Express strong support for Bay View Art Stop

Dear Editor,

My husband and I want to express our strong support of the Art Stop Project.

We attended the April 12 Art Stop meeting at Bay View High School and were extremely disappointed that the artists’ presentations were continually disrupted by a small, vocal group of participants, who were only there to speak out in opposition to the committee and the selection process. Their interruptions were rude and uncalled for.

They made it clear they believed the project was not transparent or inclusive, and we strongly disagree. These people chose to make this a political matter, and this was not the proper venue to pontificate about recent election politics.

This type of project should bring us all together, not divide us.

My husband and I have lived in the Bay View neighborhood for nearly five years. We are Bay View Historical Society members and are actively involved in the community. We think the people on the committee are perfect for the project.

We know Kerry Yandell personally, and we are confident she understands the importance of historic preservation and community development. She and her family are invested in this area and are a big part of why we decided purchase a home in Bay View. We think the neighborhood is lucky to have talented people like her who step up and organize an artistic venture such as this.

We really hope that the poor attitudes regarding new developments in Bay View don’t continue to reflect poorly on this neighborhood or get in the way of meaningful discussions.

Thank you,

Bob & Erin Lenz

Bay View

Principal Mazur’s status, MPS directors weigh in

Both of us, MPS School Board Directors Meagan Holman and Terry Falk, have the success of Bay View Middle and High School as a top priority. Nothing is more important than to have the best possible principal lead this school. Thus we take the concerns of this community seriously.

The superintendent appoints principals and other administrative personnel. The board approves or disapproves those appointments. School board directors do not act as independent agents on personnel matters. If a personnel matter comes before the board, that matter will be discussed in a closed-door executive session by the whole board.

Board directors sit in judgment if employees are to be dismissed or disciplined at the recommendation of the administration. Therefore board members must refrain from commenting on particular situations that might be construed that they have already prejudged such cases.

MPS will be challenged over the next few years as more principals retire and who will be replaced by less experienced personnel. Principals will have to do more with less as budget cuts continue because of the loss of revenues from the state.

Schools like Bay View cannot have a new principal every other year if we are to develop consistency within a school’s program.

We will work to ensure that this school, and every school in this district, has in place the best possible principal.  Then we must hold the administration accountable to ensure that every principal is given an opportunity to succeed and that the administration will offer appropriate support and mentoring for each principal to ensure that success.

Meagan Holman, District 8 Director
Terry Falk, At-Large Director

Keep Principal Mazur, letter to editor from governance council member

Editor’s note: This letter was provided to the Compass, but was originally addressed to members of the Bay View community. It has been edited for length and clarity.

Hello all,

I am writing to give you an update on a potentially detrimental change at Bay View Middle and High School (BVMHS) and to ask for support from anyone willing to give it.

As of right now, Jesse Mazur, the current Principal at BVMHS, is going to be replaced for the next school year (2012-2013).

As a member of the BVMHS School Governance Council I have seen the positive impact that Jesse has had on the school and ask that you consider the following points:

Jesse was hired as Principal in late summer of 2011. Less than one year is not enough time to make a significant impact on a school the size of BVMHS, nor to make an accurate evaluation of the leadership.

If Jesse is replaced, BVMHS will have had 4 different Principals in 6 years.

MPS Central Office has not provided adequate support to BVMHS nor to Principal Mazur.

Mr. Mazur demonstrated his commitment to both BVMHS and the Bay View community by moving his family 2 blocks from the school.

The staff at BVMHS supports Principal Mazur.

Bay View Middle and High School has been identified as one of the schools in line for the College Board Springboard program. A change in school leadership could have a negative impact on the implementation of this exciting new academic program.

I believe we are all aware of the boost it would be to the Bay View Community to have BVMHS become the number one choice for students and parents in Bay View. If you are interested in helping with the continuation of the positive progress that has been made, please consider writing a letter to the Superintendent and to the members of the school board showing your support for Jesse Mazur as Principal of BVMHS.

Thank you for your support.
Robert Crowley

Keep Principal Mazur, letter to editor

Editor’s note: This letter was sent to the Compass, but was originally addressed to Anita Pietrykowski, Director of the Milwaukee Public Schools Office of School Administration. It has been edited for length and clarity.

Dear Ms. Pietrykowski:

My name is Sonia Hass, Bay View High School Class of 1977 and Bay View High Alumni Association president. It has come to my attention that Bay View High is again looking for a principal. I hope you don’t mind but I am a very direct and to-the-point person. All I can say is, “What is going on!”

When Ms. (Robin) Kitzrow informed us of her retirement last year, the community, student body, staff, and Alumni were mortified.  Bay View suffered a HUGE LOSS!  Later we come to find out that Mr. (Dennis) Queen (Executive, MPS Metro Region) practically made her life and the staff’s lives miserable, which does impact our students and school! We were then introduced to our new principal of Bay View, Mr. Jesse Mazur.  He comes with impeccable references and great accomplishments from previous schools he taught at. Our minds were at ease once again that our school was in good hands. Mr. Mazur came in with great enthusiasm and high hopes! He even purchased a house in Bay View not only to be close to work but because Bay View is such a great community.

How can ANY school move forward when the principal is constantly undermined, needled and harassed by Mr. Queen? Yes, I said harassed! It is borderline harassment with the demands Mr. Queen is imposing on Mr. Mazur and Ms. Kitzrow when she was principal. In my opinion, Mr. Queen does not know what he is doing and does not know what is BEST for Bay View Middle and High school. Ultimately what happens in Bay View High affects our community, but Mr. Queen would not know that because he does not live in Bay View.

There is no talking to this man; no matter what the Bay View principal recommends, Mr. Queen says “NO!” As I see it, it’s his way or the highway, and that is NOT ACCEPTABLE! Dictatorship has ended a long time ago.

The Bay View Community is a very close-knit neighborhood and our schools complete us. Bay View High School is respected by the community and is the ONLY school in Milwaukee with such an active Alumni Association. Graduates from the 1950s to the present still have deep roots with Bay View and want to continue this trend into the future, but when the school’s principal keeps getting replaced, how can we? There obviously is a problem and it’s NOT with the school or the principal—it is with the MPS board and their micro-managing, otherwise known as Mr. Queen.

How can Queen, or for that fact any school board member, dictate what is good for our school when they have NO CLUE what goes on from day to day!  Each school is unique and the principal should have the final say on what is best for their school by taking suggestions from the parents, students and the Governance Council. We are trying very hard to make Bay View Middle and High School a success and it does not happen in one year or two years. It will always be a work in progress. It is obvious that Mr. Queen does not know what Bay View needs to succeed. You can read all the books, documents and studies but those have no relevance to individual schools and no relevance to Bay View.

I ask that you remove the (job posting) for principal at Bay View until we can get this matter resolved and keep Mr. Mazur as the principal for Bay View. Changing principals is not good for the students nor is it good for the staff and morale. The students need stability at home AND AT SCHOOL!  Isn’t it all about the kids?

You can’t keep changing principals every year—you change principals like you change underwear! I can guarantee you that as long as you keep Mr. Queen on you will always be looking for a principal at Bay View.

I speak for all of the Bay View Alumni, we love our school and support it and fight for it and we support Mr. Mazur 100%!

Sincerely,
Sonia Hass, Alumni President, Class of 1977

 

In defense of The Hive

Dear Editor,

We are writing to you in response to a recent letter published in the Bay View Compass. Members of The Hive team have made sincere efforts to get the word out to the Bay View community regarding the proposed collaborative art center proposed for the vacant Dover Street School. The two public meetings, one held at the Beulah Brinton Community Center, and one held at Sugar Maple, were offered in an attempt to share the ideas that have arisen for the project thus far, and to gather additional input and ideas from the community.

This project is spearheaded by highly dedicated volunteers who are almost all parents living in Bay View. (It is not unusual for start-up nonprofits to be run by volunteers who are making sure all the initial resources are going toward programming and mission.) The original idea and a major motivating factor for the Hive arose after the elimination of art, music, and gym from many Milwaukee Public Schools facilities, including schools in Bay View. The Hive would serve as a partial solution to closing this educational gap.

The intention is to provide free art education to area children who might not otherwise receive it and to provide a creative space that would also serve all generations of the Bay View community. There is no other resource in the area offering free art education to our children.

The Hive has gained the support and assistance of employees and representatives of MPS, Milwaukee Recreation, the Bay View Neighborhood Association, St. Lucas Lutheran Church and School, MLINK legal services, and countless community members and business owners. In addition, the Hive volunteers have met with over a dozen prospective tenants, all of whom are independent artists or who represent arts organizations. All have a strong desire to serve the community and are invested in having a public space where they can engage the community.

Our idea is to repurpose Dover Street School as a community gathering place for meetings, children’s birthday parties, drop-in activities, presentations, classes, workshops, gallery openings, and music, dance, and theater performances, etc. Our hope is that many community groups and organizations will take advantage of the space.

The vast majority of the programs would be designed for children, families, and active seniors. If the Hive leases the building from Milwaukee Public Schools, alcohol will be entirely restricted from the premises.

The Hive, which would be open to the public, is considering the following hours for the collaborative art center: Tuesday through Saturday, 9am-9pm and Sundays 10am-6pm. The gymnatorium (combination gym/auditorium) would be available to rent by the hour for a nominal fee for special events, performances, and private gatherings that would not run later than 10:30pm.

There would be no access to the building without the consent and accompaniment of a representative of Hive management/staff member and/or a Hive volunteer. Communication about special events would be made to neighbors in a timely manner, and proposed building hours strictly enforced.

The Hive at Dover is still an idea in formation, and yes, there is a lot of work yet to be done. But with the help of Bay View neighbors, lawyers, business and nonprofit administrators, accountants, fundraisers, etc., this team is creating a business plan to ensure that the idea is feasible, sustainable, and honors its mission. If a visionary effort like this is going to happen in Milwaukee, I can’t think of a better place than Bay View, where residents come together, dream big, and support one another.

With regard to the negotiations between the Hive and MPS, the terms of the agreement are not finalized and MPS board director Meagan Holman is following board policy by not responding individually to issues that will ultimately come before the board. Therefore, any questions directly related to the building and/or sale of the building should be directed toward the Milwaukee Public School’s Chief Operations Officer or the Director of Facilities and Maintenance Services.

Any questions or concerns relating to the business plan of The Hive at Dover, Inc., should be directed toward Kellie Krawczyk at thehiveatdover@gmail.com.

Sincerely,

Kellie Krawczyk and the Hive at Dover Team

(414) 939-3687

MPS District 8 board member Meagan Holman’s update of proposed Dover St. School/Hive project

Dear Neighbors,

Thank you for your patience as we navigate the MPS District Policies and Procedures, which include allowing the MPS Administration to respond first to community concerns. I’ve learned that they responded on January 30, 2012, and I hope that response provided some useful information.

As you may already know, this matter has not yet been introduced to the Board for consideration. It is my understanding that the Administration has been in communication with representatives from The Hive as well as with other interested parties, and may or may not bring forward a recommendation regarding the Dover facility.

If such a proposal were to be recommended to the Board, it would first be considered at a Committee on Accountability, Finance, and Personnel meeting, where public hearing would be taken. Then, if recommended by that Committee, it would be considered by the full Board, where a majority of the Board members would have to approve the proposal before any action could occur.

Right now, it is my understanding that The Hive organization (Ms. Krawcyzk) and the MPS Office of Facilities & Maintenance Services (Ms. Gina Spang) are working on a proposal that they hope to bring to the Board, for a sale or for a lease, under terms that have yet to be negotiated. Let me be clear: It’s premature and inflammatory to suggest this is a done deal, for any specific amount, by any certain date. It’s simply not true.

Now is the perfect point in the process to reach out to The Hive and the MPS Office of Facilities & Maintenance Services directly to address your concerns. I personally believe that many of the concerns raised can be addressed quicker and more to your satisfaction by direct communication with The Hive. Help them shape a proposal for MPS that you can get excited about, as so many members of our community already have. While I can play a role in that communication, I am limited by our Board rules. Neither the Board, nor any individual Director, are involved with the day-to-day negotiations with any private, nonprofit organization.

I have been told that the staff and leaders at St Lucas School and Church are in regular communication with Ms. Krawczyk and the leaders at The Hive. MPS is as well. I hope you will reach out to them today.

I will continue to share concerns that are sent to me, but be advised that if initiated through the Board or a Board member, they will have to go through the same process as your earlier communication — to our constituent ombudsperson, Ms. Melli Wickliff, who will then send it to the appropriate District administrator, who will have seven business days to respond to you, etc.

Please also be aware that you may request a public hearing before the Board’s Committee on Parent and Community Engagement through a correspondence directly with our Board Clerk, Ms. Lynne Sobczak. I would be happy to forward contact information for any of the parties named in this correspondence.

Thank you for your continued interest in Milwaukee Public Schools and our community.

Sincerely,

Meagan Holman

—
Meagan W. Holman
Milwaukee Board of School Directors, District 8

email | holmanmw@milwaukee.k12.wi.us
mobile | 414.614.1720
twitter | @meagan4mps

 

Neighbors concerned about Hive proposed for Dover building

Dear Meagan Holman, District 8 Milwaukee Public Schools Board Director:

As taxpayers who have observed MPS invest tens of thousands of dollars in recent years into the building’s brickwork, paint job, and new windows, we all wonder about the deal being proposed to sell the vacant Dover Street School building to the “Hive at Dover,” led by a pair of art teachers who hope to form a nonprofit and then rent the space for a multitude of different purposes.

On Jan. 17, I and 19 other of your constituents who own homes on this same block of Dover Street presented a petition to ask that you answer a list of our common concerns regarding the impact on our property values. You have thus far ignored our request to answer about the terms of sale that affect us all.

It is rather curious that instead of attempting to sell the property to a viable existing nonprofit or developer, MPS is hand-picking a personal friend to purchase it at the price of $1. Have you sought out other nonprofits with a proven track record and offered the Dover Street School to them? The sale of this prime parcel could easily generate over $2 million that could be used to pay art teachers in Bay View MPS schools. At a time when MPS is incredibly strapped for cash, a “FOR SALE” sign has never been on the lawn.

Few of our neighbors were able to attend either of the two presentations put on by the “Hive” investors, but I made it to both. What I heard at the first session was that the “Hive” would be a place where some art programs would be available for children in the neighborhood, but the majority of the building’s use would shift toward adult entertainment. Included would be a concert series in the third-floor “gymnatorium” and studio space for artists and bands. These rentals appear to be the primary funding sources for the operation. The presenters would not commit to the hours our neighbors would be exposed to artists coming and going, but it would be a far cry from the normal school day that we expected when purchasing our homes.

The second presentation, held at the Sugar Maple Tavern, produced more information that immediate neighbors would abhor. They revealed that despite the fact that children were to be educated there, alcohol would be served. They talked of Gallery Nights and artist events where wine would flow freely. This does not seem appropriate for a “children’s art center” nor the residential neighborhood at large. Nor does it seem like a good thing for the “Hive” to have a retail thrift store in the building.

Another disturbing revelation at the second presentation was that of a maintenance budget—or lack thereof. The “Hive” proposes to use $40,000 to for both utilities and maintenance annually. Putting heat and electric back on for people in the building would easily eat up most or all of their $40,000 annual budget: $0 left to maintain the 123-year-old structure. They “hope” that someone retired from an MPS school might just volunteer their time to operate and maintain the boiler system. Given that Dover Street School had two full-time custodians and all of the shared resources of MPS, this seems like a plan destined to fail. Furthermore, they claim that it will be run on a 100-percent volunteer basis—with no persons paid to oversee the tenants’ activities.

Also of concern to the neighbors of Dover Street is the impact the “Hive” would have on our parking situation and our kids’ enjoyment of the playground. Currently, dozens of cars from the neighboring St. Lucas Church and Choice School are taken off the street and parked on the playground, which is currently the property of the taxpayers.  What would happen with that parking and playground once the property is given away for $1?

We also doubt that they understand the surrounding resources already available in Bay View. Within a six-block radius, all of the things they propose already exist. For parents looking for arts programs for their kids, there is the Beulah Brinton Center. For concerts, we have both the Humboldt Park Bandshell and the Dietrich Auditorium in Bay View High School. For artists and bands who wish to rent studio space, there is the Hide House. The Hide House and the Brinton Center are both located near railroad tracks—not in the midst of an old and quiet residential neighborhood.

At a time when MPS maintains 17 other vacant school buildings, why the push to give Dover Street School away for $1? The well-intentioned artists who would be given this sweetheart deal seem ill-prepared to maintain the property nor the neighbors’ quiet enjoyment. Worse yet, should they fail at this business venture, whom might they sell it to—and what might they do to the neighborhood?  Would they keep the profits of the sale or would it come back to us taxpayers?

I and my surrounding neighbors want concrete answers from MPS and a say regarding the future of the building. We felt it to be a shocking disappointment that you failed to attend the second “Hive” presentation and have yet to respond our petition for answers.

Sincerely,
Bob Schneider
Dover Street homeowner

Editor’s Note: This letter has been edited for space. Most, but not all of the neighborhood list of concerns are addressed in this open letter. Schneider also provided 20 signatures from 14 Dover Street households asking that Holman or MPS respond to the list of questions about the Hive at Dover proposal. At press time no definitive timeline was available regarding the potential sale of the Dover Street School building to the yet-to-be-formed nonprofit Hive at Dover, whose directors are Kellie Krawczyk and Kristina Snapp.

Tracking trends of the city’s poorest

Milwaukee’s poverty rate has continued to climb dramatically, but the Bay View area has been mostly spared from having the most severe pockets of poor.

Being the hyper-segregated city that we are, it should come as no surprise that the north side of the city has the most intense concentrations of poverty. According to the Brookings Institute October report The Re-emergence of Concentrated Poverty in the 2000s, only six of 45 census tracts in the city that are considered plagued with “extreme poverty” are on the south side or near south side. None are in Bay View, but some are close. Brookings views extreme poverty where more than 40 percent of the people live below the poverty level. The poverty threshold is considered $22,314 a year for a family of four.

East of the freeway, the Bay View area has poverty levels generally from 10 to 20 percent. Areas along the lake hover around 10 percent while about 20 percent of the residents further west to the freeway are considered poor. However, west of the freeway levels immediately hit 30 percent, and in the case of some census tracts just west of that, 40 percent.

In all, Brookings estimates 43,610 poor people in Milwaukee live in extreme poverty while 90,044 people live in census tracts with extreme poverty. Milwaukee’s overall poverty rate was 29.5 percent in 2010, according to recently released figures from the Census Bureau, with 171,521 living below the poverty line. The city ranks ninth among U.S. cities in the level of poverty and 21st overall in the number of people living in extreme poverty. The city’s poverty rate was 27 percent in 2009.

The Bay View area is somewhat of a hodgepodge when it comes to extreme poverty growth rates. The far southeast corner of Bay View saw a 5- to 10-percent increase in the number of poor people from 2000 to 2005-09, while areas close to Jones Island saw a decrease of 10 percent. Most of the area, however, remained stable.

The highest increases—more than 10 percent—occurred on the north side of the city and in the cities of Waukesha and Wauwatosa, which are relatively new to the poverty game.

The Census Bureau reports statewide poverty at about 13.2 percent compared with 12.4 percent in 2009.

A disproportionate number of minorities are still poor. About 41.4 percent of the city’s black residents and 32.3 percent of Hispanics were poor, according to census data.

The Brookings report found that 10.5 percent of poor Americans live in areas with extreme poverty—up a third nationwide since 2000 and doubling in the Midwest—but lower than the record 14 percent in 1990.

“These trends suggest the strong economy of the late 1990s did not permanently resolve the challenge of concentrated poverty,” the report stated.

The think-tank’s solution wasn’t terribly enlightening, however. “Policies that foster balanced and sustainable economic growth at the regional level, and that forge connections between growing clusters of low-income neighborhoods and regional economic opportunity, will be key to longer-term progress against concentrated disadvantage.”

doughissom@bayviewcompass.com

Uncertainty for taverns over concealed firearms

doughissom@bayviewcompass.com

With the state allowing people to carry concealed weapons effective Nov. 1, some tavern owners and other businesses are still confused as to what exactly their options are if they want to keep patrons from bringing guns into their establishments.

The Milwaukee Common Council passed a resolution urging bars to ban guns, but as of mid-October, offered no signs for bars to post that would inform customers of the new rule, nor any guidance for handling gun-toters in their establishments.

Governor Scott Walker signed the bill legalizing concealed carry in July, but with the start date looming, questions were still unanswered. As of the end of September the state Department of Justice hadn’t even decided how to implement training programs so people can get a permit.

Some bar owners wondered what their authority was in keeping guns off their premises.

“The police told me they didn’t know how they were going to enforce any sort of ban I’d want in my business,” one tavern owner told me.

State law does say that if gun holders have a gun at a bar they are not allowed to drink alcohol. The gun holder is not supposed to be intoxicated, either. It’s a misdemeanor if a person is drunk with a gun.

Jason Wedesky, president of the Kinnickinnic Avenue Business Improvement District, said the topic hasn’t been brought up at any BID meetings so far. The BID has not offered any advice to its members either, he said.

According to state law, signs outlawing guns on private property must be posted conspicuously at public entrances and be at least five-by-seven inches. Signs can be found from online stores for about $30, but some artwork can be printed for free.

The city of Milwaukee has banned concealed weapons in all city-owned buildings. Milwaukee County has banned weapons in county buildings as well. The law doesn’t allow bans in places such as the zoo or other public outdoor spaces like parks. In October Milwaukee County proposed to ban weapons on board its buses.

Tavern owners are pretty much unanimous in their desire to ban concealed weapons because of the common sense logic that alcohol and firearms are a deadly combination.

Of course, there has always been the possibility that a bar patron was packing heat, but the new law implies they should now feel comfortable in doing so.

Bar owners have a tougher enforcement issue than other businesses, given that patrons could be intoxicated and volatile if asked to leave their weapon outside. State law does say that if gun holders have a gun at a bar they are not allowed to drink alcohol. The gun holder is not supposed to be intoxicated, either. It’s a misdemeanor if a person is drunk with a gun. Otherwise it’s a trespassing charge with up to a $1,000 fine if a business owner calls police when a person is carrying a gun into a business that has banned them.

But it’s a sticky situation for any bartender to be sure.

“Enforcement is difficult. Any sense that a patron is trespassing with a gun, or, if permitted to carry on premises, takes a drink, justifies a call to police,” according to advice from the Milwaukee Department of Public Works according to 14th District Alderman Tony Zielinski.

“There’s none greater danger than the potential and reality of the mixture of alcohol and guns,” Milwaukee Alderwoman Milele Coggs told the Common Council. Coggs authored the resolution urging taverns to ban guns, which passed Sept. 20 with one abstention and one opposed.

Alderman Bob Donovan said he abstained because he didn’t want to send a message to tavern owners that not posting no-gun signs would come back to “haunt” them when their licenses are up for renewal. Alderman Joe Dudzik voted against the tavern resolution and against banning guns from city buildings. He said if the law allows people to carry guns, they should be allowed to carry guns. The overriding issue for him is self-protection.

The Tavern League of Wisconsin hasn’t sent out advice to its members on how barkeeps should handle concealed carry, unlike when the state banned smoking in taverns two years ago. The Tavern League website still has links dealing with the smoking ban but lists nothing for concealed carry issues. That’s likely reflective of the spilt on the issue when it comes to pro-gun and anti-gun opinions. 

Hissom tends bar at Rocco’s in Bay View.

Dangerous precedent of Rosendale Dairy must inspire citizen activism across state

EDITORIAL

In March of this year, the largest confined animal feeding operation (CAFO) in the state of Wisconsin was given permission from the Department of Natural Resources to grow even larger. In fact, DNR removed any limit on the maximum number of animal units from the permit.

Rosendale Dairy, about 20 miles northwest of Fond du Lac, is now allowed to increase the size of their herd without notifying the public or the DNR. This huge industrial facility, which began construction in 2008, houses over 8,000 head of cattle and draws nearly 90 million gallons of water per year from four high-capacity wells. The operation releases hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, and methane—toxic air emissions that can threaten the health of the community.

The dairy’s livestock generates nearly 100 million gallons of manure per year. Only the cities of Madison and Milwaukee produce more biological waste. Unlike municipal sludge which is processed through a treatment plant, this toxic blend of manure, silage leachate, and pharmaceuticals is stored untreated in pits until being spread on fields directly adjacent to wetlands, streams, and major watersheds. Monitoring these uncovered pits for overflow or leakage is done by self-inspection and self-reporting.

In January of 2009, DNR held a public hearing on the WPDES permit (document allowing pollutant discharge) and the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Citizens and conservation groups submitted extensive written comments on the grave health risks to our air and drinking water, urging that a wastewater treatment plant be required. Despite the overwhelming response, DNR issued the WPDES permit effective March 2009. With legal help from Midwest Environmental Advocates (MEA), eight members of People Empowered Protect the Land (PEPL) of Rosendale, a local grassroots group, filed a petition with DNR for a review of the permit.

Communications among the dairy, DNR, and PEPL followed. We made public the many flaws in Rosendale Dairy’s permit. With strong support from MEA, we moved through the legal process, achieving significant improvement in the dairy’s waste spreading plan. We exposed the multitude of drain tiles located in fields to be used for spreading—direct conduits to groundwater—which Rosendale Dairy preferred to keep undisclosed. With significant gains having been made and with limited finances, PEPL withdrew from the contested case hearing this past August. We will continue to watch, monitor, and record. We are beyond intimidation.

Meanwhile, toxic manure threatens to spread across our rural communities. High-capacity wells are drying up trout streams and lakes in central Wisconsin. Private wells around the state have been contaminated by manure pollution from factory farms. Despite this assault on land and people, DNR continues permitting more industrial livestock facilities. Without responsible action from ordinary citizens, we can anticipate further easing of environmental regulations and greater devastation to our natural resources. PEPL and many other groups and individuals are rising up against an unsustainable system. We are aware of the limits of the land and the Earth’s finite resources.

While permits to discharge millions of gallons of untreated waste should require mandatory round-the-clock monitoring by DNR, these growing industrial operations are largely self-regulated. Weekly flyovers to videotape the vast uncovered manure pits should be required. Air emissions equipment should be installed to measure the volatile compounds invading our breathing space and enforce compliance with the Clean Air Act. Sadly, justice for the land is under attack and needs our help.

The people of Wisconsin are rich in persistence and passion. We must be the teachers and urge our legislators to write laws that acknowledge that water is finite, that the people may not be robbed of their natural resources. We are not going away.

Elaine Swanson lives in Pickett, Wis. and is a member of People Empowered Protect the Land (PEPL) of Rosendale. To see an aerial view of Rosendale Dairy’s waste storage facilities:

http://tinyurl.com/3o3mq6b

Letter to Alderman Zielinski about dangerous intersection at Smith and Howell due to construction on Lincoln

Hello Mr. Zielinski,

I live in the upper unit on the corner of Smith & Howell Ave. across from the Citgo. I used to own the shop downstairs. We met a few times at neighborhood business association meetings.

I am writing about the one way street closure due to the construction on Lincoln Ave. The way the city has chosen to close the street is very dangerous. Cars heading south on Howell don’t realize that they are nearly invisible to cars going west on Smith. It looks like the entire street is closed from that angle so when you move forward and someone is coming full speed it is very dangerous. Many cars have screeched to a halt; honking horns are much more common and it is flat out scary. There is a lot of smashed car debris on the side of the road in front of the gas station that makes me think there have been a number of fender benders I haven’t been home [to witness].

Tonight at 8:08pm there was a hit & run (the car who was side-swiped chased the car that hit them and then sped away). This is the second accident in a week I witnessed that wasn’t reported to the police. I have seen/heard over half a dozen accidents in the past five years (who knows how many I haven’t been home for).

PLEASE quickly pass this information along to someone who can do something and rethink how this closure is being dealt with at this intersection before someone gets really hurt.

Perhaps a good solution would be to have a very visible stop sign for traffic heading south on Howell coming from Lincoln.

Thanks for your time,

Faythe Levine
Bay View

P.S. As I was typing this a long horn blast was heard from the street below; it’s endless.

The Hissom Report —Sign wars are on

Fourteenth District Alderman Tony Zielinski has always led his fellow pols in that strategic campaign strategy known as the yard sign. The orange sign with the black Z—“the mark of Zielinski” as it’s been called—pops up in his district every fall, taking the place of day lilies that have spent the summer brightening the streetscape.

But for this campaign Zielinski has added electricity to his signage arsenal. Appearing suddenly at 2710 S. Howell Ave. in recent weeks was a lighted version of his yard sign in the former location of the Bay View Barber. It’s hard to miss. But according to Zielinski, it’s not his new HQ, just the property of an enthusiastic supporter.

For those looking for signs from the incumbent’s opponent, Jan Pierce, his can be found with green lettering on a white background, with a green-colored “Pierce” as the prominent feature. The Highbury Pub on KK sports the most Pierce signage I’ve noticed so far.

Coast Guard Stays Docked in Bay View

The Bay View Coast Guard station is re-upping its lease with the city of Milwaukee for another year with an annual renewal provision through 2037. The station sits on 7.4 acres at 2420 S. Lincoln Memorial Dr., and will get an additional 0.34 acres for cutter mooring. It also must install more attractive fencing as part of the deal.

As long as it stays, the Coast Guard pays rent of just $1 a year. But one caveat to the arrangement is that if the Coast Guard moves its command post out of the Bay View building it then will have to pay the city $13,000 an acre for the remaining years of the contract.

Covering Sick with Insurance

Insurers couldn’t deny health coverage to people with medical conditions, or drop them if they get sick, under state legislation introduced by Representative Jon Richards, who represents the northern part of Bay View.

The bill also would prohibit insurance companies from having annual or lifetime caps on benefits or charging co-pays or deductibles for preventive care. It would also require insurance companies to cover emergency room services in and out of their networks without additional cost-sharing requirements.

Richards picked up Senator Jon Erpenbach as a cosponsor. But given the GOP vice grip on all things lawmaking, the so-called Wisconsin Patients’ Bill of Rights is not likely going to pass.

Treasurer’s Race Is On

Most won’t recognize the name Wayne Whittow, but his isn’t a bad-paying gig—$141,815 plus benefits. Whittow is retiring from his post as city treasurer after 35 years overseeing the city’s intake of tax revenues and fees. Longtime local political activist Rick Kisséll has tossed his hat into the ring to succeed Whittow—for the fourth time.

Kisséll, a professional Spanish interpreter for over 20 years and union activist, last lost to Whittow in 2008. Kisséll wants to talk about computerized efficiencies for the office.

Correction
The maximum individual contribution per aldermanic candidate for the 14th District is $382, not $385 as erroneously stated in last month’s column.

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