BIRTHDAY WIMP SURRENDERS

Let's Have a Party!
There's nothing quite like an unexpected check to put a boy into a partying mood. Therefore, I am giving up the birthday wimpishness which has enveloped me and have decided to have a little fun in my neighborhood tomorrow, Saturday February 25th, at Circa, 1754 N. Franklin Place. [1 414 272-4722.] We'll keep this rather low-key and early; so let's start at 6 p.m. and run it out for a couple of hours, but nothing too crazy, of course. I'll also have a quarter barrel of Riverwest Stein Beer in my backyard, so come thirsty, and probably come back Sunday so we can finish the thing off.
Pardon the short notice.
Michael Horne
1 414 315-2991

[Editor's note: Michael John Horne was born on February 25th, 1954 in St. Anthony's Hospital, 1004 N. 10th St., quite literally in the shadow of the Milwaukee County Courthouse. He has not had the occasion to revisit the site of his birth, which is a good thing, since it now serves as the Milwaukee County Community Correctional Center.]

HARLEY DESIGN REVEALED

Milwaukee-- 24 February 2006 --Harley-Davidson today unveiled designs for its proposed museum to be developed on 20 acres in the Menomonee River Valley. The museum will be at the corner of S. Sixth and W. Canal streets. An image of the design is shown here.
The 130,000 sq. ft. museum is expected to open in 2008; construction will commence later in the first half of this year, according to information from the company, a motorcycle manufacturing concern founded in Milwaukee in 1903.
The lead design architect is Pentagram, of New York. Hammel, Green and Abramson of Milwaukee will be the architect of record, and M. A. Mortenson Company of Milwaukee will handle the construction management.


Milwaukee, February 23rd 2006

Dear Reader –

Thank you for dropping in to Milwaukeeworld today as the sun finally makes a showing in the sky, even though shrouded by the clouds. It still is a gayer sight than what we have dealt with for the last couple of months, and aren’t you happy to see the word “gay” used in its original meaning?

Well, we’re practically giddy around here, especially since the weather is giving us some impetus to get out and explore whatever part of the city we can enjoy.

This might be a good time to update you on a couple of stories we have been following here. For starters, art dealer Michael H. Lord pled guilty to charges of theft in a business setting. We wrote about his complicated business dealings here in the past. Sentencing is set for May. The man will do time. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel at long last wrote a rather in-depth piece about Lord, and the as many as 20 (or more) of his customers who were bilked out of the proceeds of the artwork they had entrusted to him over the years. C’mon folks – he wasn’t that charming! Anyway, I’ve practically made a career writing about this guy, and I certainly provided much information to Journal Sentinel writers about Lord over the years, and the paper just would not bite. I wonder how many people would have had their artwork or their money if the paper had done its job years ago.

Also, the residents of the Mequon Thiensville school district turned out in crazy big numbers to defeat a referendum that would have allowed the district to overspend its state-mandated budget. As a result, class sizes will be larger and there will be fewer teachers employed. In addition, maintenance will be deferred, there will be only one librarian on duty at a time, and who knows what else.

Mequon is an affluent community, located in Ozaukee County, which is not only one of America’s wealthiest counties, but also one of its least-impoverished. Homestead High School – the district’s only high school – consistently graduates virtually every student who attends, and sends practically every one of them on to college.

If there is something that is not working at Homestead, I don’t see it – yet. I probably will in a few years when the budget reductions take full effect.

Do let me hear from you,

Michael Horne

Editor / Publisher

1 414 978-8039

BOBOT A DRAW AT FUNDRAISER

Mo’s Cucina, 717 N. Plankinton Ave., was the site Wednesday, February 22^nd of a fundraiser for Vince Bobot, a candidate for sheriff in the democratic primary election against incumbent DINO David A. Clarke, Jr.

Over 200 people came and went during the course of the two hour reception that began at 5:30 p.m., filling the place nearly to capacity for an election that will not be held until September, which is quite an accomplishment, especially for an outsider who is taking on an incumbent of his own party.

Also telling was the quality of the attendees, who came from a broad spectrum of Milwaukee’s political elite. Former Mayor Marvin Pratt was there, which tells you something, as was what appeared to be the entire board and executive committee of the Milwaukee County Deputy Sheriffs’ Association IUPA Local 26, AFL-CIO.

Former Governor Martin Schreiber was there, as was Atty. John Germanotta, out for the second time that week, having spent the previous evening at the Brady Street Area Association annual Chili fundraiser at Engine House #6 on Brady Street.

J.D. Watts was there campaigning; practicing for his fundraiser Thursday, February 23^rd at DeLind Fine Arts, 400 E. Mason St. Former Health Commissioner Seth Foldy was in the house, as was Robert Krug ex-County Board member and Ald. Tony Zielinski, of the Milwaukee Common Council. Bill Ward was there representing the Milwaukee Police Association.

The event was light on speechifying, and large on socialization, a fitting way to break the ice on a brand new political year. The chow included pasta in a red sauce, breaded and fried somethings that might have been chicken and / or fish (didn’t try ‘em) and cookies.

The patriotic desserters in the crowd helped themselves to a chocolate and white cake decorated with birthday greetings for George Washington.

--Michael Horne

HARLEY DESIGN REVEALED

SEARCH ON FOR GREEN COMMISSIONER

GREEN COMMISSIONER NEEDED

Dear Reader,

Do you have the “ability to exercise sensitive judgment and maintain composure under stress?”Let’s hope so if you plan to become the city of Milwaukee’s Director of Environmental Sustainability, a new a non-civil service position created by the mayor, and subject to his appointment. Those serene qualities are listed as number 8 among the qualifications sought. [Here is the application]. This is a cabinet level position, and the successful candidate will report directly to the mayor."The Director manages all activities of the Office of Environmental Sustainability, reports to the Mayor of Milwaukee and has cabinet level stature. This position advises the Mayor, Common Council and City departments on strategies and policy direction to improve Milwaukee's environmental performance related to stormwater management, energy efficiency, air and water quality, solid waste, recycling and green business development. The Director will provide professional direction in the development and implementation of a Citywide 'Green Action Plan.'
The pay starts at $70,767 per year, and can reach, by increments, $99,074. Those who lose their composure under stress, or are insensitive in their judgment need not apply.

The “creative, resourceful and industrious” [Qualification 5] candidate will also have the “ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with elected officials, other City employees, citizens, media, community organizations, the foundation community, the private sector and other agencies.” [Qualification 7]. You do know the local foundation community, don’t you?

What is the “Office of Environmental Sustainability?”

According to the job description, the “Office of Environmental Sustainability resulted from the efforts of over 80 committed Milwaukeeans convened by Mayor Tom Barrett in April 2005 to map the future course of Milwaukee's efforts to be ‘green.’

“This office will be the primary mechanism for the Mayor to ensure that Green goals and strategies are incorporated into the City's day-to-day operations. It will also leverage the resources of people and organizations outside of government to pursue community goals.”

Does that sound bureaucratic to you? Shame! The job description goes on to tell us

“The Green Team views this office not as a new bureaucratic structure, but as an investment in Milwaukee that will save costs in the long term and improve operational efficiencies.”

You have until March 10^th to submit your application.

--Michael Horne

WISCONSIN ETHICS: A PART TIME JOB

WISCONSIN ETHICS – A PART TIME JOB!

Brought to you as a public service by milwaukeeworld

By Michael Horne

You’re an honorable person, so hurry up and sign on as the State of Wisconsin’s Ethics Specialist. Our vigilant guardians of the public’s right to honest government have decided you can do the job in just 30 hours per week.

The Wisconsin Ethics Board wants somebody with “excellent communications skills and analytic ability” to join the board’s staff in Madison.

Your duties:

* Administer the Board's program for the disclosure of financial

interests by public officials;

* Assist in administering the Board's program for registration and

reporting for lobbyists and lobbying organizations;

* Communicate the Board's activities and actions to the public and

develop guidelines and other materials for dissemination to press, public and government officials;

* Work collegially to maintain and enhance the Board's databases and web site for recording and disseminating financial interest information; and

* Interpret ethics code and lobbying law for elected and appointed

government officials, lobbyists and lobby organizations.

But wait, there’s more – the starting salary can be as much as $29,750 – why, that’s equivalent to an annualized full-time salary of $39,667.

Still not convinced that this is the job for you? Think again! You’ll be eligible for a two percent raise in July, a dollar and twenty cent raise after a year and another one per cent increase in April 2007. That will bring your earnings all the way up to $32,539 – why that’s almost 75 per cent of the salary of the legislators you’ll be policing – with only a fraction of the work.

submit your resume now! Deadline is March 7^th.

CRUISE MILWAUKEE

AHOY! CRUISE SHIPS TO CALL ON PORT OF MILWAUKEE

(a milwaukeeworld exclusive)
By Michael Horne

Three ships plan to make a total of nine calls on the Port of Milwaukee this summer, according to information from the Port of Milwaukee. Great Lakes Cruising Co., an Ann Arbor, Michigan firm, manages all cruise ships in the Great Lakes. This is the firm’s eighth year offering cruises of our inland seas. According to the firm’s website, www.greatlakescruising.com, a number of trips – some lasting up to two weeks – are available.

The Great Lakes provide an intermediate sort of ship travel, coupling some of the openness of the high seas with the intimacy and frequent ports of call reminiscent of European ships that cruise the rivers and canals of that continent.

In fact, it was a German firm that revived the concept of Great Lakes cruising in 1997 when the newly-launched MV Christopher Columbus of the Hapag-Lloyd fleet ferried 400 people, mostly Germans, around the Great Lakes. The ship, which was specifically built to accommodate Great Lakes locks, returns to the scene this year with three trips, none of which will stop in Milwaukee.

However, as June approaches you might want to climb up to the widow’s walk where you will espy the Niagara Prince heading to our shores on the 17^th. It will pay another call in Milwaukee on June 26^th, to be followed by the Grande Mariner on July 7^th and 16^th and August 4^th.

Later that month, beginning on the 8^th, the Nantucket Clipper will pay weekly stops to our city.

The resumption of Great Lakes passenger cruises is a welcome sign for the continued vitality of Milwaukee. Europeans, it seems, are crazy about our lakes, which they lack.