http://onmilwaukee.com/rss/rss_doughissom.xml Milwaukee's Daily Magazine Doug Hissom en-us Sat, 4 Jul 2009 22:30:25 CST http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss http://onmilwaukee.com/images/layout/omc_rssfeed_logo.gif http://onmilwaukee.com 204 67 A special task force, chaired by former state Supreme Court Justice Louis Butler, would like to see the Common Council modernize the mechanism for hearing license requests in order to keep politicians from tampering with the process and alleviate the appearance of "aldermanic privilege." http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/politics061909.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/politics061909.html?19438 Fri, 19 Jun 2009 16:28:00 CST A strapped government sometimes pits good groups against each other. This week, there is a battle between people who probably agree more often than not. Jim Goulee of the Park People crafted an e-mail calling for the preservationists to quickly call their legislators to make sure that a half-percent tax increase doesn't just go for Regional Transportation Authorities, but that lawmakers put another half-percent tax increase for the county parks. http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/politics061309.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/politics061309.html?19389 Sat, 13 Jun 2009 14:14:00 CST Lawmakers are considering stiffening penalties for drunk driving in the state and the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Department has an idea -- just one -- to help. Sobriety checkpoints are the solution, Sheriff's Department representatives said this week at a hearing in front of the state Senate's Judiciary, Corrections, Insurance, Campaign Finance Reform and Housing Committee. "We cannot arrest our way out of this problem," said one sheriff's rep. http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/politics060509.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/politics060509.html?19310 Fri, 5 Jun 2009 05:27:00 CST Jazz in the Park kicks off its 2009 season Thursday night at Cathedral Square Park. Earlier this week, a state assembly committee, prompted by Rep. Leon Young, unanimously passed a bill allowing carry-ins, but officials likely will uphold their plans to ban patrons from bringing their own beer and wine to the event. http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/politics052909.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/politics052909.html?19254 Fri, 29 May 2009 14:21:00 CST Arguments aside, the way leading lawmakers handled the issue of a potential statewide smoking ban in taverns and restaurants this week was not in the spirit of a more transparent government. The two committee chairman handling the bill -- Jon Erpenbach and Jon Richards -- gave a just a shade more than the required 24-hour notice before holding a hearing and then voting on the bill. With the Democrats now in control of the dome, it's expected that the ban will sail through the Legislature swimmingly. http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/politics050809.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/politics050809.html?19048 Fri, 8 May 2009 05:27:00 CST Public officials in these parts seem totally silent on the effects of proposed energy cost increases on their constituents from area power monopoly WE Energies. The utility is asking that rates go up 4.9 percent in 2010 and another 4.5 percent in 2011. http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/politics050109.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/politics050109.html?18972 Fri, 1 May 2009 05:29:00 CST A long-time club on Water Street that's been vacant for years will remain so for the near future at least. The space at 530 N. Water St. Has not been without its troubles in the past, featuring shootings, parking problems and other external and internal strife. Downtown Ald. Bob Bauman is concerned that would happen there again and opposed a plan by Heide Beste to reopen the joint as a club / lounge called Rouge Lounge. http://onmilwaukee.com/bars/articles/rouge.html http://onmilwaukee.com/bars/articles/rouge.html?18899 Wed, 22 Apr 2009 16:25:00 CST One of the easiest, most effective ways to sell a used car is to park it on the street and slap a "For Sale" sign in the window. If Milwaukee aldermen have their way, city residents will pay $40 for that right. Making matters worse, they'll have to wait in line at a tow lot in order to purchase the permit. http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/hissom041709.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/hissom041709.html?18841 Fri, 17 Apr 2009 05:15:00 CST Never underestimate the value of fast food coupons. A Milwaukee woman claims her car was damaged when the City of Milwaukee towed it. She is trying to sue for damages, including some lost coupons for a Wendy's restaurant. Would you like fries with that deposition, ma'am? http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/hissom041009.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/hissom041009.html?18761 Fri, 10 Apr 2009 05:28:00 CST Private efforts to pay for more street surveillance on the near South Side will be back for another year, says Ald. Bob Donovan. It's called "Operation Impact" and it uses cameras and increased foot patrols to saturate certain high-crime areas. The 2009 version will expand its scope both geographically and financially. Donovan said the program, which raised $176,000 last year, hopes to net $250,000 in 2009 in order to facilitate an expansion east of South 16th Street and west into the Jackson Park neighborhood. http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/hissom040309.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/hissom040309.html?18678 Fri, 3 Apr 2009 05:23:00 CST It sounds like a noble goal: tighten up the rules on ships emptying ballast water in order to keep invasive and foreign species from contaminating the Great Lakes. A group of mayors and industry types is pushing for the state to essentially do nothing. The American Great Lakes Association says Wisconsin's three major ports would be cut off from international trade and agricultural exports if forced to follow the proposed permit for their ports. http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/hissom032709.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/hissom032709.html?18617 Fri, 27 Mar 2009 05:12:00 CST The latest findings of the American Religious Identification Survey find that 34 million adult Americans -- that's almost one in five of us -- are now nonreligious. The Madison-based Freedom From Religion Foundation was quick to leap on the fact that they are now in the majority. The findings may not rival the "Great Awakening," but the United States is clearly in the midst of a "Gradual Awakening," and catching up with Europe's embrace of secularism, the group notes in a press release. http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/hissom032009.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/hissom032009.html?18510 Fri, 20 Mar 2009 05:24:00 CST The City of Milwaukee will give a break to vehicle owners who have had their registration stickers ripped off -- sort of. For the past two years parking checkers issued $50 tickets to unregistered vehicles and those without stickers no matter the circumstance. The city can also tow those vehicles. In an effort to be less punitive the city now issues tickets for failing to display registration, which run $17 instead of $50. http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/politics031309.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/politics031309.html?18449 Fri, 13 Mar 2009 05:18:00 CST The annoying television sets on county buses, which blared advertising and old news, went off permanently when TV Transit, the company that gave the county the TVs for free in exchange for a piece of the ad revenue, folded. http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/hissom030609.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/hissom030609.html?18387 Fri, 6 Mar 2009 05:04:00 CST The future of the dam at Estabrook Park is a hot topic these days, with environmentalists backing its destruction as advocates fight to save it. The County Board soon will vote on whether to repair the dam, close it permanently but keep it in place or remove it completely. http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/hissom030409.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/hissom030409.html?18366 Wed, 4 Mar 2009 16:33:00 CST Conversations about a potential takeover of the Milwaukee Public Schools continue, with politicians considering ideas ranging from letting the mayor run it to creating a pseudo MPS czar. Last week, the Public Policy Forum released a report that looked at other cities with mayoral control over the school system. Mayor Tom Barrett hasn't entirely dismissed the idea, which was entertained by former Mayor John Norquist some time ago. Another pitch would have the mayor appoint a "chancellor," and that chancellor would appoint the school board. http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/hissom022009.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/hissom022009.html?18253 Fri, 20 Feb 2009 05:25:00 CST The Combined Locks Police Department wanted to raise money for Special Olympics. The noble gesture lost a little gloss in some circles when it offered to have officers absorb shocks from taser guns in exchange for $500 donations. http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/hissom021309.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/hissom021309.html?18173 Fri, 13 Feb 2009 05:15:00 CST 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. 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. today. http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/hissom020609.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/hissom020609.html?18090 Fri, 6 Feb 2009 05:29:00 CST The state Department of Transportation took its road show to the Common Council last week briefing Milwaukee officials on its plan to redo the Zoo interchange. DOT says it is the busiest interchange in the state and needs some help in moving vehicles along. They offered a new road term called the "Texas U-turn." But it didn't get a warm reception. http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/politics020409.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/politics020409.html?18073 Wed, 4 Feb 2009 14:17:00 CST Although the number of vehicles in our fair city went down compared with recent years, the number of crashes are up, according to a report from the Milwaukee Public Works Department. The city had 384,798 registered vehicles in 2007 and 12,870 crashes, compared with 396,037 and 12,465 in 2006. http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/hissomnumbers.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/hissomnumbers.html?18014 Fri, 30 Jan 2009 05:25:00 CST The City of Milwaukee's idea for an energy efficient development in Bay View has received a surprising seven prospective bids, reports the Department of City Development. The approximately 5.6-acre lot bordered by Bay and Conway Streets and Logan and Lincoln Avenues, that formerly housed the Army Reserve is the largest vacant space in Bay View. http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/bvsolarvillage.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/bvsolarvillage.html?17992 Wed, 28 Jan 2009 08:35:00 CST Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn, seeking to spend the slush fund known as "asset forfeiture expenditures," sent a laundry list of ideas to a Common Council committee last week. As usual, many of the items don't necessarily qualify as "proper spending" under federal guidelines. No one seems to care about that anymore. http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/hissom012309.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/hissom012309.html?17946 Fri, 23 Jan 2009 11:28:00 CST Milwaukee Ald. Tony Zielinski continues to tag graffiti artists as public enemy No. 1. But at least one member of a city committee says his latest plan blurs the line between murals, graffiti and freedom of expression. Zielinski is proposing an ordinance that would require any mural artist to apply for a permit and pay $75 in order to paint the side of a building. http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/politics011609.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/politics011609.html?17858 Fri, 16 Jan 2009 05:15:00 CST Aldermen haven't given up on their pitch to get UW-Milwaukee expansions Downtown. UWM has made clear its preference to put its new engineering school at the County Grounds in Wauwatosa. Alds. Bob Bauman and Nik Kovac offered a resolution this week directing city lobbyists to lobby the UW System Board of Regents to locate the largest upcoming UWM building project and new dorms Downtown. http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/hissom0109.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/hissom0109.html?17839 Wed, 14 Jan 2009 08:38:00 CST The bong of soothsaying may be hazy, as it always has been, but we're trying to offer some clarity to discussions of what may be greet us in the next year. To create a map for the forthcoming year (and because it's fun), here are a few predictions that most likely will not come to fruition in 2009 and should not be taken to Vegas for the purposes of economic stimulus prospecting. http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/hissom010909.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/hissom010909.html?17794 Fri, 9 Jan 2009 11:37:00 CST Milwaukee Ald. Bob Donovan wants an appointed School Board, as opposed to letting the public choose their representatives. He calls it a priority on his Christmas wish list. http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/politics122408.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/politics122408.html?17690 Wed, 24 Dec 2008 08:28:00 CST Toronto, Seattle and San Francisco have banned the distribution and sale of bottled water on city premises. Milwaukeeans, prompted in part by the memory of the cryptosporidium outbreak, have a large preference for water in the bottle instead of from the tap. But ban supporters say bottled water is wasteful. http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/politics121708.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/politics121708.html?17613 Wed, 17 Dec 2008 16:35:00 CST The Milwaukee County Parks Department needed its own economic bailout to the tune of $315. The Parks Department had to suspend its effort to rid Jacobus Park of invasive species the likes of buckthorn and honeysuckle since it ran out of money for herbicides. The Charles Jacobus Neighborhood Association chipped in the money this week to finish the job. http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/politics121008.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/politics121008.html?17564 Wed, 10 Dec 2008 08:18:00 CST Just in time for the first big snow of the year, the Department of Public Works is ready to present its plowing strategy for the coming white season. And it looks like patience will be a mantra for drivers and pedestrians. Aldermen asked DPW to set up a plan after last year's somewhat disjointed approach to plowing. http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/politics120308.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/politics120308.html?17472 Wed, 3 Dec 2008 11:38:00 CST The Milwaukee Police Department has been lax in installing cameras in squad cars, even though it has been given the green light to do so and has equipment lying around ready to get our men in blue on the contributors' list for the "Cops" TV show. The city would have about 200 cameras if it gets a grant for 46 more. Only 67 have been installed and are functional, according to the department. Another 37 have been installed but are not functional. http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/hissom112108.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/hissom112108.html?17357 Fri, 21 Nov 2008 14:33:00 CST Just when you thought it was safe to turn on the TV and avoid political commercials, it's time for the spring elections -- with a state Supreme Court race and several county judicial races -- to get underway. The Supreme Court race pretty much started this week when Jefferson County Circuit Judge Randy R. Koschnick fulfilled expectations that he would announce his campaign to attempt to unseat Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson. http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/politics111908.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/politics111908.html?17331 Wed, 19 Nov 2008 11:16:00 CST It's taken a few years, but the ACLU of Wisconsin has filed a federal First Amendment lawsuit against the Milwaukee Police Department for its role in shutting down a play entitled "Naked Boys Singing," a musical with gay themes that has been produced around the country. The cops shut down the play in 2005, contending that the Milwaukee Gay Arts Center didn't have a proper theater license. http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/politics111408.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/politics111408.html?17283 Fri, 14 Nov 2008 11:41:00 CST The Milwaukee Common Council Licenses Committee wants to crack down on continued violence and disturbances in front of area dance clubs. Two of the clubs targeted are the Ladybug Club Downtown and Rain in Walker's Point. http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/hissom110708.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/hissom110708.html?17211 Fri, 7 Nov 2008 05:25:00 CST Milwaukee aldermen resorted to some intriguing attempts at snipping expenses from the city budget. Some of the more creative ideas were axing the city's official weather forecaster and cutting books from the library. http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/politics110508.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/politics110508.html?17171 Wed, 5 Nov 2008 11:44:00 CST Four more days and the ads will end. What will commercial watchers do? It was a political season in which there seemed to be so many Obama or McCain pitches that they were an incessant intrusion on our television viewing. http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/hissom1030108.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/hissom1030108.html?17132 Fri, 31 Oct 2008 05:39:00 CST It's always nice to be able to police yourself. Just ask the Milwaukee Police Department union brass. The union has filed a lawsuit challenging the new process the city uses to hear citizen complaints against cops. The Fire and Police Commission started the new method in April after the state Supreme Court found flaws in the previous plan, mainly because it allowed police to police themselves. http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/politics102908.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/politics102908.html?17105 Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:24:00 CST Just as commuters are breaking in the new Marquette Interchange, state highway officials are getting ready to start selling plans for rebuilding the Zoo Interchange. With 345,900 vehicles a day passing through each day, the interchange is the busiest in the state. Public hearings are next week. http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/hissom102408.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/hissom102408.html?17066 Fri, 24 Oct 2008 05:24:00 CST Although the Milwaukee Police Department's 911 emergency call system is just five years old, city officials have been told that it needs replacing. The price tag -- $5 million -- coupled with a $370,000 request for crossing guards, has led to some haggling at City Hall. http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/hissom102208.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/hissom102208.html?17031 Wed, 22 Oct 2008 05:28:00 CST The City of Milwaukee is ready to unload seven acres of prime real estate in Bay View -- land that had been home to an Army Reserve site. The Department of City Development identified the site at Bay and Lincoln streets as a "key development opportunity or catalytic project." http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/hissom101708.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/hissom101708.html?16980 Fri, 17 Oct 2008 14:22:00 CST Music is adding to the soundtrack of already noisy presidential election. Some artists, like Bruce Springsteen (pictured) and Hank Williams, Jr., are endorsing candidates. Others have been bickering that political operatives try to create the appearance of endorsements by playing music at campaign functions. http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/hissom101508.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/hissom101508.html?16955 Wed, 15 Oct 2008 14:27:00 CST Perhaps he's overwhelmed or depressed by the onset of winter, but Rhinelander attorney Sam Gold insists Barack Obama's campaign has violated state law against misrepresentations in political ads. As a result, he wants the Democratic presidential nominee charged with crimes. http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/hissom101008.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/hissom101008.html?16906 Fri, 10 Oct 2008 11:25:00 CST Chicago Mayor Richard Daley announced plans this week to privatize that city's Midway Airport. Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker would like to do that with Mitchell International, but the County Board is resisting because it relishes the revenue that the airport provides. http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/hissom100308.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/hissom100308.html?16816 Fri, 3 Oct 2008 05:28:00 CST A Hoan Bridge built closer to street level could create $5.7 billion in potential development on about 500 acres of prime waterfront real estate, according to reports on MilwaukeeRising,net. The Web site quotes a consultant's report on the project. http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/politics100108.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/politics100108.html?16764 Wed, 1 Oct 2008 05:31:00 CST The case of Frank Jude continues to haunt Milwaukee. And it continues to cost the city money. This time it will result in a settlement for two of Jude's companions on that ill-fated October 2004 night in Bay View. Kirsten Antonissen and Katie Brown filed a claim against the city saying their civil rights were violated that evening when police beat Jude to a bloody pulp. http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/politics092608.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/politics092608.html?16675 Fri, 26 Sep 2008 11:32:00 CST If city officials expect bus stops and pedestrian ramps to be cleared within 24 hours of a snowfall, the Department of Public Works recommends hiring more private contractors to handle the job. http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/hissom092408.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/hissom092408.html?16658 Wed, 24 Sep 2008 14:15:00 CST The Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission is getting closer scrutiny these days. The NAACP and the ACLU filed a complaint with the Office of Federal Contract Compliance of the U.S. Department of Labor. According to the ACLU, the complaint came about after SEWRPC said it would not do an outside search for a new director and assistant director. http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/hissom091908.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/hissom091908.html?16611 Fri, 19 Sep 2008 14:38:00 CST The non-partisan, Washington, D.C.-based Institute for Women's Policy Research (IWPR) did a cost-benefit analysis of the proposed Milwaukee minimum paid sick days standard and found that the new standard will directly benefit more than 75,000 Milwaukee workers who currently lack paid sick days. http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/hissom091708.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/hissom091708.html?16582 Wed, 17 Sep 2008 11:30:00 CST The Center on Wisconsin Strategy says "this is a stressful time for workers" in its biennial report on the state of labor in the Badger State. http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/hissom091208.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/hissom091208.html?16526 Fri, 12 Sep 2008 05:13:00 CST The Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, a campaign finance watchdog group, suggests that there might be something more behind Gov. Jim Doyle's change of heart over nuclear power. http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/hissom091008.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/hissom091008.html?16506 Wed, 10 Sep 2008 05:08:00 CST Pothole repair has become all the rage this year. But perhaps there's a bigger issue at hand, suggests Ald. Ashanti Hamilton. http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/potholerepair.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/potholerepair.html?16449 Fri, 5 Sep 2008 05:15:00 CST