Declaration Day: Who is Running for Alderman?

Tuesday’s filing deadline has come and gone, and it looks like the names on the April 5 ballot will be familiar ones.

Of the eight South Milwaukee aldermanic seats up for election, only one race — that for First District alderman — will feature competition.

In that district, incumbent Mike Karbowski will square off against local businessman Mike Moeller and Craig Maass for two seats. (You’ll recall that Mike McCarthy resigned the other First District seat in October.)

In the other three districts, only the two incumbents will have their names on the ballot come April: Patrick Stoner and Ramon Navarro in the Second District, Lisa Pieper and Joe Bukowski in the Third District and Dave Bartoshevich and me in the Fourth District.

Click here to see a complete list of aldermanic candidates whose names will appear on the South Milwaukee ballot.

Here is a link to my campaign website. You can view Moeller’s campaign site here. No other candidate has such a site.

Of course, South Milwaukee is not alone in having most of its local council seats uncontested. Here is a Journal Sentinel roundup of local election filings, and here is a look at what Oak Creek voters will see on their ballot.

On a personal note, the fact that I do not have competition on the ballot does not mean I won’t campaign this spring (although it might mean fewer yard signs). I look forward to getting out in the district in coming weeks and months to continue a dialog with my constituents and talk about the future of the Fourth District and South Milwaukee.

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Read it NOW: Heart-Touching Stories of Resolve from South Milwaukee

I’ve been a pretty vocal critic of the NOW newspapers and websites on this blog.

So, I think it’s only right that I call out a strong piece of journalism from this media outlet when I see one. The paper’s new year’s “stories of resolve” are just that — examples of what reader-generated (and first-person) journalism can be if done well.

There are a couple of South Milwaukee stories of note. Check them out:

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Taking a Ride on the Route 15 …

OnMilwaukee.com has a first-person account of a ride on the Route 15 bus from Bayshore to South Milwaukee and back again.

Check it out here. From it:

Jackie Janz, the marketing director for the Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS), verified that the 15 was the longest route, looping 59.8 miles. It runs from the North Shore to South Milwaukee and back again. A portion of the 15 route is one of two of the original bus routes that originated 150 years ago.

“The 15 was an important industrial route back then and it remains that way today,” says Janz. “So many people rely on this route to get to work as well as to school and other important places.”

MCTS does not have demographic information for the passengers of specific bus routes, but from what I could assess, the 15 is a diverse mix of ages and races, with — not surprisingly — more college students riding on the East Side and more workers riding on the South Side. …

I also met Wayne Schuman, who has rode the 15 for 15 years to and from his job at Bucyrus International.”It takes me 15 minutes to get to and from work,” he says. “It has worked out great for me.”

I also took the 15 bus to work at MillerCoors one day recently, with my car in the shop. I was happy with the experience … and would not hesitate to do it again.

The question is, however, what type of transit system will we have in coming years given the “death by a thousand cuts” reality of recent years with this one-time mass transit jewel?

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An Closer Look at Fourth District Demographics and Other Headlines

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s PolitiFact team has an interesting story taking a closer look at a statement made recently by U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore: Is the Fourth Congressional District (which includes South Milwaukee) the fourth-poorest in the country?

The short answer: No.

Learn more in this story.

And check out these other headlines of note from around the South Shore:

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A New Way to Promote South Milwaukee Businesses

I continue to believe that we do a poor job of telling the South Milwaukee story — letting others know about all of the things that make our city great and all of the opportunities available here.

That includes promoting our local businesses.

The South Milwaukee Chamber of Commerce is doing its part. It is taking part in a new “Milwaukee Shop Local”  campaign that offers online and in-store shopping opportunities, discounts, coupons and events associated with local businesses.

Learn more here. Advertisers range from Parkway Floral to the South Milwaukee Public Library.

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Wondering About Those South Milwaukee Welcome Signs?

You see that sign at the top of this page? It’s the city’s welcome sign at the intersection of Nicholson and College Avenues.

Well, it went missing several weeks back … and it’s been found again.

Apparently, all of the city’s welcome signs are being (or have been) temporarily removed to be cleaned and otherwise touched up to address fading from the elements. The new one looks great — it’s really eye-catching.

And that’s what a welcome sign should be, shouldn’t it?

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Happy New Year!

Here’s wishing you and yours a great 2011.

I appreciate your support during the past year and look forward to the next 12 months filled with optimism for our great city.

And what a year it’s been …

Among the top local headlines:

Through it all, I’ve tried my best to keep you informed on key issues via this blog. Thanks for reading!

What will 2011 hold? Look for news on Walmart, the closing of the Bucyrus deal and the spring elections, among many other stories I’ms sure, on my blog in coming weeks. And have a happy new year!

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Potentially Great News for UPAF Ride and Other Headlines of Local Interest

The United Performing Arts Fund Ride for the Arts may have a new route in 2011: over the Hoan Bridge.

Why is this important for South Milwaukee? Because the ride’s most popular route (the 25-mile options) winds its way through the Fourth District and South Milwaukee each year, stopping and “turning around” in Grant Park.

Thousands of people take this route, thousands who have a chance to see one of the reasons it’s great to call South Milwaukee home. And with the route potentially crossing the Hoan, that will likely mean even more interest in the ride … and more people coming through our city.

Learn more in this Journal Sentinel story.

And check out these other headlines of interest from around the South Shore:

Also, the Greenfield Patch website has launched. Check it out here. The editor is David Cotey, a former NOW and Community Newspapers sports writer.

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Oak Creek Patch Site Launches

Oak Creek has a new local news source. South Milwaukee? Not so much (other than my blog, of course).

The Oak Creek Patch.com site has launched, and with it hyperlocal coverage that that community hasn’t seen since the demise of the Oak Creek Pictorial newspaper. For instance, as I write this, the front page has stories on a car crash, the Oak Creek boys’ basketball team and student artists, as well as guides to local businesses and events. The site is edited by Mark Schaaf, who previously worked for the local NOW papers.

You can learn more about Patch in my previous post.

As I’ve said, I like the Patch concept. With the demise of the local community weekly newspapers and continually dwindling south suburban coverage in the Journal Sentinel, there is a huge demand for community news in this area. It’s just too bad that Patch only has plans for certain communities — and South Milwaukee is apparently not among them.

(Nor is Elm Grove, apparently. As an aside, a local businessman has started a monthly newspaper in that community for much the same reason I started this blog and the same reason Patch feels it can make inroads in the Milwaukee area.)

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Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all of my readers!

I hope this day finds you with family and friends celebrating the joys of the season.

This is my favorite time of year, and I hope you have a blessed holiday.

Barring some major breaking news in South Milwaukee, I’ll be taking a few days off from blogging and returning next week. Until then, God’s blessings to you and yours.

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Life in Prison in Killing of South Milwaukee Man and Other Headlines

The man convicted of killing a Milwaukee candy store owner — and South Milwaukee resident — has been sentenced to life in prison for the crime.

Learn more in this Journal Sentinel story.

There’s also news of more lawsuits over the Caterpillar acquisition of Bucyrus, which is going before shareholders in a vote on Jan. 20.

Also, you may have noticed police with rifles stationed outside an Oak Creek residence on Nicholson Avenue this week. Here’s what happened, according to South Milwaukee Police Department Lt. Cary Fischer:

At about 10:00pm on 12/19/2010 the Oak Creek Police Department took a report of a home invasion armed robbery of a residence on Susan Dr.  The offender was a drug addict known to the victim.  The weapon was reported to be a pistol of some sort.  The offender was believed to reside at 1601 Nicholson Avenue Unit F.  We responded with Oak Creek Officers to that location and found the door smashed in.  We cleared the residence and found it empty of people.  Small amounts of drugs and paraphernalia were in plain view and were confiscated.  There was very little furniture or possessions in the apartment as the offender did not live there long.

I left two officers armed with rifles to watch the residence in an unmarked car.  They were only there a few minutes when the suspect pulled up in his car at around 11:00pm.  He was taken into custody without resistance.  No one was injured.  Him and his vehicle were promptly turned over to Oak Creek.

Finally, charges have been brought against a man accused in a shooting at the Drew’s Spot bar on St. Patrick’s Day in 2008, according to South Milwaukee police. The charges against Daniel Newman were “read in” to the record recently as he was sentenced to more than 25 years in prison and 17 years probation for other convictions.

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Why I’m Running for Re-Election

I am Erik Brooks, and I want to remain your alderman.

I am running for re-election April 5, and I humbly ask for your vote, as I look forward to being the voice of the 4th District — your voice — for two more years.

I filed my declaration of candidacy today.

It’s been a pleasure serving for the past 20 months, and I am asking for a second term because, simply, there is still work to be done.

Investing in our infrastructure. Finding new and creative solutions for our ailing downtown. Improving resident communications. Those are just some of the issues I promise to continue to tackle should I be re-elected.

In doing so, I stand proud of my accomplishments thus far. From co-founding the South Milwaukee Downtown Market to launching this successful blog, I have worked as hard as I can to earn your trust, respect and, hopefully, vote.

You can learn more about me and my campaign on my recently launched campaign website at www.brooks4alderman.com. And look for me around the district in coming weeks as I speak with as many voters as possible about the issues facing the city.

Thanks again for your support!

One additional note: I pledge not to write a lot about the election directly on this blog. I did not launch this blog to campaign. I launched it to keep residents informed on news and information from around the 4th District, South Milwaukee and the South Shore, and that’s what you will continue to see here. So please keep reading … and tell your family and friends!

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Retiring South Milwaukee Fire Chief’s Son Set to Join Department

As you may have seen in today’s Journal Sentinel, the Police and Fire Commission has approved the hiring of Ryan Behling, son of outgoing Chief Jay Behling, as a full-time firefighter.

You can read the story here.

The City Council will vote tonight to recognize the hiring and place Ryan Behling, a paid on-call firefighter with the department for more than six years, in the proper pay range.

I’d like to know what you think of the hiring, which has drawn criticism from the firefighters union. Post your comments below..

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Sullivan is Paper’s Exec of the Year and Other Headlines …

The Business Journal of Milwaukee has named Bucyrus CEO Tim Sullivan its Executive of the Year.

Read the story here (subscription required to read full version).

And check out these other South Shore headlines:

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Patching Some Holes in the Local Media

Haven’t heard of Patch.com? You will.

Just don’t expect it anytime soon in South Milwaukee.

Patch is a AOL’s network of hyper-local news and information websites that is entering the Wisconsin (and Milwaukee-area) market in a big way, with more than a dozen sites coming on line in coming weeks.

Three are already up: Greendale, Fox Point-Bayside and Hudson of all places. Others are planned for Oak Creek and Greenfield.

It’s part of a broad expansion for Patch, which now has more than 500 sites across the country.

So, what is Patch? According to its website, it is “a new way to find out about, and participate in, what’s going on near you. We’re a community-specific news and information platform dedicated to providing comprehensive and trusted local coverage for individual towns and communities.”

Sound familiar? Indeed, this concept is not new at all. This is the role local newspapers played for decades until many of them died in recent years.

South Milwaukee Voice Graphic, anyone?

The demise of media outlets like this is a big reason why I started this blog. Simply, there are few, if any, options out there for residents and others to know what is happening in South Milwaukee, and as an elected official I felt, and continue to feel, a responsibility to fill this void.

The Journal Sentinel has basically given up on covering South Milwaukee, and the NOW sites aren’t much better. TV news stations only show up if something is bleeding.

That certainly creates an opportunity for networks like Patch. Let’s hope they arrive here soon. Our citizens would be better off for it. Until then — and even after — keep on reading the blog!

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