Politics - July 24, 2009
City floats water fee increase
The city is looking at raising water rates as a way to put more money in its general fund, going beyond the traditional water bills being used to cover the cost of running the Water Works. Water Works and city administration officials are looking to raise rates an additional 6.5 percent for suburban users of Milwaukee water and 5 percent for city residents on top of a 3 percent increase that takes effect soon.
Tags: Tom Barrett, Jim Doyle, Scott Walker, Republican, Democrat, Robert Puente, Bob Donovan, Joe Dudzik, Chief Ed Flynn, Robin Vos, Wisconsin Business Council, Newt Gingrich, Mark Neumann

Arts & Entertainment - April 14, 2009
Whew, the council flip-flops and approves Zweig art
It was great to see the Common Council do a flip-flop this morning on Janet Zweig's flip-photo project for Wisconsin Avenue, getting what would have been a major Milwaukee flop back on the rails. At a morning committee hearing, aldermen were wowed by the turnout and by the messages received in advance of it from constituents.
Tags: janet zweig, michael murphy, nik kovac, robert bauman, mike brenner, james witkowiak, joe dudzik

Milwaukee Buzz - April 3, 2009
A designer's Zweig thoughts and call to action
I first found out about Zweig's innovative art project coming to Milwaukee about three years ago when the project was still just an idea. I was curious. Today, it's grown into a minor "controversy." Here are my thoughts and what you can do to move the project forward.
Tags: Public Art, Common Council, Janet Zweig, bronze fonz, public funding, blue shirt, MARN, Brenner, Wille Wade, Joe Dudzik

Politics - April 18, 2008
Conference speakers shoot the breeze about gun ban
It might not seem like the most popular topic given the timing, but Nate Nelson, a field representative for The Leadership Institute, told the Future Wisconsin Conservative Conference that his organization is trying to fight a ban on handguns at Virginia Tech University.
Tags: nate nelson, the leadership institute, future wisconsin conservative conference, herb kohl, pat goss, terry witkowski, willie hines, joe dudzik, vel phillips, milwaukee police, youtube

Politics - Jan. 4, 2008
Turning up the volume on the noise ordinance debate
Milwaukee aldermen are considering a plan that that would allow police to hand out tickets without actually witnessing any wrongdoing.
Tags: noise ordinance, scott walker. lena taylor, chaser's pub, bob donovan, joe dudzik, robert puente, joe klein, jack horein