work and the battle cry of the Wal-Mart haters is that all the people that work at Wal-Mart are single moms with two kids.

So what is the poverty rate in Wisconsin?

Poverty status is a way of determining which people do not have enough income to meet their basic needs, such as food, housing, clothing and transportation.

2008 HHS Poverty Guidelines

Persons in Family or Household 48 Contiguous States

1 Person $10,400

2 Person $14,000

3 Person $17,600

4 Person $21,200

http://aspe.hhs.gov/POVERTY/08poverty.shtml

In Cudahy, I guess we just want something better, but have no idea what that is!  We will be cursed as that land is and spend countless days wandering the streets trying to find the answer, while other cities come to grips with common sense and reality!

Please check out all of the salary breakdowns in the next post.

Here is the WTMJ 620 Jeff Wagner Show talking about the Cudahy Wal-Mart listen to the Cudahy callers in what they have to say.  The Wal-Mart District Regional Manager also called in.

Jeff Wagner Show - Thursday, 12/11/08 Hour 1

Pod Cast Click Here

http://media2.620wtmj.com/wagner/121108_hour1.mp3

Jeff Wagner Show - Thursday, 12/11/08 Hour 2

Pod Cast Click Here

http://media2.620wtmj.com/wagner/121108_hour2.mp3

Here is an email I received:

OK people, what is your major malfunction? 

You have once again said no to progress and have sent Walmart packing.  What is the real issue here?  Don't give that nonsense about Walmart's wages because you are talking about putting a specialty coffee house in there.  Those are not exactly family supporting wages that they pay in coffee shops. 

You have also mentioned a possible hotel.  Well, I wasn't aware that hotel developers were lined up to put a brand new hotel in Cudahy.  Besides, the cleaning staff and other employees of most hotels would be surprised to find out that they are well paid.  I know people who work in the hotel industry.  To hear them tell it, the compensation they receive makes Walmart look extremely generous. 

So, we have now made it very clear that Walmart's wages are NOT the issue, but merely a smoke screen because you do not want to be honest about your real objections.  Cudahy residents will continue to shop at Walmart.  Whether in Cudahy, Franklin or Milwaukee. 

You have sent a very clear message to the citizens of Cudahy:  we will not give you a decent place to shop, but we will make sure you can get a good cup of coffee on your way out of town to Walmart. 

I have absolutely no financial stake in this at all.  I wonder if those of you who voted against Walmart can make the same declaration. 

We are stuck with a third rate Kmart and nothing else.  The failed Iceport made Cudahy a laughing stock.  You had the chance to do something intelligent and failed.  The region is still laughing at us.  When are you people going to wake up and get with the program? 

If you had a better idea for the site than Walmart, that would be fine.  But you don't!  A coffee shop?  Give me a break!  The attempt to develop that site has been going on for too long. 

First, the stupid Iceport debacle and now a sound plan that makes a great deal of sense.  It isn't too late to do the right thing.  Call Walmart and ask them to come back.  Tell them that three of you, lead by our illustrious mayor, were having severe brain cramps when you voted.  They'll believe it!  I know I do.  To both of you who voted properly, don't let the brain dead lead you astray."

Side Note - Joe Henika was appointed to the Board of Review at the 1st Council meeting in May.  I saw that after they put the minutes on line.  Maybe that is why he is leading the move Wal-Mart to another location charge, however, his constant pounding about the taxpayers, as well as not giving Kasten a dime, are a bit conflicting. 

Before I get into the meat and potatoes of the post, here is Jay Weber’s pod cast on Wal-Mart and cleanup of the Iceport site.  We truly have to thank God for giving us Jay Weber.  Please listen to his show as he always has interesting and thought provoking topics.

Dec.10 Cudahy taxpayers may be stuck cleaning up the property that the proposed Wal-Mart developers would have handled Click Here

Now onto business.

Let us ponder hypothetically that Cudahy Alderperson Thomas Pavlic did have some direct or indirect knowledge that Wal-Mart has been talking to Cobalt Partners about the Layton and Pennsylvania site behind closed doors in private. 

Now Cudahy Alderperson Thomas Pavlic e-mails Jay Weber and Jay reads the email over the air so information which may have needed to be kept private has been let out twice.  Once in the email in the first place and then over the airwaves.

Could Continental Properties ask Jay Weber for the email or a copy of the email as evidence that the City of Cudahy was not acting in good faith?  YES! 

If I were Steve Wagner of Continental Properties, I would be requesting that from WISN radio and Jay Weber.  Of course, they'd have to wrangle with station lawyers over it, I assume.  I have no idea what their policy is.  Jay Weber might have already deleted it for all we know. 

I would have to think that the Pavlic email would be information from a 'source' and the station would protect it and make Continental try to wrangle it out of the Clear Channel lawyers.  It's part of a much larger stance/process that media outlets need to take so they are not inundated by lawsuit requests for info, etc.

However, since this was a City of Cudahy elected official, it might just be easier to go the route of open record requests.  If the alderman did it from the governmental email address or signed it as an alderman or Cudahy city representative, a simple open records request could be done.  I do know that upsets some people that read my blog, but it is the way for checks and balances to force a fairer, transparent, and honorable government.  Sometimes people only do the right thing when people are watching.  Sometimes the city people need a reminder that they work for us!

This email and submission of meetings with a different developer would be in violation to the agreement Wal-Mart has with Continental Properties about placing a Wal-Mart on the Iceport site.  This could mean another lawsuit is waiting in the wings.  (Why does the City of Cudahy seem to be possibility involved with so much legal action?  Do other cities have this much problems with lawsuits?)

What else does the email do? 

What if Cobalt wants to sue the city over it now?  Lost opportunity!  We the taxpayers get the shaft again.

It might have killed any deal that could have included that location because if I was Wal-Mart, I would not want to be sued for breach of contract.  Would you?

Remember, we are all talking hypothetically with what ifs and I am not stating any facts, just conjecture.

Is it possible that the information was leaked to deep six any chance of Wal-Mart coming to Cudahy?

With this information of a second deal in the open, even before the first deal is dead, which would taint Wal-Mart making them, pull out of the second location. Again, this is speculation and I am not stating facts.  While I would like a Wal-Mart in Cudahy at any location, but letting the cat out of the bag makes it nearly impossible.  Could that have been the real intent all a long?  Was the person that released this info for or against Wal-Mart?

While this definitely crosses over into the conspiracy column, it should be thought about.

If the CDA voted to start the foreclosure, could a lawsuit with the new information about a deal struck with Cobalt/Wal-Mart and a bidding war that the city would hope to ensue cause a judge to give an injunction to stop the RFP (Request for Proposal) of demolition of the Iceport shell?  Could be grounds to do so! 

If it was true (Cobalt, the City of Cudahy and Wal-Mart working on a back door, closed-door deal), does the city understand that some information is not meant to be public? 

If it was true, I am sure Mayor McCue had a long talk with those city people involved.  Remember I did a post called “Gag Order”.

Loose lips sink ships!  -  Millions volunteered or were drafted for military duty during World War II.  The majority of these citizen-soldiers had no idea how to conduct themselves to prevent inadvertent disclosure of important information to the enemy.  To remedy this, the government established rules of conduct.

Sometimes, we have to be kept in the Noir, while others we should know what is going on.

Now there has been a calling for the Layton and Pennsylvania site because of the new post office being built in Oak Creek, but will not most workers be taking the 794 Parkway driving to and fro, thus bypassing the Wal-Mart entrance and not driving passed the entrance as some people have stated?

Here is an idea!  Keep in mind we are talking what ifs!

What if the city truly does want the land back so the city could develop it itself with taxpayer’s money and then try to sell the developed property? 

What if it was the plan all along to move the City Hall, Police Station and high school to that location and sell the real prime and pristine real estate that those currently occupy? 

What if the city built the train station in hopes that the RTA and sales tax would pay back the city after it was built?

Would we have to as a city say, “We built the station so we must fund the train or else it was a wasted effort and money.  So we cannot stop now!”  Would that inspire a legacy or a citizen’s revolt?

Sometimes the “Rumor Mill” transforms talk to truth.

Again, this is wild speculations on my part.  Just trying to be thought provoking since a cat could have been let out of the bag.  If it is an idea floating around, we cannot continue the economically dangerous trend of spending beyond our means.

I also understand that frivolous lawsuits are not the answer!  What is the answer is doing the right thing the first time.   I said this before that the city officials have to take their personal feelings out and take a step back and allow common sense to step in.

Sometimes common sense is not the way to go, this just happens NOT to be one of those times.  Here the common sense approach is the right way.

A friend of mine told me, “I'm just getting a kick out of the fact that we have them all scrambling and riled up!  Huzzah!”

Ask yourself these important questions:

“What’s a realistic assessment of the future growth potential here?”

“Can Cudahy pull out of the tailspin it is in?”

“Have they forgotten all about the simple answer while looking for the exotic solution?”

“Are you willing to give up something that is for some that may never be?”

In my opinion, Mayor McCue didn’t give Cudahy a present, he stole the Christmas presents just like in the Dr. Seuss' “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” story.  We all remember the story of a grumpy hermit hatches a plan to steal Christmas from the Whos of Whoville.  Also remember in the end, the Grinch did the right thing by the people and returned all the presents and trust.  Let us hope it happens in Cudahy as well.

This should not be a surprise and how long will the legal fight last?

Ice Port land owner to fight foreclosure

An attorney who represents the owner of land in Cudahy where a Wal-Mart Supercenter was proposed said today the city will be in for a legal fight if it tries to proceed with foreclosure on the land.

Milwaukee attorney Brad Hoeschen, who represents the land owner, Sportsites LLC, accused the city of delaying action on the Supercenter proposal before the Common Council ultimately rejected it last week.

At the same meeting, the council decided to resume foreclosure proceedings against Sportsites on the property.

"We absolutely intend to contest (the foreclosure) because we don't think the city acted in good faith," Hoeschen said.

Sportsites had planned to develop an ice arena complex on the 26-acre site, which is south of Layton Avenue between Nicholson Avenue and Sweet Applewood Lane.  After the partially constructed project failed, the city started foreclosure proceedings.  But the city agreed to hold off after Continental Properties, a Menomonee Falls developer, proposed to buy the site and develop the Supercenter.

Continental Properties originally proposed a soccer training complex to go with the Supercenter.  But after Continental changed its plan and said it might pursue the soccer complex after building the Supercenter, the council voted down the proposal, 3-2.

Mayor Ryan McCue declined comment on Hoeschen's statements.  He said the city can resume legal proceedings on the foreclosure if that action is approved tonight by the Cudahy Community Development Authority.

Steve Wagner, Continental's vice president for retail leasing, said the company is continuing to weigh its options on whether to make another Supercenter proposal to the city.

http://www.cudahynow.com/watch/?watch=28&date=12/9/2008&id=48827

I included a snippet of the editorial in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Please read all of it at the link below.  In addition, the J/S wants to hear from you.

Are Cudahy officials doing the right thing?  To be considered for publication as a letter to the editor, e-mail your opinion to the Journal Sentinel editorial department.

A good shout out to Alderman Joe Mikolajczak for wanting to listen to what was offered and giving is opinion publicly.  We can only hope someone like Alderman Joe Mikolajczak runs against Mayor McCue and brings real Pro-business atmosphere to Cudahy.

Even the Journal thinks Cudahy is wrong to reject Wal-Mart - Jay Weber’s Podcast on this Click here

http://www.jsonline.com/news/opinion/35767184.html

If not this, then what?

The city's rejection of a Wal-Mart Supercenter means that officials need to redouble their efforts to find someone to develop a site that has sat idle for too long.

City officials in Cudahy have been doing a fine job in the past several years of attracting quality developments and burnishing the city's image.  The new Cudahy is no longer the Cudahy of old - and there are good things about that.  Mayor Ryan McCue and the Common Council are right to seek more such opportunities when they can.

But we remain skeptical that the council's rejection of a Wal-Mart Supercenter was in the city's best interest, especially in the current economy.  As Ald. Joseph Mikolajczak put it last week, when the council rejected a proposed memorandum of understanding with a developer, "Somebody actually wants to come to your city and develop something - even though it's a Wal-Mart - and bring 300 jobs, it's hard to say no."

The alderman, who voted for the memorandum, also pointed out that the developer, Continental Properties, would have paid to raze the partially finished, rusting Iceport structure on the site now and do an environmental cleanup.

Three hundred jobs, a solid economic enterprise and cleanup of a site that has sat vacant for years, a site for which there have been many proposals but no actual development.  Letting it sit vacant for more years doesn't strike us as a particularly good idea.  And there is nothing inherently wrong with a one-stop, low-cost shopping center that could spur economic activity.

Wal-Mart Has "Tens of Thousands" of Wiis Up for Grabs

http://tech.yahoo.com/news/pcworld/20081209/tc_pcworld/walmartunleashingthousandsofwiisonline

Cudahy Wal-Mart - Just to keep you up to speed

Agenda http://www.ci.cudahy.wi.us/PDFs/CommonCouncil20081202Agenda.pdf

The Cudahy Common Counsel had a meeting with Continental Properties Tuesday night (item number 3 on agenda) and the vote was split 2/2 and Mayor McCue casted the tie breaking vote against the Wal-Mart sending away 300 jobs in a time when malls are closing across the nation and here was a company wanting to build in Cudahy of all places.  (We have a vacancy when district four alderman Sean Smith stepped down earlier)

Now just as I talked about before many people thing that Wal-Mart is better suited for the land on Layton and Pennsylvania site with Cobalt Partners as the builder.  Lisa Nelson of Wal-Mart publicly stated at the meeting that Wal-Mart in not interested in that spot.  Many think that location is best because it is much further away from the Ice Port site and downtown.

While waiting for the meeting to start (it started late because of a personal finance meeting before it) I asked people how far away they thought the Layton and Pennsylvania site was from the Ice Port site.  I also asked if they live around either one (I do.  I live in between them and just blocks away from the Ice Port) and the answers will blow you away.

One person told me that the two are 10 miles away and NO they don’t live around it.  Another told me that 6 miles away and NO.  Then I was told 3 miles away and again NO.

So the real answer is .6 miles away!  That is six-tenths of a mile away!

http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE4B347B20081204

Some people in attendance at the CC meeting were worried that as a company Wal-Mart is not stable.  I think that is just another misinformed person.

Some people were worried that what if Wal-Mart leaves after x amount of years, that would be taking up in the developer agreement where Wal-Mart would post money to either find someone to fill the vacancy or tear down the building.

Now it was brought up that the Master Plan said no big box downtown.  First, the Ice Port is not downtown.  Second, the Master Plan is old and is currently being rewritten.  Also it is flexible.  YES FLEXIBLE.  If the Common Counsel wants to put a big box on that site, it can vote that way.

Now let us get back to the Layton and Pennsylvania site with Cobalt Partners as the builder.  First Wal-Mart has an agreement with Continental Properties and if they started, talking in public with Cobalt Partners about their site and placing a Wal-Mart on it lawsuits can start up.

Related posts

http://blogs.cudahynow.com/way_i_see_it/archive/2008/04/10/proposal-on-the-table.aspx

Look back at my post where Cobalt Partners state the fact of Wal-Mart on that site.  Scott J. Yauck of Cobalt wanted to have clarification about the site http://blogs.cudahynow.com/way_i_see_it/archive/2008/05/04/the-forbidden-store.aspx

Now in the past Cobalt Partners had contacted Wal-Mart about the Layton and Pennsylvania site (2007) and Wal-Mart was interested but the cleanup of that site was too high of a cost along with the type of fill would require posts/pillars in the construction costs thus increasing the total costs of the project.

Again, Lisa Nelson of Wal-Mart was at the meeting last night and confirmed that Wal-Mart is not interested in the Layton and Pennsylvania site.  I will place up the audio of the meeting tonight.

At the time, there is no news story with the other site and NO bidding war for Wal-Mart as one of the Cudahy Alderman would like to think.

Now on to the removal of the Ice Port Shell

(Item number 4 on agenda)  They did vote to take bids raze the ice port building and who do you think will have to pay if more contamination is found under the ice port structure – the Cudahy taxpayers!  Here Wal-Mart and Continental Properties were going to pay to clean up the land.

Wal-Mart is not getting the land for free, as some people would like to think.  They will be paying Continental Properties for it and helping to pay for site cleanup.

Please listen to Jay Weber’s show on the Cudahy Wal-Mart

Here is Jay Weber’s Thursday December 4, 2008 podcast of it.  Click Here  Hear Cudahy Alderperson Mary Schissel’s comments on the Wal-Mart

Since the Mayor had the final say on "land use" (ha ha ha) WALMART, on the Sportsites property, it would be great if he would now answer a couple of questions.

1.   What opportunity costs have the city missed, with waiting 18 months to Restart for foreclosure proceedings on Sportsites?  Remember the word Restart, because in April 2007, the city was over 10 months into foreclosure action.

2.   How much time and money has been wasted in working on the Wal-Mart Plan?  How many dollars in outside attorneys have been used?  How much has it cost to have Ehlers & Associates review the financials?  How much has it cost to have VandeWalle weigh in on the proposed Wal-Mart, Wave proposal? 

3.  Once the city gets initially back into court, how long will it take to get the land back?

4.  How much more in attorney's fees will this cost?

5.  What other development will Oak Creek get (new post office and I think the Wal-Mart), St. Francis get (Cardinal Stritch University, Brew Pub), will Cudahy spends its time tied up in court, after waiting 2 years?  Maybe the development in Cudahy is just at city hall like the Mayor’s new office.

6.  What land use does the Mayor propose on this site, and when will it happen?

Here is what Continental Properties had to say after the vote – “The project isn't necessarily dead as a result of the vote.  But, as the delays pile up, "the less likely it is to happen," said Steve Wagner, Continental's vice president for retail leasing.

"We're evaluating all of our options," Wagner said today.”

http://www.cudahynow.com/watch/?watch=28&date=12/3/2008&id=48735

Sorry, but it is my opinion that Wal-Mart will NOT come back for the Penn and Layton site, as Cudahy, including the Mayor, has slapped them in the face, once again! 

Wal-Mart…a word and a place that simply makes some happy and others mad. 

It causes some to protest against and others to fight for it. 

It can cause normally rational people to do irrational things like vandalism of property of those supporting it. 

It can cause outrage of a community that where the majority wants it and a few in power that don’t to spark an interest in the open record requests and the recall process.  (That necessarily is not a bad thing as a wake up call to the city and the people to have an understanding of the checks and balances the people have)

CudahyNOW reported that “Funding shortage derails Cudahy Station project” http://www.cudahynow.com/story/index.aspx?id=818788

With the recent money crunch and stock decline, Continental Properties, the developer of the Shops at Cudahy Station, has failed to secure the funds and financing necessary to get the project off the ground as planned.

With the retail that is already on the complex (Walgreen’s) why not allow the Wal-Mart to be built and then have the rest built after.  Wal-Mart is not asking for taxpayer’s money.  The people of Cudahy want the Wal-Mart!  It doesn’t matter where on the map in Cudahy, the people want it.

I hammered on the master plan in how we can allow retail there on the site since it already has some.  The city cannot hide behind the master plan to mask their dislike of Wal-Mart personally.  The betterment of the city is what is important, not someone’s personal distain for Wal-Mart.

http://www.cudahynow.com/story/index.aspx?id=820925

Those were strong words that hopefully, over the year, Mayor McCue has changed and now takes to heart.

Everything makes sense after the fact in seeing the future.

We are never going back to the town of Mayberry with Mom and pop stores dotting the way.  Those days are gone for good!

We all wish and would like to hold on to the dream that our community could and still is Mayberry.  Wal-Mart is not the evil place that those detractors would like to paint them as.  We can try and live in fictional Mayberry or in the realism of Cudahy where Wal-Mart fits right in!

Just build the damn thing, already.

Ever-changing Cudahy plan morphs into Wal-Mart

The Cudahy Wal-Mart has a second shot without the Wave Center.  Let us hope Mayor McCue understands that Cudahy needs and wants this Wal-Mart.

http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/35201379.html

My friend Jay Weber of WISN talking about the Cudahy Wal-Mart and Mayor Ryan McCue in this podcast.

Podcast here - The plans for a Walmart in Cudahy are on again.

Karma?

Town Chases Out Wal-Mart; Gets Insufferable Recycling Plant Instead

Pennsylvania: Residents in Plainfield County recently chalked up what they thought was a neighborhood-saving move by spending years chasing out Wal-Mart, which was planning on building a new store.  Instead, they got a noise-polluting recycling plant.

The site now creates wall-shaking explosions and noises that resemble a freight train on a daily basis.  A fire last week at the plant rose tensions even higher between residents.  Developer Nolan A. Perin says he is being unfairly blamed.

He says $200k was spent to quell the noise and that he doesn't understand all the criticism over the plant, which is in an industrial park.  Residents say they weren't notified, but since it is zoned for it, no additional approvals were necessary.

Source: www.mcall.com

My name is Jeff and I have done guest blogs before.  I currently run The Right View Wisconsin blog.  http://www.rightviewwi.com/

Mayor Ryan McCue do the right thing this time and don’t hold up the Wal-Mart or fully explain yourself.

The Mayor of Cudahy, Mr. Ryan McCue has stated in public on the record that, “Wal-Mart itself is not asking for any TIF subsidy.”  The Wave Center however was the one looking for 10 Million in TIF money.  That was brought down to just over 1.65 million.  So unless there is another request for money, there is NO taxpayer-subsidized Wal-Mart requested in Cudahy.  Period!  Let all of us understand that clearly and concisely.

Now the Wave Center component is no longer an option being brought to the table, just Wal-Mart itself.

The people of Cudahy want this Wal-Mart.  That is why it passed before and the support at meetings has been more for it than against.  Now that the Wave Center is no longer a taxpayer drain, the Mayor Ryan McCue should not have an issue of the Wal-Mart.  No taxpayer money is being used.

If there is money requested by Wal-Mart because something has changed or was not explained correctly the first time, then the Mayor of Cudahy, Mr. Ryan McCue, needs to speak up and explain it to the people. 

He could use this blog, which would be fine.  Cudahy’s city website would be fine!  The Milwaukee Journal would be fine!  Heck, a radio interview would be fine!  Randy’s friend Jay Weber on WISN radio would love to have him on. 

Passing it on through someone else or a phone call does not cut it because he can deny it later.

This is an open letter to the Cudahy Mayor Ryan McCue.

Dear Mayor of Cudahy, Mr. Ryan McCue,

Please stand up and make yourself be heard!  Become a leader!  Represent the people of your community!  If you take a position, like Wal-Mart, don’t be afraid to speak out and explain yourself.  Yes, explain yourself though.  If you truly feel passionate about something, you need to explain it to others in a manor that will not jeopardize and impending lawsuits.  It can be done and is done every day around the world.

If you cannot back your actions, in public and in writing, then YOU probably know that what you are doing is wrong or not what the people of Cudahy want or what your community needs.

Mayor, have you seen the movie “The American President”? 

Please read this dialogue and switch the words “Mayor” for “President” and “city” for “country.”

The President sits back and ignores what his opponent, Bob Rumson, is saying about him, as his poll numbers continue to fall.

His friends and advisers A.J and Lewis finally lose their patients with the president and the following is spoken:

A.J. "The President doesn't answer to you, Lewis."

Lewis "Oh yes, he does, A.J.  I'm a citizen, this is my president, and in this country it is not only permissible to question our leaders, it is our responsibility.  But you already know that, Mr. President, because you have a deeper love of this country than any man I've ever known, and I want to know what it says to you that in the past seven weeks 59 percent of Americans have begun to question your patriotism?"

Shepherd "Look, if people want to listen to Bob Rumson--"

Lewis: "They don't have a choice!  Rob Rumson's the only one doing the talking.  People want leadership.  And in the absence of genuine leadership, they will listen to anyone who steps up to the microphone.  They want leadership, Mr. President.  They're so thirsty for it, they'll crawl through the desert toward a mirage, and when they discover there's no water, they'll drink the sand."

Shepard: "Lewis, we've had Presidents who were beloved, who couldn't find a coherent sentence with two hands and a flashlight.  People don't drink the sand, 'cause they're thirsty, Lewis.  They drink it 'cause they don't know the difference."

It’s your turn Mayor!  Stand up and be heard, be a LEADER, be THE MAYOR OF CUDAHY!  Or the people WILL send you home and find a real leader!

A taxpayer-subsidized Wal-Mart in Cudahy?  No it is not!

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.

From the lawsuit, you can see that as of August 14^th 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

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

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!

2. 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.

3. The Recall Of Mayor Ryan McCue  – Had a few emails about the recall and voting in the plan commission.

4. Wal-Mart & Wave Pushed Away  – Talked about the plan commission vote, thus ending the Wal-Mart and Wave site plan.

5. I Was Wrong Mayor!  – Satire of an apology to the Mayor.  I go over the Mayor’s platform and highlight important sections.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. Internet Child Predator Sterotype Changing Study Shows – Talks about how new studies show a change in the habits of the Internet Child Predator.

First, it was Jobs and that Wal-Mart pushes out small business.

Who is it going to push out?  What companies are going to shut down if Wal-Mart comes to town?  Dretzkas, a used bike shop, a used appliance store and a Laundromat?  Is it just empty fear?

Can somebody, anybody, tell me who is Wal-Mart going to run out, especially downtown?  I walked the shops and didn’t see one that will be knocked out.

30 Minute Photo, Acme Electronics, Cudahy TV & Monitor Services, Dretzkas Department Store, Radioshack, Supreme Cellular, Walgreen’s, Packard Plaza Barber Shop, CVS, Dunham’s

Now these places may or may not see some loss: Radioshack, Walgreen’s, CVS, Dunham’s, Fishing Hole, Pick n save, K-Mart, Merchandise outlet, Aldi, Family Dollar.  Big Lots (oh, they are gone already)

If we don’t let Wal-Mart in, will that make everything better?  High paying jobs will come to Cudahy?

I wish high paying jobs for unskilled workers were around.  It is no longer the 60’s anymore, where you could drop out of high school and get a job like that.  People need skills today.  I am tired of people talking as if everyone that works at Wal-Mart is the sole provider for the family.  Most families are dual income.  Many of these types of jobs supplement other income or are for those still in school.  Even though the perception for Wal-Mart is employing single or unmarried persons with three kids, not all of the employees at Wal-Mart fit these two categories, which, by the way, the persons who do fit those categories are thankful for Wal-Mart being in their area so they have a job!

Then because Wal-Mart finds products outside the U.S.

But, to their credit, they have developed an extremely efficient supply chain structure, one that has become a model for other businesses, and this has propelled them to the number one retailer in the world.  That sounds like someone admiring Wal-Mart, doesn’t it?  Understand that idealism is not always concordant with business realities.  Is Wal-Mart a Monopoly?  Is this not Capitalism?  Everyone except the government is in business to make money.  Is it fair for a store to charge customers $1.99 for a can of cat food, where another store sells it for $2.99?  Ask people living way up north how much things cost when your nearest store is 80 miles away.

History lesson - 

Migration of manufacturing jobs from the U.S. to China and other East Asian countries.  That is what is happening from the 1990’s to today.  Anyone remember the 80’s when Mexico was all the rage?  Automakers moved down there in droves.  Remember the 70’s, it was Taiwan and Hong Kong?  Remember the 60’s it was Japan?

Anyone see a business cycle?  Manufacturing jobs move to where the employee cost is the cheapest, then move on to the next.  You can ship in cheap raw goods from anywhere, but labor costs are different.  Would you like to know once the standard of living increases in China and workers get paid more where the companies will move to?  To the countries in Africa which are less developed. 

As I dust off my economics book, it is all because of “comparative advantage.”  Is a Ford car made in Mexico American or is a Toyota car made in Tennessee American?  Are both or neither?  What about Toyota’s business practices where just last year a man died at a plant after working over 48 hours straight with no breaks?  Does it matter?

Then it was Wal-Mart that does not increase the standard of living

The standard of living refers to the quality and quantity of goods and services available to people, and the way these goods and services are distributed within a population.  It is generally measured by standards such as income inequality, poverty rate, real (i.e. inflation adjusted) income per person.  Other measures such as accessibility and quality of health care, educational standards and social rights are often used too.  Examples are access to certain goods (such as number of refrigerators per 1000 people), or measures of health such as life expectancy.  It is the ease by which people living in a time or place are able to satisfy their wants.

Having a Wal-Mart in Cudahy would, by definition, increase the standard of living.  Wal-Mart is not replacing jobs, but adding jobs and the availability of goods.

BadgerCare and Wal-Mart Health Benefits – Came under attack.

2004 BadgerCare 1,813 employees & dependents $1.8 million 1st

2004 Medicaid 1,952 children (incl. above) 1st

2005 BadgerCare 1,252 workers & dependents $2.7 million 1st

Year 2005

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=328286

The biggest employer of BadgerCare recipients was Wal-Mart, which had 809 of its employees

According to the state analysis, Wal-Mart had 897 workers enrolled in BadgerCare in March and a total of 1,673 when family members are included.  That's down slightly from 904 employees and a total of 1,699 in March 2006.

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=623312

Notice family members vs. workers

In June 2007, the state Department of Health and Family Services posted an updated list of Wisconsin employers with the largest number of employees (or their dependents) participating in BadgerCare, the state’s health insurance program for low-income working families.  At the top of the list was Wal-Mart (largest Wisconsin job provider at estimated 30,000 jobs), which had 897 employees enrolled, plus an additional 776 dependents.  The Department projected the annual cost to the state of those enrollees at $3.7 million.  Other employers at the top of the list were McDonald’s (248 employees; 149 dependents), the non-profit healthcare provider Aurora (193; 162), and home improvement chain Menard (163; 184).  The 116 employers with 15 or more employees on BadgerCare were said to cost the state a total of $23.9 million a year.

So for those upset, don’t shop Wal-Mart, Meanards or eat at McDonalds or see a doctor at Aurora!

In case you don’t get the Milwaukee Journal or missed it in Wednesdays 1-23-08 business section here is the link:

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=710228

Here is a recap:

Wal-Mart says 93% of workers are insured

Wal-Mart said that 79% of its work force - or almost 1.1 million full-time and part-time associates - were eligible for health benefits in its most recent enrollment period.  That contrasts with 57% of workers in the retail sector.

From Muskegonow.com

Wal-Mart is generous

There are others in the community who defend Wal-Mart and favor building the supercenter in the city.  Dennis Koehler Sr. praised the company for its donations to civic organizations and charities.

"Wal-Mart takes very good care of its employees," Koehler said, noting his wife is a department manager at a Wal-Mart. "They move a lot of people up and there are bonuses."

Target matches Wal-Mart prescription drug program

Source

Wal-Mart said in a release that Wal-Mart Stores, Neighborhood Market and Sam's Club pharmacies would now fill prescriptions for as many as 350 generic medications at $10 for a 90-day supply.

A spokeswoman for Target said that the retailer "understands the challenges guests are facing in the current economic environment."

In 2006, when Wal-Mart launched its $4 generic prescription drug program, Target followed suit a few days later.

So look who the leader is.

I am also so tired of people finding a single or exception to how back Wal-Mart is to employees.  Here is what Target did:  TARGET CORP. TO PAY $95,000, IMPLEMENT TRAINING FOR FAILURE TO ACCOMMODATE DISABLED WORKER

Source

Any and every large company will at some point have problems.  Those that use thing like that are a weak argument and anyone with intelligence understands that.   

It was show me success stories.

In Pewaukee, a Kohl’s grocery store was built with additional space for several small retail shops.  Only a couple of those small shops were filled and after a couple years, then Kohl’s groceries were gone.  Pick-n-Save took over that store and still only a couple small shops. 

Then a Wal-Mart was coming!  The small shops began to get occupants as new proprietors banked their success on the Wal-Mart traffic!  An out-lot building was put up for a nice coffee shop and other businesses.  Then the Wal-Mart hate crew showed up and almost put these small businesses out of business.  The “I don’t like Wal-Mart – so you should not have a Wal-Mart” people held up the new store so long, it almost bankrupt at least one store owner that I personally know, others did not make it, likely for the same reason. 

The Wal-Mart is in and the shops are full or almost full.  More strip malls and restaurants keep popping up.  Now an office supply store and large Rec-Room store and Bw3 are a couple blocks away.  Pewaukee is thriving! 

Do you want to know about Delafield at HY83 and I94?  How about Onalaska near Lacrosse or the 2-3 year old store on the south side of LaCrosse, or I94 exit 89 at the Dells.  These are stores that I frequent and have seen the businesses boom around.  Wal-Mart is good for business and the community and Muskego. 

So many of you have said show me a thriving community, the proof is all around us. 

Just look around Germantown, Delafield, Pewaukee, West Bend, Mukwonago, and the list goes on.  As long as you look at the suburb Wal-Mart’s and not the ones in Milwaukee, you will see how well Wal-Mart can work.  Would you call those place dirty non-upscale cities?  I would feel safe living in any of those just as I do in Cudahy.

Just for Cudahy it was – Mayor McCue’s campaign platform was “NO” Wal-Mart!

Show me where it says that he still has it up http://ryanmccue.com/Platform.html

What it really says is: 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 years.

Add I agree that Wal-Mart doesn’t get a TIF, and they are not!  So if he was campaigning on NO Wal-Mart it is not there!

What does McCue want on the Ice Port Site?

He has said offices and a convention center.  While talking to Elizabeth Sanders in the

The Business Journal of Milwaukee on May 16, 2008 - Cudahy is ready for hotel, convention center Cudahy Mayor Ryan McCue is making the case.

If you remember Continental Properties' proposal includes both.

Show me a Big-box retailer has economic benefit

From the J/S

WAL-MART

Big-box retailer has economic benefit

Letter writer Pamela Fendt made several incorrect assumptions about Wal-Mart ("Don't welcome store," May 13).

She incorrectly stated that Wal-Mart is using the state's publicly funded health insurance, BadgerCare.  This program is not used by stores.  It is set up for individuals.  Being a Wal-Mart employee is not an eligibility requirement for BadgerCare, which is based on income and other factors.  These folks would be getting BadgerCare whether or not they worked for Wal-Mart.

While it's true that Wal-Mart has used public subsidies, Fendt ignored all the revenue it brings to the state through sales taxes.  Without taxes, BadgerCare would not exist.

The claim is made that for every job Wal-Mart creates, 1.4 retail jobs are eliminated in the local economy.  Economists have questioned this claim.  At the University of Missouri, economist Emek Basker found that a Wal-Mart's move into a community increases employment.

We shouldn't forget the jobs created indirectly from Wal-Mart's distribution network. Many local businesses buy supplies from Sam's Club.

Successful economies are diverse.  Big-box retailers like Wal-Mart contribute to that diversity.

It was look at Crime and the substation

The Franklin PD asked Wal-Mart to put it in – Again asked and answered before.  The reason was not because of Wal-Mart the reason was just a location so they did not have to drive all the way to hwy 100, so yes, you knew the answer.  Call and ask the Police Captain.  I am glad you know more then the real police of Franklin.  Was this crime reports you have show just the Wal-Mart crime with the criminals stating how bad Wal-Mart is?  My parents live just 10 blocks from it in Franklin.  Come on, check with the police Captain or Chief!  Call them.  Even the Cudahy city people know the answer, they have called.

Any business is a magnet for crime.  Look at all the bank robberies.  Should we close all the banks?  Common sense should prevail.

Then it was I was not asked for the Wal-Mart

You can’t for the life of you remember being asked by anyone what I think about the Wal-Mart/Wave proposal?  Mainly you were asked at the open public meetings.  The Mayor did/does not want it to be a referendum on it.  It was asked of him to do so!

Next Wal-Mart did send out a lit drop about the Wal-Mart.  By the way, over 80% of Wisconsinites shop at Wal-Mart and the number is about the same from Cudahy.  Most of the time Wal-Marts get the approval in a referendum.  Just look it up!

It will hurt Cudahy’s Image

I don’t think Wal-Mart neither hurts or helps Cudahy's reputation among the south shore suburbs nor does anything to hurt Cudahy’s image.  Does Wal-Mart hurt Germantown’s image?  If you answer it honestly, you know it does not, just as Wal-Mart will not hurt Cudahy’s.  The Wal-Mart has not hurt Germantown.  No effect.  So for you only way to look at it is will it improve.  Sorry it doesn’t work both ways.  One way or the other.  Wal-Mart has no effect.  (By the way, what is this “Cudahy Image” you are afraid of hurting?????)

Cudahy’s Imagine right now is what bars and the smell from Patrick Cudahy?

What is the image of Cudahy?  Some think of the amount of bars we have, the smell of Patrick Cudahy, industrial, the parks, crime, a city losing companies and people, old, poor, dying, trucks, aged, old JC Penney’s outlet store, dirty, high taxes, pay loan, used car lots, and tariff free zone.  That is the comments I have received while traveling around the metro Milwaukee are asking people.

Why is Wal-Mart okay for Delafield, Pewaukee, Germantown, Mukwonago, Muskego, and Franklin’s image?  Do you think the Mayor of those cities feels the same as Mayor McCue?  Has McCue even talked to his counterparts?  By the way, all of those cities have higher income levels then Cudahy!  Is that not what we are trying to achieve?  Maybe having a Wal-Mart and increasing the standard of living has something to do with it.

Wal-Mart’s image is in harmony with Cudahy!  Both working classes.  My brother-in-law lives in a $750,000 home in Germantown and doesn’t feel Wal-Mart degrades his city.  He loves to shop and save money.  When you think of Germantown or Franklin, honestly, do you think of Wal-Mart?  Does Wal-Mart even represent a city’s image?

As I have said before, the community makes the store, not the store makes the community.

If you look at the story, “City's image needs a boost before shoppers will come”

http://www.cudahynow.com/story/index.aspx?id=729610

It states “Area business owners shared ideas for promoting economic growth in Cudahy, including opening a movie theater, a national-franchise restaurant and a name-brand outlet mall.”

I am positive the wording outlet mall just scares and makes Mayor McCue cringe.  If we are trying to improve, our image will and outlet mall that sells – scratch and dents, seconds, discontinued items improve our image?

How is Wal-Mart not coming to town going to help our image?  What about the crime and amount of bars and problem bars, oh wait Mayor McCue when asked about the problems presented by taverns, McCue pointed to the charitable work and team sponsorships of many bars and chuckled and said the city has "a very fine police department" to take care of any problems.

So if you think bars are a problem in Cudahy McCue doesn’t!!!!!!!!!!

Why does Cudahy need a Wal-Mart?

Cudahy needs the convenience.  Why do we need gas stations in Cudahy?  The Supercenter part draws from just 4 miles away.  Retail stores look at 7-9 mile radius.  Choices!!!  Economic increases as people drive into and around Cudahy.  Sales Tax and revenue.

Here is what it really is about – Unions, more correctly, lack of unions

The biggest problem people have is it is non-union.  Period!  

Chicago was held up as the bright and shinny land.

Chicago doing well?  You really mean the burbs right?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5069992/

Alderman Emma Mitts countered that people in her West Side ward need the jobs that Wal-Mart can bring.

"Take a ride in my area and see what I am dealing with day in and day out.  There's a lack of jobs and opportunity," she said.

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=19286

The new Wal-Mart Stores Inc. location opening Friday in suburban Evergreen Park received a record 25,000 applications for 325 positions, the highest for any one location in the retailer’s history, a company official says.

http://taxprof.typepad.com/taxprof_blog/2008/03/chicago-gets-hi.html

Chicago Gets Highest Sales Tax in U.S.: 10.25%

Most of Chicago’s Wal-Mart issues are again union.  Large grocery unions.  That is why the size limit was place in Chicago.  Always comes back to unions.  Dems/libs for Reps/con against.  Why have all of this pretence with claims of other things.  That is the issue.  Just say it! 

The real big problem for Dems/libs is Wal-Mart would rather close a store then let it unionize.  I wish people could just come out and say the real reason.

The biggest problem people have is it is non-union.  Period!  That is the biggest hang-up.  That is why libs hate it.  It took all that just to get to the real problem.

Would you have been happy with Target?

Yes.  I would rather have Wal-Mart to save money, more money then Target.  Yes, I would have been happy if it were Target as well.  I don’t love Wal-Mart.  I am a supporter, but to say I “love Wal-Mart” is not correct.

If this Wal-Mart doesn’t happen, the lawsuit from Sportsite IS REAL!  Sportsite WILL follow through, it is not just talk.  McCue has backed Cudahy in a corner.  Most of you “No” Wal-Mart people just don’t understand it was a vote on land use not Wal-Mart.  As a whole, you are just happy that the vote was NO without understanding it was wrong for the agenda.  Even the Great Greg Kowalski who champions himself on procedures and government correct-fullness in Franklin is taking a blind eye to the fact the vote was wrong for the agenda.  He was just happy to was shot down.

Posted on May 30, 2008 by jknash

Source

I have a great idea. Instead of a recall, why doesn’t Randy Hollenbeck and his cronies spend their time and effort polling the citizens of Cudahy to see who really wants a Wal-Mart? He sits and pounds his chest while screaming from the rooftops about how the citizens of Cudahy have spoken, but I can’t for the life of me remember being asked by anyone what I think about the Wal-Mart/Wave proposal.

I moved back to Cudahy because I thought the city is trying to change its image. City Lounge and Sheridan House have proven without a doubt that upscale can work here. Randy talks about the lack of new businesses, but fails to mention two of the nicest places that have opened in recent years. Does he think upscale hotels, restaurants and shops are going to open next to a Wal-Mart?  We may as well put up a sign saying we want more liqour stores, check cashing stores, cigarette stores, and gun stores instead.

Randy, you can quote the Declaration of Independence and knit-pick the mayor’s platform and campaign promises all day long, but at the end of the day you and your group are doing nothing more than making more problems for this city and the hard working people who live here.

I feel honored that people will blog outside of Cudahynow about me.

You can’t for the life of me remember being asked by anyone what I think about the Wal-Mart/Wave proposal?  Mainly you were asked at the open public meetings.

Let’s see I didn’t talk about City Lounge  - By the way all things done before McCue was Mayor

McCue is Speaking But Nothing is Coming Out

Updated 7:19pm - Thank You for Voting Against Wal-Mart Mayor McCue!

Economic Downturn

Turf War - What to Build?

We can make a difference

David vs. Goliath

The Mayor and I

Has the Genie already been let out of the bottle?

BTW – The room of non-Cudahy residents at the first meeting will be in full force at the next one.  Maybe McCue called them up.  Phone records will show.

« Congratulations, Annette Ziegler!!!A Quick Note »

Wal-Mart Wants to Invade Cudahy…

Source

May 28th 2008ZacharyDebunking Conservatives & Ryan McCue & South Shore Suburbs & The Cheddarsphere & Wal-Mart

…but Cudahy Mayor Ryan McCue is having none of it. Shortly after casting a vote against Wal-Mart, McCue became the subject of a recall effort spearheaded by two Cudahy citizens who support putting a Wal-Mart right in the heart of Cudahy.

Randy Hollenbeck of The Way I See It, a local Cudahy blog, has taken up the issue of putting a Wal-Mart in Cudahy, and among the arguments he uses to justify putting a Wal-Mart in Cudahy is as follows (emphasis mine):

Wal-Mart doesn’t affect Cudahy’s image, just like have Pick N’ Save does not. What it does do is increase the standard of living. Look up what standard living means if in doubt.

While Randy Hollenbeck would like folks to believe having a Wal-Mart in Cudahy will increase the standard of living, the opposite is true.  In fact, Wal-Mart has helped employees file for public asssistance, a fact which seems to fly in the face of Randy’s argument. Now sure, I suppose some will argue, “But Zach, you linked to the AFL-CIO…that proves that this is all about unions hating Wal-Mart.”  Now sure, I linked to an article on the AFL-CIO website, but here’s proof that Wal-Mart assisted employees in seeking out and applying for public assistance.

And let’s not forget that almost two thousand Wal-Mart employees here in Wisconsin receive BadgerCare, at a cost of almost 1.8 million dollars to Wisconsin taxpayers. Now while Randy Hollenbeck might not mind paying his tax dollars to foot a health insurance bill that Wal-Mart and its billions of dollars in profits should be picking up, I’m not into corporate handouts. But getting back to my main point, the fact that almost two thousand Wal-Mart employees in Wisconsin need BadgerCare just underscores my point that Wal-Mart does little to raise the standard of living, as Randy Hollenbeck asserts.

Putting aside Randy Hollenbeck’s argument about Wal-Mart raising the standard of living in Cudahy, I believe this is an issue of folks in Cudahy settling for a Wal-Mart when they could raise their expectations much, much higher. Why not seek out a development that enhances Cudahy’s reputation, instead of settling for the eleventh Wal-Mart within a twenty mile radius?

1.      capper on 29 May 2008 at 7:19 am #

My comment was simply this:

I can see how Wally World really improves the quality of life for people. If you need proof, just look at all the limos parked five deep in front of each Wally World store. And that’s just the employees. The customers have even bigger limos.

2.      illusory tenant on 29 May 2008 at 8:25 am #

Somebody said that Wal-Mart is the only retailer where people shop in their underwear both online and at the brick and mortar outlets.

3.      Zachary on 29 May 2008 at 9:34 am #

Heh….that’s not too far from the truth, iT.

4.      Matt on 29 May 2008 at 12:50 pm #

2000 walmart employees in WI have Badger Care. This doesn’t mean much unless I know how many people Walmart employs in WI? What is the percentage of their workers who have badger care, vs other similar retailers? By itself the 2000 number is rather meaningless, 2000 sounds like a lot, but Walmart is the number one employer in this state, so it may only be a small percentage…

5.      Randy Hollenbeck on 29 May 2008 at 4:40 pm #

Mr. Zippy - Choose what you want to hear and you will miss the truth

If we don’t let Wal-Mart in will that make everything better?  High paying jobs will come to Cudahy.  I wish high pay jobs for unskilled workers were around.  It is no longer the 60’s anymore, where you could drop out of high school and get a job like that.  People need skills today.  I am tired of people talking as if everyone that works at Wal-Mart is the sole provider for the family.  Most family both people work.  Many of these types of jobs supplement other income or for those still in school.  Not everyone is single or unmarried with three kids.

Just stop shopping big box stores.  Okay!  Be realistic…

6.      Randy Hollenbeck on 29 May 2008 at 4:40 pm #

In case you don’t get the Milwaukee Journal or missed it in Wednesdays 1-23-08 business section here is the link:
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=710228

Here is a recap:

Wal-Mart says 93% of workers are insured

Wal-Mart said that 79% of its work force - or almost 1.1 million full-time and part-time associates - were eligible for health benefits in its most recent enrollment period.  That contrasts with 57% of workers in the retail sector.

7.      Randy Hollenbeck on 29 May 2008 at 4:42 pm #

Badgercare stuff Mr. Zippy left out

In June 2007 the state Department of Health and Family Services posted an updated list of Wisconsin employers with the largest number of employees (or their dependents) participating in BadgerCare, the state’s health insurance program for low-income working families.  At the top of the list was Wal-Mart (largest Wisconsin job provider at estimated 30,000 jobs), which had 897 employees enrolled, plus an additional 776 dependents.  The Department projected the annual cost to the state of those enrollees at $3.7 million.  Other employers at the top of the list were McDonald’s (248 employees; 149 dependents), the non-profit healthcare provider Aurora (193; 162), and home improvement chain Menard (163; 184).  The 116 employers with 15 or more employees on BadgerCare were said to cost the state a total of $23.9 million a year.

So for those upset, don’t shop Wal-Mart, Meanards or eat at McDonalds or see a doctor at Aurora!

8.      Randy Hollenbeck on 29 May 2008 at 4:45 pm #

The standard of living refers to the quality and quantity of goods and services available to people, and the way these goods and services are distributed within a population.  It is generally measured by standards such as income inequality, poverty rate, real (i.e. inflation adjusted) income per person.  Other measures such as access and quality of health care, educational standards and social rights are often used too.  Examples are access to certain goods (such as number of refrigerators per 1000 people), or measures of health such as life expectancy.  It is the ease by which people living in a time or place are able to satisfy their wants.

Having a Wal-Mart in Cudahy would by definition increase the standard of living. Wal-Mart is not replacing jobs, but adding jobs and the availability of goods.

9.      Randy Hollenbeck on 29 May 2008 at 5:10 pm #

I question Mr. Zippy13/Zackary’s count of Wal-Mart people on Badger care of 2000 – What is your source?

“I’m not into corporate handouts.  But getting back to my main point, the fact that almost two thousand Wal-Mart employees in Wisconsin need BadgerCare just underscores my point that Wal-Mart does little to raise the standard of living”

Year 2005
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=328286

The biggest employer of BadgerCare recipients was Wal-Mart, which had 809 of its employees

According to the state analysis, Wal-Mart had 897 workers enrolled in BadgerCare in March and a total of 1,673 when family members are included. That’s down slightly from 904 employees and a total of 1,699 in March 2006.

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=623312

10.  Randy Hollenbeck on 29 May 2008 at 5:14 pm #

Notice family members vs. workers

11.  Zachary on 29 May 2008 at 5:22 pm #

Randy, I’ve linked to all the sources of my data, so please feel free to click the links in my post to get the answers to your questions.

12.  Randy Hollenbeck on 29 May 2008 at 5:25 pm #

2004 BadgerCare 1,813 employees & dependents $1.8 million 1st
2004 Medicaid 1,952 children (incl. above) 1st
2005 BadgerCare 1,252 workers & dependents $2.7 million 1st

That is old data and you missed an important part - workers & dependents

13.  capper on 29 May 2008 at 8:10 pm #

Randy

What is wrong with Costco then?  It has all the cheap prices of Wally World, and it treats its employees and its neighbors in a much more civil and respectful manner.  Or does it baffle the mind that not everyone is as profit driven as the Waltons?

14.  Zachary on 29 May 2008 at 8:31 pm #

There’s a lot of reasons I’m not a fan of Wal-Mart.  Other than the reasons I’ve already listed, I’m not a fan of Wal-Mart because over 80 percent of Wal-Mart’s 60,000 global suppliers are based in China.  I remember back to the days when Wal-Mart’s “Buy American” Program touted the fact that Wal-Mart bought American-made goods.  I’m not a fan of Wal-Mart because I don’t believe a company that had 12.88 billion dollars in profits last year should ask for millions of dollars in handouts in order to build stores in cities like Chicago.

There’s a lot of reasons not to be a fan of Wal-Mart.

15.  Randy Hollenbeck on 29 May 2008 at 10:27 pm #

Costco does not want to come to Cudahy.  They were asked.  Wal-Mart was not the first retail they asked for it was the seventh. It was the only one that wants to build in Cudahy.

16.  Randy Hollenbeck on 29 May 2008 at 10:29 pm #

K-Mart sells the same products as Wal-Mart, then if it is because they are made in China that point is moot.

Remember:

People hate Microsoft and Bill Gates because he is successful.

People hate Warren Buffett of Berkshire Hathaway because he is successful! So what if his 31 Billion will be left to charity, mostly to the Gates Foundation (remember – We hate Bill Gates – he’s successful)

People hate Wal-Mart because Wal-Mart is a successful business.

People deserve choices!

I don’t Hate Microsoft, Bill Gates, Warren Buffett or Wal-Mart.  In fact, I’m writing this using Microsoft Word on a computer custom built buy a small local business.  Yes, I have Pampered Chef products at home from one of Mr. Buffett’s companies.  I wish I were as successful as any of them but I will not let my jealousy cause me to make poor decisions.

Yes, I shop at Wal-Mart as well as many other large and small businesses.  I’m not rich!  I do what I can for my family and my community.  I use the local tailor, to fix my kids clothes.  I help a local organization that supports the needy.  I shop for sales at the grocery stores.  I shop at Wal-Mart to buy things at a lower price, improve my standard of living, and improve my community.

As far as China Products: I prefer to buy American made when it makes financial sense.  I’m not hurting the Chinese when I buy their products.  The cost of living in China is between 1/10th to 1/4 that of Australia, North America and Europe (Source: http://www.china-tesol.com). In China, a Big Mac or 1/4 Pounder cost about 6.00 RMB (US $0.75) (Source: http://www.china-tesol.com). They don’t have to earn as much as we do, most people in the world do not earn as much or live as well as we do!  Do you want to give that up?  When I save money at Wal-Mart, I increase my bank account, buy more things (imported or domestic) increasing my family’s standard of living or I spend that extra money at a local restaurant or some other type of entertainment or even a Farmer’s Market, increasing that proprietor’s and their employee’s quality of living!

As far as, “Wal-Mart busts attempts to unionize” . . . YES. . .  OK . . . Well, what do you think they suppose to do?  What is the purpose of a Board of Directors, “The primary responsibility of the board of directors is to protect the shareholders’ assets and ensure they receive a decent return on their investment” (Source: http://beginnersinvest.about.com/cs/a/aa2203a.htm). As I remember it, in my Econ 101 course it was “The primary responsibility of the board of directors is to protect the shareholders’ investment and maximize return on their investment”.  I guess they even Econ has gone PC!  They are correct, they should try to keep out the unions if it keeps prices down and increases shareholder’s equity. I know, It sounds cold . . . unless you are a share holder and if you have any mutual funds, you probably are!  All, the poor employees can always go to work somewhere else.  I know, you are going to say all the good jobs will be gone.  If you look around, you will find many better jobs that have popped up around due to the new Wal-Marts.  I have small business customers who have fought to keep their doors open until Wal-Mart arrived.  Afterwards the added traffic to the area has saved their businesses.  Look around southern Wisconsin at the Wal-Marts and all the businesses that they have attracted i.e. Watertown, Wis Dells, Onalaska, Lacrosse, Delafield and Pewaukee stores and you will see the same!

People deserve choices!

17.  Randy Hollenbeck on 29 May 2008 at 10:35 pm #

Who has the highest percentage of China made cheap goods?  Hint, not Wal-Mart!

The dollar stores!!!

18.  Randy Hollenbeck on 29 May 2008 at 10:47 pm #

Why is Wal-Mart okay for Delafield, Pewaukee, Germantown, Mukwonago, Muskego, and Franklin’s image?  Do you think the Mayor of those cities feels the same as Mayor McCue?  Has McCue even talked to his counterparts?  By the way, all of those cities have higher income levels then Cudahy!  Is that not what we are trying to achieve?  Maybe having a Wal-Mart and increasing the standard of living has something to do with it.

Http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=647387

It’s a win for the city,” said Mayor Ryan McCue.  “Either we get a good retail development with Continental Properties, or we get the land back.”

Isn’t Wal-Mart good retail development, since they are the number one retail in the world?  Is there something above being number one?  As originally proposed, IcePort was to have been an anchor for LakePort Village, a larger commercial and retail development.  Again the Zoning Issue!

19.  Randy Hollenbeck on 29 May 2008 at 10:53 pm #

First it was that Wal-Mart pushes out small business.  Then because Wal-Mart finds products outside the U.S.  I love how people let the manufactures off and it is the big bad Wal-Mart that is at fault.  Is this all about items only sold at Wal-Mart?

But, to their credit, they have developed an extremely efficient supply chain structure, one that has become a model for other businesses, and this has propelled them to the number one retailer in the world.  That sounds like someone admiring Wal-Mart, doesn’t it.  Understand that idealism is not always concordant with business realities.  Is Wal-Mart a Monopoly?  Is this not Capitalism?  Everyone except the government is in business to make money.  Is it fair for store to charge customers $1.99 for a can of cat food, where another store sells it for $2.99?  Ask people living way up north how much things cost when your nearest store is 80 miles away.

History lesson -

Migration of manufacturing jobs from the U.S. to China and other East Asian countries.  That is what is happening from the 1990’s to today.  Anyone remember the 80’s Mexico was all the rage.  Automakers moved down there in droves.  Remember the 70’s, it was Taiwan and Hong Kong.  Remember the 60’s it was Japan.  Anyone see a business cycle?  Manufacturing jobs move to where the employee cost is the cheapest, then move on to the next.  You can ship in cheap raw goods from anywhere, but labor costs are different.  Would you like to know once the standard of living increases in China and workers get paid more where the companies will move to?  To the countries in Africa which are less developed.  As I dust off my economics book that is all because of “comparative advantage.”  Is a Ford car made in Mexico American or is a Toyota car made in Tennessee American?  Are both or neither?  What about Toyota’s business practices where just last year a man died at a plant after working over 48 hours straight with no breaks?  Does it matter?

20.  Randy Hollenbeck on 29 May 2008 at 11:18 pm #

What millions of dollars in handouts in order to build stores in cities like Chicago?

US: Wal-Mart Likes Chicago, But Not City’s Wage Plan

by Gary Washburn, Chicago Tribune
June 13th, 2006

A Wal-Mart official said Monday that his firm could be interested in building “10 or 20″ stores on city sites during the next five years, but he added that passage of a minimum wage measure by Chicago’s City Council could have a chilling effect on the company’s plans.

“First things first,” said John Bisio, Midwest director of community affairs for the giant retailer.  “We have to figure out if this lopsided, unconstitutional, unfair ordinance is going to be adopted, and then we will go from there.”

Under two “big-box” proposals pending before the council, operators of large stores in the city would be required to pay their employees a minimum of about $10 per hour in wages and another $3 in fringe benefits.

“There is a tremendous amount of opportunity that can be lost, not just by Wal-Mart but by other businesses that would be affected by this,” Bisio said.  “If you were a businessman, why would you want to continue to invest millions and millions of dollars … and subject your business [to a requirement] that applies to some, but not all?  It is an unfair ordinance.

“If you want to raise it for all businesses, if you want to do it to all retailers, then you might have something,” he continued.  “But not like this.”

After winning a zoning battle with the help of Ald. Emma Mitts (37th), Wal-Mart is nearing completion of its first Chicago store, which is in Mitts’ West Side ward.  Plans for a South Side store were thwarted in 2004 by aldermen who contended that the company exploits its workers by failing to pay a living wage.

Younger and inexperienced employees start at about $7.25 per hour, but the average pay of workers is about $11, Bisio said Monday.

“When you look at the fact that Chicago residents continue to spend more than half a billion dollars at our Wal-Mart stores in the suburbs, just outside the city, our homework keeps telling us there is a tremendous opportunity to do a better job taking care of Chicago residents,” said Bisio, who attended the ribbon-cutting of a new Chicago library in the same area as the company’s West Side store.

Passage of a big-box ordinance in its present form, however, would “put the brakes” on the plans for as many as 20 new city stores in the next few years, he said.

Ald. Ricardo Munoz (22nd), who supports the big-box ordinance, said that passage would not change Wal-Mart’s plans.

“We won’t lose them,” he said.  “Wal-Mart wants to come into Chicago because they see the market.  They see how much is being spent in Chicago proper.  They want to be here.  They just have to pay a living wage.”

http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?id=13713

21.  Randy Hollenbeck on 29 May 2008 at 11:26 pm #

Most of Chicago’s Wal-Mart issues are again union. Large grocery unions.  That is why the size limit was place in Chicago.  Always comes back to unions.  Dems/libs for Reps/con against.  Why have all of this pretence with claims of other things.  That is the issue. Just say it!

Ryan McCue was once a conservative republican (he really was a RINO) and now calls himself a democrat.

The real big problem for Dems/libs is Wal-Mart would rather close a store then let it unionize.  I wish people could just come out and say the real reason.

What else do you have?

22.  capper on 29 May 2008 at 11:31 pm #

Being the biggest retailer doesn’t make them the best.

There are things more important than money in the world.  And Oak Creek is not the first community that didn’t want a Wally World corrupting their neighborhoods.

And the last time I checked, Chicago is still doing quite well, even without Wally World.

23.  Randy Hollenbeck on 29 May 2008 at 11:33 pm #

limo at walmart
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWSdHtQJnGA

24.  Randy Hollenbeck on 29 May 2008 at 11:34 pm #

Who said Oak Creek didn’t want Wal-Mart?

25.  Randy Hollenbeck on 29 May 2008 at 11:35 pm #

What does make the best?  Highest prices?  Highest pay?  Union shop?  Do tell?

26.  Randy Hollenbeck on 29 May 2008 at 11:40 pm #

Chicago doing well?  You really mean the burbs right?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5069992/
Alderman Emma Mitts countered that people in her West Side ward need the jobs that Wal-Mart can bring.
“  Take a ride in my area and see what I am dealing with day in and day out. There’s a lack of jobs and opportunity,” she said.

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=19286

The new Wal-Mart Stores Inc. location opening Friday in suburban Evergreen Park received a record 25,000 applications for 325 positions, the highest for any one location in the retailer’s history, a company official says.

http://taxprof.typepad.com/taxprof_blog/2008/03/chicago-gets-hi.html

Chicago Gets Highest Sales Tax in U.S.: 10.25%

Capper - Do you still really mean it?

27.  Zachary on 30 May 2008 at 12:26 am #

Oak Creek won’t want or need a Wal-Mart with the Woodman’s and the strong possibility that they’re going to get a CostCo as well.

28.  Randy Hollenbeck on 30 May 2008 at 7:42 am #

Mayor Richard Bolender of Oak Creek doesn’t mind if Wal-Mart would come to the O.C. Wal-Mart was/is looking at Van Beck’s farm to go on that land along with the U.S. Postal Service.  Costco would be looking at the area around Delco.  Costco made the comment that Cudahy is not a good option as it is too close in their circle and wanted something 10 miles or more south of that.

Plenty of room in the O.C.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

29.  Randy Hollenbeck on 30 May 2008 at 1:32 pm #

Just a number for Van Beck’s farm

64 acres = 2,787,840 sq ft

So if the post office is going to take up 800,000 sq ft = a lot of room left.

 Day 23 – Still No real response from the Mayor – A real leader will admit to mistakes

Reminder of Recall Meeting Today

Thursday May 29, 2008 at 7:30 PM located at 6020 Buckhorn Ave. It is behind K-Mart in the community room of a condo complex.

The “NO” vote on Wal-Mart was not and is not the single reason for the recall I am told.  It is about many failures of Mayor Ryan McCue in his campaign promises or pledges in his platform.  Even his failure to give reasons for the vote don’t hold water.  He was told not to talk about it in great detail, not no detail.  This just shows the communication failure to the citizens.

Reasons

1. Did not end the ice port - Ice Port: It is time to end the Ice Port debacle – He had the chance to do it and didn’t!

2. Has not concentrated on keeping businesses in Cudahy.  How many businesses has Cudahy lost in compared to gained?

3. Has not made it easy and attractive for new businesses to locate in Cudahy – Ask the new businesses if he is pro-business?

4. Did not vote correctly to the land use issue, made it about Wal-Mart, at that point the name on the side of the building was not the issue at hand

5. Stated in State of the City address he is working 50-55 hours are all the time he claims verifiable?

6. Made statements of I was frustrated that the mayor scheduled numerous closed session meetings, excluding the public.  – and yet had closed meetings.

7. Made statements of Taxes and our taxes have increased: The City of Cudahy followed by the Cudahy School District both had higher tax increase than the county. The best way to lower the property tax burden is to grow the tax base though positive economic developments.  Costs to run a city continue to rise, therefore it is vital that the mayor runs an efficient operation.  2007 Tax Bill Increases

Hohenfeldt             City                      3.8% plus a new $20 garbage fee

McCue                  County                  0.4%

Did the taxes not go up?

http://www.ryanmccue.com/Platform.html

http://www.ryanmccue.com/Taxes.html

http://www.ryanmccue.com/IcePort.html

I once heard or did I read it, a statement that fits very well in the citizen’s right to petition a recall with the intent to change the leaders of government.  It went like this:  A quote from the second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence

That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness

Read the whole Declaration of Independence Here

Cudahy rejected Wal-Mart for parcel

By DON WALKER

dwalker@journalsentinel.com

Posted: May 28, 2008

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.

In its claim, Sportsites attorneys said they would seek at least $7.5 million in damages, and perhaps more than $20 million from the city.  Such a notice often is a precursor to a lawsuit.

The dispute centers on a parcel south of E. Layton Ave., between S. Nicholson Ave. and Sweet Applewood Lane.  It was on that site that Sportsites had proposed a development that included Iceport, a multi-rink ice center.

The Iceport project never materialized.  Last year, as part of an agreement to settle a legal dispute with the city, Sportsites agreed to sell the parcel to Continental Properties Co. to develop the site.  Under that arrangement, if Continental failed to develop the site, the city would take back the parcel.

Continental eventually proposed an $11.5 million development plan for the city, which included construction of a Wal-Mart Supercenter.  At a May 5 meeting of the city's Plan Commission, Mayor Ryan McCue cast the tie-breaking vote to reject the project.

McCue didn't initially explain his vote, but he later said he was advised by city lawyers not to discuss his decision because of ongoing litigation with Sportsites.  He did say in a letter to the Journal Sentinel that the city could do better than a big-box retailer at the site.

The Plan Commission is expected to meet June 10 to reconsider a modified version of the Wal-Mart proposal.  The deadline for the land sale is July 1.

McCue referred questions about the claim to Cudahy City Attorney Paul Eberhardy.

Eberhardy said Tuesday that he disagreed with some of the assertions in the claim.

"It's odd and a little disconcerting that this notice is filed a mere week before the matter comes back before the Plan Commission," he said.  "Frankly, it smacks of intimidation."

In the notice of claim for damages, attorneys Brad Hoeschen and Marty Greenberg contended that the city's and McCue's interference "caused Sportsites to lose the entire value of the Continental contract as well as additional damages.

"Sportsites would not have entered into the contract with Continental nor would it have entered into the stipulation for foreclosure with Cudahy if it had known that McCue had no interest in approving a Wal-Mart for the site."

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=756150

Did I not tell you a lawsuit was coming?  Yes I did! 

The thought is that McCue’s personal dislike for Wal-Mart instead of looking at this with Mayor’s open eyes, that his interference "caused Sportsites to lose the entire value of the Continental contract as well as additional damages.

Day 17 – Still No real response from the Mayor – Can you say Change

Two blogs today

After reading the comments from the residents that support the building of a Wal-Mart and the recall of the Mayor I have even more reason to believe that the outraged citizens have firmly planted the bar on the ground and are intent on stepping down from there.  I have been a resident of Cudahy for 30 plus years and am convinced that many here are more than willing to remain uneducated and uninformed.  If you are insulted by this observation -you are part of the problem.  If you are not-you're the only hope Cudahy has to change.

- Laura, Cudahy

Outraged Citizens – You bet!  After the Mayor would not comment and gives a lame Outside counsel told me not to go in detail or specifics.

Wait, let us get the quote exact – “My supposed “refusal” [McCue on Thursday again declined to cite the factors in his decision.  "I don't have specific comments for that," McCue said.  "The Plan Commission's vote was on Continental Properties' proposed use.”  "He won't say what's wrong with the plan," Lafferty said sounds like a refusal not a supposed refusal] to discuss my vote regarding the development proposed by Continental Properties Co. Inc. was mischaracterized.  I was advised by our city attorney and outside legal counsel not to discuss this matter in great detail (how about any detail if he cannot give great detail, they just told you in great detail) due to litigation issues surrounding this site.  To this end, I offered a brief statement to the media regarding the action taken by our Plan Commission.”

Let us look at this – “I ran for mayor on a platform that we can do better than a big-box retailer such as Wal-Mart at that location” – When was Wal-Mart considered on the Iceport or for that fact big-box retail?  Can someone show us documents that McCue stated the Iceport site?  Perhaps it was after the election!

Since I am informed and educated on this, I am not insulted by the observation.  Everyone has their own opinions even if they are right or wrong.  I must not be part of the problem, so you know what that means – I am part of the solution and the hope for change!  A new Mayor will give us change!

If you are reading my blogs – I keep you informed and maybe, just maybe, you learn something and walk away with an understanding of a viewpoint that may or may not be the same as yours.  I know from the comments and emails from you, the readers, I learn something every time.

Bar on the ground – Well you have to have a good solid foundation, which may include a bar on the ground so you can build up and not have it fall down.  Most bars cannot float in the air without some sort of anchor or foundation.

Stepping down – No that should be the Mayor

Day 16 – Still No real response from the Mayor – What is done can be undone

What Mayor McCue and the Plan Commission members need to do, to make up for the blatant disregard of the due process and fairness of being impartial, is place a symbolic hand of “Glasnost” out to Wal-Mart to keep them interested in Cudahy, if the City is interested at all, in making the Wave a reality.  The real lost opportunity is the Wave – Wal-Mart always has options, but the synergy of the Wave and the Wal-Mart is a real benefit and the kind of development communities generally seek...

At the bottom of the page are the latest artist’s renderings of the Wave facility and of Wal-Mart.  These were the drawings from the last Plan Commission meeting that was voted down.

Rest assured that Wal-Mart attorneys will be watching this site like a hawk and if any other retail plans are approved Cudahy can expect a nice corporate discrimination lawsuit.  Guaranteed!

-         Forget about retail!, Cudahy

As I said before McCue has backed himself and Cudahy in a corner.  With McCue’s vote of “no”, this has set a precedence of no Big box retail on the Iceport site.  Since McCue didn’t allow it to move forward as land use, which should not have had anything to do with Wal-Mart, that is what was set.  Forget about retail!, Cudahy is right!!

Wal-Mart Yes!

Milwaukee Wave Yes!

Specialty Shops Yes!

Hotel Yes!

KRM YES!  So we can send Ryan McCue packing back to Illinois!  He will have the honor of the only Mayor in Cudahy's 101-year history to BE RECALLED!

Time for the recall to begin, so us citizens, who pay his salary, can take our town back!

In the old west, they would formed a posse and get him out!  Today, we have the power of the RECALL!!

McCue and his minions will threaten everyone who attempts to recall him!  Now, the people who have been denied Wal-Mart, and all citizens, need to rise up, and TAKE OUR GOVERNMENT BACK!! He has done nothing good for this community, and has made us a laughing stock!  Everywhere I go in the state, people are laughing at us, because of our Mayor.  Time to get rid of him!!!  Or, he could do the honorable thing, and just resign, and leave town!!!!

Jason P.

Well said and love the old west thought!

One should drive down Packard Ave. and count all the vacancies.  Do you think there won't be a bunch more if Wal-Mart moves in.  Look at all the crime and houses for sell.  What does that tell you?  Cudahy is a city at a crossroads.  Making the wrong decisions now will have a long term effect on us all.  I've lived in Cudahy for 20 Yrs and have heard many negative comments from people outside the community.  The questions we have to ask ourselves is what will the city be like for future generations?  What will the impact be regarding crime, housing values, and our city image.  We all have to look at the whole picture.

- Dave P., Cudahy

Dave P – Looking at the whole picture is good If and only IF you do, do it with eyes and mind open.  We have all of these vacancies because the economy is bad and a lack of support from the city along with a dash of vision.  Wal-Mart could drive someone out, but look at all of the business that sprouts up after Wal-Mart comes in.  Remora or Symbiotic Stores are what I like to call those stores.

Remora - They eat parasites that reside on the shark (e.g. in the gills).  The symbiotic relationship between them ensures that the Remora have food and the sharks get a "free clean.  These are the fish that swim around the sharks.

Wal-Mart fits in with Cudahy’s image and do you think the Wal-Mart in Germantown hurts their image.  Come on Dave P. give all of this some real thought.  Don’t fall into the Wal-Mart bashing because it is easy to do.  Most Wal-Mart haters dislike Wal-Mart because of the unions, or correctly the lack of a union.  If you objectively look at this Wal-Mart, it makes sense for Cudahy.

A fellow blogger from Franklin Greg pointed out that most conservatives are mainly for Wal-Mart and why is that?

Is it that conservatives typically don’t like unions?  Is it that conservatives don’t like to waste money and like to save a buck?  Is it that conservatives don’t fall for the let us beat on Wal-Mart because they built the best mousetrap?  Is it that conservatives just love Wal-Mart or have to be on the opposite side of the liberals?  Is it that conservatives don’t live in the doom and gloom world?  Is it that conservatives rally behind Wal-Mart because the no crowds are protesting?

So we let this land sit there a rot, and have no revenge coming in for this, shame on you mayor, perhaps it's time for a recall on your position...then maybe you will work for the people of Cudahy

- Karen, Cudahy

Continental Properties likely to return

Continental Properties, the developer that proposed building Cudahy Station on the former Iceport site, has indicated an interest in appearing before the Plan Commission at the Tuesday, June 10, meeting, Mayor Ryan McCue said.

The project would have included a Wal-Mart and Milwaukee Wave training facility.  The Plan Commission voted against the plan at a recent meeting.

Although representatives of Continental Properties have verbally indicated interest, they have yet to formally file an application to be placed on the agenda, McCue said.

No more information about the company's plans is available at this time.