Backers of Milwaukee's paid sick leave ordinance plan to show up at the Milwaukee County Courthouse en masse Friday at the first hearing the ordinance will have in front of a judge.

In November, city voters overwhelmingly passed the ordinance, which mandates that businesses permit up to nine paid sick days a year for full-time employees. The Milwaukee Metropolitan Association of Commerce promptly sued the city to stop the ordinance, which is scheduled to take effect Tuesday.

So far, there doesn't seem to be much activity in terms of getting businesses to comply. MMAC will certainly ask for an injunction on the ordinance while it winds its way through the courts.

Since Milwaukee voters approved the measure, nearly half the county's suburbs -- including Greenfield, Brown Deer, Oak Creek, and Racine -- are taking steps to institute anti-sick leave measures.

Milwaukee 9to5 has sent out an e-mail asking supporters to show up at the courthouse to Room 413 by 10 a.m. Friday. There also will be a debate between 9to5 representatives and MMAC folks on Tuesday, starting at 12:15 p.m. at Marquette Law School Room 325.

Building Brouhaha: Milwaukee aldermen voted to pony up another $350,000 to renovate a flood-ravaged building on the corner of 27th and Wells Streets after already putting $1 million towards the condo and retail venture.

The building has stood largely vacant for seven years and a leaky roof has caused extensive water damage on one end. The building also bankrupted West End Development, a community organization that attempted to put the project together. City officials worked with Wisconsin Redevelopment, LLC., to put together a deal that gets the project back on track. The Community Development Committee recommended putting more money into the building.

Ald. Bob Bauman called it "a responsible plan" and said "everyone has given away a little bit" to get the building going. Agency representatives from the city and the non-profits at the table acknowledged that they should have applied the brakes some time ago.

"Sometimes you have to hit the no button," admitted Bauman.

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17 comments about this article. Post a comment / write a review.

Recent Talkbacks ...

Posted by teddddd on Feb. 6, 2009 at 6:38 p.m. (report)

my main purpose in posting in OnMilwaukee is to piss off liberals such as you. Imagine the grin on my face when I read your response. LOL.

Posted by Sofine57 on Feb. 6, 2009 at 3:29 p.m. (report)

I think a lot of people miss the underlying point to this whole argument. The government has no right to interfere with private business's operations and compensations! Today its sick leave, tomorrow its a $15 minimum wage, the day after that mandatory health care. The framers of the constitution did not give the US Goverment the authority to do these things for a reason!

Posted by wwwonka on Feb. 6, 2009 at 3:02 p.m. (report)

teddddd, same old lame "socialist" argument from a sheep you understands neither socialism nor capitalism. Funny how you have chosen a city that is firmly grounded in socialism to live in. moron.

Posted by Aphrodites12 on Feb. 6, 2009 at 2:41 p.m. (report)

Whether or not his goes through some employers have already changed there policy. We normally got 3 sick days at the beginning of every year Jan 1. We lost those because of this and now have no sick days unless this goes through. There is a clause in there for SMALL BUSINESSES(not sure how many employees qualify) where they do not have to give more than 40 hours in a year. Also people have to work to get the time. They don't get 9 days right off the bat. It will take 12 months to aquire all the time. Not everyone is looking for a free ride. Just would be nice when you get no vacation and now have no sick time to actually have your employee do something to help us as well. Not everyone can work at the best job and especially now we cannot be choosy. Many of us need a paycheck no matter what which gives some companies a BIG UPPER HAND.

Posted by teddddd on Feb. 6, 2009 at 2:05 p.m. (report)

Doug..report back how many "supporters" actually show up! .. you won't do this I bet. I bet the turn out is low. So I challenge you to report back how many people show up.