Do you know it’s now legal to raise bees in the city? What do you think?

“I didn’t know that and I don’t know why you wouldn’t be able to. They’re not a nuisance. I think you should raise chickens, too.”

-Dave Hakes, Dover Street

“I did not know…I guess it’s okay. I don’t know, I like bees, as long as I don’t get stung by them, ’cause then I’d die.”

-Jaclyn Jankowski, Fifth Place

“No, I didn’t. But I’m also unaware of any bee problem. I love bees, but they’re all kind of dying anyway, and that sucks. So, there’s probably no place for them in the city, I guess. If I was stuck in the city, I would want to have some bees. Some people are afraid of bees. I read once that pennyroyal, an herb in the mint family, keeps bees away a lot, which might also keep your flowers from re-pollinating.”

-John, (Kinnickinnic Avenue)

“Hmm, I didn’t know that. I guess it’s okay, if people want to make their own honey, do their own thing, I can understand why you’d want to do that. But I wouldn’t want bees in my backyard.”

-Emily Conigliaro, Linus Street

“Wow! No, I don’t. I don’t see any problem with it. Wow, totally uninformed on the subject, sorry!”

-Jim Luepke, Oklahoma Avenue

In March, the Milwaukee Common Council approved an ordinance that allows bees to be raised in the city. Urban beekeepers must obtain an $80 annual permit.

Have you heard about Alterra’s proposed Bay View (bakery & café) project?… What do you think?

“I hadn’t heard of it…Where the Maritime Bank was? I never heard about that going on. There’s not enough exposure about that going on, on the south side. Big corporations just take over anything they want.”

-Michael Jarozewski, 11th & Lincoln

“Yeah…I think we have enough coffee shops. I mean, I really like Alterra but I’m not sure that this would be the best location for it because we already have two right on the same corners.”

-Jodie Hansen, Howell Avenue

They should build over the parking lot a structure, right here; tear down this here building right here [former Pandora/Magnum]; and then make it a café in back and a bakery in front, right where this building right here is supposed to come down, in the back of this Maritime Savings Bank, this here [front of Maritime along Lincoln], a pharmacy right here.”

-Jerry Love, Lincoln & Howell

“Actually, I attended the session [April 12]…I actually am a regular here at the Wild Flour, and I plan on staying a regular. I think it’s great that they’re going to move in because I’ve seen what they did at the lakefront and at Humboldt, where I live near. It’s just drawn activity to the neighborhood, so it only seems to help the neighborhood. Some people are bothered by the financial scenario, but I think they’ll be able to pay back the loan no problem, so I think it’s generally a positive.”

-Brennan Stehling, Commerce Street (works in an office in Bay View’s King Building)

“No, I’ve not heard about it…Oh, over there on the corner? Yeah, I think that could be put to a bakery over there. Yeah.”

-Vinko Smolcic, West Allis

Does your employer recycle and if so what?

“I work for MPS and so the kids in our school [Hamilton] are just starting a recycling program. We used to have one. And we will be recycling mostly paper and plastic bottles.” -Barb Koenig, Linebarger Terrace (right)

“He recycles paper. We’re a sales office so we really don’t have much disposable goods. It’s pretty much just paper, but we do recycle paper.” -Greg Pekel, Muskego

“Yes we do. Basically we recycle everything. I work for a millwork company. We recycle wood. We recycle all our cardboard, paper, everything.” -Joe Zilinski

“My employer? Yes. Paper and plastic materials.” -Jonathan Winkle, Illinois Avenue

“I’m self-employed, so yes, I recycle.”  -Elizabeth Warne, Illinois Avenue

“No, we don’t recycle in my building right now, which seems really old-fashioned, but we’re moving into a new building in August and we’ll have recycling there, so that’s good.” -Carrie Bickerstaff, S. Eighth Street

If the fare were affordable, would you take the high-speed train instead of your car from Milwaukee to Madison or Chicago? How much is affordable?

“Yeah, I would. I think so…Probably about $25, maybe $25 each way.” –Ed

“I would take it to Chicago but not to Madison.” —Ed & Sue Frey, Wauwatosa

“I probably would not. I would not. I don’t really have a good reason.”

—James Juchemich, Milwaukee’s north side

“Absolutely. I think it’s a great idea to take the train [Amtrak] to Chicago anyway…You figure the train costs 30 bucks for a time, so $20? To Chicago. That would be great. And Madison, maybe $15. I think it would make us go to Madison more, actually.”

—Jim O’Leary, Ellen Street (holding Jake, his Boston Terrier)

“If it were affordable I would take the rail. Yes…Um, $40 [round-trip]. Not more than $50.”

—Peg Gonzales-Charles, A Step Ahead Physical Therapy at Delaware House

“If it was affordable? Sure…If it’s as cheap as my car to get there and back, then I would consider it affordable. Probably $30. I would say it would be round-trip, because it’s only going to cost me $15 to get there in my car, at the most.”

—Terry Malmberg, Donald Street in Cudahy

Have the reduced library hours affected you?…Do you have an idea how to restore them?

“I was not affected by it. I was just there the other day. I can do my stuff during the day.”

-Roger Schrank, Lincoln & Winchester

“I work 10 to 6 every day and it’s hard to get to the library on a Saturday. Yeah, I wish it were later.”

-Molly Mangan, E. Park Place (right)

“I don’t really live around here, but the library should be open more, so more and more people can go there.”

-Stacy Cappaert, Menomonee Falls (left)

“It’s a little less convenient, but I understand they gotta cut back somewhere, so-it’s a little less convenient but it’s a really good system and I still use it…I’d love it if they were open more, but I have no idea how that’s working out.”

-David Melvin, E. Smith Street

“That’s messed up. Kids. Kids, you know, they got to go to school, they got stuff to do. Why are we paying all this money for them to just reduce our hours and raise the prices on bus fares, things like that, but they want to reduce hours everywhere else? And reduce routes. That’s not cool…Put the hours regular again. How hard is that? How hard is it to just keep something the way it’s been? If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

-Antonio Nieves, N. Buffum Street

“I wish it was open in the morning. I know now it’s open at 1, but I do appreciate that it’s open later [till 8]. The Friday closing is disappointing, but at least it’s still open…No, I just want it to stay open and not close.”

-Stacey Grant-Savela, S. Woodward Avenue (left)

“With the library hours, it’s disappointing that they’re limited, but from a neighborhood perspective I’m happy that it’s open and not just closed. And given the budgetary crisis with the city, it’s a better of two bad options in my opinion.”

-Kris Savela, S. Woodward Avenue (right)

If you could change one thing about Bay View in the new year, what would you change?

“I’d make it a little bit cheaper so I could move here.” -Trey “Seeing how I live on Russell, in the summertime, maybe if Harley riders were a little less noisy when they go under the Bay Street bridge.” -Alisa

-Trey Korte, West Allis (former Bay View resident) & Alisa Brown, Russell Avenue

“I’d like to see more festive storefronts.”

-Elizabeth Mandel, Kinnickinnic Avenue (owns Linear Salon)

“I’d really like to see the businesses make a go. It seems like everything’s got a pretty good start. They call it the second Brady Street and whatnot, but I’d just like to see that continue.”

-Paul Keuler, Shorewood (his parents live in Bay View)

“The bus company just took off the telephone service. I would change that back. They should have the telephone service for the bus company still.”

-Nicole Gibeault, Pennsylvania Avenue

“…I don’t know anything about the schools. I hope they’re good, good service to the area.”

-Kathy Sammons, Mequon (her son and his wife just moved to Bay View)

Do you consciously shop or spend money locally? If so, why, where, and how much?

“I spend money at Walgreens. I spend about 50 bucks there. That’s about it.”

-Tim Mueller, Russell Avenue

“Sometimes I shop locally. Sometimes it’s conscious, sometimes it’s not. I like to shop at some of the local coffee places like Sven’s European Café, Alterra-Stone Creek even. I’ll hit places like Outpost or Groppi’s, for instance, in the Bay View area. That’s about it.”

-David Rogman, Russell Avenue

Trish Husar: “I definitely do because there are a lot of people that are struggling, trying to make it as a small business. And it’s easy for them to be put out of business by a big one and so it’s great to be able to support them. Even if prices are a little bit higher, it’s still worth it.” Maddie Huebner: “I try to shop locally whenever I can, although I’m in college and it’s kind of hard because usually it’s more expensive, so I do try when I can. We eat at Beans & Barley a lot.” Trish: “And definitely Outpost over Whole Foods…We just ate lunch at Palomino.”

-Trish Husar, from Chicago (right) & Maddie Huebner, Maryland Avenue (left)

“I don’t know how much, but I shop at Outpost, Groppi’s, and some other stores down by the Boulevard Theatre because helping out local stores is really important and they have really excellent products.”

-Brynn Arenz, Nock Street

[Victoria Just closed her business and now works for her former competitor, the House of Magick in Cudahy.] “…It’s kind of like I merged locally instead of moved out state, which was my plan…It’s my baby and I’ve been here 13 years. I want to say thanks for the support that I did get. Everyone’s like, ‘What is this place? What is this place? What is this place?’ Just shop locally…Really, to have a store-it’s a lot of work and I don’t think people realize it, like the sacrifice that you have to make to make everybody else happy. And then when you decide one day, ‘Oh, I think I need to be happy’-you know, that ain’t going to work. I still have people that came through, like at my rummage sale, and took pictures, and we had a party and a clown. Just the love, in general, not only does the money speak volumes-the care and comfort and the sharing that people have locally too is important.”

-Victoria Just, Russell & Clement avenues

In next year’s race for Wisconsin governor, who do you think would win between the Democrats (Barbara Lawton or Tom Barrett?) and the Republicans (Scott Walker or Mark Neumann)?

“Tom Barrett. I think he got a lot of positive press after he was attacked, actually. And he’s done a pretty good job on Milwaukee, seems pretty popular, and is well liked after he was attacked and the way he handled it.”

-Meghan Fleming, Cudahy

“Scott Walker. I think he’s doing a better job. I think he’s more for the taxpayer, watching what kind of budget and that kind of thing.”

-Gary Coan, 39th & Scott

“No thoughts but my pick would be Tom Barrett and then Scott Walker. Scott Walker-well, I do have an opinion-Scott Walker, mainly for Police Association.”

-Nick DeCarlo & Jackson, E. Howard Avenue

“I’d say Walker. Because the two Democrats-I’m not for anyone but the Democrats, they’re not-Barrett’s not doing it for city of Milwaukee and Doyle’s-they both can jump off a bridge. Sorry. All they do is keep raising our taxes, taxes, taxes or fees, fees, fees. How much more can they take from us? We need a change. Walker’s probably got my vote and I’m more a Democrat.”

-Donald Waranka, Wentworth Avenue

“At this stage, I think that Scott Walker has been a pretty good man so far. I know that city employees, just like anybody at this time, have had some difficulty with some of the cutbacks, but the man himself has got a lot of integrity. And he would be-if our existing mayor doesn’t run-I think that Scott Walker would probably be a guy to get my vote.”

-Gene Ikeler, Arctic Avenue in St. Francis

This month’s question was simply, “Brett Favre.”

Elizabeth: “He’s a great football player.” Esteban: “I don’t care which team he chooses, he’s still a great football player.” Elizabeth: “He speaks for both of us.”

-Elizabeth Serrano and Esteban Luis Serrano, Jr., Delaware Avenue & Nock Street

” I know how much people hate Brett Favre, and how much he’s kind of abandoned us and betrayed us, but as long as he’s playing football, I’m going to watch him. I can’t hate him that much if I’m going to watch him. Obviously I want the Packers to beat him—both times—but I’d love to see him play again.”

-Omar Andrade, New Berlin

“I think he’s greedy.”

-Kate Powers, downtown Milwaukee

“It doesn’t really matter to me, and I just don’t have time to think about it. But I think he should do whatever makes him happy.”

-Maggie Shumway, Iron Street & Delaware Avenue

“No no Brett.”

-Ella Stoll (age 22 months), Iron Street & Delaware Avenue

Do you support mayoral takeover of the Milwaukee Public School District? Why or why not?

“I don’t think so. ‘Cause basically they’re elected by the people, right? And if I don’t elect them, they don’t have to be accountable to me. And I want them to be accountable.”

-Mary Jill Johnson, Logan Avenue

“No. I think he’s got enough on his plate right now, without the added burden. And we should make them more responsible-the school board-more responsible, more answerable to the voters in the first place.”

-Paul Marshall, Homer Street

“The way I figure it, he can do what he wants. Me, I don’t give a damn.”

-Derek Pangallo, Potter Avenue

“Ah, geez, that’s a hard question. Everyone’s got their own thoughts about that. And it all depends upon what his plans are. And if he can give some kind of an outline on it, well then I would know more about it. But he’s not really-all they’re saying is what they want done. But nobody’s come out with a concrete plan yet. And I don’t see, either way, how it’s going to help unless people sit down and bargain it out, or however they want to do it. That’s all I got to say, because nobody’s come up with a concrete plan to save our beautiful school system. See, I’m 50 years old. I went to Humboldt Park, I went to Fritsche, and I went to Bay View. Schools were beautiful back then. I wouldn’t waste my time going to school [today] because all I see is a bunch of little kids going there now, starting fights. It wasn’t like that when I was a kid. [Schools today need] A lot more security. I think [also] a few more foot patrols down in this area [Kinnickinnic Avenue], and over at the technical school [Bradley Tech] too. ‘Cause I think that’s where they got most of their problems. But about the takeover, don’t know too much about it yet, and like I said, unless somebody comes up with some kind of concrete plan.”

-George Janusiak, First & National

“Yes. Why? Just because it looks like having a political figure will help MPS instead of hurt them. I support it.”

-Wilfredo Rosa (holding Jonah, 1), Dover Street

How do you feel about open carry?

“I know that I’ve talked to other people who were surprised not to see that in our state. I’d had a friend who’d recently come from the Raleigh [North Carolina] area, and we’d talked about that. It sounds really unfriendly.”

-Tim Mackay, 76th & National

“I am not for open and carry. That’s it.”

-Leslie Gauger, Greenfield

“I tell ya, I’ve never been one to feel the need for a gun, so… I don’t see why people need to do that. Of course, you know, I’m kind of big and everything, nobody bothers me… I really don’t know. You know, guns are dangerous, and you’ve got a lot of people out there that own guns that don’t know how to use them. It’s just like a freakin’ car. You know, you’ve got people driving cars that don’t know how to use them. So, [the gun] can’t be concealed, it’s got to be in view… that might be good. I mean if you’re going to carry a gun you should let people know that you have a gun, so I would agree with that. [Laughs]”

-Joe Ford, “west side of Milwaukee”

“I think it’s just really sad that we even have to talk about it, that guns are such a big issue. I wish that we just… didn’t have to talk about it. And I know that’s a totally pie-in-the-sky sort of attitude, but it’s just a big negative thing. If you see somebody carrying a gun, it sets a negative tone that is scary and disturbing.”

-Dori Davenport Thexton, Wauwatosa

“This was disturbing news to those of us who have been district attorneys; it gave really unnecessary publicity to that fact. Because really, carrying guns openly does not contribute to the public peace and good order. It just makes people feel frightened, and it’s a negative overall to the community at large.”

-Arthur Thexton, Madison, “former district attorney from way up north”

What would you like to see go in at the former Omega Burger site?

“Something that’s available to people under 21, just because late at night there’s not much to do other than eat, and that gets old after a while. You go to [George] Webb’s, you can go to Classic Slice, because that’s open late, but we’re still limited. Malls close at nine, and there’s not much to do late at night.”

-Sebastian Raasch, Sixth & Layton

“They should move the McDonald’s there so we don’t have to look at the golden arches from our bedroom window in the wintertime. You see two blocks and then you see the arches from our house. In the summer, we can’t, because the trees block it… Or they could just tear it [Omega] down and put in a dog park. That would be pretty cool.”

-Sarah Boe and Lance Dyzak, KK & Homer

“A Bay View community arts organization, a nonprofit art gallery perhaps, or… in that building, in that space… Maybe an element of public art. Murals? That’s my background. I’m going to stick ahead with that, a nonprofit arts center.”

-Kevin Soens, Otjen Street

“Even if it were not something for people under 21, something that is open later would be really cool. I don’t know what’s fun that’s late… but I’m sure it would get a lot of business, and it would keep people out of trouble. Something that’s not a bar!”

-Nora Raasch, Sixth & Layton

“Why did they fold up? I says it used to be a Burger King, now it’s an Omega, I don’t know what’s going to go in there now… a grocery store, another one?”

-Eddie Miecki, KK & Homer

Next Page »