by | March 19, 2011 · 11:53 pm

Not Polling Well: South Milwaukee Suffers in Magazine Rankings

I love living in South Milwaukee.

Clean, safe streets. Affordable housing. Great schools. Beautiful parks. Growing industry. Strong sense of community. Convenience.

We have a lot going for us … even if Milwaukee Magazine disagrees.

The current issue ranks South Milwaukee 45th out of 50 Milwaukee-area communities in its list of “Best Suburbs.”

The Town of Mukwonago topped the list, followed by the Town of Delafield, Sussex, Elm Grove, Mequon, River Hills, Merton, the City of Pewaukee, Whitefish Bay and Cedarburg.

Rankings were compiled based on the following:

  • School districts, including ACT scores, graduation rates and student test scores (South Milwaukee ranked 43rd);
  • Lowest property taxes, i.e. tax rate (40th);
  • Safest streets, including violent and total crime rates (35th); and
  • Highest home appreciation from 2000 to 2010 and 2005 to 2010 (40th).

Not surprisingly, the ratings seemed tilted against inner-ring, industrialized suburbs like us.

For example, here is the bottom 10: Waukesha, Caledonia, Greendale, Glendale, South Milwaukee, Brown Deer, Greenfield, Cudahy, West Allis and West Milwaukee. Sense a trend?

And that’s my concern with rankings like this. Of course, communities like Delafield, Mequon and River Hills will fare better using these measures. But I can’t afford to live there, and I’m betting you can’t either. Nor do I want to give up the benefits a suburb like South Milwaukee provides, be it the level of first-class services we offer or the comparatively short commute to downtown Milwaukee.

So, is raises the question, is this a fair fight? Is South Milwaukee really peers with rural Waukesha County communities half our size? Should we really be compared with communities like River Hills?

As the article put it, “from urbanlike Shorewood to a rural hamlet like the Town of Delafield, from Cudahy’s homes with views of Lake Michigan to Oconomowoc’s homes offering access to Waukesha County’s Lake Country, there is tremendous variety in Milwaukee’s suburbs. … Some folks want rural character, others want a downtown hub; some want parks, others want a lake or river view. We decided to leave those intangibles to the eye of the beholder.”

In doing so, the perception of South Milwaukee, and communities like ours, suffers. And that’s too bad, not because it at all changes why it is great to live here. It’s unfortunate becuase others may not come to see why.

What do you think of this? Post your comments below.

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by | March 19, 2011 · 9:36 am

Donation to Cudahy Fire Department, Oak Creek Cuts and More

Here are some more headlines from around the South Shore …

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by | March 18, 2011 · 4:31 pm

Season Ends for South Milwaukee Girls Hoops Team

The South Milwaukee girls basketball team’s season came to an end in the sectional semifinals Thursday night.

The Rockets lost to Oak Creek, 53-40.

Check out some photos from Oak Creek Patch here, and here is a story on the Knights’ quest for state.

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by | March 18, 2011 · 4:25 pm

Police Department Seeks Accreditation

A team of assessors will be in town later this month as part of the accreditation process for the South Milwaukee Police Department — and the public will have a chance to weigh in.

Learn more in this South Milwaukee NOW story.

The tree-day, on-site assessment work involving the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Accreditation Group begins Monday, March 28.

As part of the assessment, community members can offer public comments at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, March 29, at City Hall. Citizens can also phone in their comments from 1 to 3 p.m. on March 29 by calling 414-333-1957.

Written comments can also be submitted.

The assessors will “examine all aspects of the South Milwaukee Police Department’s policy and procedures, management, operation and support services.”

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by | March 16, 2011 · 11:16 pm

Following Up on the Forum

Update: Check out news coverage from Fox 6 and Oak Creek Patch.

Wednesday night’s South Shore Economic Development Forum was well-intentioned, well-done and well-received, and it was a good way to remind county executive candidates Rep. Jeff Stone and Chris Abele about some of the bigger issues facing our area.

An estimated (my estimate) 150 to 200 people joined Stone, Abele, the mayors of South Milwaukee, Cudahy and St. Francis and Milwaukee County Supervisors Pat Jursik and Marina Dimitrijevic at the forum. Issues discussed included the future of the Hoan Bridge, the extension of the Lake Parkway, the Aerotropolis concept, preserving and enhancing our parks and transit, and water concerns.

A few observations:

  • Perhaps a couple dozen anti-Walker protesters gathered before the meeting at the entrance to the South Milwaukee Peforming Arts Center parking lot.
  • The mayors seemed unified on every issue discussed, certainly a good thing as we work to stand up for our common interests. That said, it would have been nice to have Oak’s Creek’s mayor be part of that discussion. He was not there.
  • I also thought there was too much mayoral/supervisor roundtable and not enough candidate forum. There was only time for three or four questions for Stone and Abele despite dozens being submitted by audience members. Abele arriving 30 minutes late didn’t help.
  • The most interesting question posed to the candidates was one asking how each feels he differs philosophically from Gov. Scott Walker, the former county executive. Abele answered it by focusing on his differences with Walker over the right to collectively bargain and the handling of the budget repair bill. Stone chose not to answer the question … and deftly turned it into a chance to say how he is Jeff Stone, not Scott Walker.
  • Another interesting question was around the concept of “metropolitan government.” The concept was roundly panned as potentially hurting community identity, although there was more support offered around at least the concept of consolidation of certain local services.
  • Airport privatization was also broadly dismissed, with one panelist calling it “a solution in search of a problem.” With the airport drawing record traffic and its future brighter than ever, there seemed little appetite by either executive candidate to pursue the concept once pushed by Walker.
  • The longest sustained applause and only standing ovation of the evening was directed at state Sen. Chris Larson, who Dimitrijevic announced as being in attendance early in the forum. Larson stayed well after the forum, longer than Abele or Stone, talking to constituents and even posing for pictures.

Jursik and Dimitrijevic should get a lot of credit for putting this together and working to keep the South Shore top of mind as we pick a new executive. We need to make sure we continue to be part of that conversation.

Were you at the forum? I’d like to know what you think. Post your comments below.

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by | March 16, 2011 · 10:04 pm

Patrick Cudahy Settlement, Oak Creek Job Loss and More …

Here are some headlines from around the South Shore:

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by | March 16, 2011 · 10:55 am

Big Issues: South Shore Economic Development Forum Tonight

Just a reminder that the South Shore Economic Development Forum is tonight at the South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center.

The event runs from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Check out the press release here.

I hope to see you there!

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by | March 15, 2011 · 11:39 pm

Just How Much Shared Revenue Do We Stand to Lose?

The cuts are coming for 2012, and they won’t be pretty.

But how big will they be?

The Legislative Fiscal Bureau shed some light on that Tuesday, as it released the estimated amount of shared revenue cuts local and county governments will face under Gov. Scott Walker’s proposed budget.

The tally for South Milwaukee: More than $255,000, or an 8.2% cut for 2012.

Combined with a projected cut in local transportation aids (estimated at more than $135,000 on Tuesday by the LFB) and a more than $120,000 cut in state funding for local recycling programs, and you get a pretty good glimpse of what we’re facing as we begin the budgeting process for next year.

Of course, the “tools” that are part of the Walker budget repair bill will help some, but, as I blogged about last week, they will not nearly close that gap … while other provisions in Walker’s proposed budget, like a mandated local property tax freeze, will only widen the chasm.

I will have more specifics on our local situation in coming days, and as we begin the budget debate in earnest.

For now, you can see the LFB detail on the estimated shared revenue cuts here. (You will note that South Milwaukee does not have it as bad as some other communities, which I guess is some perverse “good news” in this situation.)

And click here for the estimated cuts in general transportation funding.

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by | March 15, 2011 · 11:36 pm

Sharing the Pain: A Small Act Big on Symbolism

The item was a late add to Tuesday’s City Council agenda.

Discussion/possible motion to amend the WRS provision of the city administrator’s contract to require her to pay one half of the actuarially required contributions effective when the non-represented employees must begin paying per the Wisconsin Statutes.

Sounds complicated, but it really wasn’t.

Simply, City Administrator Tami Mayzik was asking the council to increase the amount of money she pays toward her pension. That’s right. She was asking us to amend her contract to force her to pay for her retirement benefits.

The reason? Tami wanted to make sure the amount she pays toward her pension is the same percentage that other non-represented employees of the city will pay once the budget repair bill takes effect later this month.

That will be 5.8%. She currently pays nothing toward her pension, like other city employees and many others across the state.

The council passed the measure 7-0 … and Tami gained major respect from me for even bringing it up.

She could have easily not raised the issue, and we probably would have left her contract as is. But she did, and, in doing so, showed she is willing to share in the sacrifice that other, non-unionized city employees will have to make starting soon.

It was a selfless act of solidarity that shows the depth of character of our city administrator. Thanks, Tami.

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by | March 15, 2011 · 10:57 pm

Holding Off, For Now: Japan, Honadel and Nuclear Power

The Japan nuclear crisis has slowed down action to lift the state’s moratorium on nuclear reactors … but it doesn’t mean the debate is over.

That’s according to the Journal Sentinel, which quotes South Milwaukee Rep. Mark Honadel, chairman of the Assembly Committee on Energy and Utilities, as saying he will co-sponsor a bill to end the construction ban later this year.

Check out the blog posting here. From it:

“Out of courtesy, we should relax a little bit and let everything settle down over there and see how severe the ramifications are,” Honadel said. “But I still believe we intend to introduce a bill and lift our moratorium so we can allow the debate to happen.”

Lifting the moratorium isn’t a sign the state will start building reactors overnight, Honadel said. “This bill is not for Wisconsin to start building new plants. It simply opens the door to the nuclear debate,” he said. “We want to lift the moratorium so that if and when the time’s to consider a future plant, we want to be able to do that.” …

“What’s happening right now in Japan will definitely be a good learning experience as to what and what not to do. Thank goodness Wisconsin isn’t sitting on the ‘Ring of Fire,’ ” Honadel said. “In the core of my being I hope this doesn’t hinder the bill because it definitely should not. It’s two different debates.”

I’m interested in your comments on this. Post them below.

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by | March 14, 2011 · 5:09 pm

Tragic Story: Carbon Monoxide Kills Two South Milwaukeeans

Accidental carbon monoxide poisoning was the cause of death of two South Milwaukee cousins over the weekend.

Check out the Journal sentinel story here. From it:

Juan H. Vasquez and his cousin Noe Ramirez-Abriz, 28, had gone to a dance in Milwaukee Saturday night and borrowed their cousins’ car. Saturday was Vasquez’s 29th birthday.

The men lived with their cousin Sebastian Corona Ambriz and his wife Silvia Corona in the 700 block of Minnesota Ave. Silvia Corona told authorities that she awakened around 2 a.m. Sunday to attend to a baby, looked outside and noticed the garage door was partially open and the light was on, according to the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s report. She thought the two men had come home from the dance and then she went back to bed.

Sunday morning when Vasquez and Ramirez-Abriz could not be found inside the house, Silvia Corona went outside to the garage, found the overhead door closed and then saw the men dead in the front seat and the family’s two pit bulls dead in the back seat.

I’ll keep you posted as I get more details.

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by | March 13, 2011 · 2:59 pm

Sports Update: South Milwaukee Girls Advance to Sectional Semifinal

The beat goes on for the South Milwaukee girls’ basketball team … and next up is a local rival.

After an easy win over Milwaukee South, the Rockets play Oak Creek in a sectional semifinal at 8 p.m. on Thursday at Racine Case. The winner of that game advances to the sectional final on Saturday, potentially against top-seeded Case.

Check out the full schedule here, and click here for the bracket.

And click here for results, schedules, stats and other information on the team from the Wisconsin Hoops Network.

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by | March 13, 2011 · 2:44 pm

Local Drunk Driving Arrests and Other Headlines of Interest

Two South Milwaukeeans found themselves in trouble with the law in the past week in drunk-driving incidents.

Here are the headlines from Oak Creek Patch:

And check out these other headlines of local interest …

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by | March 12, 2011 · 12:11 am

Police and Fire Commission to Re-Advertise for Fire Chief

The search for a new South Milwaukee fire chief will take longer than expected.

The Police and Fire Commission, at its meeting this week, directed City Administrator Tami Mayzik to re-advertise the vacant fire chief position in hopes of receiving a wider selection of applications from qualified candidates.

The new deadline for applications will be May 18.

As you’ll recall, Chief Jay Behling retired earlier this year.

I will keep you posted as developments warrant.

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by | March 11, 2011 · 3:19 pm

Summarizing the Budget Difficulties Facing South Milwaukee Schools

Update: WTMJ-TV has a story about Wednesday’s budget public hearing.

The South Milwaukee School District has posted a well-done PowerPoint presentation summarizing where they are at financially, how they got there and the difficult times ahead.

Check out the presentation from Wednesday’s budget public hearing on the district website.

The key message throughout: We are all in this together. I couldn’t say it better myself. Dealing with difficult budgets on all levels of government will take a community working together to figure out the best way forward.

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