Editor's note: President-elect Barack Obama has asked state and local governments to make requests for key infrastructure projects that could receive federal funding as part of his economic stimulus plan. Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, both Democrats have provided their "wish lists" to the Obama administration. Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker said he will not seek funding for projects in Milwaukee County. County Supervisor Lee Holloway, chairman of the county board, wrote the following letter about the subject to Walker Wednesday.
Subject: Federal stimulus request necessary for Milwaukee County
Scott,
You are out there all alone on this issue. Many other Republicans and Democrats across Wisconsin are submitting requests for the upcoming federal stimulus package. Do you actually want 71 other counties in Wisconsin and 49 other states to enjoy stimulus funds that are going to be spent whether you are included or not? Based on your comments that I have observed from multiple media outlets, you apparently believe the following:
- We have an unemployment rate that is among the highest in the Nation, but we don't need any stimulus money.
- For nearly seven years, your strategy involves shrinking Milwaukee County government to the point where it nearly kills almost every public service from Transit to Parks, from Justice to Public Safety, and from Economic Support to Human Service, but we don't need any stimulus money.
- You presented seven consecutive budgets that defer maintenance in excess of a half billion dollars for the preservation of taxpayer assets, but we don't need any stimulus money.
- Stimulus money benefits the economy by putting people to work and purchasing goods and services, but we don't need any stimulus money.
- You have managed to run two countywide deficits as well as multiple deficits in nearly every major department over the last six years, but we don't need any stimulus money.
- Highly educated and experienced economists seem to agree that the President-Elect's plan is necessary to stimulate the economy, but we don't need any stimulus money.
- The plan that comes out of Washington will be a set dollar amount whether Milwaukee County is involved or not, so whatever we don’t get will go to other communities, but we don't need any stimulus money.
- The parks that were built during the last major depression are some of our most beloved assets and are in need of repair, but we don't need any stimulus money.
- Our mental health facility is in serious need of replacement to better serve some of our most vulnerable citizens, but we don't need any stimulus money.
- Thousands of our citizens are in need of health care, but we don't need any stimulus money.
- In your mind, the 2010 election season is upon us, and, because Governor Jim Doyle is working to secure federal stimulus funds, you oppose seeking stimulus money.
An effective Milwaukee County executive should actively seek outside funding to reduce the burden on local property tax payers. Shouldn't the dollars we send to Washington be returned to our county? A competent Milwaukee County executive should recognize the importance of creating jobs and bringing lasting value to County residents.
6 Comments
Mr. Holloway:
It is the reasoning presented in your letter that leads to the kind of bloat we see at every level of government. The notion that 'if we don't get our's someone else will' is the main theme. What you don't acknowledge is that if government left the money in the taxpayer's pocket to begin with rather than adding program upon program there would be no need for 'economic stimulus' by the government. The reference to high unemployment as the first bullet is particularly ironic. What you don't mention is that the County Board has for years pursued policies that make it harder and harder for business to flourish in Milwaukee County. No amount of 'stimulus' from outside will compensate for years of tax-and-spend budgeting, made worse by the steady increase of regulation on business in the County.
Your last bullet is not an argument for economic stimulus at all. It is a cheap partisan shot that undermines whatever merit your letter may have otherwise had. The serious problems facing the City and County of Milwaukee started long before County Executive Walker's tenure. They have been caused, in part, by Governors of both parties over the last 40 years. For the sake of the residents of the County who have to eventually bear the tax bill, please rise above partisan posturing and work to make Milwaukee the kind of economically vibrant county it can be. Economic vibrancy does not result from government handouts, however they are packaged. It is the result of minimal government involvement in the lives of people, creating an environment in which they have the opportunity to pursue economic success.
Bob Gleason
From his remarks, Scott Walker opposes asking for funds due to his own political and economic philosophy. For this, he is deserving of losing his job. We have serious financial problems at the county level and while we can opine about their causes all day if we want, Mr. Gleason, the fact is that our infrastructure is in need of these funds. This stance is typical of Walker's continued boneheaded "elect me because I keep taxes down" positions on things like rail, the airport and the parks. If you want to get to the real cause, we shouldn't have a county level government at all. We should have a regional group looking at these things from a higher and more efficient level. But that's another time and another debate. Right now, Scott Walker is the one guilty of partisan posturing. Minimal government still means regulation of the financial system and
an intelligent application of funding to infrastructure that needs it. We need it.
This is to Mr Gleason:
What is it the Mr. Holloway stated that you do understand. You accuse him of cheap shot partisan politics when the republican party had the total power for six of the last eight years,and the power to stop anything "for the people by the people", for eight
years. Are you not acting like a person that does not get a flu shot. Mr.Gleason?
The Grand Old Party has shown its worth; We have ours, we will keep all we can, and we will help you if you can prove you do not need the help. There is nothing I am aware of in the bullets by Mr Holloway that, sadly, have not taken place. People need to flourish, not just business, or at the cost of business. You should get what you pay for.
Without regulation we got this lousy mess. Not giving government a chance, monies from taxes for the right programs, we will continue the slide. Walker is singing to a choir with POOR practices, and in so doing making many programs, parks, community centers, programs people use of poor or no quality.
To quot Mr.Gleason," It is the result of minimal government involvement in the lives of people, creating an environment in which they have the opportunity to pursue economic success", is exactly why we are where we are.
Sadly, Lee's 'letter' explains all that is wrong with Milwaukee County Board and why Milwaukee's once strong reputation continues to slide in the minds of people and businesses.
Once Milwaukee stood for independence and diligence. Determination to work hard at your job or at starting a new venture. Government worked with the private wector to betterment of everyone. We spent for the future in the good times and tightened our belts in the tough times. Time was that taking a hand out was embarrassing and only done in the bleakest of times and with humble gratitude.
Now we are sliding into muck. To my knowledge, Walker has proposed a balanced budget each time they came up. Each time the supervisors voted more spending creating a deficit. On that point Mr. Halloway is plainly lying. He also states we have the highest unemployment (see information below) yet that is not true either. Milwaukee county services are typically better and being done at the same cost or less than 5 years ago. Again Mr. Halloway is not truthful.
Stimulus money has never worked to recover an economy. Bush tried it. Tax cuts and reduced spending have worked every time.
Mr Halloway does make one true point in his poorly researched letter. Our governing body continues with the mind sets of spending without restraint and living off of hand outs. Now Milwaukee's governing bodies don't think any other way but were can I get "free" money.
Mr. Walker is not only right but don't be surprised if Milwaukee gains ground as an independant strong community when word gets out that we'll forego our protion so someone more needy can use it. Thank you for the offer but we'll work our budgets on the money we take in and nothing more.
A genuinely powerful message at a time when it is most needed.
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10 Cities to Look at If You're Looking for Work
If you're looking for a job, try Madison or Milwaukee, Wis. It tops the list of places where jobs are plentiful, according to a survey by Ajilon Professional Staffing.
Ajilon researchers relied on statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Labor to identify places with a low unemployment rate and a high number of new jobs created in the last six months. Then it compiled information from its own professionals to find the cities with the best job opportunities.
Madison has a wide range of industries, plus it is the seat of state and county government.
Here are the top-10 cities where employers are hiring:
Madison, Wis.
Washington, D.C.
Boston, Mass.
Richmond, Va.
Milwaukee, Wis.
Pittsburgh, Pa.
Baltimore, Md.
Seattle, Wash.
Houston, Texas
Dallas, Texas
Source: Forbes, Tara Weiss (01/05/2009)
Milwaukee for much of its history sent more money to Madison and Washington, then it got back. When it was still moderately health, Mayor Frank P. Zeidler attempted to annex his way out of the problem of suburbanization, radically expanding the footprint of the city and threatening to annex Oak Creek, Greenfield, Franklin, and Mequon.
Milwaukee is and has been discriminated against. As the only city of the first class, Milwaukee is subject to exclusionary laws, such as the Oak Creek law. The Oak Creek law, which the state AG at the time called unconstitutional, lowered the bar for suburban incorporation for areas adjacent to cities of the first class. That prevented Ziedler from expanding Milwaukee and enacting a de-facto regional government and school system.
A unified system of zoning and schools would have prevented a high concentration of poor minorities in the central city and radically reduced the social effects of concentrated poverty which are a drag on the regional economy.
The Oak Creek Law created suburbs established as their first acts exclusionary zoning against multifamily dwelling, effectively preventing lower income people, predominately recent African American immigrants, from integrating into the larger, predominately white German and Polish population.
Economic vitality is impossible until we face and overcome historical patters of zoning and education that have created intense poverty and hopelessness at the very core of our region.
In continuing to grandstand on historically disproved neo-conservative principals, Walker has failed to, and continues to fail to, alleviate poverty, work for regional integration, solve the budget problem, fix the pension problem created by his predecessor, and fix the transit and park systems which he broke.
He does not understand our history behind our social and economic problems and is incapable of facing the challenges of the future. He relies to much on information from neo-conservative think-tanks and Charlie Sykes, and consistently fails to evaluate problems based on scientific reasoning and pragmatism.
He is a failure as a County Executive, and that should be obvious to anyone but the most partisan and ideological of neo-conservative zealots.
Joe Klein
Joe, where to start. First thank you for your service to our country. Second, I'm glad to see you are passionate about our community. Third, you may want to disclose that you ran against Walker for County Executive.
There are a lot of multifamily buildings in Franklin, Oak Creek, Greendale, Greenfield, Waukesha, etc. I know, I grew up in several of them and have owned some. Not sure the zoning statement makes any sense.
Milwaukee Public Schools long ago went south. We can only blame the school board for this problem. Wauwatosa, Greenfield, etc. run there schools on far thinner budgets with very impressive results so there is something going on in MPS that is not a 'suburban' issue. But more importantly not a responsibility of the county executive. In truth I don't believe the school board has been held responsible for results, ever.
The parks are doing very well, please visit some. I do almost weekly albeit not this time of year, too cold.
I take issue with Lee's statements because they are not based in truth. Scott provides idea after idea to help the county situation. Not all are good but some are. When or what was the last idea of significence we've heard from the supervisors? (crickets chirping)
I'm not sure what a neo-conservative priciple might be but certainly creating a welfare state where we all wait for the government to send us money is not in anyone's best interest. Especially when it will saddle us with enormous debt, weaken an already unstable monetary system and make us further reliant on hand outs.
Maybe I lean too far toward building self reliance. Oh well, back to work.