Legislative update and winter park options

I wish you and your families a very happy holidays and a happy new year. There are many reasons to get out and enjoy the cold this winter in our Milwaukee County Parks. Beginning this month the Domes will launch the second half of its evening concert series, “Music under Glass,” with performances every Tuesday and Thursday evening through March from 6:30 to 8:30pm. For the price of admission, visitors will be treated to live high quality music and state-of-the-art light shows in the Domes, 524 S. Layton Blvd.

Red Arrow Park’s Slice of Ice outdoor ice-skating rink, at 920 N. Water St., is now open. Skates may be rented at $6 per pair and participants with their own skates can skate for free. Depending on snowfall, outdoor sledding is open at numerous county parks. Concessions and a warming fireplace are available at the Whitnall Park sledding hill. Hills open near our neighborhood include Humboldt and Sheridan Parks. 

At the last County Board meeting of 2009, we discussed some important public policy decisions. The final development agreement for UWM to purchase land on the Milwaukee County Grounds to build their engineering school was approved. A critical part to this deal was adopting a habitat restoration plan that will preserve the endangered monarch butterfly habitat and protect the environmental corridor while also promoting sustainable economic development.

We also voted on the executive’s veto of the proposal, which I cosponsored, to study the fiscal impact of domestic partnership benefits in Milwaukee County. The veto was sustained; however, the majority of the County Board, 12 members, supported the study and we will reintroduce this in early 2010. Unfortunately, the media has grossly misrepresented this issue. It is a study of the impacts of allowing such benefits so that we may make the best policy decision. The facts are that the city of Milwaukee, the federal government, and many large corporations offer similar benefits. It is a matter of justice and treating all equally in our community. In fact, the city of Milwaukee saw only a 0.2-percent increase in their benefits when they adopted this same measure.

Marina Dimitrijevic is supervisor of Milwaukee County’s Fourth District, which includes Bay View and Milwaukee’s near south side. She can be reached at marina.dimitrijevic@milwcnty.com or (414) 278-4232.