THE Milwaukee Blog

Mayor Barrett and County Executive Walker debate Transportation - moderated by Mike Gousha

2008-09-10T09:24:00.001-05:00

GOVERNOR DOYLE ADDRESSES DEMOCRATS

2008-08-26T21:30:00.003-05:00

AirTran Agent Screams, Curses At Travelers While Supervisor Looks On

2008-08-25T12:00:00.001-05:00

AirTran Agent Screams, Curses At Travelers While Supervisor Looks On

Come to the First Ever Protect Wisconsin's Vote Summit - Thursday, July 24

2008-07-22T11:42:00.001-05:00

Election Protection Expert Sheila Cochran and The Institute for One Wisconsin invite you to

Protect Wisconsin's Vote Education Summit

Thursday, July 24 from 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm

at the Times Theater, 5906 W. Vliet Street, Milwaukee, WI.

The Protect Wisconsin's Vote Summit will feature a lively panel discussion on:

* Voter Suppression
* The Myth of Voter Fraud
* Felon Re-Enfranchisement
* Bilingual Voting
* Accessibility at Polls
* Pitfalls of Voter ID
* Same Day Registration

We will feature new films on voter rights by MATA Media and excerpts from the film Uncounted.

You can RSVP by clicking the link below:

http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/event/detail/conference/wrjh

The goal of our event is to inform the media about these important issues, educate community groups on what steps they can take to prevent voter suppression, dispel the myths of voter fraud, as well as collaborating to create an action plan to protect voting throughout the state.

The Institute for One Wisconsin is excited to partner with Voces de la Frontera, ACLU of WI, League of Women Voters of Wisconsin, Milwaukee County Labor Council, and Disability Rights WI and hopes that you can join us for this historic event.

If you are interested in attending or participating in the event please feel free to contact Rob Ruzanic at 414.220.9250 or RSVP by clicking the link below:

http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/event/detail/conference/wrjh

Hope to see you on July 24 at the Times Theater!

Scot Ross
Executive Director
Institute for One Wisconsin

GALLERY NIGHT

2008-07-08T15:56:00.003-05:00

UrbanMilwaukee.com Official Launch

2008-07-04T10:07:00.001-05:00

On June 1st, the creators of UrbanMilwaukee.com and MKEDevelopment.com joined together
to create the new UrbanMilwaukee.com with the goal of "Championing Urban Life in the Cream
City. And today we announce the "official" launch of UrbanMilwaukee.com
Jeramey Jannene, co-founder of Fresh Coast Ventures, LLC, and creator of
UrbanMilwaukee.com says "When I started UrbanMilwaukee.com the idea was for the site to
be a blog about my thoughts on urbanism and Milwaukee. But it took on a life of its own and
has become a source for social, economic, and other urban Milwaukee news. The idea of
combining the sites came out of the desire to give Milwaukeeans a premiere place to hear, and
be heard, about urbanism and its benefits in Milwaukee."
MKEDevelopment.com, a leading site on development news in Milwaukee, adds features such
as Milwaukee development photos to the site, extensive City Hall coverage, the perspectives of
Dave Reid, and the development resources of Texo Development, LLC. Dave Reid, co-founder
of Texo Development, LLC and creator of MKEDevelopment.com says "the merging of sites
seemed to be a natural fit with the purpose of both sites meshing so well. And once Jeramey
and I talked, we knew we both had the same goals of promoting urban ideals, and urban life in
Milwaukee. It's one of those cases where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts."
The site has undergone a redesign, with a new style more reflective of a news site than a
personal blog. The site will continue to add features over the summer, and looks to continue
promoting urbanism and discussing urban issues with its readers.

2008-07-04T10:02:00.001-05:00

Bartolotta’s Lake Park Bistro Executive Chef Named Best Chef in Midwest

2008-06-11T13:23:00.001-05:00

National James Beard Culinary Award Goes to Adam Siegel

MILWAUKEE, Wis. – Bartolotta’s Lake Park Bistro in Milwaukee today announced that Executive Chef Adam Siegel has been named The 2008 Best Chef in the Midwest by the nationally acclaimed James Beard Foundation in New York City. Siegel, 35, was selected from an esteemed group of other Midwestern finalists, including three prominent chefs from Minneapolis and one from Kansas City.

The James Beard award recognizes Siegel for his culinary expertise in preparing French bistro cuisine at the Lake Park Bistro. Siegel offers a contemporary flair to the French preparation style of Les Plats Classique, Les Plats Traditionnel and La Cuisine Modern du Chef. Siegel is also Executive Chef of Bacchus – A Bartolotta Restaurant in downtown Milwaukee.

“We are extremely proud of Adam’s selection as Best Chef in the Midwest by the prestigious James Beard Foundation and are also proud of what this national recognition for culinary excellence brings to the City of Milwaukee and our entire region.” said Joe Bartolotta, owner of The Bartolotta Restaurant Group. “This award reinforces what we have known for many years, and that is that Adam is truly a gifted chef. Those who partake in his culinary creations are always in for an enjoyable and memorable dining experience. We join the dining community of Milwaukee and Wisconsin in congratulating him for his creativity and leadership at two of our restaurants.”

Siegel has worked for The Bartolotta Restaurant Group for eight years. He’s traveled the world during the early part of his career studying under several James Beard Award winners in San Francisco and Washington D.C., and also in Italy and France. In addition, Siegel also trained under Paul Bartolotta at the Spiaggia restaurant in Chicago. Paul has also been a James Beard Foundation award winner, is a nationally recognized and awarded chef as well, and currently runs a popular restaurant at the Wynn hotel in Las Vegas. Siegel was raised in the North Shore area of Chicago and graduated from the culinary school at Kendall College in Chicago.

The James Beard Foundation Awards is the nation’s pre-eminent recognition program honoring professionals in the food and beverage industries. The Awards celebrate outstanding achievement in a variety of categories including: Restaurants and Chefs, Books, Journalism, Restaurant Design and Graphics, special achievement and more. Industry professionals are involved in the judging process, which includes hundreds of entries. The Foundation itself is dedicated to celebrating, preserving, and nurturing America’s culinary heritage and diversity in order to elevate the appreciation of culinary excellence. The Foundation is named for cookbook author, teacher and champion of American cuisine, James Beard, who died in 1985. More information can be found at www.jamesbeard.org.

The Bartolotta Restaurant Group is located in Wauwatosa and includes The Bartolotta Catering Company and several well known Milwaukee area restaurants, including Ristorante Bartolotta, Bartolotta’s Lake Park Bistro, Mr. B’s – A Bartolotta Steakhouse, and Bacchus – A Bartolotta Restaurant. More information on the restaurants and catering can be found at www.bartolottas.com.

Your Chance to Hear New York Times Best Seller David Sirota

2008-06-11T13:20:00.001-05:00

Here's a great way to spend an evening with some dedicated progressives.

David Sirota, author of the New York Times best selling book Hostile Takeover, is coming to Milwaukee on Tuesday, June 17 at Harry W. Schwartz Bookshop at 7 p.m. for a book signing of his latest progressive clarion call, The Uprising.

Here's what the Washington Post had to say about The Uprising:

"The Uprising is a hard book to dislike or dismiss. Sirota reports cleverly and in pleasing detail about a complex world of political conflict that the journalistic throng obsessed with presidential candidates and their handlers seldom notices... He may not have the Establishment quaking in its Guccis, but his always energetic, often ironic reporting certainly made the quest worthwhile."

David has been a good friend to the progressive movement in Wisconsin and his blogs, columns and books are regularly cited in work we do here at One Wisconsin Now.

Can you join us June 17 at 7 p.m. at the Harry W. Schwartz Bookshop, 2559 N. Downer Avenue in Milwaukee? You can RSVP and get more details here .

Demand more from your radio dial

2008-06-10T21:22:00.001-05:00

Dear Reader,

Did you know that America's top 5 commercial radio station owners broadcast more than 2,570 hours of conservative news and talk every weekday? In our age of Shameful Shock Jocks* spewing hate talk, we need to support the progressive radio alternative, where facts are a crucial part of the story.

Our friends at Air America Radio are breaking new ground and hot news stories. They have some of AlterNet's most popular writers and media figures on their team -- Rachel Maddow, Tom Hartman, Laura Flanders, and others. And now, you can listen to them any time you'd like to, on the web, for free. Give them a try.

Don Hazen
Executive Editor, AlterNet.org

HISTORY IS MADE in St. Paul! - Barack Obama, June 3, 2008

2008-06-03T21:39:00.001-05:00

Commuter Bus Ridership Up in Milwaukee, But After Years of Service Cuts It Won’t Be Able to Handle Increase

2008-06-03T19:58:00.001-05:00

Published by Daniel Cody “Left on the Lake”

Data from the first three months of the year shows that Milwaukee commuter buses are seeing an increase in ridership that matches the national trend, which is something I’ve been predicting would happen for months now.

But there’s a problem with the increase in ridership here in Southeastern Wisconsin: after years of service cuts (and fare increases), transit officials now say they cannot handle a big increase in the number of riders.

Why? Because of poor long term planning and service cuts which have crippled the system and made it into a shell of it’s former self. When you completely drop nearly 20 routes, raise fares, and cut back on other routes throughout the system with a purposeful and deliberate goal of drowning what was at one time the best transit operation in the Country, this is what happens.

You have more demand for a service, but a deliberate willingness to not increase supply, and commuters in and around Milwaukee now are paying the price.

The kicker is that even at this late hour, with gas prices over $4.00/gallon, Southeastern Wisconsin still has no action plan in any regard to handle the desire of it’s residents to utilize more mass transit options:

As more drivers in the Milwaukee area convert to riding commuter buses from designated lots in Waukesha, Washington and Ozaukee counties, those buses are becoming more crowded. But after years of slashing service, beleaguered public transit systems can’t gear up quickly to handle a major influx of new riders, transit officials say.JSonline.com

Those opposed to mass transit in Wisconsin, led by County Exec. Walker, have successfully blocked any real progress on mass transit for the better part of a decade now. As residents actually start to feel the repercussions of that policy, more and more will start to ask the very valid question of, “Why are we the only metro area in the Country moving backwards on transit?”.

That’s something Walker and his supporters should have to answer for.

http://dancody.org/archives/commuter-bus-ridership-up-in-milwaukee-but-after-years-of-service-cuts-wont-be-able-to-handle-increase.html

Congratulations!

2008-06-03T19:48:00.000-05:00

GOP Fails To Recruit Minority Candidates

2008-05-20T21:48:00.002-05:00

This story was written by Jim VandeHei and Josh Kraushaar.
At a time when Democrats are poised to knock down a historic racial barrier with their presidential nominee, the GOP is fielding only a handful of minority candidates for Congress or statehouses - none of whom seem to have a prayer of victory.

At the start of the Bush years, the Republican National Committee - in tandem with the White House - vowed to usher in a new era of GOP minority outreach. As George W. Bush winds down his presidency, Republicans are now on the verge of going six - and probably more - years without an African-American governor, senator or House member.

That’s the longest such streak since the 1980s.

Republicans will have only one minority governor, Bobby Jindal of Louisiana, an Indian-American, when the dust settles on the ’08 elections. Democrats have three minority governors and 43 African-American members of Congress, including one - Illinois Sen. Barack Obama - who is their likely presidential nominee. Democrats also have several challengers in winnable House races who are either black or Hispanic.

Despite having a Spanish-speaking “compassionate conservative” in the White House, Republicans’ diversity deficit seems to have only widened.

“In 1994, when I first ran, we had 14 African-American Republicans running for Congress. ... I was the only one that won that year, but we had 14, and we had some good candidates,” said former Oklahoma Rep. J.C. Watts, one of the party’s most recognized African-American voices. “I am grateful for what Ken Mehlman did when he was RNC chairman, but I knew that wouldn’t last - that was one person. I’ve never gotten the impression that it was institutionalized.”

So who’s to blame for this diversity deficit?

Jack Kemp, the former Republican congressman and vice presidential nominee, says the culprit is clear: a “pitiful” recruitment effort by his party. “I don’t see much of an outreach,” he said. “I don’t see much of a reason to run.”

A former black GOP candidate who declined to be identified by name offered a slightly more charitable explanation. He said the party is so broke and distracted that wooing strong minority candidates is a luxury it simply cannot afford right now.

Congressional staffers contacted for reaction on this issue did not want to comment but were clearly uneasy with the party’s all-white slate of viable candidates.

In all fairness, Republicans have never been very good at attracting strong minority candidates, especially African-Americans. Only four black Republicans - Watts, former Massachusetts Sen. Edward Brooke, former Connecticut Rep. Gary Franks and the late Illinois Rep. Oscar Stanton De Priest - have been elected to Congress since Reconstruction.

The party has done slightly better with Cuban-Americans and Hispanics in recent years - Cuban-American Sen. Mel Martinez of Florida recently served as RNC chairman. But the GOP remains a white-dominated party elected overwhelmingly by white voters.

Another mitigating factor for the party is that this has been a terrible year overall for GOP recruitment, as exemplified in the 0-for-3 Republican streak in special elections in recent weeks. The dilemma is simple: Who wants to run when the Republican brand is so unpopular and money is so scarce?

Still, the recruitment failure is striking when you consider the recent history of the GOP on this issue. It was not long ago - 2005, to be precise - that Mehlman, then the RNC chairman, grabbed headlines with a major speech on diversity before the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

“Republicans are committed to inclusion,” he told the group’s national convention. “I’m here four years before the next presidential election asking for your help. Inclusion means you work together to recruit candidates, not surrogates to speak on their behalf.”

Mehlman was far from alone. President Bush dedicated significant time in the early years of his presidency to reaching out to African-Americans with countless speeches on education and faith-based initiatives directed at minority communities. He aggressively appointed prominent blacks to his Cabinet, including two secretaries of state: Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice.

Bush sometimes broke into Spanish as he called for immigration laws providing illegal immigrants a pathway to citizenship, a hot topic in Hispanic communities.

The efforts, of course, were designed to attract voters - not just candidates - into the GOP fold. And the moral of the story is that the party clearly failed.

Some party insiders point to 2006 as the specific proof that diversity efforts may sound great but are still impractical and electorally unrewarding for the GOP.

During that cycle, Mehlman and GOP leaders talked a number of attractive black candidates into running for important seats: Michael Steele of Maryland, for the Senate; and Lynn Swann of Pennsylvania and Ken Blackwell of Ohio, for governor.

Scores of stories were written about the Republicans’ new plan to win tough seats with well-funded minority candidates.

Then they all lost badly. The election results in their respective states showed that they hardly made any inroads - even in the heavily African-American parts of the states they were running in. Swann was later asked to run for the House, and he declined.

Suddenly, the argument for minority outreach seemed to lack the underpinning of any successful political strategy: the ability to produce more votes.

The exit polling data for House races in 2006 showed the depth of the GOP’s outreach crisis. Republican candidates won 11 percent of the black vote and 30 percent of the Hispanic vote.

However, Watts, for one, rejects the argument that Republicans can’t compete for minority votes or successfully recruit minority candidates. He argues that the party simply hasn’t tried hard enough.

“Unless you have an infrastructure to build off of, it’s all throwing mud at the wall and hoping that some of it sticks,” said Watts. “There’s an entire infrastructure that needs to be thought through, and it seems to me no one is interested in building that.”

By Jim VandeHei and Josh Kraushaar
Copyright 2008 POLITICO

What if God Were One of Us?

2008-05-19T02:45:00.002-05:00

LENA TAYLOR GIVES OBAMA HER SUPERDELEGATE VOTE

2008-05-14T20:15:00.000-05:00

State Sen. Lena Taylor, D-Milwaukee, today endorsed Barack Obama for president, becoming the latest Wisconsin superdelegate to back the Illinois senator.

Taylor, a superdelegate because of her position as first vice chair of the state Dem Party, said in a statement released by the Obama campaign that her recent unsuccessful campaign for Milwaukee County executive made her “more aware then ever of the need to galvanize, motivate and inspire political participation by every member of society.”

“He’s awakened a sleeping giant -- the people.“ she said in the statement.

Earlier this week, UW-Madison student Awais Khaleel, a superdelegate because of his position with College Democrats, announced his support for Obama.

With Khaleel and Taylor now supporting him, Obama has the backing of 11 Wisconsin superdelegates.

Two support Hillary Clinton, while three remain undecided. Those who have not backed anyone included U.S. Sens. Herb Kohl of Milwaukee and Russ Feingold of Middleton, along with Feingold staffer Paula Zellner.

Feingold has said he was inclined to support Obama and voted for him in Wisconsin’s Feb. 19 primary but has not official pledged his super delegate vote to Obama.

Legislature to Close Wal-Mart Loophole

2008-05-14T20:09:00.000-05:00

The State Senate took the lead today to end the loophole that lets Wal-Mart and other big corporations evade $15 million annually by exploiting the state tax law (and the taxpayers).

Under the tax evasion scheme, tells the Institute for Wisconsin's Future, Wal-Mart would have one part of its business pay another part of the biz for rent allowing it to "reduce" its Wisconsin profits and consequently, reduce the amount of money it's required to provide the taxpayers of Wisconsin.

As part of the budget repair bill, Senate Dems voted to close loophole and save the people of Wisconsin the $15 million it costs to give Wal-Mart et al this ridiculous tax giveaway.

Wal-Mart is already bilking the taxpayers of Wisconsin by having over 1,200 employees and their dependants get health care through BadgerCare at a cost of $2.7 million.

Hopefully, closing this loophole will be part of a long-term effort to restore sane and progressive tax policy to the state of Wisconsin.

OWN has previously called for restoration of the estate tax, which ended this year. If you haven't signed our petition on that yet, click here to take action today.

Downtown a Cost-Effective and Time-Efficient Alternative for UWM Expansion

2008-05-05T22:25:00.001-05:00

A recent analysis by UWM Downtown shows that a downtown location for the University of
Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s expansion would be between $23-28 million less to construct and
could be finished in a more timely manner than the currently contemplated County Grounds
site in Wauwatosa.
First, downtown Milwaukee has all of the infrastructure in place needed for development, such
as roads, sewer, water, stormwater management and telecommunications. Constructing that
infrastructure on undeveloped land in Wauwatosa would cost between $15-20 million. In
addition, excess land would have to be purchased in Wauwatosa for freeway buffers and
stormwater management. In downtown, less land would need to be purchased, saving
additional financial resources. As a result, UWM would be able to spend their limited funds on
actual school buildings, research facilities and chair endowments instead of land purchases and
infrastructure. Downtown would also allow shared parking opportunities, whereas in
Wauwatosa, all parking would be used solely for UWM and left underutilized in off-peak
times. A chart explaining these costs in more detail can be found online at:
http://www.uwmdowntown.org/?p=19
Second, not only will UWM have to spend less time raising money to begin construction, with
all of the infrastructure in place, they can begin construction of school buildings immediately.
There would be little public opposition to students moving into the downtown area and there
are little environmental concerns with a downtown location. As a result, the public hearing
process would be smooth.
Dave Reid of UWM Downtown says, “It is important to the Milwaukee region’s economy that UWM increase its research capacity as soon as possible and it is important to the taxpayers of
Wisconsin that UWM chooses a cost-effective location.

http://www.uwmdowntown.org/

Miller Park second in SI fan survey

2008-05-01T20:02:00.002-05:00

The Business Journal of Milwaukee

When it comes to enjoying a day at the ballpark, Miller Park in Milwaukee is almost the best place to be, according to a new fan survey from SI.com.

The Milwaukee Brewers' home field ranked second only to Cleveland Indians' Progressive Field in the survey of thousands of Major League fans conducted by Sports Illustrated's Web site.

The online survey was conducted in March and asked fans to rate their ballparks in 10 categories, including affordability, food quality, team quality, atmosphere, hospitality, traffic and neighborhood. Miller Park ranked first in food quality and in the quality of the promotions.

The home fields for the Brewers' division, the National League Central, fared well in the survey, with three making the top five. PNC Park, home to Brewers' rival Pittsburgh Pirates, ranked third. Comerica Park, home of the American League's Detroit Tigers, ranked fourth, followed by the NL Central's St. Louis Cardinals' Busch Stadium III.

Barbara Walters to visit Milwaukee Press Club

2008-05-01T09:49:00.003-05:00

MILWAUKEE, WI – Barbara Walters, one of the most important woman in the history of broadcast journalism, will visit the Milwaukee Press Club on Thursday, May 29th as part of her nation-wide book tour for her new memoir, Audition. Ms. Walters will be signing copies of her book for readers beginning at 12:30 p.m. at the Newsroom Pub, 137 E. Wells Street.

This MPC members-only event will begin with registration and a buffet lunch at Noon. Each current member is allowed to bring one non-member guest. The cost for the event is $20 per person, and includes lunch.

In Audition (published by Alfred A. Knopf), Ms. Walters writes with candor about her private life and professional career, reflecting on the choices she has made, the work she has done, the people she has met, the heartbreak she has faced, and the challenges she has coped with and overcome.

“Young people starting out in television sometimes say to me: ‘I want to be you,’” Walters writes in Audition. “My stock reply is always: ‘Then you have to take the whole package.’” Walters also talks about the extraordinary range of interviews she has conducted during her forty years on the air, and speaks with candor about the television industry and how it has changed.

“Barbara Walters is a totemic figure in the world of broadcast news,” said Sonny Mehta, Chairman of Alfred A. Knopf, “and her long-awaited memoir is striking for its honesty and élan. Her story is fascinating, inspiring and altogether riveting, and I am certain her candor about both her good fortune and travails will prove especially resonant with readers.”

The first printing for Audition has been set at 550,000 copies, and an exclusive excerpt from the book will appear in Vanity Fair magazine. Oprah Winfrey will conduct the first broadcast interview with Barbara Walters in concert with the release of the book: the interview is scheduled to air on Oprah Tuesday, May 6.

Copies of Audition will be available to purchase at this event. Ms. Walters will be available to sign copies of her book Audition only, but due to time limitations, she will not be able to personalize. If you bring a camera, please be aware that photos may only be taken by a designated press club photographer; and no video cameras are allowed.

Registration and lunch will begin at Noon. Ms. Walters will speak briefly beginning promptly at 12:30 p.m. The book signing will begin immediately following her comments and end at 1:30 p.m.

Advance registration is required and space is limited. Members may register on-line at www.milwaukeepressclub.org or by calling Joette Richards at 262-894-2224. Payment must be made in advance to reserve your space. Checks may be mailed to the MPC at PO Box 223, Hales Corners, WI 53130-0223; or credit cards will be accepted when registering on line or by calling Joette.

John McCain: "NAFTA Has Created Millions Of Jobs"

2008-04-24T11:51:00.004-05:00

Senator John McCain visited and spoke to the five remaining workers at a Fabart steel fabricating factory in Youngstown, Ohio, that had more than 100 employees a few years ago. (Photo: Mary Altaffer/Associated Press)

http://www.progressohio.org/

Is John McCain the Right Choice for America's Future?

2008-04-22T17:22:00.001-05:00

Mayor Tom Barrett Supports UWM Expansion in the City of Milwaukee

2008-04-17T00:22:00.001-05:00

On April 15, 2008, on the day of the inauguration for Mayor Tom Barrett’s second term, the
Mayor signed a resolution promoting the expansion of the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee
(“UWM”) within the City of Milwaukee, specifically in the downtown area.
A week earlier, this resolution was unanimously approved by Milwaukee’s Common Council.
The entire resolution can be found here: http://legistar.milwaukee.gov/detailreport/?key=27178
UWM Downtown applauds this effort and believes that downtown Milwaukee offers the best
location for a UWM expansion in the entire Milwaukee region.

BOTH SIDES SIZE UP IMMIGRATION DEBATE AS ANOTHER ‘DAY WITHOUT LATINOS’ APPROACHES

2008-04-16T22:54:00.005-05:00

As Wisconsin approaches a third annual "Day without a Latino" march May 1, those on both sides of the immigration debate say nothing of substance is being done to address the issue.

Organizers announced plans for next month's march today, saying the purpose was to send a message to elected officials and presidential candidates that things need to change.

"This year we are sending very clear message and that message is to whichever next president is elected in 2008 that we want to see comprehensive immigration reform in the first 100 days in office," Christina Neumann-Ortiz, executive director of Voces de la Frontera, said today at City Hall press conference to announce the May 1 march.

"And to the current administration a very strong message that we want to see a immediate stop to arrests, deportations, on raids and immediate stop to the criminalization of low wage working families and employers in this country."

During the past two marches, locally owned Hispanic businesses have closed for at least part of the day or operated with minimal staff. This year, Voces is asking business to stay open and help by mobilizing for the march or offering economic support. Neumann-Ortiz said Voces is asking employers allow their workers to attend the march without retaliation.

"The reason we are doing this march because we are, I think, at a very exciting moment in the struggle in this country," Neumann-Ortiz said.

She said that last year's march was significant in stopping legislation sponsored by U.S. Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner, R-Menomonee Falls, that he dubbed the Border Protection, Anti-Terrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005. Sensenbrenner's bill called for a 700-mile fence along the U.S.-Mexico border, requiring employers to verify employees' citizenship status and making it a crime to assist undocumented immigrants.

State Rep. Glenn Grothman, R-West Bend, said that he does not think that anything is being done either on a local or national level.

"It seems to me that the Bush administration has, for whatever reason, encouraged illegal immigration with their inactivity for the last seven years," Grothman said.

There have been a series of fights at the state level over immigration over the last several years without many changes. Lawmakers fought attempts by Gov. Jim Doyle to allow children of illegal immigrants who graduate from Wisconsin high schools to attend the UW System at in-state tuition rates; they now pay the more expensive out-of-state rates.

Other proposals lawmakers have grappled with include legislation to prohibit local ordinances that restrict public employees from inquiring about the immigration status of those seeking public services. The bill, sponsored by Grothman, did not become law. At the national level, the Real ID Act and the Social Security "no-match" letters are two bills recently that have dealt with the issue of undocumented immigration.

Sensenbrenner also sponsored the Real ID Act, which placed new restrictions on state driver licenses and identification cards. The Department of Homeland Security earlier this year announced a delay in the implementation of the law.

Both Grothman and Neumann-Ortiz said that Sensenbrenner is a leading figure in the anti-immigration movement. Sensenbrenner declined to be interviewed for this article.

The Social Security "no-match" letters program, which was halted by a federal judge last year, would send employers a notice that a worker's identification number did not match government records. The employee then has 90 days to rectify the situation or the employer would have to terminate the worker. Those employed have to be a U.S. citizen or here legally.

Illegal immigration was a topic at the recent Future Wisconsin Conservative Leadership Coalition conference in Wauwatosa.

Attorney Chris Carson, co-founder of the Wisconsin Conservative Digest, was invited by the journal’s publisher Robert Dohnal to take part in a panel discussion on immigration. Carson is not an immigration lawyer, but he has represented undocumented workers in the past as part of his practice.

In an interview, Carson said he thinks that people are not informed about the drain that undocumented immigrants have on public services and non-payment of taxes.

“They need to be aware of how much it costs the legal residents of Wisconsin,” Carson said. “Nobody really thinks of it in terms of economic reality. They think of it in terms of, very often particularly the liberal end of the perspective, tend to think in terms of emotional arguments, the right of people to live self-fulfilled."

www.wispolitics.com

Midwest Airlines to lay off 109, cut back schedule

2008-04-16T14:10:00.002-05:00

The Business Journal of Milwaukee

Midwest Airlines confirmed Wednesday that it will lay off 35 pilots and 74 other employees -- and cut the frequency of certain flights -- to counter rising fuel costs.

"Midwest Airlines is not immune to the staggering impact that fuel prices are having on the U.S. airline industry," Midwest chairman and CEO Timothy Hoeksema told employees Tuesday, according to a Wednesday press release.

"The actions we are taking today will enable us to maximize revenues, reduce our cost structure, provide for efficient cash and help us weather this storm, moving forward."

The Oak Creek-based airline also is seeking to cut costs by reducing weight on planes -- so less fuel is burned -- restructuring various departments to remove redundancies, and improving on-time performance and baggage handling.

The changes also involve an initiative called "Midwest Class," a seating choice program to debut this fall on the Boeing 717 fleet that allows passengers a chance to upgrade their seats for a higher ticket price. The program is expected to boost revenue.

Last week, the company told its pilots union that 35 pilots will be laid off under a revision of the flight schedule and that 22 will receive position and pay downgrades, according to Paul Sweet, a first officer with Midwest and a spokesman for the Air Line Pilots Association.

On Wednesday, Midwest confirmed the pilot layoffs, and released additional information.

Map of Memories - Wild Space Dance Company's Season Finale

2008-04-16T13:11:00.003-05:00

The colorful early settlement of Milwaukee's Jones Island becomes an evocative Map of Memories in Wild Space Dance Comapny's season finale. Wild Space merges expressive contemporary dance with images and text inspired by the stories of Polish, Kaszubian and Eastern European immigrants who founded the Island's fishing village in the 1870s. Prior to the evening performances, Milwaukee historian and author John Gurda will reveal the island's journey from thriving fishing village to harbor hub.

Danceworks, 1661 N. Water St
May 2nd and 3rd - 8pm, May 4th - 2:30pm and 8pm
Tickets: $25 premium, $20 adults, $15 students and seniors
(7:15 pm pre-performance talk with historian and author John Gurda)
BOX OFFICE: (414) 277-8480

for more info, wisit www.WildSpaceDance.org or call (414)271-0307

Finley to discuss museum's future at Newsmaker Luncheon

2008-04-16T12:28:00.003-05:00

MILWAUKEE, WI— Dan Finley, president of the Milwaukee Public Museum, will be the featured guest at the Milwaukee Press Club's Newsmaker Luncheon on Wednesday, April 23. The event will take place from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Newsroom Pub in downtown Milwaukee at 137 E. Wells St.

Finley will discuss the Milwaukee Public Museum's financial condition and outlook. He will assess the success of the "Body Worlds" exhibit and discuss future exhibits and other changes planned for the museum. He also will discuss the future of the former Discovery World space adjacent to the museum and the state of Milwaukee's tourism industry.

The Milwaukee Public Museum recently made its final repayment on a $6 million loan that was guaranteed by Milwaukee County. The repayment of the loan closed a rocky chapter for the museum. Finley, the former Waukesha County executive, took the helm of the museum in July 2005.

The public is invited to attend the Newsmaker Luncheon, where Finley will take questions from a panel of professional journalists.

The Milwaukee Press Club's Newsmaker Luncheon Series is sponsored by Journal Communications and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

The Press Club presents the Newsmaker Luncheons monthly to shed light on issues of the day. The public is invited to attend the luncheons. The cost to attend is $15 for MPC members, $20 for non-members, $10 for students. Lunch is included. Pre-registration and advance payment is required and may be done online at www.milwaukeepressclub.org. Checks may be mailed to the MPC at PO Box 223, Hales Corners, WI 53130-0223. Cancellations will be accepted up to 48 hours in advance for a full refund. Contact the Milwaukee Press Club at milwaukeepressclub@gmail.com or 414-588-9571 with any further questions. To pay by credit card, call 262-894-2224.

Big Tax Breaks for Businesses in Housing Bill

2008-04-16T12:22:00.004-05:00

By STEPHEN LABATON and DAVID M. HERSZENHORN
Published: April 16, 2008

The Senate proclaimed a fierce bipartisan resolve two weeks ago to help American homeowners in danger of foreclosure. But while a bill that senators approved last week would take modest steps toward that goal, it would also provide billions of dollars in tax breaks — for automakers, airlines, alternative energy producers and other struggling industries, as well as home builders.
Big Tax Breaks for Businesses in Housing Bill

Condi Must Go - Watch the Smoking Gun Video

2008-04-16T12:15:00.002-05:00

Thanks to a new report from ABC News, we now know that Condoleezza Rice led White House meetings authorizing torture that were so detailed, "the interrogation sessions were almost choreographed."
How can we express the terrible shock we have felt from the fact that our government is using torture? How can we express what so many of us are thinking-that it is absolutely appalling to know that our representatives are implementing barbaric instruments of torture as policy? How do we express our moral outrage?

Perhaps more importantly, how do we begin to take steps towards ending this heinous crime? We demand Secretary of State Rice to resign.

Our allies at True Majority, USAction, and Democracy for America have launched a campaign to START calling out our leaders by focusing on Condoleezza Rice. No, she is not the President. But we want to call attention to the fact that the Secretary of State called for torture when she was National Security Adviser.

This is our campaign to get all three Presidential nominees to call for Rice's resignation. Accountability must start with her, especially now that she's being mentioned as a potential Vice Presidential candidate. We want to push all the Presidential candidates on this issue. They need to make a public stance: Condi Must Go!

Join us in taking action. Join us in creating a firestorm while the traditional media is missing in action. Join us in spreading the word to mobilize our country. We cannot tolerate officials with a blatant disregard for human rights.

Yours,
Robert Greenwald
and the Brave New Team

Help Russ End The War

2008-04-15T23:29:00.003-05:00

Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition Opens October 10, 2008

2008-04-15T14:24:00.004-05:00

Actual artifacts, recovered from two and one-half miles below the surface of the North Atlantic, tell the story behind the legendary Titanic's short journey from construction and destruction to eventual recovery. Walk her decks, peer into her cabins, and meet her passengers and crew.
Tickets On Sale July 19

Click here to sign-up for future email updates about Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition.

view video here

THREE TRILLION DOLLAR SHOPPING SPREE

2008-04-15T13:36:00.003-05:00

OneMilwaukee.org

2008-04-13T23:00:00.002-05:00

In 2007, Milwaukee reported 105 homicides in the city, up slightly from 2006.*2

In 2006 Milwaukee had 622 non-fatal shooting victims compared to 485 in 2007.*2

Between 2004 and 2006 there was a 15% decline in homicide in MHRC review districts (2,5 and 6) and a 44% increase in Districts 1,3,4 and 7.*2

In 2005 and 2006, 11% of homicide suspects and 13% of homicide victims were under 18.*2

In 62% of homicides, the suspect has known the victim.*2

Nearly 40% of homicides are the result of an argument.*2

Roughly 80% of the homicides in Milwaukee are firearm related*2

Of the 236,408 children living in Milwaukee County in 2005, 2,265 were the victims of abuse and/or neglect.*1

*1 - Wisconsin Child Abuse and Neglect Report, 2005
*2 - Milwaukee Homicide Review Commission

Milwaukee Common Council Endorses UWM Expansion in the City of Milwaukee

2008-04-11T11:16:00.001-05:00

April 9, 2008

This morning, at the last Milwaukee Common Council meeting of the 2004-08 cycle, the Council
unanimously approved a resolution promoting the expansion of the University of Wisconsin –
Milwaukee (“UWM”) within the City of Milwaukee, specifically in the downtown area.
Resolution number 071708 was co-sponsored by Ald. D’Amato, Ald. Zielinski and Ald. Bauman.
The entire resolution can be found here: http://legistar.milwaukee.gov/detailreport/?key=27178
UWM Downtown applauds this effort and believes that downtown Milwaukee offers the best
location for a UWM expansion in the entire Milwaukee region.

http://www.uwmdowntown.org/

PROTECT MILWAUKEE'S FUTURE

2008-04-01T13:39:00.002-05:00

ELECT LENA TAYLOR MILWAUKEE COUNTY EXECUTIVE!!

RETURN JUSTICE BUTLER TO THE WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT

2008-04-01T13:37:00.000-05:00

THE NIGHT IS A CHILD

2008-03-28T12:32:00.003-05:00

The world premiere of "The Night is a Child", is currently being presented at the Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, and we highly recommend it - great play and great performances grace the stage of the Quadracci Powerhouse Theatre, and it is not to be missed.

Budget Veto Highlights Walker's Fiscal Mismanagement

2008-03-27T22:40:00.000-05:00

Budget Veto Highlights
Walker’s Fiscal Mismanagement

Milwaukee – John Zapfel, campaign manager for Lena Taylor, released the
following statement in response to the county’s budget surplus:

“I applaud the County Board for its well-crafted budget that created our 2007
surplus. Clearly, Scott Walker vetoing this budget was yet another example of
his short-sighted and misguided fiscal planning.

“There are several recent examples of Mr. Walker mishandling county dollars.
We just learned that because of his cuts to mental health treatment, the county is
paying our police officers $4.2 million in overtime. Mr. Walker has put us into
crisis mode for not valuing our county medical examiners, and we’ve lost talent
and a $158,000 contract as a result. And while Mr. Walker touts this surplus,
county residents have lost bus routes, our parks have not been maintained, and
bad management and neglect pose safety risks at the House of Corrections. He
has failed to show fiscal accountability or an understanding of how to properly
manage our county resources.”

Milwaukee-area unemployment at 5.5 percent

2008-03-27T11:52:00.000-05:00

The Business Journal of Milwaukee

The seasonally unadjusted unemployment rate in the Milwaukee area increased to 5.5 percent in February, the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development reported Wednesday.

The rate for the Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis metropolitan statistical area increased from 5.3 percent a month ago and was up from 5.4 percent in February 2007. The jobless rate in all 12 metro areas in the state increased compared with January's rate, the agency said.

Department of Workforce Development Secretary Roberta Gassman said the unemployment rates followed normal patterns of increasing during the mid-winter months. The statewide rate was 4.9 percent, the same as January's rate and down from 5.1 percent in February 2007.

The number of Milwaukee-area nonfarm wage and salary jobs increased by 1,500, to 841,100, compared with January's total. The agency said last week the state added 4,100 jobs since January because of a large increase in government jobs resulting from public schools and universities resuming classes after winter break.

Since February 2007, however, the Milwaukee area lost 1,900 jobs.

Admirals to Pack the House for MACC

2008-03-26T12:12:00.003-05:00

Are you sick of the snow? Then join us on the ice for the Annual Milwaukee Admirals Charity Game. Your Milwaukee Admirals will take on the Houston Aeros on Sunday, March 30th at 4pm at the Bradley Center.
The first 5,000 fans will receive a one-of-a-kind baseball cap featuring the Admirals and Brewers logos, courtesy of the Milwaukee Brewers.

You and your family and friends will enjoy fast-paced hockey action while helping kids with cancer and related blood disorders. Upper bowl seats will be available at an unbelievable price – only $3.00 per ticket! $2.00 from each ticket sold will benefit the MACC Fund, Midwest Athletes Against Childhood Cancer, Inc., and critical research efforts. Lower bowl tickets will be available at regular pricing with $2.00 from each ticket benefiting the MACC Fund.

Admirals Pack for MACC offers an exciting opportunity for businesses and corporations to treat their employees, clients, family and friends to an Admirals game at an affordable price point while helping the MACC Fund at the same time. It’s a win-win – help us fill the house.

Tickets are available for purchase by calling the Admirals at 414-227-0550 or by calling Ticketmaster at 414-276-4545 (Ticketmaster is reducing their fee to only $1.00). You can also visit the Admirals website.

The mission of the MACC Fund is “teaming up to cure childhood cancer and related blood disorders through research” – supporting research into the effective treatments and cures of pediatric cancers and related blood disorders like sickle cell anemia. Research holds the KEY to advancing the cure. Since the inception of the MACC Fund in 1976, nearly $30 million has been contributed in support of critical research efforts. Overall cure rates now reach 80% compared to just 20% 30 years ago. Many challenges remain. MACC Fund support is a source of hope for young people suffering from cancer and related blood disorders.

The primary beneficiary of MACC Fund support is the Midwest Children’s Cancer Center with research conducted in the MACC Fund Research Center of the Medical College of Wisconsin. Support is also provided to the Paul P. Carbone Comprehensive Cancer Center of the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

A MESSAGE FROM LENA TAYLOR

2008-03-24T12:50:00.005-05:00

Dear Milwaukee County Resident,

After five years of the current County Executive Administration, Milwaukee County tax payers are in an unwarranted position. Two thirds of Milwaukee County residents believe that County Government is on the wrong track.

You have spoken and I have listened.

With inexcusable cuts to our court system, detrimental eliminations to public transportation that make it difficult for our children to get to school and parents to get to work, along with closing parks that people from all walks of life depend on for recreation, we as Milwaukee county residents deserve better.

As a member of the powerful state senate joint finance committee, I have experience in creating budgets that maintain public services. I will put that experience to work for Milwaukee County.

Just as I have as a state legislator, I will work hard to:

Reform our pension system
Restore fiscal accountability
Fight for our fair share of property tax relief from Madison
Maintain services that we expect from County Government

I will work with the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors to create balanced budgets that will improve our quality of life, meet the needs of families, and our seniors.

The incumbent has made the office of County Executive a partisan one. I intend to make the office of the County Executive one that is accountable to the community – not just partisan politics.

With new direction, new leadership, and new vision, I will put Milwaukee County Government back on the right track.

Candidate Forum Tuesday, March 25
12:00PM
Sponsor: Marquette University Les Aspin Center
Marquette University Law School, 1103 W Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee
Public welcome.

Candidate Forum Wednesday, March 26
12:00PM
Sponsor: 4th Street Forum
Marquette Milwaukee Turner Hall, 2nd Floor, 1034 N 4th St, Milwaukee
Public welcome.

MARCH MADNESS – MILWAUKEE’S EAST TOWN VS. WESTOWN ASSOCIATIONS TO MEET

2008-03-24T10:47:00.009-05:00

Downtown businesses to toss cheese, brats and fresh fish in charitable event
along Milwaukee River Walk in Old World Third Street area
MILWAUKEE, Wis. – The East Town and Westown Associations today announced they will meet along
Milwaukee’s River Walk next to the new Kincaid’s Restaurant at noon on Friday, March 28, to compete for charitable
contributions in a “fish tossing” style contest that will challenge dexterity, aim and appetites in the name of community
spirit and fun in support of welcoming a new business to the area.
“Downtown businesses on both sides of the river respect Milwaukee tradition and also enjoy trying exciting
new things,” said Stacie Callies, Westown Association executive director. “Both of our business associations are
looking forward to this competition because it takes good, old-fashioned Wisconsin cheese and brats and combines
them with the fresh-fish throwing tradition made famous in fish markets in Seattle, the home-base for the newly
opened Kincaid’s Restaurant downtown. It’s a nice way to welcome Kincaid’s Restaurant to Milwaukee and get our
business members together to help raise money for our neighborhood improvement activities.”
“Our members are really gearing up for this and we expect a good crowd. It will likely get a little messy when
the fish and other items start flying, but it’s all part of the fun,” said Kate Borders, East Town Association executive
director. “Westown may have a little home court advantage in our Milwaukee version of ‘March Madness’ since
Kincaid’s is located on its side of the river, but we’ll come to play and are already tossing smelt and walleye in
preparation. In all seriousness, our business association members on both sides of the river are good natured at heart
and enjoy a great camaraderie when it comes to promoting the downtown and making it a better place for everyone to
work, live and play.”

The event will start at 12:15 p.m. at Kincaid’s Restaurant at 1110 North Old World Third Street (the spot
formerly occupied by Third Street Pier). Two 10-member teams representing each association will line up gauntlet-
style near the River Walk. Participants will wear colorful, water-repellent ponchos and toss the cheese, brats and fresh
fish to each other down the line. The teams will be competing for $5,000 in donations to their non-profit
organizations.
“We are excited about this event and are happy to be a part of Milwaukee’s downtown business community,”
said Karli Larsen, guest services director for Kincaid’s Restaurant.
Kincaid’s, a new fish, chop and steakhouse is sponsoring the contest and will also be providing the fresh fish.
Usinger’s Famous Sausage will supply the stringed bratwurst and Wisconsin Cheese Mart will supply mini-wheels of
Wisconsin cheese for the tossing. Both are Old World Third Street neighbors to Kincaid’s.
Kincaid’s is a restaurant with a diverse menu featuring a number of unique, versatile dishes from rock salt-
roasted prime rib and lobster macaroni and cheese, to a fresh seafood list that changes regularly. Kincaid’s is located
one block east of the Bradley Center and is owned and operated by Restaurants Unlimited of Seattle, Wash. For more
information on Kincaid’s Restaurant please visit www.kincaids.com.

Walker Again Refuses To Improve Transit System

2008-03-20T13:41:00.003-05:00

We found this post on the blog, Folkbum's Rambles and Rants, and we couldn't say it better!

by capper

We have seen time and time again that Walker does not want to help keep the Milwaukee County Transit System keep its wheels on the road. He raises fares and slashes routes (more cuts are coming this weekend), and then wonders why ridership is down, while ever-increasing gas prices is producing a boom in every other major metropolitan area. He has also fiddled around and did his usual grandstanding on working with others, putting $91.5 million at risk of being lost forever.

Now, today, Walker has vetoed the plan to put bike racks on the buses. This is after he has stated that he was for it as long as local tax dollars weren't used. He even tried to use the bike racks as a bargaining chip to get Milwaukee County out of a lawsuit that he created with his no bid contract to tear down the Courthouse Annex.

An email from Shea Schachameyer, of the Bicycle Federation of WI, sent out this email:

As I described on the phone, the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors have the opportunity to override the veto that Scott Walker made today on behalf of the Bike Racks on Buses program. The program, which has been approved multiple times by the Milwaukee County Supervisors has had overwhelming support from Milwaukee residents: we gathered over 17000 signatures and have letters of support from Congresswoman Moore, Mayor Barrett, the SE Regional Director of Health and Family Services, Robert Harris, and many others. In short, the program will:

* Increase ridership
* Expand service area
* Increase the frequency of use

This program will not be another burden for MCTS to pay for. MCTS is in the process of applying for Federal funding to cover 80% of the capitol costs and we are working with them to raise local sponsorship dollars to cover the remaining 20% or $130,000.

I apologize for the short notice, but hope that you will support this program and in doing so will call Chairman Holloway, advising him to support the override of Walker's veto before the County Board Meeting, tomorrow morning at 9am.

Thank you!

Sincerely, Shea--

Shea Schachameyer
Bicycle Federation of WI
(414)431-1761 shea@bfw.org

(Please note: The email was slightly modified to remove Ms. Schachameyer's personal phone number.)

Ms. Schachameyer also sent along an attachment of a pdf, which I unfortunately cannot find on the web, and currently have no way of posting or linking to. (If someone can help, that would be appreciated.)http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif

The attachment was of a newsletter that outlines some of the benefits that other cities across Wisconsin and across the country have enjoyed from putting bike racks on their buses. These benefits include increased ridership, expanded service areas, more frequent riders, better health of the community (both physically and economically), and a cleaner environment. It also provides federal and local studies that support these assertions.

For further background, there is this site that provides some of the history of the work of the BFWI, in regards to this issue.

So, as Ms. Schachameyer asks, please call County Board Supervisor Lee Holloway, and your own county board supervisor, and urge them to again override another one of Walker's mean-spirited, short-sighted, harmful vetoes, and to follow the will of the people of Milwaukee County.

This would not raise our taxes, and it would help the transit system stay at least at its current level, if not even improve. One just has to wonder: Why would Walker, who claims to support transit, and had at one time supported it, now be against it?

ADDENDUM: Here is the beginning of the pdf report from BFWI:

Efficient and affordable public transportation systems are essential to successful cities. Communities that invest in public transportation realize enhanced development and prosperity. According to the American Public Transportation Association, every $10 million invested in capital projects yields $30 million in business sales. Milwaukee is in need of economic development and more jobs--investment in public transportation can bring these changes. As outlined by Southeastern Wisconsin's Regional Planning Commission (SEWRPC), the Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) is potentially facing severe service cuts which would result in "a significantly smaller transit system...operating with shorter service hours and with less frequent service…, and [which would] offer less of an alternative mode of travel to the automobile" by the year 2010. Yet, despite this dreary forecast, it is possible for MCTS to gain economic stability as other transit agencies have done across the country. Bike racks on buses are an affordable and effective capital improvement to invest in. In fact, Florida transit agency, LYNX, found that for one-third the cost of a new bus they could reach more customers with bike racks and expand access to transit from ¼ mile walk buffer to a 1 mile bike buffer, allowing them to reach more customers.

Currently in the United States, there are over 300 transit agencies which, when combined, operate over 75,000 buses. 40,000 of these buses--more than 50%--are equipped with bike racks. Furthermore, out of Wisconsin's twenty municipal transit agencies, 40% have bike racks installed on their buses while and additional 15% plan to within the next six months. Unfortunately, it appears Milwaukee is not only falling behind on a national standard, it is falling behind on what has become a statewide standard as well.

Again, it makes one wonder how Walker can even keep a straight face when he claims that he supports the transit system.

Taylor Endorsed by Latino Coalition for Political Action

2008-03-19T23:32:00.001-05:00

Milwaukee – Today, the Latino Coalition for Political Action announced its
endorsement of Lena C. Taylor in the race for Milwaukee County Executive.

“Senator Taylor has demonstrated consistent respect for the Latino community,”
stated Ernesto Chacon, Chairman of the coalition. “She is committed to fighting
hard on the issues most important to us including education, health care, and
economic development. We are confident that as County Executive she will
continue this work for the Latino residents of Milwaukee County.”

“We are honored to have the endorsement of the Latino Coalition for Political
Action,” said John Zapfel, campaign manager for Lena Taylor. “In the Senate,
Lena Taylor has helped to improve access to quality education and health care
for all, and has worked to promote economic growth initiatives. As County
Executive, she will continue this work on behalf of the Latino community and all
residents of Milwaukee County.”

The Latino Coalition for Political Action is comprised of influential leaders in the
Latino community.

BEING POOR

2008-03-19T15:22:00.002-05:00

By John Scalzi

Being poor is knowing exactly how much everything costs.

Being poor is getting angry at your kids for asking for all the crap
they see on TV.

Being poor is having to keep buying $800 cars because they're what you
can afford, and then having the cars break down on you, because there's
not an $800 car in America that's worth a damn.

Being poor is hoping the toothache goes away.

Being poor is knowing your kid goes to friends' houses but never has
friends over to yours.

Being poor is going to the restroom before you get in the school lunch
line so your friends will be ahead of you and won't hear you say "I get
free lunch" when you get to the cashier.

Being poor is living next to the freeway.

Being poor is wondering whether your well-off sibling is lying when he
says he doesn't mind when you ask for help.

Being poor is off-brand toys.

Being poor is a heater in only one room of the house.

Being poor is hoping your kids don't have a growth spurt.

Being poor is stealing meat from the store, frying it up before your
mom gets home and then telling her she doesn't have to make dinner
tonight because you're not hungry anyway.

Being poor is not enough space for everyone who lives with you.

Being poor is feeling the glued soles tear off your supermarket shoes
when you run around the playground.

Being poor is your kid's school being the one with the 15-year-old
textbooks and no air conditioning.

Being poor is thinking $8 an hour is a really good deal.

Being poor is relying on people who don't give a damn about you.

Being poor is finding the letter your mom wrote to your dad begging him
for the child support.

Being poor is a bathtub you have to empty into the toilet.

Being poor is stopping the car to take a lamp from a stranger's trash.

Being poor is making lunch for your kid when a cockroach skitters over
the bread, and you looking over to see whether your kid saw.

Being poor is believing a GED actually makes a difference.

Being poor is people angry at you just for walking around in the mall.

Being poor is not taking the job because you can't find someone you
trust to watch your kids.

Being poor is the police busting into the apartment right next to
yours.

Being poor is not talking to that girl because she'll probably just
laugh at your clothes.

Being poor is hoping you'll be invited for dinner.

Being poor is a sidewalk with lots of brown glass on it.

Being poor is people thinking they know something about you by the way
you talk.

Being poor is needing that 35-cent raise.

Being poor is your kid's teacher assuming you don't have any books in
your home.

Being poor is $6 short on the utility bill and no way to close the gap.

Being poor is crying when you drop the mac and cheese on the floor.

Being poor is knowing you work as hard as anyone, anywhere.

Being poor is people surprised to discover you're not actually stupid.

Being poor is people surprised to discover you're not actually lazy.

Being poor is never buying anything someone else hasn't bought first.

Being poor is picking the 10-cent ramen noodles instead of the 12-cent
ramen noodles because that's two extra packages for every dollar.

Being poor is getting tired of people wanting you to be grateful.

Being poor is knowing you're being judged.

Being poor is a box of crayons and a $1 coloring book from a community
center Santa.

Being poor is checking the coin return slot of every soda machine you
go by.

Being poor is deciding that it's all right to base a relationship on
shelter.

Being poor is hoping the register lady will spot you the dime.

Being poor is feeling helpless when your children make the same
mistakes you did and won't listen to you beg them against doing so.

Being poor is a cough that doesn't go away.

Being poor is making sure you don't spill on the couch, just in case
you have to give it back before the lease is up.

Being poor is a $200 paycheck advance from a company that takes $250
when the paycheck comes in.

Being poor is four years of night classes for an associate of arts
degree.

Being poor is a lumpy futon bed.

Being poor is knowing where the shelter is.

Being poor is people who have never been poor wondering why you choose
to be so.

Being poor is knowing how hard it is to stop being poor.

Being poor is seeing how few options you have.

Being poor is running in place.

Being poor is people wondering why you didn't leave.

----------

Forbes: Milwaukee an 'up-and coming' tech center

2008-03-19T15:19:00.001-05:00

The Business Journal of Milwaukee

Citing the advanced technology and workplaces of Rockwell Automation Inc. and Johnson Controls Inc., a survey from a public policy professor at George Mason University ranked the city of Milwaukee fifth on a list of the 'top 10 up-and-coming tech cities' as reported in Forbes magazine.

In its report, Forbes said that Philip Auerswald surveyed innovation trends and technologies, including advanced materials, polymers and plastics and cell microbiology, to determine a list of future technology centers. Milwaukee ranked among both big and small cities on the list.

Columbus, Ohio, topped the sometimes curious list, citing the city's $4 billion research institute that oversees seven major laboratories for different federal agencies. Santa Fe, N.M., ranked second, while Palm Beach County, Fla., and Houston were third and fourth, respectively.

Milwaukee made the list because of the advanced products produced by Milwaukee-based industrial automation systems manufacturer Rockwell (NYSE: ROK). Such products are being used to increase manufacturing efficiency. Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI) of Glendale was also noted as an adopter and producer of energy-efficient facility management systems. The systems are helping to lead worldwide growth of the company, which Forbes said would grow 35 percent to 190,000 within three to four years.

GROUP WANTS UWM ENGINEERING SCHOOL DOWNTOWN

2008-03-17T10:29:00.001-05:00

Although the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is already in the process of negotiating the purchase of land in Wauwatosa for a new engineering campus, a group is looking to have it built in downtown Milwaukee instead.

David Reid, the person behind a mass e-mail sent out by the group UWM Downtown, argues that a downtown location would be more convenient for students, have less environmental impact and create a “true engineering center” in the region by taking advantage of partnerships with schools like MSOE and Marquette, as well as business like Rockwell Automation and Johnson Controls.

“We just feel it’s better for the city and the region to consider expanding downtown instead of in Wauwatosa,” Reid said.

UW-Milwaukee spokesman Tom Luljak said that the decision to build the new engineering school and innovation park on the 83-acre parcel is not set in stone and open for discussion, but the site offers opportunities for key research partnerships.

“Our position is this is really not a real estate issue,” he said. “It’s much more a discussion about who we can partner with to advance our research initiatives.”

Luljak noted that the site offers a chance for collaboration with others like GE, the Medical College of Wisconsin, Children’s Hospital and Froedtert.

“Those are all institutions that are engaged in scientific research,” Luljak said. “By siting our innovation park and college nearby we believe that it could lead to tremendous collaboration that would much more rapidly fuel economic developments in the region.”

Luljak said the university is considering a downtown site for a new Academic Health Center and a proposed School of Public Health and is presently engaged in master planning for the physical aspects of the campus and is also working on a long-range academic plan. The goal is to synchronize the geographic concerns with academic needs.

But Reid said the public hasn’t been brought into the discussion enough.

He likened the issue to the debate over the placement of Miller Park, which some wanted built downtown.

“Maybe we should stop and think about this for a minute,” Reid said. “Maybe this would be a better option.”

The group has a Web site at http://www.uwmdowntown.org and Reid blogs about development issues at http://thereidplan.blogspot.com/

FIRST KINCAID’S RESTAURANT IN WISCONSIN ANNOUNCES SEARCH FOR “LOCAL KINCAIDS” TO CELEBRATE GRAND OPENING

2008-03-17T10:25:00.001-05:00

CALLING ALL KINCAIDS!

***

FIRST KINCAID’S RESTAURANT IN WISCONSIN ANNOUNCES SEARCH FOR “LOCAL KINCAIDS” TO CELEBRATE GRAND OPENING

***

New fish, chop and steakhouse on Milwaukee’s Old World Third Street to salute “Kincaids” with

VIP Treatment on Saturday, March 29th

MILWAUKEE, Wis. – Kincaid’s Restaurant, a new fish, chop and steakhouse preparing to open in Milwaukee in late March, today announced it has launched a search for Southeast Wisconsin individuals named ‘Kincaid’ to join them for a Kincaid’s “family” reunion on Saturday, March 29th.

“Kincaid’s Restaurant is all about celebration, great food and making memories. Our restaurant wants to do something fun to celebrate this great community as we become a part of it,” said Karli Larsen, guest services director for Kincaid’s Restaurant. “We are giving everyone named ‘Kincaid’ a VIP experience including a complimentary dinner and red carpet treatment as we celebrate our grand opening. We are excited that our Milwaukee Riverwalk location along Old World Third Street is the first Kincaid’s Restaurant in Wisconsin, and we look forward to celebrating with our new ‘family’ friends.”

Larsen said the Kincaid’s namesakes will arrive via complimentary limousines, be greeted, walk down the red carpet and receive other star treatment.

“We may not have gift bags quite like the Academy Awards, but we will have a lot of great surprises for the people who come out and celebrate with us, especially the Kincaids,” Larsen said.

Those sharing the Kincaid name and wishing to participate will need to register online at the restaurant’s website at www.kincaids.com no later than Friday, March 21st. Different spelling variations of the name will be considered, and a photo ID will be required the night of the event. Individuals registering must be at least 21 years old and space will be limited.

Larsen said people who don’t share the same name are also invited; they’ll become ‘honorary’ Kincaids that night. While they won’t receive a complimentary dinner, those non-Kincaids who attend at 7 p.m. can line the red carpet and cheer on the local Kincaids contingent as they arrive at the restaurant. Greeters will enjoy a free appetizer with other special offers throughout the evening.

Kincaid’s is a restaurant with a diverse menu featuring a number of unique, versatile dishes from rock salt-roasted prime rib, to lobster macaroni and cheese to three different preparations of oysters and a fresh seafood list that changes regularly. Kincaid’s will occupy the former Third Street Pier space in the Old World Third District, one block east of the Bradley Center and near other Milwaukee entertainment attractions.

“Kincaid’s food is a modern take on traditional American fare, and Southeast Wisconsin residents are going to love its Milwaukee River view and large riverfront patio,” said Jason Cole, Kincaid’s executive chef and LaCrosse, Wis. native. “We are excited to accommodate business lunch crowds as well as families and couples headed out to see a concert or a sporting event down the street. We are well known around the country for our fresh seafood, excellent steaks, a large wine selection and signature martinis.”

Kincaid’s Restaurant is owned and operated by Restaurants Unlimited out of Seattle, Wash. For more information on Kincaid’s Restaurant and specifically the Milwaukee location, please visit www.kincaids.com.

Milwaukee Group Wants to Bronze the Fonz

2007-09-26T17:51:00.000-05:00

MILWAUKEE (AP) - The Fonz in bronze? It could happen. Visit Milwaukee, a group that promotes the city as a tourism and convention destination, is leading an effort to raise money for a bronze sculpture of the character played by Henry Winkler on TV's "Happy Days," which was set in Milwaukee.

Some $45,000 has been raised toward a goal of $85,000 to commission the statue.

"It's an honor," says Winkler. "But it is so bizarre to think there should be a statue."

"If it helps the city, a city that has been so supportive and warm to me over the years, then I am so OK with it," the 61-year-old actor says.

Winkler played Arthur "Fonzie" Fonzarelli on the family comedy, which aired from 1974 to 1984. The series also starred Ron Howard, Marion Ross, Tom Bosley and Erin Moran.

Visit Milwaukee is confident the statue will be unveiled next year, says Dave Fantle, vice president of public relations for the nonprofit group.

Fantle says the dedication ceremony would draw media attention to Milwaukee, and the sculpture would provide another tourism draw.

"This is a statue of a TV icon who remains the epitome of cool," he said.

Winkler said he would be willing to come to Milwaukee for the statue's dedication.

TV Land, a cable network that airs reruns of vintage shows, has donated six statues commemorating memorable TV events or characters to various cities, starting in 2000 with a statue of Ralph Kramden, Jackie Gleason's character on "The Honeymooners," which was given to the city of New York.

But TV Land isn't planning to donate any more statues and is re-evaluating the program, said network spokeswoman Jennifer Zaldivar.

NEW BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT COMING TO MILWAUKEE

2007-09-11T15:44:00.000-05:00

Business Journal of Milwaukee

A new basketball tournament featuring four traditionally all-black colleges will play in Milwaukee during Thanksgiving weekend.

The "Fresh Coast Basketball Classic," using a term dubbed by Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, will be held in Milwaukee Nov. 23-24. It will feature a matchup of Dillard University, of Louisiana; Langston University, of Oklahoma; Lane College, of Tennessee; and Central State, of Ohio.

Harley-Davidson Inc. and Manpower Inc. are the primary sponsors of the event. The event will be held at the Midwest Airlines Center and the U.S. Cellular Arena in downtown Milwaukee. It will include other entertainment and events, such as a slam dunk contest, a college recruitment fair and a career fair for young people.

POLL SUGGESTS WALKER SLIPPING WHILE SEARCH FOR CHALLENGER CONTINUES

2007-08-30T20:57:00.000-05:00

WisPolitics.com

A polling memo on a survey commissioned by Progressive Majority Wisconsin pegs Milwaukee County Exec. Scott Walker's re-election support below 50 percent and suggests he is vulnerable to a challenge. But Walker’s campaign says the poll may mean little.

The poll, conducted by the Democratic polling firm Forward Strategies, showed 43 percent of likely voters support Walker for re-election, down from 64 percent in January 2004. The poll also showed that 58 percent of voters though the county is on the wrong track, compared to 23 percent who felt that way in 2004.

“Walker has fallen below the key value of 50 percent, even against an unnamed opponent, suggesting the county executive could be very vulnerable to a challenge in the next election,” the poll summary said.

The poll of 400 Milwaukee voters was conducted from Aug. 13 to Aug. 16 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 5 percentage points.

Walker campaign chair Tim Russell said that without seeing the whole poll, it’s difficult to assess whether leading questions were asked pertaining to Walker and the direction of county government. Russell said that even if the poll was conducted fairly, it followed a run of negative stories regarding a pension buyback program that could have affected people’s opinions.

“There wasn’t at the same time any positive or countervailing media that showed the great things are going on in Milwaukee County,” Russell said. “Perhaps that’s a more accurate representation of one point in time.”

Russell noted that the results were compared with a survey in 2004, when people were paying attention to the race and Walker had an identified opponent in David Riemer.

“I think in the end, if you get a real candidate out there, not some nebulous, fantasy candidate, I think you’ll see the executive’s numbers do much differently,” Russell said.

Russell said the campaign hasn’t done any of its own polling recently, but expects to do some between now and the end of the year. “I’m confident that we’ll see much different numbers than that,” he said.

But Russell said the only poll that matters will be at the ballot box, should Walker decide to run.

“In the end, the only poll that counts will be taken in April and that’s the one that I’m confident the county executive will win,” Russell said.

Although commissioned by a progressive interest group, a Democratic Party insider said the poll is a “real poll” and described the below-50 percent mark as “a really bad place to be” for Walker.

The source also said voting patterns and demographic shifts spell bad news for Walker, noting that Democrats are strong in Shorewood and Whitefish Bay and are gaining ground in the southern suburbs.

“Democrats are spreading out, and that's bad news for Scott Walker,” the source said.

Among those considering a potential bid are Sen. Lena Taylor, Rep. Jon Richards and Milwaukee Ald. Mike D'Amato. Both Richards and Taylor expressed satisfaction with their current posts in previous interviews with WisPolitics, and the Democratic source said that while both would be strong opponents, it is questionable whether they will run.

Milwaukee County Sup. John Weishan said he's also considering a bid, but is waiting to see which progressive candidates emerge that he may decide to support.

“I'm not interested in having a real ugly primary with somebody.” Weishan said. “Milwaukee County needs for us to get together on the progressive side of the issues.

“Once those people on the more progressive side kind of get together and decide what's going to happen, I'll be more than willing to work with whomever they want to put up.”

Joe Klein, who ran for the post in the 2004 election and failed to make it through the primary, said he’d file papers by Aug. 27 if no candidate emerged. Klein has yet to do that, but said today it’s likely he will file soon.

The Democratic source pegged D'Amato as a particularly strong opponent, noting that he's young, ambitious and already has a considerable campaign war chest as well as a strong base on the east side.

To run, D’Amato would have to give up his seat on the Common Council, but the source said the recent polling data could provide the extra push to influence D'Amato's decision and that he could be at a point in his political career where he'd like to “move up or out.”

Even with $146,993 in his campaign fund as of June 30, he'd have to raise considerable funds to compete with the $414,572 in Walker’s war chest.

Both Walker's campaign and the Democratic source have noted that money could be raised quickly for the race. Both pointed to David Riemer being able to raise more than $500,000 after his late start in 2003.

The Dem source said that although it's not too late, the clock is ticking.

“A month from now, it's starting to get too late,” the source said.

View the poll memo

5TH ANNUAL MILWAUKEE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

2007-08-29T21:16:00.000-05:00

The mission of the non-profit Milwaukee International Film Festival (MIFF) is to present quality, thought-provoking films from around the world and here in the Midwest. Education is an integral part of that mission. MIFF's educational objective is to promote understanding between individuals and social groups across the barriers of language, culture, ethnicity and religion.

Vision
The main initiative of MIFF's Midwest Filmmaker Competition is to promote and develop Milwaukee as the independent filmmaking center of the Midwest.

www.milwaukeefilmfest.org

EAST SIDE EDWARDO'S CLOSES

2007-08-28T19:54:00.000-05:00

Edwardo's Natural Pizza has closed the location at 700 E. Kilbourn Ave.

A recorded message says the restaurant has lost its lease.

There is still a location in Wauwatosa, on Blue Mound Road.

Director: Milwaukee a fresh alternative for Hollywood

2007-08-28T00:05:00.000-05:00

Business Journal of Milwaukee

The director of a new television series set in Milwaukee said he would like his cast and crew to return here to shoot scenes for future episodes.

Actors Lou Diamond Phillips, Billy Burke and a crew for an NBC series with the working title "The Watch" are in Milwaukee for three days shooting at outdoor locations for a pilot episode. They took a break from their work this morning to participate in a press conference at O'Donnell Park at the lakefront. Also present were politicians, tourism officials and supporters of the Wisconsin TV and film industry.

"The Watch," which revolves around a suburban neighborhood watch group gone awry, is scheduled to debut in February 2008 with an initial run of 12 to 13 episodes, said director Charles McDougall, whose credits include "Desperate Housewives."

A majority of scenes will be filmed at indoor sound stages in the Los Angeles area.

McDougall said that 90 percent of TV series tape and film outdoor scenes in the Los Angeles area and all the locations there have become overexposed with viewers. He said he hopes to explore Milwaukee as a fresh alternative.

"I'd rather shoot here," he said.

Pete Schindler, vice president of production with Sony Pictures, which is producing the series for NBC, said the return of "The Watch" crew will depend on financial incentives from the state and the presence of a larger sound stage in the Milwaukee area.

The incentives are scheduled to start in January 2008 under the Film Wisconsin legislation that is designed to encourage the development of the film, television, TV commercial and video game industries in the state.

"That's how you compete with Toronto," he said, referring to the Canadian city that's the backdrop for many TV shows and movies.

In the meantime, VISIT Milwaukee, the local convention and visitors bureau, established a $100,000 fund for productions that are conducted prior to the state incentives. "The Watch" is receiving about $25,000 from the VISIT Milwaukee fund, said CEO Doug Neilson.

Schindler said the television series will need an indoor sound stage of at least 12,000 square feet, and preferably as large as 20,000 square feet.

Scott Robbe, executive director of Film Wisconsin, a private Milwaukee company supporting the industry in the state, said plans are under way to create a sound stage of that size in the area. He didn't identify who was creating the sound stage or where.

"The Watch" is employing a crew of 40, mostly from the Milwaukee and Chicago areas with some Los Angeles staffers.

Lou Diamond Phillips and Billy Burke were in scenes in the downtown area and along the lakefront.

MILWAUKEE BIRTHDAY PARTY SET FOR JAN. 31

2007-01-26T01:46:00.000-06:00

The City of Milwaukee turns 161 years old this year, and the Milwaukee Press Club has teamed up with local businesses and organizations to host its annual celebration Jan. 31.

This year’s theme for the party is “Legends of Milwaukee,” which seeks to celebrate individuals who have made significant contributions to Milwaukee.

The public is invited to vote online for the “legends” in eight categories: sports, media, entertainment, business, government/politics/civic, founders, community enrichment/philanthropy and icons. Voting ends Jan. 26.

To place votes visit: http://www.legendsofmilwaukee.org

The party is to be held at the Milwaukee Public Museum from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Winners of the contest will be announced at the party by Milwaukee historian John Gurda. A fee of $25 includes food, complimentary Miller and Sprecher products, birthday cake, a cash bar and live entertainment.

For more information, visit: http://www.milwaukeepressclub.org

MIDWEST AIR PRESIDENT DEFENDS DECISION TO SPURN AIRTRAN

2007-01-26T01:37:00.000-06:00

To the surprise of few, Midwest Air Group Inc. board today turned down an AirTran Holdings offer of $13.25 a share and unanimously recommended that its shareholders also reject the bid.

Tim Hoeksema, Midwest’s chairman and president, said AirTran’s latest offer continues to undervalue Midwest and that selling to Florida-based AirTran would be wrong because Midwest is beginning to grow again after five years of struggles.

"It's no wonder AirTran thinks Midwest is a good company to buy,” he said. “We think we are a great company for our shareholders to own."

But he said the offer was “opportunistic and inadequate.”

Spurned yet again, AirTran CEO Joseph Leonard reacted angrily, charging that the Midwest board had “unilaterally rejected” what it termed a strong offer. Leonard urged Midwest shareholders to pressure the board and tender their shares.

Hoeksema said he remains cool to an offer by AirTran officials to sit down and talk.

“You have to remember that AirTran is a competitor,” Hoeksema said. “To bring them in and open up our books and show them all of our competitive information is something that is of concern to us.”

Hoeksema pointed to an offer last year by AirTran for $4.50 per share.

“You think we should have taken a lot of time, diverted our attention from other things … and open up our books to them for a $4.50 offer when our stock in the last 12 months has gone up 167 percent?” asked Hoeksema.

Hoeksema contrasted AirTran’s record with its own, saying Midwest provides a competitive, yet differentiated product, that AirTran has cut back service to smaller markets it once served and said AirTran has not been profitable.

“AirTran lacks long-term commitment to new markets,” Hoeksema said. “We’ve been committed to this market for 22 years, we continue to grow here and we are committed to this community.”

See more at www.wisbusiness.com

AIDS Set To Be 3rd Largest Killer

2006-11-29T12:24:00.000-06:00

by The Associated Press

(London) Within the next 25 years, AIDS is expected to join heart disease and stroke as the top three causes of death worldwide according to a new study.

When global mortality projections were last calculated a decade ago, researchers assumed the number of AIDS cases would be declining. Instead, it's on the rise.

Currently ranked fourth behind heart disease, stroke, and respiratory infections, AIDS is expected to become No. 3, said researchers in a new report in the Public Library of Science's Medicine journal. It accounts for about 2.8 million deaths every year. But the researchers estimate a total of nearly 120 million people could die in the next 25 years.

Overall, the researchers predict in three decades, the causes of global mortality will be strikingly similar worldwide _ apart from the prevalence of AIDS in poorer countries. Most people will be dying at older ages of non-infectious diseases like cardiovascular disease, stroke and cancer.

The paper by Dr. Colin Mathers and Dejan Loncar of the World Health Organization estimates of least 117 million people will die from AIDS from 2006 to 2030. In an optimistic future projection, if new HIV infections are curbed and access to life-prolonging antiretrovirals is increased, 89 million people will die from the disease.

``What happens in the future depends very much on what the international community does now,'' Mathers said.

These marked differences should spark changes in current approaches to controlling AIDS now, some experts said.

``It will be increasingly hard to sustain treatment programs, unless we can turn off the tap of new HIV infections,'' said Dr. Richard Hays, professor of epidemiology at London's School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, who was not linked to the study.

``These AIDS numbers point to a need to do more in prevention.''

Simply focusing on treatment or politically uncontroversial prevention methods will not suffice.

``You can't put all your eggs in the abstinence basket,'' said Hays.

``We need a menu of strategies for real people,'' he said, adding condom distribution as well as new methods, such as a vaccine, are needed.

Mathers and Loncar analyzed data from more than 100 countries. The authors looked at the links between mortality trends and income per capita, as well as factors including education levels and tobacco use. Their research also used UN estimates for projected AIDS infection rates and the World Bank's numbers for future income per capita.

Mathers and Loncar then took all of this information and plugged it into a complex modelling equation to predict the top future causes of death and disease.

``This is an important contribution that will help us determine the priorities in public health,'' said Dr. Majid Ezzati, an associate professor of international health at Harvard University, who was not connected to the paper.

While it may be possible to avert some of the impending damage from HIV/AIDS, Mathers said other predictions are unlikely to vary significantly.

As populations age, he explains, they are naturally more susceptible to illnesses like cancer and heart disease than from infectious diseases _ even in the developing world. Life expectancy is expected to increase worldwide, with the highest projected life expectancy in 2030 to be in Japanese women, at 88.5 years.

Mathers and Loncar speculate by 2030, cancer deaths will jump from 7.1 million in 2002 to 11.5 million. The number of deaths from cardiovascular disease is expected to rise from 16.7 million in 2002 to 23.3 million in 2030. Overall, they expect non-communicable diseases to account for 70 per cent of all deaths globally, up from 59 per cent in 2002.

Though economic development may bring better health care, it also has an unfortunate side-effect: more road accidents. Based on rates of increasing car ownership, the World Bank estimates traffic fatalities will increase globally by 66 per cent by 2020. This might be avoided, Mathers said, if developing countries learn from the experience of developed countries, where laws and improved safety practices have sharply cut the numbers of road-related deaths.

Knowing the likely causes of future mortality allows policymakers to attempt to improve the expected outcome. While Mathers and Loncar are unable to account for unforeseen events such as the emergence of new deadly diseases or major outbreaks like a flu pandemic, their projections may help to set the agenda of global health.

``I hope this paper inspires change,'' said Mathers.

``And I hope our pessimistic projections turn out to be wrong.''

©365Gay.com 2006

WisconsinEye set to air by May 2007

2006-11-17T19:24:00.000-06:00

Madison, November 16 - the Wisconsin Department of Administration today cleared WisconsinEye to begin installing broadcast infrastructure in the state Capitol for the network's planned C-SPAN style coverage of state government, now set to begin by mid May.

The $650,000 construction project involves installation of behind-the-wall cabling and upgraded wall fixtures to enable camera coverage from the Senate and Assembly chambers, legislative committee hearing rooms, the Capitol Rotunda, the Governor's conference Room, the Attorney General's conference room, and the State Supreme Court Hearing Room.

The DOA action followed final appproval this week by the State Capitol and Executive Residence Board (SCERB) and also the State of Wisconsin Building Commission as required by Wisconsin Eye's licensing agreements reached with the Legislature in July, 2005. the agreements call for WisconsinEye to begin broadcasting legislative proceedings within six months and the Executive or Judicial branch within 18 months after final approval.

"We understand the need to protect the integrity of the Capitol building and have been fully committed to the process of review and approval for our construction project. Today is a major milestone for WisconsinEye and we now look forward to beginning broadcast operations in May," said WisconsinEye President Christopher Long.

WisconsinEye Network is a private, not-for-profit statewide public affairs network whose core missioin is to provide complete, gavel-to-gavel coverage of the actions of state government on television and the internet. A bipartisan donor community of individuals, foundations, organizations and corporations is funding the network's launch.

WisconsinEye's Capitol infrastructure project is fully funded by Wisconsin Eye and involves no cost to the state. WisconsinEye's construction team includes J.P. cullen & Sons, H&H Electric, and Isthmus Architecture, all of which worked on the Capitol Renovation and Restoration Project.

Wal-Mart Charged with Selling Nonorganic Food as Organic

2006-11-16T12:53:00.000-06:00

Group Asks USDA to Fully Investigate
Organic Product Misrepresentation

Cornucopia, WI: The Cornucopia Institute, the nation’s most aggressive organic farming watchdog, has filed a formal legal complaint with the USDA asking them to investigate allegations of illegal “organic” food distribution by Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. Cornucopia has documented cases of nonorganic food products being sold as organic in Wal-Mart’s grocery departments.

“We first noticed that Wal-Mart was using in-store signage to misidentify conventional, nonorganic food as organic in their upscale-market test store in Plano, Texas,” said Mark Kastel of The Cornucopia Institute. Subsequently, Cornucopia staff visited a number of other Wal-Mart stores in the Midwest and documented similar improprieties in both produce and dairy sections.

Cornucopia notified Wal-Mart’s CEO Lee Scott in a letter on September 13, 2006 alerting the company to the problem and asking that it address and correct the situation on an immediate basis. But the same product misrepresentations were again observed weeks later, throughout October, at separate Wal-Mart stores in other states.

“This is disturbing and a serious problem,” Kastel said. “Organic farmers adopt and follow a rigorous range of management practices, with audit trails, to ensure that the food they sell to processors and retailers is organic and produced in accordance with federal organic regulations. Consumers, who are paying premium prices in the marketplace for organic food, deserve to get what they are paying for.”

Earlier this year, Wal-Mart announced a sweeping organic foods initiative and declared that they would greatly increase the number of organic offerings for sale in their stores—at dramatically lower prices than the competition. The move by the giant retailer has been under close scrutiny from members of the organic community seeking to assess what impact Wal-Mart’s decision will have on organic food and farming concerns.

A number of other organic food retailers throughout the country, including Whole Foods Markets and many of the nations member-owned grocery cooperatives, have gone to the effort to become certified organic in terms of the handling of their products and have invested heavily in staff training to help them understand organic food production and sale concerns.

“Our management and our employees know what organic means,” said Lindy Bannister, General Manager at The Wedge Cooperative in Minneapolis, Minnesota. “If Wal-Mart intends to get into organics, they can’t be allowed to misidentify ‘natural’ foods as organic to unsuspecting consumers.” The Wedge, the largest single store member-owned food cooperative in the nation, was one of the first retailers to go through the USDA organic certification process.

“One can question whether Wal-Mart has the management and staff expertise necessary to fully understand organics and the marketing requirements essential to selling organic food,” observed Kastel. “At this point, it seems they are attracted by the profits generated from the booming organic food sector but are not fully invested in organic integrity. Given their size, market power, and market clout, this is very troubling.”

Cornucopia’s complaint asks the USDA to fully investigate the allegations of organic food misrepresentation. The farm policy organization has indicated that they will share their evidence, including photographs and notes, with the agency’s investigators. Fines of up to $10,000 per violation for proven incidents of organic food misrepresentation are provided for in federal organic regulations.

This past September, The Cornucopia Institute also accused Wal-Mart of cheapening the value of the organic label by sourcing products from industrial-scale factory-farms and Third World countries, such as China.

The Institute released a white paper, Wal-Mart Rolls Out Organic Products—Market Expansion or Market Delusion?, that made the argument that Wal-Mart is poised to drive down the price of organic food in the marketplace by inventing a “new” organic—food from corporate agribusiness, factory-farms, and cheap imports of questionable quality.

For more information, contact: Mark Kastel, 608-625-2042

FAST FOOD NATION movie OPENS THURSDAY!

2006-11-13T14:06:00.000-06:00

Fast Food Nation is a fictionalized film based on the nonfiction book Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser. It was filmed on locations in Mexico and the United States (in Texas and Colorado) under the codename Coyote.^[1] The movie was produced by Participant Productions and Recorded Picture Company for HanWay Films and BBC Films, and was directed and written by Richard Linklater. It was premiered on May 19, 2006 at the Cannes Film Festival. The film's US release is scheduled for November 17, 2006.

The movie uses a fictionalized approach instead of being a documentary, telling the story from the point of view of people involved in the industry. The ensemble cast includes Greg Kinnear, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Ethan Hawke, Luis Guzman, Patricia Arquette, Kris Kristofferson, Lou Taylor Pucci, Ana Claudia Talancon, Esai Morales, Wilmer Valderrama, Bruce Willis, and Avril Lavigne.

(description from Wikipedia)

Your publisher read this great book, when it was first published, a couple of years ago, and is looking forward to viewing the film when it opens this week. Consult your local sources for theatres and showing times.

http://www.foxsearchlight.com/fastfoodnation/

watch this video: http://www.vmix.com/view.php?id=1647094&type=video

We attended a preview of this important film, Tuesday night, at the AMC Theatre, Mayfair Mall.
If you haven't read the book, this film is a MUST SEE! The performances are incredible, and the information is not to be missed.
Unfortunately, it is a dramatization, and not a documentary. As such it does not give you a fraction of the information you get from the book.
At this point in time, my recommendation would be to see the movie first, and then read the book. The book is first rate, hard hitting, and important!
Please don't miss the experience of FAST FOOD NATION - both of them!

HBO SPECIAL Hacking Democracy

2006-11-08T14:22:00.001-06:00


A documentary showing how DIEBOLD has cheated american voters.

Should Voting be Hazardous to Your Health?

2006-11-07T13:51:00.000-06:00

“You Can’t Vote!”, Susan M. Edman, Executive Director, City of Milwaukee Board of Election
Commissioners.

She’s 82, breathing on oxygen, confined to a wheelchair, and for the past 12 years, or so, has
voted by absentee ballot. We’ll call her Mary Jane, because that’s her name..

It’s election day, and the ballot has yet to arrive in the mail.

Actually, Mary Jane has been searching for that ballot for two weeks, and for a while was calling
the election commission each day.

First, she heard there was some problem with the ballots, but they would be sent.
Then she heard that it was in the mail, and should arrive any day.

When it still didn’t arrive, she had her son contact the local alderman’s office. Jill Thomas, aide
to Alderman Robert Donovan, called the election commission, and then told Mary Jane’s son,
that she would probably receive two ballots now, that they’re sent by bulk mail, and you’ve just
got to be patient. Her son attempted to speak further, about this and other issues, to which she
responded that she doesn’t have time for such matters, with drug houses, and prostitution, and
what not going on in the district.

So Mary Jane took Ms. Thomas’ word and continued to watch for her absentee ballot in the mail.

Late Monday night, before election day, Alderman Donovan returned her son’s call, regarding
the ballot. At that time, Mary Jane thought she could possibly go without her morning
medications (one of which is her water pill that requires frequent rest room trips), and have her
son push her, in the wheel chair, to the polling place.

The next morning, it’s election day, and Mary Jane doesn’t feel that well, and decides that she
should stay home, and wait for someone to deliver a ballot.. Ms Susan Edman phones to find out
what ‘s going on, and to see how she could help. After several phone calls, Ms. Edman declares
that unless she goes to the polling place, she can’t vote, thereby disenfranchising one of our
senior citizens. She says that the election commission has done all that they’re obligated to do,
and basically, if that’s not good enough - tough.

She did suggest that if the state election commission ordered her to do so, she would deliver the
ballot herself, but Mary Jane would need to call them.

Her son, dutifully phoned the state election commission, and, at that office, Diane checked with
Kevin Kennedy, the head of the commission. The message again: unless you go to the polling
place, you can’t vote.

Through no fault of her own, Mary Jane was told this twice, by two election commissioners.

It is not her fault that the ballot wasn’t delivered, and because of state law, a ballot cannot be
delivered on election day.

The son, proceeded to call Milwaukee County District Attorney, E. Michael McCann. McCann
immediately assigned Assistant DA, Bruce Landgraf to investigate for criminal actions regarding
the lost ballot, and to determine if other ballots went missing.

As for Mary Jane - her son talked her into exercising her constitutional right, and did push her in
the wheel chair, to the polling place. With the help of the poll workers there, she was able to cast
her ballot, but at what cost to her health?

A Fair Wisconsin Votes NO !!

2006-11-07T08:59:00.000-06:00

OUR ENDORSEMENTS ARE OBVIOUS!

2006-11-07T08:46:00.000-06:00

Governor/Lieutenant Governor: Jim Doyle/Barbara Lawton

Attorney General: Kathleen Falk

US Senate: Herb Kohl

US House of Representatives: Gwen Moore 4th District
Bryan Kennedy 5th District

Wisconsin State Senate: Tim Carpenter 3rd District
Jim Sullivan 5th District

Milwaukee County District Attorney:John Chisholm

Milwaukee County Sherrif: Don Holt

Marriage Amendment: NO

Death Penalty Amendment: NO

Troop Withdrawel Referendum: YES

It's all been for this moment!

2006-11-06T18:14:00.000-06:00

Dear Friend,

We've been working hard to get to this moment. And, here we are -- we can see the finish line.

But, if we want to produce the Democratic victories our nation so urgently needs, you have one critical task left, and that is to get to the polls and vote.

It has been decades since there have been so many close, down-to-the-wire races for the Senate, for the House, and for critical state and local offices. Many of those races are close today because of what you and other members of the johnkerry.com community have done up to this point.

And now, many of those races will be finally decided by what you do in the time between now and the closing of the polls. Please call and email your friends, family and colleagues and ask them to vote on Tuesday. Don't let a single person you know let Tuesday pass without voting.

And there's still time to contact Democratic campaigns in your area to volunteer your time and be part of grassroots efforts to get out the vote.

This is our chance to take the power to lead America out of the Bush Republicans' hands. Winning means raising the minimum wage. Winning means moving towards health care for all, starting with every child in America. Winning means forcing an end to the disastrous war in Iraq, and getting our heroes home.

Winning means firing the incompetents, stopping the corruption, and making America stop being the world's leading denier of global climate change.

Let's get out and do it. You've been amazing all along. You've stood up. Stand up again. Your country is counting on you.

It's on to victory from here.

John Kerry

Michael J. Fox is Coming to Milwaukee this Monday

2006-11-04T17:37:00.000-06:00

Please join Michael J. Fox and me at Serb Hall in Milwaukee on Monday morning as we rally for victory on Election Day – an important victory not just for Wisconsin, but for embryonic stem cell research and the hope it represents.

Michael J. Fox has shown tremendous courage and determination in the fight for embryonic stem cell research.

I am so honored by his support, which I believe will be critical on Election Day.

The event at Serb Hall – located at 5101 W. Oklahoma Ave in Milwaukee – is free and open to the public. Doors open at 9:30 a.m.

Call 1-877-646-2006 or click the link below to RSVP today:

http://michaeljfox.doylelawton.com

Thank you for everything you are doing – and will do – to achieve victory on Election Day. Sincerely,

Governor Jim Doyle

P.S. If you haven't signed up to help us get out the vote, please do so now. Click the following link: http://gotv.doylelawton.com

THE Milwaukee Blog Nominated for MKE online's Blog of the Week contest!!

2006-11-03T11:28:00.000-06:00

From: Sara Oceguera

Hi there. I'm the online producer for MKEonline.com. Just writing to let you know that you are in this week's blog of the week running.

If you're not familiar with the contest, it's where we put five Wisconsin-based blogs up against each other and ask readers to vote for their favorite.

The voting page with more information is at www.mkeonline.com/people/blogcontest.asp If you have any questions, you know how to reach me. : )

Good

Sara O

We're honored to be included in this online contest.

To participate, by voting, go to the following link: http://www.mkeonline.com/people/blogcontest.asp

Rally with President Bill Clinton in Milwaukee

2006-10-31T17:20:00.000-06:00

Dear Friend,

President Bill Clinton is joining me for a public rally this Friday, at the Milwaukee Theatre, in Milwaukee. Doors open at 2:00 p.m.Join Gov. Doyle and President Bill Clinton - RSVP HERE

Senator Herb Kohl, Congresswoman Gwen Moore, Lt. Governor Barbara Lawton, Attorney General candidate Kathleen Falk, and other Democratic candidates will all be there.

President Clinton is an extraordinary leader, a great American, and a champion for middle class and working families.

He's coming to Wisconsin in the final days of our campaign because he knows the importance of this election.

Call 1-877-646-2006 or click the link below to RSVP today:

http://billclinton.doylelawton.com

I deeply appreciate the friendship and support you have provided over the past four years. And as our campaign enters the final days – join me once again.

Together we finally have our state back on track. I'm looking forward to seeing you this Friday at the Milwaukee Theater.

Sincerely,

Governor Jim Doyle

Thousands Gather To Support Doyle - Cheers for Obama!

2006-10-31T13:44:00.000-06:00

Left to Right: Gus Doyle, US Rep. Gwen Moore, First Lady Jessica Doyle, US Senator Barack Obama, Governor Jim Doyle (behind Obama), US Senator Herb Kohl, Lieutenant Governor Barbara Lawton and Kathleen Falk, Candidate for Attorney General

BRING THE TROOPS HOME RALLY - Saturday

2006-10-30T22:47:00.000-06:00

PRESIDENT CLINTON to Honor GOVERNOR DOYLE in Milwaukee

2006-10-27T13:06:00.000-05:00

You are invited to an event honoring

Governor Jim Doyle

with special guest

President William Jefferson Clinton

Friday, November 3rd

Hyatt Regency Milwaukee
333 West Kilbourn Avenue
Milwaukee WI

Tickets are required for this event. Please contact Katie at 608.250.5083 or Katie@jimdoyle.org for ticket information.

Rush Limbaugh, Mark Green Attack Michael J. Fox Ad

2006-10-26T15:19:00.000-05:00

As reported by One Wisconsin Now:

Actor and Parkinson's disease patient Michael J. Fox has appeared in commercials for candidates that support stem cell research all across the country. Fox appears in an ad for Governor Doyle that just began airing yesterday. In that ad, he says that Wisconsin holds a special place in his heart because embryonic stem cell research started here. He also says that Governor Doyle understands that promise that the science holds and the jobs that it will create. Fox shows very visible signs of his illness. After viewing some of the Michael J. Fox ads, right wing radio show host Rush Limbaugh claimed that Fox was only "acting" and called his shaking "shameless." Limbaugh is quoted as making the baseless claim that Fox was "exaggerating the effects of the disease." One expert of the disease called Limbaugh's claims "ludicrous."

One doctor observed that that Fox has a very severe form of Parkinson's that affected him at a young age. And he's been through many aggressive treatments. The physician said that the symptoms that Fox displayed on the commercial are common effects of Parkinson's disease.

The Michael J. Fox commercial took aim at Congressman Mark Green for standing in the way of embryonic stem cell research, and Fox says that Green's votes have set us back. In a response to the commercial Congressman Green accuses Michael J. Fox's ad of being "flat out lies" about his record on stem cell research. But Green's deceptive statement carefully parses his words. He talks only of stem cell research in general, knowing that he has stood in the way for additional funding for the most promising form, embryonic stem cells. Michael J Fox specifically took Green to task for standing in the way of embryonic stem cell research, so he in fact was telling the truth while Green chose to hide his real record. Green then concluded his press release by again citing the research that was debunked months ago.

http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/one_wisconsin/

General Robert Gard Monday, October 30, 7:30 PM at First Unitarian Church

2006-10-26T14:39:00.000-05:00

Three-star general and senior fellow at the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation, Gen. Robert Gard, ret. is a strong spokesperson for the anti-war community on both Iraq and Iran and recently organized a letter, signed by 21 former military and national security officials, that urged the administration to seek direct diplomacy to resolve the U.S.-Iran impasse and the Middle East crisis. His talk will focus on "Is America Secure?" touching on Iraq, Iran and the current security threats facing our country.

First Unitarian Universalist Society
1342 N. Astor Street, Milwaukee, WI 53202

Monday, October 30, 7:30 PM

2006-10-26T12:37:00.000-05:00

Join U.S. Senator Barack Obama, Governor Jim Doyle, Senator Herb Kohl, Congresswoman Gwen Moore, Lt. Governor Barbara Lawton, and Attorney General candidate Kathleen Falk for a rally in Milwaukee on October 31 at 9:00 a.m. at the Pere Marquette Park.

Call 1-877-646-2006

http://action.doylelawton.com/signUp.jsp?key=1335

Michael J. Fox Supports Governor Doyle!

2006-10-26T11:34:00.000-05:00

Michael J. Fox shares one reason why it’s so important to re-elect Governor Doyle: his support for stem cell research. Fox lives with Parkinson’s disease, one of the illnesses that stem cell research done right here in Wisconsin may help to find a cure for.

"What you decide can affect millions of people. Like me. Like your family,” says Fox in the ad. "Wisconsin holds a special place in my heart, because it's where stem cell research was born. The cures we are looking for may come from here."

Governor Doyle refuses to turn his back on live-saving research and the hope that it gives families in Wisconsin and around the world.

"THE EXONERATED" Six Riveting Stories About Innocence, Injustice and Redemption, to be screened Sunday, October 29

2006-10-25T10:56:00.000-05:00

As part of an ongoing series of movies, Milwaukee's The Mad Mug coffee house will be showing "The Exonerated." In the film, six actors present the powerful true stories of six exonerated death row survivors. The movie is scheduled for Sunday October 29 at 6:00pm. The Mad Mug is located at 7934 W. Burleigh Street, Milwaukee.

Sixteen years. Imagine everything you could do with sixteen years.

Imagine everything you did the last sixteen years.

Now take it all away.

Sunny Jacobs was convicted and sentenced to death for a crime she did not commit. Sixteen years was just the beginning of what was taken from Sunny Jacobs.

Twenty-nine Academy Award nominations, eighty-seven Golden Globe nominations, one hundred and twelve EMMY nominations: such is the incredible array of actors who have lent their considerable talents and passion to The Exonerated. As a play, awarded the Drama Desk, Lucille Lortel and Outer Critics Circle Awards, it was acclaimed in major cities across America.

Now as a film, the undeniable power of the true stories of six exonerated survivors of death row will engage your emotion, incite your passion, and envelop you in their search for the lost small pieces of dignity and the lives so unceremoniously interrupted.

True stories in their own words. Stories you will never forget.

IS IT TIME TO BOYCOTT WISN?

2006-10-24T22:26:00.000-05:00

Limbaugh: Michael J. Fox Exploited Disease

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/10/24/politics/main2121910.shtml

Perhaps it is now the time, to inform the folks at WISN Radio, that unless the nonsensical, drug addicted, obese, big mouthed bully, who goes by the name of Rush Limbaugh, is dropped from the schedule, we will boycott EVERY business that advertises on their frequency.

What's your take?

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/10/24/politics/main2121910.shtml

http://www.parkinson.org

GOD'S POLITICS author to appear at Schwartz booksellers, Downer Ave, tomorrow night, 7:00 pm

2006-10-23T16:57:00.000-05:00

Secular liberals and religious conservatives will find things to both comfort and alarm them in Jim Wallis's God's Politics. That combination is actually reason enough to recommend the book in a time when the national political and theological discourse is dominated by blanket descriptions and shortsightedness. But Wallis, editor of Sojourners magazine, offers more than just a book that's hard to categorize. What Wallis sees as the true mission of Christianity--righting social ills, working for peace--is in tune with the values of liberals who so often run screaming from the idea of religion. Meanwhile, in his estimation, religious vocabulary is co-opted by conservatives who use it to polarize. Wallis proposes a new sort of politics, the name of which serves as the title of the book, wherein these disparities are reconciled and progressive causes are paired with spiritual guidance for the betterment of society. Wallis is at his most compelling when he puts this theory into action himself, letting his own beliefs guide him through stinging criticisms of the war in Iraq. In his view, George W. Bush's flaw lies in the assumption that the United States was an unprecedented force of goodness in a fight against enemies characterized as "evil." Indeed, although both the right and left are criticized here, the idea is that the liberals, if they would get religion, are the more redeemable lot. Wallis's line between religion and public policy may be drawn a little differently than most liberals might feel comfortable with, and while he pays some lip service to other faiths most of his prescription for America seems to come from the Bible. Still, for a party having just lost a presidential election where "moral issues" are said to have factored heavily, God's Politics is a sermon worth listening to. --John Moe --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Bookmarks Magazine
God’s Politics has struck a chord with contemporary Americans who, according to bestseller lists, are buying Wallis’s book in droves. Regardless of how critics feel about the author’s religious beliefs (evangelical Christian) and political leanings (traditional on family values; progressive on issues like poverty and social justice), they are hard-pressed to argue with his central tenets: God belongs to no single political party and true faith transcends political categorization. Wallis writes that liberals and conservatives alike should work for a "new spiritual revival … that could transform our society." While at least one reviewer complains that Wallis glosses over the religious left’s failures, no one denies that he has produced a timely, thought-provoking book.

Copyright © 2004 Phillips & Nelson Media, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From AudioFile
Jim Wallis reads the introduction to this work, and though it's useful to hear the author himself, in a way, it's a distraction. Sam Freed's delivery is clear, focused, and smooth, covering the many facets of Wallis's discussion of contemporary politics and the role Judeo-Christian religion and morality should play in it. However, Freed speaks more quickly and more lightly, without the deep personal emotion that fills, and slows, Wallis's delivery. That aside, this work adapts well to audio, as Wallis returns to key points repeatedly, wrestling with them time and again and relating them to various useful contexts. G.T.B. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu
Jim Wallis is compelling, provocative, and inspirational, with faith that can move mountains and can certainly move people and communities. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Bill Moyers
Jim Wallis is an inspiration to me– for his witness of faith and his engagement with politics. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Cornel West, author of Race Matters and Democracy Matters
Jim Wallis is the major prophetic evangelical Christian voice in the country. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Bono, lead singer of U2
How far should we go to understand each other’s points of view? Maybe the distance grace covered on the cross. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

E.J. Dionne, author of Stand Up Fight Back and Why Americans Hate Politics
Wallis at his usual passionate and brilliant self: he will move you to examine your conscience and search your soul. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Library Journal
"Wallis provides a refreshing alternative voice to the polarizing rhetoric currently popular." --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Book Description

New York Times bestseller God's Politics struck a chord with Americans disenchanted with how the Right had co-opted all talk about integrating religious values into our politics, and with the Left, who were mute on the subject. Jim Wallis argues that America's separation of church and state does not require banishing moral and religious values from the public square. God's Politics offers a vision for how to convert spiritual values into real social change and has started a grassroots movement to hold our political leaders accountable by incorporating our deepest convictions about war, poverty, racism, abortion, capital punishment, and other moral issues into our nation's public life. Who can change the political wind? Only we can.

About the Author

Jim Wallis is the leading figure at the crossroads of religion and politics in America today. He is a public theologian, nationally renowned preacher, faith-based activist, author of seven books, and the founder of Sojourners, a nationwide network of progressive Christians working for justice and peace.

Thank You, Shepherd Express for the Great Cover Story: 10 Reasons to Vote "NO" on the Marriage Amendment!!

2006-10-23T14:41:00.000-05:00

Ten Arguments Against the Amendment

The current issue of the Shepherd Express lists the "Top 10 Reasons To Vote No" on the amendment to ban civil unions and gay marriage. Below is a brief summary of what they cite as the top reasons.

* Because, in voting no, you will join Republicans, Democrats, the business community, unions, and many other respected individuals and groups.
* The amendment could negatively affect you even if you are straight. If you are in a solid relationship but are unmarried, you could lose legal protections and benefits that you may currently enjoy.
* Heterosexual marriage is not hurt by gay relationships. First, not one marriage has been put under strain because of gay relationships. Second, there are many other factors that put direct strain on many marriages. Some of those things are poverty, a weak job market, and the commercialization of sex.
* This amendment is a right wing attempt to manipulate voters and was designed to give them political advantage in an election year. Republicans hoped that having this amendment on the ballot would bring out their base and help them win more races.
* You can be a good person of faith and still be against this amendment. Representatives and members of every major faith group have declared that this discrimination does not belong in Wisconsin's Constitution.
* Taking a stand against the amendment reaffirms the separation of church and state. It will help insure that conservative Christian definition of marriage will not become part of our state's constitution.
* The ban could have dangerous and unintended consequences. Similar amendments in other states caused many problems that were not considered before they were approved.
* Wisconsin law has already defined marriage as a relationship between a "husband" and "wife," so why would we need to force such an amendment into our constitution?
* Tolerance is the way of the future. As time goes by, more people are more accepting of gay relationships and people. Also, surveys have repeatedly shown that younger people are less likely to discriminate and are more tolerant than their older counterparts.
* The number one reason that the Shepherd Express gives for voting "no": is that Wisconsin will make history if it defeats this amendment. Wisconsin was the first state in the nation to pass a law that made discrimination against gays illegal. It can also be the first state in the nation to reject a gay marriage amendment.

A Message from John Kerry

2006-10-23T14:36:00.000-05:00

VOLUNTEER NOW
Dear Friend,

435 House races will be decided on November 7. Each one of them is important.

But this year the old Washington rules have been broken. Instead of having only a few seats really in play, the electoral map is bigger than ever before. 75 highly competitive races - including the one in the district where you live - will determine the outcome of the contest for control of the House.

With the excitement of living where the action is comes the responsibility to do everything you can to help Democrats win. Will you sign up right now to help your local candidate win? Will you volunteer your time and engage in the critically important grassroots activities that decide close elections?

Sign up now to volunteer for your local House candidate.

There's more evidence every day that we can win on November 7 and win big. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has called on the most talented organizers in our party to plan and execute voter mobilization efforts customized to each of our party's 75 key districts.

They've got smart plans in place and lots of activity already under way. But your personal involvement can provide the final boost needed in these last two weeks.

Sign up now to volunteer for your local House candidate.

Anything you can do will be extraordinarily helpful. Our candidates and their campaigns can make effective use of any amount of time you can offer. The one thing we can't afford is for you and other Democratic activists in the center of the action to sit on the sidelines.

Please sign up right now. We'll work together - and we'll win together.

Sincerely,

John Kerry

4th annual Milwaukee International Film Festival

2006-10-19T12:23:00.000-05:00

The mission of the non-profit Milwaukee International Film Festival (MIFF) is to present high quality, thought provoking films from around the world and here in the Midwest, in an effort to bring Milwaukee's diverse communities together in a cultural undertaking.

http://www.milwaukeefilmfest.org/

VISIT WITH ALDERMAN ROBERT DONOVAN at Town Hall Meetings

2006-10-19T11:56:00.000-05:00

8th District Alderman, Robert G. Donovan, will be hosting two town hall meetings this fall. These meetings are scheduled to give you a chance to ask questions and voice concerns. He hopes that you can attend the meeting that best fits your schedule or location. The times and places:

Tuesday, October 24 6:00 pm
Zablocki Library
3501 West Oklahoma Avenue

Thursday, October 26 6:00 pm
Anna F. Doerfler Elementary School
3014 West Scott Street (one block south of National Avenue at 31st Street)

Big Democratic wins likely on Election Day

2006-10-19T08:19:00.000-05:00

NBC/WSJ poll: Public's opinion of GOP hits record low
By Mark Murray
Political reporter
NBC News

WASHINGTON - Just 20 days until Election Day, the latest NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll finds approval of the GOP-held Congress is at its lowest mark in 14 years, the Republican Party's favorability rating is at an all-time low and President George W. Bush's approval rating remains mired in the 30s -- all ominous signs for a party trying to maintain control of Congress.

In fact, according to the poll, Republicans are in worse shape on some key measures than Democrats were in 1994, when they lost their congressional majorities.

"There is not a single number in here that would suggest the Democrats will not have their best showing in a decade -- and maybe two decades," says Democratic pollster Peter D. Hart, who conducted this survey with Republican Bill McInturff.

Landslide of bad GOP news
The poll, which was taken of 1,006 registered voters from Oct. 13-16 and has a margin of error of plus-minus 3.1 percentage points, comes a few weeks after Republicans encountered a series of setbacks, including the release of an intelligence estimate calling the Iraq war a "cause célèbre" for Islamic militants, journalist Bob Woodward's unfavorable portrayal of the Bush administration's handling of Iraq, and the news that former U.S. Rep. Mark Foley, R-Fla., had inappropriate correspondence with teenage congressional pages.

In the survey, Bush's approval rating is at 38 percent, a one-point decline from a previous NBC/Journal poll released earlier this month after the Foley news first broke. Perhaps more revealing, only 16 percent now approve of the job Congress is doing -- its lowest mark since 1992.

Both sets of numbers suggest that the Republican Party is on more unstable ground than Democrats were in 1994, when they lost 52 House and 8 Senate seats. In October of that year, President Bill Clinton's approval rating among registered voters was at 46 percent, and 24 percent approved of the job the Democratic-controlled Congress was doing.

Dems a 'marginally accepted alternative'
What's more, in this latest poll, just 32 percent of respondents see the Republican Party in a positive light, while 49 percent view it negatively. Those are the party's worst marks in the history of the poll. In contrast, voters -- by a 37-35 percent margin -- view the Democratic Party positively.

McInturff, the GOP pollster, observes that after several months when both parties have had net-negative ratings on this question, this is second-straight NBC/Journal survey in which a plurality of voters see Democrats in a positive light. Hart adds that Democrats have become a "marginally accepted alternative."

"It might be grudging admiration," he says, "but it is enough admiration to make it through."

Moreover, 52 percent say they prefer a Democratic-controlled Congress, compared with 37 percent who want Republicans to maintain power. It is the first time ever in this poll when a majority has sided with one party on this particular question. Earlier this month, Democrats held a nine-point advantage (48-39 percent).

The final GOP straw
Indeed, the poll finds that the events of the last few weeks -- such as the Foley scandal, the Woodward book, and the intelligence estimate -- have taken a toll on the GOP. Forty-seven percent say that these events have given them a less favorable impression of Republicans maintaining their majorities in Congress. Only 14 percent say they've given them a more favorable impression.

While Republicans were already in a precarious position before the Foley scandal, Hart explains, it has become a final straw of sorts that might have sealed their fate. "It is the event that allowed certain voters to say, 'Enough.'"

McInturff adds that the scandal took Republicans by surprise, and he expects them to be able to regroup and spend the next three weeks trying to disqualify Democrats on taxes and social issues.

The war in Iraq also continues to be a drag on Republicans and the White House. In the poll, a whopping 68 percent say they feel less optimistic about how things are going there, compared with only 20 percent who feel more optimistic. That's a significant shift from June, when voters were evenly split on this question.

Control of Congress
All of these numbers seem to suggest that Democrats are poised to pick up a sizable number of seats in November, and maybe even regain control of Congress. Hart says it's been clear for the last several months that an electoral hurricane would be arriving on Election Day. The only question was how big it was going to be.

This new poll, he observes, signals that it will be a Category 4 or Category 5 storm. "Simply put, the low lying areas are [going to be] under water."

Mark Murray covers politics for NBC News.
© 2006 MSNBC Interactive

Doyle Holding Lead in Governor's Race

2006-10-18T14:01:00.000-05:00

The One Wisconsin Now survey also showes Governor Jim Doyle leading Congressman Mark Green by a 47% to 41% margin heading into the final three weeks of the campaign. Doyle's advantage over Green climbs to 7 points (48% to 41%) when the sample is limited to the 583 voters who say that they will "definitely vote" on November 7th.

Doyle's current lead over Green is based on his strong showing among women, seniors, moderates and Independent voters. Doyle also greatly benefits from doing much better in his home base than Green does in his. Doyle holds a commanding lead in his home media market of Madison (+34), and edges Green in his home market of Green Bay by 3 points. Doyle trails Green in the Milwaukee media market by 7 points, a market he lost to McCallum in 2002 by 3 points. In the rest of the state, Doyle holds an 8-point advantage.

IRAQ FOR SALE: Free Screening at Bremen Cafe

2006-10-18T13:19:00.000-05:00

Iraq for Sale: The War Profiteers is the story of what happens to everyday Americans when corporations go to war.

Acclaimed director Robert Greenwald (Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price, Outfoxed, and Uncovered) takes you inside the lives of soldiers, truck drivers, widows and children who have been changed forever as a result of corporate greed in the reconstruction of Iraq. Iraq for Sale uncovers the connections between private security companies making a killing in Iraq and the decision makers who allow them to do so.

http://www.iraqforsale.bravenewtheaters.com/screening/show/6705-milwaukee-wi

Harley-Davidson won't expand Milwaukee plants

2006-10-16T14:50:00.000-05:00

The Business Journal of Milwaukee - 2:07 PM CDT Monday
by Rich Rovito

Harley-Davidson Inc. announced Monday that it will build an additional motorcycle powertrain manufacturing and assembly plant outside of Wisconsin after the union representing hourly workers at the company's Milwaukee-area plants rejected contract concessions.

A new plant is needed to accommodate the expanded production of Milwaukee-based Harley-Davidson's Big Twin motorcycle engines and transmissions, company management said.

The announcement follows a vote Monday by members of Harley-Davidson's largest union, United Steelworkers Local 2-209, not to accept a plan that would have been favorable to expanding production capacity in Milwaukee.

Leaders of the union, which represents about 1,500 employees at Harley's plants in Wauwatosa and Menomonee Falls, had recommended that rank-and-file workers agree to concessions that would have cut pension benefits for existing employees, lowered wages for new hires and resulted in increased health care premiums.

In return, Harley management had vowed to invest $120 million to expand the company's Milwaukee-area factories.

Harley management had advised its international and local unions of the need to add capacity and to do so in a way that would significantly reduce future costs and improve flexibility.

"We're disappointed with the vote, but we need to address capacity, cost and flexibility in tandem," said Rod Copes, vice president and general manager of Harley-Davidson's powertrain operations in Menomonee Falls.

"Harley-Davidson is very successful today and all of us want to keep it that way," Copes said. "That means being good stewards and actively managing costs across the entire organization that could be detrimental to our business over the long term if we don't start to control them now."

Over the past 10 years, Harley-Davidson's shipments of motorcycles containing the Big Twin engines have nearly tripled. Harley invested $175 million in engine production upgrades at Milwaukee-area plants between 2004 and 2006.

Harley introduced the newest generation of Big Twin engine, the Twin Cam 96, in July to what company management has deemed "enthusiastic consumer and dealer response."

Company management said it will meet with representatives from the unions representing Harley-Davidson workers to "find the best possible U.S. location" for a new engine and transmission plant.

The company said the jobs of existing Milwaukee-area production workers are not at risk as a result of the decision to build a new plant elsewhere in the United States.

The company currently has powertrain manufacturing operations in Wauwatosa, Menomonee Falls and Kansas City, Mo., final assembly operations in York, Pa., and Kansas City, and components manufacturing in Tomahawk.

Jim Wheiland, president of Local 2-209, could not be reached for comment.

Hey Progressive Radio Supporters!

2006-10-16T14:16:00.000-05:00

Daniel J. Cody writes:

A couple of exciting bits of news. First, we’re throwing a happy hour
party! Join us Thursday evening, October 26, from 5:00-7:00 p.m., at
trendy Third Ward hotspot Moct (that’s pronounced “Most”). It's at 240
E. Pittsburgh, just off Water Street, and a couple of blocks south of
the river.

Come relax and enjoy the funk/jazz stylings of Milwaukee piano maestro
Tyler Traband, while helping to build a progressive media in Brew Town.
All for a suggested minimum donation of $25. And don’t forget, a $100
donation gets you “Founding Sponsor” status and a permanent space on the
AAR/MKE web site (http://www.logyourblog.com/WI/howtobuy.php).

Speaking of our brand shiny new web site, have you checked out our new
blog (http://airamericamilwaukee.com/blog)? Yes, AirAmericaMilwaukee.com
is now blog-tastic! We’ll feature regular commentary there from an
assortment of local and national guest bloggers. This week, One Blog’s
Cory Liebmann (http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/one_wisconsin/blog) offers
his take on “Amplifying The Progressive Voice.”

In addition to blogospherics, the new site also has all kinds of ways
for folks who haven’t heard the Air America Radio network to discover it
for themselves, including audio clips, station listings, and even live
online streaming. So check it out.

And remember, we can only bring this progressive voice to Southeastern
Wisconsin with your financial help. No one else is going to do it for
us. Not Clear Channel. Not Sinclair. Not the Journal-Sentinel. If we
want it, we have to do it ourselves. And we can. So please become a
Founding Sponsor of Air America Milwaukee at:

http://www.logyourblog.com/WI

Encourage your friends to become Founding Sponsors too. Tell them to visit:

http://www.logyourblog.com/WI

We look forward to seeing you at happy hour on the 26th! Thank you for
supporting a progressive voice in Southeastern Wisconsin.

Peace,
The Milwaukee Air Force
http://AirAmericaMilwaukee.com

Just how extreme is Mark Green? See for yourself

2006-10-13T12:23:00.000-05:00

by Joe Wineke

The Democratic Party of Wisconsin has unveiled a new Web site, www.ExtremeMarkGreen.com, to highlight Congressman Mark Green’s extreme record.

What you’ll find on ExtremeMarkGreen.com:

How Extreme
See Congressman Green’s extreme record of turning record surpluses into record deficits, cutting education funding, trying to shut down life-saving stem cell research, giving tax breaks to the big oil and big drug companies, trying to criminalize a woman’s right to choose, and voting against the environment.

Illegal Money
Follow Congressman Green’s quest to hold on to half a million dollars in illegal PAC money.

Blog
Check out the latest on Congressman Green’s extreme vision for Wisconsin.

Survey
Compare your views with those of Congressman Green and see where you stand.

ExtremeMarkGreen.com sheds light on who really benefits with Congressman Green in office: the Washington special interests.

After a hard look at his record, the evidence is clear: Congressman Green is too extreme for Wisconsin.

A story of sex, politics and football in Green Bay

2006-10-11T18:58:00.000-05:00

This book is available from Amazon.Com

Sandy Sullivan is the Republican candidate for Wisconsin Secretary of State.

by Todd Richmond

Wednesday, October 11, 2006

MADISON, Wis. -- Sex! The Green Bay Packers! Sex WITH the Green Bay Packers! The usually ho-hum race for Wisconsin secretary of state is being spiced up by one candidate's naughty tell-all book about her bed-hopping exploits with Green Bay football legends during the team's glory days in the 1960s.

Sandy Sullivan, a 65-year-old Republican with no political experience, selfpublished a gushing memoir in 2004 titled "Green Bay Love Stories and Other Affairs" in which she claims she was the girlfriend of Green Bay Packers Paul Hornung and Dan Currie, defl ected a pass from Hall of Famer Don Hutson and was on the receiving end of a saucy comment from Richard Nixon.

If the book is to be believed, the Packers did a lot of their scoring off the field and Sullivan got her share of playing time.

In football-crazy Wisconsin, it is unclear whether the book will be a gain or a loss for Sullivan, who is not given much of a chance of beating Secretary of State Doug La Follette, a 28-year incumbent and a member of one of Wisconsin's most distinguished political families. But the book is getting people talking.

In it, she confi des that her goal was always to marry a football player, saying they are "fast, sleek and clean," are built like "Greek gods" and love women.

"The football players of the 1950s and '60s were every bit as 'HOT' as the men of the present day, if not more so," Sullivan writes of the days when she was a trim, miniskirted brunette who did some modelling. "Remember, the '60s was the 'dawning of the Age of Aquarius' and some women . . . were thrilled to experience this brave, new freedom and celebrate our sexuality . . . and the football players loved it!" Sullivan, now a blond, owns a marketing company that she says sets up autograph sessions and Packer appearances, is not hiding from her past. If anything, she is revelling in it. Her campaign website prominently mentions the book and features a picture of her with former Packers quarterback Bart Starr.

Sullivan says she was 19 in 1961 when she took a job with the Packers selling tickets and met Hornung, the Heisman Trophy-winning running back. She was instantly smitten with the wavy-haired golden boy known for his off-the-fi eld romantic exploits.

"Here he was, in the fl esh! Oh! My God! He was soooo CUTE! . . . He immediately asked me out and I immediately accepted," Sullivan wrote. She quickly learned "there are two things football players think about all the time . . . FOOTBALL AND SEX . . . and seldom in that order." She recounted an encounter with Hornung during training camp in which Hornung picked her up at 5:30 a.m. and drove to a Green Bay hotel for sex.

Some Packer coaches were in the lobby, so Hornung made her climb the fi re escape to the fi fth fl oor while he went in through the lobby.

Hornung broke down the door to the fi re escape, almost knocking her over the railing, she wrote. She wrote she doesn't remember having sex with him that night, "although I must have!" Hornung did not return numerous messages left by The Associated Press.

The book, however, includes a foreword in which he describes Sullivan as a "carefree, fun-loving girl who fi t right in with me and the rest of the 'Pack."' When she was 20 she met Hutson, who was 50 then and long past his playing days. She said Hutson asked her to sleep with him, but she turned him down because he was a "relic from the Stone Ages" and she was in love with Hornung.

She also fell for Currie, a Packers linebacker. ("SIGH! One would have to be in a coma not to want him," Sullivan wrote.) She later married Currie's dentist, Matt Sullivan. He died in 1984.

One time, Nixon came to Green Bay for a ceremony to honour Starr and Sullivan attended in a miniskirt. When Nixon began to speak, she started swinging her legs and smiling at him.

He returned the smile.

Later he shook her hand, leaned over into her and softly said, "Hello there . . . so you must be the CHERRY of the evening." No one was sure what Nixon meant, Sullivan wrote, though she speculated he had confused her with Starr's wife, Cherry.
© The StarPhoenix (Saskatoon) 2006

JUST A REMINDER ......

2006-10-10T15:43:00.000-05:00

OCTOBER IS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH!!

UW regents vote to oppose ban on gay marriage

2006-10-09T12:40:00.001-05:00

By RYAN J. FOLEY, The Associated Press
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MADISON — University of Wisconsin System regents voted Friday to oppose the Nov. 7 referendum banning gay marriage, saying it will hurt their ability to recruit and retain gay and lesbian employees.

Regents, who govern the UW System of 13 four-year universities and 13 two-year colleges, said the amendment would threaten the state's ability to provide domestic partner benefits.

A poll released Friday showed the amendment has enough support one month before the election to pass.

The regents have long lobbied the Legislature to lift a ban on health and other benefits for partners of gay employees. Lawmakers turned down their request last year, citing the cost and moral opposition to recognizing those relationships.

UW-Madison is the only Big 10 university that does not offer the benefits — a policy that recently prompted a star nanotechnology researcher to leave.

Regents approved a resolution on a voice vote at their meeting at University of Wisconsin-Platteville. Regent Gerard Randall, one of the few Republicans on the 17-member board, cast the only no vote.

Mike Tate, campaign manager for Fair Wisconsin, a group fighting the amendment, said the regents' resolution sends a strong message.

``They are such a broad group of people against it for so many different reasons,'' he said. ``They aren't doing this because they have some dog in the gay rights fight. They think this would harm the system's ability to be one of the best in the nation.''

But Rep. Mark Gundrum, R-New Berlin and an author of the amendment, said the regents are behaving like ``liberal activists.'' He contends the amendment would leave room for future legislation allowing civil unions or domestic partner benefits.

``They are trying to confuse the public into thinking this could affect domestic partner benefits when the amendment on marriage will in no way whatsoever affect any benefits at the university or anywhere else,'' he said.

The poll released Friday by WISC-TV in Madison showed 51 percent favor the amendment, while 42 percent are opposed. The poll of 600 likely voters had a margin of error of plus or minus four percentage points.

Regent Charles Pruitt of Milwaukee, who sponsored the resolution, said the regents probably would have stayed silent on the amendment if it addressed only gay marriage.

But he said the amendment's second sentence outlawing relationships ``substantially similar'' to marriage creates legal uncertainty over whether the state could provide domestic partner benefits. The sentence was designed to ban Vermont-style civil unions.

Pruitt acknowledged the regents risked a backlash at a time when the UW System has been under fire for budget problems and other policy matters.

``It's the old adage, why are you going out looking for trouble when trouble seems to be finding you?'' he said.

Christopher Semanas, a regent who is a UW-Parkside student, said the amendment could drive away ``young fantastic professionals that we are trying to attract to the state.''

``We are saying that we're standing up for a fair and tolerant Wisconsin,'' he said.

UW System President Kevin Reilly recommended the stance to the regents, according to a background paper drafted by staff. The paper noted that similar amendments in Michigan and Ohio have prompted legal disputes over whether governments can offer benefits there.

Measures banning gay marriage have passed in all 20 states where they have been on the ballot.

Rob Carpick, the UW-Madison nanotechnology researcher leaving for the University of Pennsylvania, ``is one visible record of the loss the state experiences due to the proposed constitutional ban and lack of benefits,'' the briefing paper said. UW does not track how many others have left or turned down offers.

Carpick is considered a star who had already brought UW $3.4 million in grants. He told The Associated Press in August he was departing because ``it's problematic to work in an environment where you are not treated equally.''
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Does Sensenbrenner Cash in on Undocumented Labor?

2006-10-08T06:54:00.000-05:00

By Roberto Lovato, New America Media. Posted October 7, 2006.
Republican Congressman James Sensenbrenner's stock holdings include investments in companies that benefit from the work of undocumented immigrants, as well as firms contracted to build new border security measures.
When President Bush signed into law on Oct. 4 a bill authorizing the construction of a 700-mile wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, the man who stood to reap the greatest political profits did not join the president in Arizona. Instead, Congressman James Sensenbrenner is back in his Milwaukee district fending off a growing chorus of local critics who claim he is also reaping financial profits from the very immigration policies he has championed.

Immigration rights advocates, the congressman's Democratic opponent and some constituents are pointing to Sensenbrenner's investments in companies they say are generating profits from the labor of undocumented immigrants. They also say the congressman stands to benefit from investments in companies contracted by the federal government to provide services he has proposed as part of his immigration reform legislation -- such as building massive immigrant detention centers or providing surveillance systems to monitor immigrants near the border.

An analysis of companies identified in Sensenbrenner's most recent financial disclosure forms (2005) reveals that the congressman has invested in companies that have directly hired or subcontracted with employers who hire undocumented workers.

Drawing especially strong criticism are the $86,500 in stocks Sensenbrenner holds in the construction and infrastructure colossus Halliburton. The Texas-based giant has been the subject of Senate hearings into its labor practices in the Gulf Coast following Hurricane Katrina. News reports and several panelists at Senate hearings have stated that Halliburton used subcontractors hiring hundreds, perhaps thousands of undocumented workers as part of no-bid federal contracts to cleanup Belle Chasse Naval base and other military facilities in the devastated region. Halliburton has also secured a $385 million Department of Homeland Security contract to build gigantic immigrant detention centers near the U.S.-Mexico border and stands to secure further contracts from proposals to reopen closed military bases to house deportees and detainees.

Halliburton has also been mentioned as one of the main contractors to build increased security infrastructure, security roads and improved employment verification systems at ports of entry.

Sensenbrenner owns more than $563,536 in General Electric stocks. GE's Security Unit has been a Pentagon subcontractor, providing video surveillance and other electronic security systems at the border. and contributed to Sensenbrenner through its employee PAC. Boeing, which recently secured a $2.5 billion contract order to install sensors, radar and cameras along the U.S. borders, is among the top contributors to Sensenbrenner's PAC.

Sensenbrenner's filings showed a total net worth in excess of $10 million in 2005, with just under $1 million in stock investments in Kimberly-Clark, maker of tissues and personal care products.

The multibillion dollar federal contracts and proposals to build the physical and virtual walls at the border -- which were signed into law on Oct. 4 -- were first proposed in Sensenbrenner's now historic immigration bill, HR 4437.

As November elections draw near, Sensenbrenner, like other elected officials, is spending more time in his district. But the immigration issue may not be giving him the political traction it once did. Usually predictable Town Hall meetings with constituents are increasingly becoming more heated. A June 25, 2006, town hall held in Thiensville, Wis., is revealing. Sensenbrenner was confronted by constituent Lester Schultz, who asked the congressman about the "moral and ethical" implications of investing in companies like Halliburton, which hire undocumented workers.

Sensenbrenner said the investments in question were "bequeathed to me before I began my public service." When pressed he insisted that his portfolio didn't affect his votes. "We don't believe it," some audience members responded.

Asked about Schultz' and others' criticisms of the congressman's investments in companies hiring undocumented workers and benefiting from immigration policies, Sensenbrenner spokesperson Jeff Lungren said, "I'm unaware of these complaints."

Sensenbrenner's HR 4437 calls for "systematic surveillance of the international land and maritime borders of the United States through more effective use of personnel and technology, such as unmanned aerial vehicles, ground-based sensors, satellites, radar coverage, and cameras."

Sensenbrenner's Democratic opponent in the upcoming Congressional race in Wisconsin's fifth district, Bryan Kennedy, has publicly asked Sensenbrenner to divest himself of Halliburton and other companies he believes benefit by hiring undocumented workers.

Sensenbrenner has criticized companies that profit from exploitative working conditions that, he recently said, make it "cheaper to hire an illegal alien than a citizen or a legal alien who is present in this country with a green card."

Other investments raising flags in Milwaukee include the $44,179 in shares Sensenbrenner holds in Darden Restaurants Inc. Darden operates chains like The Olive Garden and Red Lobster, which have been reported to employ undocumented workers. "Jose," a cook at a Red Lobster restaurant in the Milwaukee suburb of Wauwatosa in Sensenbrenner's district, was unaware that he was working for a company that made the Congressman that proposed "el Muro" (the wall) richer. "I don't have papers and had to cross the border from Mexico," Jose said. "Is he schizophrenic? Does he like our work and hate us?"

Cristina Neumann Ortiz, a Sensenbrenner constituent who organized the largest marches in Milwaukee history in response to HR 4437, finds typical the alleged contradiction between the congressman's anti-undocumented immigrant policies and rhetoric and his pro-undocumented stock portfolio. "This is a classic case of exploiting workers. He (Sensenbrenner) is for their work while doing everything he can to make sure that they don't get any rights. I see this among exploitative employers. I see it in Congress."

After finishing his shrimp scampi at the Red Lobster restaurant in Wauwatosa, Sensenbrenner constituent Jim Rehtman defended the congressman. Rehtman was joined by his nephew, John, a tattooed trucker who stood in the restaurant lobby wearing a T-shirt with a large American flag that read "Welcome to America…NOW LEARN ENGLISH."

"I support what he's doing to try to stop those illegals," said Rehtman, a 73-year-old retired welder.

Asked how he felt about the fact that his food may have been prepared by one of the undocumented workers interviewed for this story, a cook in the back kitchen, Rehtman leaned his head sideways, raised his shoulders and said, "I don't like it. Not one bit. They shouldn't be back there. That's why we need to change the laws." When told that Sensenbrenner, who recently referred to employers of the undocumented as "21st-century slave masters," was also an investor in the company that owned Red Lobster, Rehtman shook his head.

"Car salesmen and politicians, they both..." He then stopped short. "I don't want to insult car salesmen that way."

Roberto Lovato is a New America Media writer based in New York.

African-American Leaders Oppose Ban of Civil Unions and Marriage

2006-10-06T18:42:00.000-05:00

Fair Wisconsin announced that a number of Milwaukee area African-American leaders, including elected officials and clergy, oppose the civil unions and marriage ban.

The leaders below signed the following statement:

"We the undersigned are opposed to the constitutional amendment that would write discrimination into the constitution by making domestic partnerships and civil unions permanently illegal in our state. If enacted this would be the first time that the Wisconsin Constitution has been used to limit people's freedoms. It would establish a very dangerous precedent. As African American leaders who have participated in and benefited from the historic struggle for civil rights we are opposed to discrimination in any and all forms."

Elected Officials
Former Secretary of State Vel Phillips
Congresswoman Gwen Moore
State Senator Lena Taylor
State Senator Spencer Coggs
Assembly Rep. Jason Fields
Assembly Rep. Leon Young
Assembly Rep. Tamara Grigsby
Assembly Rep. Robert Turner
Assembly Rep. Barbara Toles
Milwaukee County Supervisor James G. White
Milwaukee County Supervisor Elizabeth Coggs-Jones
Milwaukee City Alderman Michael McGee, Jr.
Milwaukee City Alderman Willie C. Wade
Supervisor Willie Johnson Jr.

Clergy
Pastor Olin Arrington
Pastor Robert Redd
Reverend Joseph Jackson
Reverend William E. Robbins
Pastor Charles Thornhill
Pastor Robert Wilson
Pastor Oscar Elim
Pastor Charles Green
Reverend Lloyd Wright
Reverend J.R. Walton
Reverend Martin Childs
Reverend Charles Watkins

GOD'S POLITICS author to appear at Schwartz booksellers, Downer Ave, Tuesday, October 24, 7:00 pm

2006-10-06T13:19:00.000-05:00

Wisconsin State Lawmaker Suggests Arming Teachers To Fight School Violence

2006-10-06T06:08:00.000-05:00

MADISON, Wis

(AP) A state lawmaker, worried about a recent string of deadly school shootings, suggested arming teachers, principals and other school personnel as a safety measure and a deterrent.

It might not be politically correct, but it has worked effectively in other countries, Republican Rep. Frank Lasee said Wednesday.

"To make our schools safe for our students to learn, all options should be on the table," he said. "Israel and Thailand have well-trained teachers carrying weapons and keeping their children safe from harm. It can work in Wisconsin."

In Thailand, where officials have been waging a bloody fight with Muslim separatists for the last two years, some teachers carry weapons for self defense as they are viewed as part of the government. In Israel, teachers are not allowed to carry weapons in the school, but security guards at the entrances are armed.

Lasee said he planned to introduce legislation that would allow school personnel to carry concealed weapons. He stressed that it would hinge on school staff members getting strict training on the use of the weapons, and he acknowledged he would have to work around a federal law that bans guns on school grounds.

The director of school safety for Milwaukee Public Schools, Pete Pochowski, opposed the idea.

"Statistically, the safest place for a child to be is in school," Pochowski said. "We have problems in our schools, but not to the point where we need to arm our teachers and principals."

Last week, a 15-year-old Wisconsin student was arrested in the shooting death of Weston Schools Principal John Klang. The criminal complaint said the teen brought guns to school to confront students, teachers and the principal.

©MMVI, The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Chase sells downtown Milwaukee tower

2006-10-05T14:35:00.000-05:00

The Business Journal of Milwaukee - 10:13 AM CDT Thursday

J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. has sold the Chase Tower in downtown Milwaukee to a Canadian real estate investment firm as part of a large portfolio that it sold for $460 million.

Various affiliates of the New York City financial corporation (NYSE: JPM) sold 5.3 million square feet in 33 commercial properties in 10 states to the Brookfield Real Estate Opportunity Fund of Brookfield Asset Management Inc., Toronto.

Brookfield Asset Management did not disclose a price for the 450,000-square-foot, 22-floor Milwaukee building, which was assessed at $34 million in 2006.

J.P. Morgan's banking subsidiary, JP Morgan Chase Bank N.A., has signed long-term lease agreements for significant portions of the space.

Service Taps Community to ID Mail Scams

2006-10-05T13:29:00.000-05:00

By The Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) - A new service for fighting e-mail fraud seeks to tap the wisdom of the Internet community: Anyone will be able to submit suspected scams for others to vote up or down.

Freedom Networks LLC's OpenDNS, which provides free directory services necessary to translate a Web site's domain name into its actual numeric Internet address, developed the system to help block its users from so-called phishing sites. Such sites look real, but are actually scams to collect banking passwords and other personal information.

David Ulevitch, the company's chief executive, said the lists of phishing sites he had weren't all that good. He launched PhishTank this week under the belief the community could collectively do better - at no charge.

Users simply submit to PhishTank.com the messages they believe are scams.

Others then examine the message and the site to which it links and decide whether it is or isn't a scam. When an item gets enough votes and the margin is wide enough, it is either dropped or classified as a phishing message. To prevent scammers from trying to game the system, votes are weighed based on how long, how often and how accurate one has rated other messages.

More than 300 messages have been verified as scams as of Wednesday afternoon.

PhishTank isn't the first to seek the community's input to fight scams, but Ulevitch said that unlike the others, the company is offering access to the database for rivals to use for free.

- Anick Jesdanun, AP Internet Writer.

THE PHISH TANK NEWS FEED CAN BE FOUND ON THIS PAGE! FIND IT NEAR THE BOTTOM OF THE RIGHT COLUMN.

BudgetTravelOnline.com: "A Softy for Milwaukee"

2006-10-02T21:58:00.000-05:00

The city has always been a nice place. Recent improvements, however, have also made it a nice place to visit

Ted Loos

At 17, I was never too pooped to polka. I grew up in the suburbs of Milwaukee, and on Friday nights, a group of friends from high school and I would go to a restaurant outside town called Etzel's. It was a classic wood-paneled German-American joint, the kind of place where Friday night's fish fry was the biggest event around. We would drink beer, and once the polka band started up, we'd swing into action. Part of the fun was asking folks to join us in kicking up our heels to "Roll Out the Barrel."

It was a blast, but it was also proof of something I feared: Milwaukee was irredeemably dorky. In the mid-1980s, the city was most famous for Laverne & Shirley, a reference still maddeningly brought up by everyone not from there. A friendly, safe place to grow up? Definitely. But cool it was not.

At the time, I didn't understand a fundamental principle by which Milwaukeeans live. They feel their hometown is a wonderful place that, with a little effort, could get even better.

I went to Milwaukee recently, accompanied by Sam and Stephanie, two high school friends who were my polka partners at Etzel's, and we were pleasantly surprised by the results of that can-do spirit. Take the Milwaukee Art Museum. I had always been put off by the severe modernism of the 1957 Eero Saarinen building. But I loved what was inside, especially a groovy walk-in conceptual art piece that simulated deep space. Putting a treasure like that in such a building seemed like storing a bouquet of roses in a filing cabinet.

I later came to love modernism. Even as I changed, however, the museum changed, too. In 2001, Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava installed a 90-foot-high reception hall topped by movable louvers--in essence, a huge sunroof. And it gave the city a skyline icon--a mast-like spire with two wings that soar out over Lake Michigan. Constructing the enormously expensive building got the museum into financial troubles. To me, it felt like Milwaukee was finally reaching for the stars, which can mean overreaching a bit.

Back in the day, overreaching mainly applied to portions of food. Quantity, not quality, was the culinary rule. My friend Diane and I used to joke about wearing out the treads in our shoes because we made so many trips to a favorite buffet.

Certainly there were exceptions. My parents introduced me and my sister to morels and other fancy foods at Sanford's, back when restaurants like that were rare. Today Sanford's is in good company. In 1999, the chef/owner at Sanford's, Sandy D'Amato, opened Coquette Cafe, a wonderful bistro. Eating coq au vin with smoked bacon, I could just as easily have been in New York or Paris. Roots, which styles itself after the artisanal restaurants of California, is a terrific addition to the scene. One of the restaurant's partners grows organic produce on a 67-acre farm outside of town. The unusual dishes--grilled pigeon peas with a green chili and tomato confit--are a far cry from a fish fry. And now home chefs have all the artisanal ingredients they need, thanks to the new Milwaukee Public Market, with food from local farmers and purveyors.

The food scene isn't the only thing being updated. A neighborhood called Avenues West is in the midst of a long-necessary revival. It has a glorious architectural past; the westernmost stretch of Wisconsin Avenue was a late-19th- century Milwaukee version of Millionaire's Row. Many of the mansions had been torn down, however, and for the past few decades, Avenues West didn't have much tourist appeal. One grand building that was spared is the Ambassador Hotel, an art deco beauty built in 1928. (In the 1950s, a relative of mine was married there.) As a bellboy cheerfully told me, the hotel had become downright "nasty," and last year, it emerged from a spiffy transformation. Stephanie and Sam, raised in the suburbs like I was, were skeptical when I told them about the Ambassador's location. But once they saw the restored marble floors and etched-glass sconces in the lobby, they were impressed.

On our last day, we had a whole lot of plans. Unfortunately, Etzel's wasn't in the cards, because it has closed. But we were able to revisit another old favorite: Kopp's, a 1950s-style hamburger joint with top-notch frozen custards. The staff is earnest in that Milwaukee way ("I'm sorry, we sure don't have any more Butter Brickle"). Then we went to a Brewers game. I was ready to hate Miller Park, the new baseball stadium. I thought the domed glass-and-steel building would be a little too shiny.

The concrete floors of the stadium positively gleamed, and there was corporate sponsorship everywhere. But Bob Uecker, famous for being jokingly clueless in Miller Lite commercials, was still doing the radio broadcast, and a mascot went down a long slide when the Brew Crew got a hit--just as we remembered.

The Brewers won, and the organist even played a strain of "Roll Out the Barrel" to celebrate a hit. To three veteran polka fans, it sure felt like home.

Lodging

# Ambassador Hotel 2308 W. Wisconsin Ave., 414/342-8400, ambasshotel.com, from $99

Food

# Coquette Cafe 316 N. Milwaukee St., 414/291-2655, coq au vin $17

# Roots 1818 N. Hubbard St., 414/374-8480, pigeon pea appetizer $8

# Kopp's 5373 N. Port Washington Rd., 414/961-3288, scoop $1.80

Activities

# Milwaukee Art Museum 700 N. Art Museum Dr., 414/224-3220, $8

# Miller Park 1 Brewers Way, 414/902-4400

# Public Market 400 N. Water St., 414/336-1111

U.S. SENATOR BARACK OBAMA to Visit Milwaukee

2006-10-02T19:59:00.000-05:00

In association with Harry W. Schwartz booksellers, Obama will make an appearance in Milwaukee. The Illinois Senator and rising star in the Democratic party delivers an eloquent and hard-hitting book that proclaims his vision for American politics.

Tuesday, October 31, Pitman Theatre - 12:00 pm
Noon event - boxed lunches will be available for $9.50 (request when ordering tickets)
- $32 ticket includes a copy of The Audacity of Hope

Visit www.alverno.edu for ticket information.

In late March 2005, Obama announced his first proposed Senate bill, the Higher Education Opportunity through Pell Grant Expansion Act of 2005 (HOPE Act), which aims to raise the maximum amount of Pell Grant awards to help assist American college students with paying for their tuition. Obama announced the bill at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and said, "Everywhere I go, I hear the same story: 'We work hard, we pay our bills, we put away savings, but we just don't know if it's going to be enough when that tuition bill comes.'"

In May 2006, Obama campaigned to maintain a $0.54 per gallon tariff on imported ethanol. Obama justified the tariff by joining Senator Durbin in stating that "ethanol imports are neither necessary nor a practical response to current gasoline prices," arguing instead that domestic ethanol production is sufficient and expanding.

Also in May of 2006, Obama campaigned to reform immigration law to provide a path to citizenship for undocumented workers currently in the United States through a system of fines and back taxes, learning English, satisfying a work requirement, and passing a background check. Obama also called for greater security on the border with Mexico.

In June 2006, Obama campaigned against making recent, temporary estate tax cuts permanent, calling the cuts a "Paris Hilton" tax break for "billionaire heirs and heiresses". He was one of forty-one Democratic and Republican Senators who voted to prevent a bill to eliminate or shrink taxes on inherited estates from advancing in the Senate.

In July of 2006 Obama teamed with Senators Coburn (R-OK), Carper (D-DE), and McCain (R-AZ) to introduce S. 2590, the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act, the purpose of which is to provide citizens with a website, managed by the Office of Management and Budget, which would list all organizations receiving Federal funds from 2007 onward, providing breakdowns based on the agency allocating the funds, the dollar amount given and the purpose of the grant or contract.

Presidential ambitions

Obama's keynote speech to the 2004 Democratic National Convention brought his speaking skill, unique personal story, and inclusive message before a national audience, fueling expectations that the energetic politician would some day run for U.S. President. Speculation on a 2008 presidential run intensified after his decisive U.S. Senate election win in November 2004, prompting Obama to tell reporters: "I can unequivocally say I will not be running for national office in four years". Asked again in a January 2006 television appearance on Meet the Press, Obama repeated his intention to finish his Senate term.

Nonetheless, Illinois senior U.S. Senator Dick Durbin has consistently urged Obama to consider running. A December 2005 article published in the The New Republic, reasoned that, with no incumbent president or vice president in the race, 2008 offers Obama his best chance at winning the presidency.

In September 2006, Obama's Senate primary opponent Daniel Hynes, in an open letter published in the Chicago Sun-Times, urged Democrats to draft Obama for the 2008 Presidential race. Also in September, Obama was the featured speaker at Iowa Senator Tom Harkin's annual steak fry, a political event favored by presidential hopefuls in the lead-up to the Iowa caucus. "What a wonderful reception; I’m going to have to come to Iowa again", the New York Times quoted Obama as saying before he began his speech.

THE Milwaukee Blog

Mayor Barrett and County Executive Walker debate Transportation - moderated by Mike Gousha

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AirTran Agent Screams, Curses At Travelers While Supervisor Looks On

Come to the First Ever Protect Wisconsin's Vote Summit - Thursday, July 24

GALLERY NIGHT

UrbanMilwaukee.com Official Launch

Bartolotta’s Lake Park Bistro Executive Chef Named Best Chef in Midwest

Your Chance to Hear New York Times Best Seller David Sirota

Demand more from your radio dial

HISTORY IS MADE in St. Paul! - Barack Obama, June 3, 2008

Commuter Bus Ridership Up in Milwaukee, But After Years of Service Cuts It Won’t Be Able to Handle Increase

Congratulations!

GOP Fails To Recruit Minority Candidates

What if God Were One of Us?

LENA TAYLOR GIVES OBAMA HER SUPERDELEGATE VOTE

Legislature to Close Wal-Mart Loophole

Downtown a Cost-Effective and Time-Efficient Alternative for UWM Expansion

Miller Park second in SI fan survey

Barbara Walters to visit Milwaukee Press Club

John McCain: "NAFTA Has Created Millions Of Jobs"

Is John McCain the Right Choice for America's Future?

Mayor Tom Barrett Supports UWM Expansion in the City of Milwaukee

BOTH SIDES SIZE UP IMMIGRATION DEBATE AS ANOTHER ‘DAY WITHOUT LATINOS’ APPROACHES

Midwest Airlines to lay off 109, cut back schedule

Map of Memories - Wild Space Dance Company's Season Finale

Finley to discuss museum's future at Newsmaker Luncheon

Big Tax Breaks for Businesses in Housing Bill

Condi Must Go - Watch the Smoking Gun Video

Help Russ End The War

Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition Opens October 10, 2008

THREE TRILLION DOLLAR SHOPPING SPREE

OneMilwaukee.org

Milwaukee Common Council Endorses UWM Expansion in the City of Milwaukee

PROTECT MILWAUKEE'S FUTURE

RETURN JUSTICE BUTLER TO THE WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT

THE NIGHT IS A CHILD

Budget Veto Highlights Walker's Fiscal Mismanagement

Milwaukee-area unemployment at 5.5 percent

Admirals to Pack the House for MACC

A MESSAGE FROM LENA TAYLOR

MARCH MADNESS – MILWAUKEE’S EAST TOWN VS. WESTOWN ASSOCIATIONS TO MEET

Walker Again Refuses To Improve Transit System

Taylor Endorsed by Latino Coalition for Political Action

BEING POOR

Forbes: Milwaukee an 'up-and coming' tech center

GROUP WANTS UWM ENGINEERING SCHOOL DOWNTOWN

FIRST KINCAID’S RESTAURANT IN WISCONSIN ANNOUNCES SEARCH FOR “LOCAL KINCAIDS” TO CELEBRATE GRAND OPENING

Milwaukee Group Wants to Bronze the Fonz

NEW BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT COMING TO MILWAUKEE

POLL SUGGESTS WALKER SLIPPING WHILE SEARCH FOR CHALLENGER CONTINUES

5TH ANNUAL MILWAUKEE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

EAST SIDE EDWARDO'S CLOSES

Director: Milwaukee a fresh alternative for Hollywood

MILWAUKEE BIRTHDAY PARTY SET FOR JAN. 31

MIDWEST AIR PRESIDENT DEFENDS DECISION TO SPURN AIRTRAN

AIDS Set To Be 3rd Largest Killer

WisconsinEye set to air by May 2007

Wal-Mart Charged with Selling Nonorganic Food as Organic

FAST FOOD NATION movie OPENS THURSDAY!

HBO SPECIAL Hacking Democracy

﻿Should Voting be Hazardous to Your Health?

A Fair Wisconsin Votes NO !!

OUR ENDORSEMENTS ARE OBVIOUS!

It's all been for this moment!

Michael J. Fox is Coming to Milwaukee this Monday

THE Milwaukee Blog Nominated for MKE online's Blog of the Week contest!!

Rally with President Bill Clinton in Milwaukee

Thousands Gather To Support Doyle - Cheers for Obama!

BRING THE TROOPS HOME RALLY - Saturday

PRESIDENT CLINTON to Honor GOVERNOR DOYLE in Milwaukee

Rush Limbaugh, Mark Green Attack Michael J. Fox Ad

General Robert Gard Monday, October 30, 7:30 PM at First Unitarian Church

Michael J. Fox Supports Governor Doyle!

"THE EXONERATED" Six Riveting Stories About Innocence, Injustice and Redemption, to be screened Sunday, October 29

IS IT TIME TO BOYCOTT WISN?

Limbaugh: Michael J. Fox Exploited Disease

GOD'S POLITICS author to appear at Schwartz booksellers, Downer Ave, tomorrow night, 7:00 pm

Thank You, Shepherd Express for the Great Cover Story: 10 Reasons to Vote "NO" on the Marriage Amendment!!

A Message from John Kerry

Should Voting be Hazardous to Your Health?