Milwaukee World

MAYOR'S HAND WILL REQUIRE FURTHER SURGERY

horne.milwaukeeworld@gmail.com (Michael Horne) — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 19:08:00 +0000

Barrett Announces New Manufacturing Plant in Valley

Above: Ingeteam xDBF. We will be manufacturing these things in the Valley, the Mayor says.

By Michael Horne

Six months after an attack that caused broken bones, and three months after he declared his candidacy for governor, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett delivered his State of the City Address at the international headquarters of Manpower, Inc.

Manpower is a worldwide employment company, which despite its sexist name even offers jobs for women! (Someday they'll change the name to "Peoplepower," and we'll all have a good laugh.)

Over 400 attended the mayor's address, centered on his typical "jobs" theme. He talked about C&D Technologies, which will employ an additional 150 workers here to crank out lithium ion batteries for the Army.

He made a special announcement that a Spanish firm named Ingeteam plans to build generators for wind farms at a new plant in the Menomonee Valley. Now he says it's time to get cracking at the 84-acre Century City -- the former Tower Automotive site.

The mayor also thanked the attending multitudes and did a shout-out to a number of those in the audience.

His speech was 10 pages long, and I had him autograph my copy, which he did right-handed this time, with some difficulty.

His right hand, unfortunately, has not healed well, and the mayor says he will have to undergo surgery to re-break and re-set his hand. I can imagine how unappealing it must be to have to get your bones busted voluntarily. ~~The mayor added the procedure will be undertaken by a different surgeon than he employed in August.~~

[I misunderstood the mayor to say the surgeon was different. He just said he would have a different person break his hand, meaning his assailant. He is employing the services of the same surgeon.]

Just take one look at his hand, and you'll agree that's a prudent decision. You don't see many claws like that outside a lobster tank.

FEBRUARY'S MOST WANTED

Here is the Most Wanted Poster issued by the Police Department for February. I had a pest of a time downloading this thing. Don't recognize a soul.

MILWAUKEE HAS CHANCE AS GOOGLE BROADBAND TEST CITY

horne.milwaukeeworld@gmail.com (Michael Horne) — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 21:26:00 +0000

EXTRA! EXTRA! EXTRA!

We Must Act on Google's Request For Information

Our Municipal Underground Conduit System is Key Advantage

Special to the Readers of Milwaukeeworld.com

By Michael Horne

And The Milwaukee World Hound Dog Team

Google is planning to launch an experiment that we hope will make Internet access better and faster for everyone. We plan to test ultra-high speed broadband networks in one or more trial locations across the country. Our networks will deliver Internet speeds more than 100 times faster than what most Americans have access to today, over 1 gigabit per second, fiber-to-the-home connections. We'll offer service at a competitive price to at least 50,000 and potentially up to 500,000 people.

From now until March 26th, we're asking interested municipalities to provide us with information about their communities through a Request for information (RFI), which we'll use to determine where to build our network.

--Message from Google, Inc. posted yesterday, February 10, 2010

All right, Milwaukee, time to get to work! Google, Inc. has issued an appeal to government officials at the State, County and Local levels to nominate their communities for a test program to provide true high speed internet service.

Competition will be tight, but it is urgent that the City of Milwaukee act this time.

Here is a link for you, as a citizen, to tell Google why Milwaukee should be its test market. Here is a link for governments to make their applications.

I'll wait right here while you send your message to Google.

Whoever you are, make sure to note in your nomination Milwaukee's superior underground communications conduit system, part of the Infrastructure Services Division of the Department of Public Works. The existence of this system could put Milwaukee at a true advantage for a change, since the conduit is in place, and has been for 110 years. Few other communities have such a conduit, and it is expected that any great broadband deployment in those cities would require tremendous capital expense that we have been spared due to the prudence of our forefathers. Plus, the City has an entire body of law in place governing use of its conduit by others -- another advantage.

Early in the Barrett administration, the city toyed with the idea of granting conduit access to a firm that proposed a citywide Wireless system. This department was not too fond of the proposed system, and the firm was never able to raise sufficient funds to progress. [See 2004 Milwaukeeworld item below.]

Google, however, does have the money, and Milwaukee has the need. Tell your aldermen, tell the mayor, tell City Engineer Jeff Polenske and DPW Commissioner Jeff Mantes that they can't go home until they get this application in Google's hands. (You don't have to bother telling Scott Walker. It might confuse him.) The response deadline is March 26th, 2010, and we better have one.

=========

Milwaukeeworld item from 2004:

http://www.milwaukeeworld.com/html/horne/h-041206.php

BROADBAND II

MILWAUKEE’S SECRET ASSET

Last week we visited the topic of Broadband, which you could loosely define as encompassing the future of everything for this city. With such significance, it is no surprise that Broadband is of importance to all cities, including many much larger than Milwaukee.
Should we give up, and let the flow of information to our homes and businesses remain a trinkle while it gushes in such outposts as New Zealand, China, India and Africa?
If not, then what natural advantage does Milwaukee possess that would enable it to enter the front ranks of information centers?
The answer: our unique and foresighted infrastructure.
In 1890 the City of Milwaukee created a municipal conduit system to interconnect the fire and police stations with call boxes. Local residents recognize these old call boxes as ornate cast iron columns six feet tall and usually painted blue. The call boxes were distributed along the paths of the beat cops, providing a means of landline communications within each four-block area.
Over the years these municipal rights-of-way have been upgraded and expanded to include street light power, light and traffic control systems as well as communications links between city offices, and other uses, some classified.
Why is this important?
Pre-existing conduit can dramatically reduce the cost of installing fiber-optic cable. That conduit can be used to deploy high capacity broadband throughout the city – not simply on trunk lines like Broadway, as is the case now.
Few cities could be as easily “wired” (and “wirelessed”) as Milwaukee; the cost savings could be sufficiently significant to place us at an international competitive advantage.
Our city neighborhoods would pulse with information, and companies would be attracted to our city.
Milwaukee proudly markets its many virtues, yet its sales pitch often falls on deaf ears. In the global information economy, companies are not particularly interested where they locate – the work can be anywhere on the planet, provided the locality has sufficient and dependable broadband.
Milwaukee was known as the city that produced nuts and bolts. We made the machines that made the infrastructure of other cities.
Now, in a service and information economy, it is vital that we pay attention to our own superior infrastructure and adapt the 19th century marvel to its 21st century promise.
It is not a technological hurdle we face.
It is a political one.
Despite the fact that “we ought to be aggressively pursuing getting broadband built-out in this city,” according to City Information Officer Randy Gschwind, “we may have lost business,” due to a lack of a comprehensive strategy – a will – to get the job done.
It doesn’t help that the legislature has made it exceedingly difficult for municipalities to set up their own broadband entities (so long, Sewer Socialism), or that the weak, expensive broadband we have now is controlled by two businesses whose lobbyists show up at the door anytime an alternative is floated.
Milwaukee must find a way to be a pioneer in the future economy. The city might have to knock on a few doors before the capital finds us, but with the availability of our superior municipal conduit system as an asset, the money is probably out there waiting.
Most importantly, we must find the way to act quickly, for once, before our precious 19th century asset is merely an artifact from bygone era, a time when Milwaukee was a technological leader.
As Gschwind says, “we must do our damnedest to see that our city leaders know this is important.”

FEINGOLD CHALLENGER OFF THE WALL IN FIRST AD

horne.milwaukeeworld@gmail.com (Michael Horne) — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 19:56:00 +0000

WALL AD IS FIRST OF SENATE RACE

NEGATIVE SPOT CALLED "MISLEADING" BY ASSOCIATED PRESS

* * *

WEALTHY MADISON DEVELOPER MISSED THREE OF LAST SIX ELECTIONS

* * *

COULD SWIM TO DOYLE'S MANSION IN SEASON -- UNDERWATER!

Special to the Readers of Milwaukeeworld.com

By Michael Horne

And The Milwaukee World Hound Dog Team

The first ad has been launched by the current unknown Republican who hopes to become a United States Senator from Wisconsin, and it's ugly.
"Fed Up," from the campaign of Madison developer Terrence Wall, says that "after 28 years, Senator Russ Feingold isn't listening any more!"
The ad goes on to say Feingold proposes to nationalize health care, among other assertions that drew an immediate response from the Feingold campaign, which called it "harsh and negative."
The Feingold folks cited an "Adwatch" analysis of the Wall spot issued by the Associated Press yesterday, Tuesday, February 9th, 2010.
The non-partisan AP analysis by Dinesh Ramde found:

The ad, in both the narration and a graphic, refers to a "government takeover of health care." That's misleading, as neither the House nor Senate bill advocates that government take over health care.

The graphic is also pretty scary, since it shows Russ juxtaposed with an image of himself reminiscent of the Shepard Fairey graphics used in the Obama campaign. Feingold never used such graphics in his own campaign, but Republicans and teabaggers have pounced on the iconography and appropriated it for their own -- and always use it to portray opponents in a negative light.

Although negative ads exist because they work, it is usually a bad sign if they are the only weapon in a candidate's arsenal.

An unknown candidate like Terrence Wall probably should have first introduced himself to the public in a feel-good ad before going absolutely ballistic on his opponent, with inaccuracies and inuendos. For example, while the incumbent indeed has been properly styled as "Senator Russ Feingold" for 28 years, as Wall's advertisement claims, for the first 11 of those years, he was State Senator Russ Feingold, not United States Senator Feingold.

It is not a good sign that the Wall campaign resorts to such petty insults in its first venture out of the box. It strikes me that this is a "one-size-fits-all" campaign orchestrated by Republican National Committee operatives and likely to be reproduced around the country with the same inaccuracies, hyperboles and distorted graphics from sea to shining sea.

The ads began running statewide today, and are slated to appear through the week of February 22nd,2010.

FUN FACT!

Here is Wall's voting history from April 4 2006 to April 7 2009. Wall voted eight times, and missed such important races as the Presidential Primary Election in 2008, the September primary that year, and the all-important February 2009 primary election. That's three out of the last six! (Feingold cast a ballot in all 11 elections.) Wall also voted 30 times between 1986 and 1998 at a previous address. Data from 1998 to 2006 may be missing, or possibly Wall took a voter vacation during that period.
--Michael Horne

WALL IS NEIGHBOR TO GOVERNOR

Although the state voter records cited above show Wall's address at 57 Cambridge Road to be located in the City of Madison, the address is indeed in the Village of Maple Bluff, Wisconsin, and appears to be no more than a boathouse or two down from the Executive Residence of the Governor of Wisconsin at 99 Cambridge Road on the shores of Lake Mendota.
--Michael Horne

View Larger Map

HERE IS VIDEO OF PAYDAY LOAN LOBBYIST ERIN KRUEGER

horne.milwaukeeworld@gmail.com (Michael Horne) — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 21:43:00 +0000

POLITICS MAKES BEDFELLOWS DEPARTMENT

LOBBYIST DISCUSSES BENEFITS OF UNREGULATED PAYDAY LOAN INDUSTRY

ISSUE CLOSE TO ASSEMBLY SPEAKER'S HEART

The woman, Shanna Wycoff, is listed as the manager of government affairs for Cincinnati-based Axcess Financial, which owns the payday lending chain Check 'n Go. She also lobbied on behalf of an industry group, Community Financial Services Association, last year before withdrawing Dec. 31.

http://www.lacrossetribune.com/news/state-and-regional/wi/article_6ab4e2d4-0fbb-11df-8bb3-001cc4c03286.html

Special to the Readers of Milwaukeeworld.com

By Michael Horne

And The Milwaukee World Hound Dog Team

In the classic Hollywood version, the dashing Speaker of the Assembly wrongheadedly opposes legislation to improve conditions in the orphanage in his district.
But a determined young nurse (in a nurse uniform, wowza!) goes to the state capitol, registers as a lobbyist, and gives him a piece of her mind.
After a couple Tracy - Hepburn episodes, the Speaker realizes the errors of his ways, and supports the legislation providing industrial training for the orphans.
The orphans all get steady jobs in the town's expanding munitions industry, while the Speaker and the nurse fall in love and get married.

You don't have to change much for the current Madison version.

Except the legislation isn't about orphanages, it's about Payday Loansharking. The nurse isn't a nurse, but she is a lobbyist for the Payday Loan industry. She gives the speaker a piece of her mind, and a piece of something else -- but she does it before the vote.
The speaker changes his mind, the legislation passes, and the speaker may or may not continue to date the lobbyist.
And this is the situation we find ourselves in, thanks to Assembly Speaker Mike Sheridan, and his unnamed inamorata.
Yes, we have come to yet another tawdry pass in Wisconsin's politics.
The video segment is from the public domain Wisconsin Eye broadcast of September 3rd, 2009. Ms. Erin Krueger debates Rep. Gordon Hintz, who supports regulating this abusive industry.

mms://71.87.25.133/NMK/NMK_090903_REP_HINTZ.wmv

FUN FACT!
Sheridan's Assembly campaign website has this non-too timely observation about the speaker:

I enjoy spending my free time with my wife, Sarah, who is a social work

lecturer at UW-Whitewater, and our three children ...

It looks like the next "free time" for Sarah and Mike will be in Rock County Circuit Court on February 26th, 2010 where there will be a pre-trial conference for their upcoming divorce.
Sheridan also owes $250.90 to the Eau Claire County Court for a 2009 speeding ticket there. He paid Rock County $186.00 for his speeding ticket there, also in 2009.
On September 18th, 2009, Sarah Sheridan received $703.00 from Sheridan's campaign committee for "candidate travel Parade/Airline Ticket." On October 10th, 2009, Mike Sheridan filed for divorce.

[Note: Ms. Krueger did not respond to Milwaukeeworld's query about whether she has a relationship with Rep. Sheridan while other lobbyists denied they had a relationship with him.]

CITY MOVE TO SQUASH LADYBUG FAILS

horne.milwaukeeworld@gmail.com (Michael Horne) — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 23:41:00 +0000

CITY FAILS IN EFFORT TO HALT LIQUOR SALES TO DOWNTOWN CLUB

GETS EARFUL FROM JUDGE FLANAGAN

* * *

Judge Brash Rules All 12 Counts to Proceed

In $200 million School Lawsuit vs. Stifel, Nicolaus and RBC

Special to the Readers of Milwaukeeworld

By Michael Horne

And The Milwaukee World Hound Dog Team

Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Mel Flanagan issued a Continued Temporary Restraining Order late today, Thursday, January 28th, 2010, ordering the City of Milwaukee to treat the Ladybug Club as if it were a licensed Class "B" Alcohol Beverage retailer.
The move came after the City informed the Ladybug Club's wholesalers that it would be illegal to sell alcohol beverages to the club, despite the provisions of the Restraining Order permitting the club to remain open pending judicial review of its license. [See earlier Milwaukeeworld posts on the license saga.]
Apparently the City Attorney sought to circumvent the court's ruling (and arguably its prerogative) by cutting off the liquor supply to the club, located at 618 N. Water St.
The judge was not impressed, ruling the city's attempts improper, and staying them pending finalization of her judicial review.
The Maistelman Law firm filed a Notice of Motion and Motion for Contempt [here is the motion for contempt] late Wednesday afternoon, and copied the documents to the city attorney's office.
Schrimpf responded:

"Kindly advise the Court that I am preparing a response to this utterly spurious motion."

It appears he need not have bothered, since the judge did not find it spurious to any degree.

IN OTHER LEGAL NEWS

Judge William W. Brash III permitted all 12 counts to proceed in the lawsuit filed by five Wisconsin school districts against Stifel Nicolaus & Co. and RBC for their sale of over $200 million in virtually worthless securities to fund their Other Post Employment Benefits.

CITY CELEBRATES CLXIVth BIRTHDAY

horne.milwaukeeworld@gmail.com (Michael Horne) — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 20:24:00 +0000

CITY BIRTHDAY PARTY AT CALATRAVA

DRAWS CROWD ON WINTER'S NIGHT

* * *

Expect Hines to Run for Mayor --

-- Whether or not Barrett Becomes Governor

Council President Willie Hines, Jr.

Will Become Acting Mayor if Barrett Becomes Governor

Plans to Run for Mayor Even if Barrett's Quest Fails

Special to the Readers of Milwaukeeworld

By Michael Horne

And The Milwaukee World Hound Dog Team

A smattering of the city's elite and quite a number of newspaper journalists gathered at the Milwaukee Art Museum yesterday, Dies Martis xxvi Ianuarius MMX, to celebrate Milwaukee's CLXIVth birthday. The annual event, sponsored by the Milwaukee Press Club, which itself is celebrating its CXXVth birthday this year, was attended by over CCCXX people.
They gathered in the soaring Windhover Hall of the Calatrava-designed Quadracci Pavillion, where they trod the white marble floors that have shown more age in the last X years of their installation than in all the previous eons of their existence.
It is a space truly to be seen and not heard, as the challenging acoustics attested during the ceremony's brief program and a fun quiz by historian John Gurda.
Among the attendees was Mayor Tom Barrett, fresh from Madison where he attended a fundraiser for his run as governor held before current governor Jim Doyle's State of the State address, which we all were pleased to miss. He was among the last to arrive, and did so after the evening's program. His place was competently filled by Chief of Staff Pat Curley who said he does not involve himself in political matters like fundraisers.
Beating Barrett to the event were city officials including Alds. Bob Bauman, Joe Dudzik, Michael Murphy, Terry Witkowski and Common Council President Willie Hines. Their colleagues Nik Kovac and Ashanti Hamilton pretty near made it a quorum of the full council by the time of their late arrival, delayed by their attendance at a typical marathon hearing of the council's Licenses Committee.

COUNT ON HINES TO RUN

It was easy to get the impression that President Hines plans to run for mayor whether or not the current mayor wins his race for governor. I told that to Mayor Barrett, and received his less-than heartfelt thanks for my observation. Hines only smiled when I quizzed him about the matter.

AMONG THE ATTENDEES

Administration officials in the room included Elections chief Sue Edman and Department of City Development Commissioner Rocky Marcoux. Marcoux said he'd sure like to see the Pizza Man site redeveloped, and added the location has sufficient density that a future developer ought not face a mandate to burden it with parking spaces.
Missing in action were City Attorney Grant Langley, (who never seemed an essential element to any party anyway) Comptroller W. Martin "Wally" Morics (probably off reading Shakespeare somewhere) and Treasurer Wayne Whittow (past his bedtime).
Members of the press included Jim Nelson, president of the club, fellow club potentate Marilyn Krause, reporter Joel Dresang, and editor Marty Kaiser (who violated the sanctity of the coat check department and bypassed its tip basket by retrieving his own raiments), all of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
The coat check was run by a band of volunteers, including this reporter, but especially by a group of civic-minded college students, many serving internships in the mayor's office.
Bruce Murphy, Mary Van De Kamp Nohl and Kuirt Chandler of Milwaukee Magazine also made their appearances, on a day when it was announced their publication's parent company, Quad Graphics, was to become publicly traded by the end of the year. The magazine's on-line offerings have expanded considerably recently in a process that is expected to continue.
Jon Anne Willow of TCD also mingled among the crowd, as did Sonya Jongsma Knauss of milwaukeemoms, rubbing shoulders with party co-sponsor H. Carl Mueller, Evan Zeppos and Curt Gielow, who is soon to be the next mayor of the city of Mequon, running unopposed, as they tend to do things in Ozaukee County's great Cauldron of Democracy. He was accompanied by his wife Mary Gielow, who dreads having to conduct policy in the aisles of Sendik's grocery in Mequon as part of her uxorial duties as future first lady of Wisconsin's fourth-largest (by area) city.
Guests feasted on a variety of local foods, including sausages and C% veal hot dogs from Usinger's, an "authentic" macaroni and cheese just like mom never made (with goat cheese and chicken) and abundant free candies from Quality Candy (is this why they went bankrupt?).
Beverages included free root beer floats from Sprecher (which has launched a new brand of regular beers under the Chameleon label) and free beers from Milwaukee Brewing Company.
Water was available at $II a bottle, which tells you something about the value of that resource, especially considering the price of beer.
Party favors were pint glasses emblazoned with the Press Club's anniversary logo.

A PUBLIC QUAD GRAPHICS COULD IMPACT MILWAUKEE MAGAZINE

horne.milwaukeeworld@gmail.com (Michael Horne) — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 18:54:00 +0000

WOULD A PUBLICLY TRADED QUAD GRAPHICS
RETAIN THE CITY MONTHLY MAGAZINE?

Special to the Readers of Milwaukeeworld.com

By Michael Horne

And The Milwaukee World Hound Dog Team

Today's news about the plans of Pewaukee-based Quad Graphics [company release here] to become a publicly traded company raises questions about the future of Milwaukee Magazine.

The award-winning monthly has been owned by the printer for over 25 years, during which time its publisher has been Betty Quadracci, wife (and now widow) of company founder Harry Quadracci.

The publication was a good fit for Quad Graphics, since it provided an excellent laboratory for the magazine printer to provide innovations that later became standard among all magazine publishers and printers. I was there to see many of them firsthand.

These included Macintosh-based direct-to-plate printing of the magazine at a time when all other magazines were still produced using traditional film processes.

There are countless other examples of synergies between the publication and advancements in printing technology that can be tied to the magazine's ownership by the world's largest privately owned printer.

However, just as the Allen-Bradley Company Orchestra's daily noontime concerts are no longer a staple of publicly traded Rockwell International, it is not entirely certain if the investment bankers would allow a publicly traded Quad Graphics to continue as the publisher of a metropolitan lifestyle monthly with a circulation much smaller than its traditional press runs.

Nor is it certain that new owners would maintain the hands-off policies of the Quadracci family regarding the magazine's editorial policies if they decided to continue producing the publication.

[It should be noted that the Quadracci family would retain a majority voting interest in the publicly traded firm. However, they will be subject to dealing with minority ownership interests for the first time.]

Corporate spokesperson Claire Ho told the Hound Dog:

"No plans have been made with regard to any of our operations or facilities."

Editor Bruce Murphy said such questions are better asked of the magazine's publisher.
The firm's New York-based public relations agent had no immediate comment.

Harry and Betty Quadracci saved what had been a failing publication when they purchased Milwaukee Magazine for $50,000 two-and-a-half decades ago; Betty especially has put many years of work into managing it, dealing with details that most other centimillionaires would ordinarily delegate to others. She is also of an age when many folks choose retirement.

It may be time for a new ownership group to materialize if the city is to retain this vital, independent voice.

DISCLOSURE TIME!

Your correspondent has published hundreds of pieces in Milwaukee Magazine over the years, beginning in 1988 and most recently in the current issue, many of which were under the direction editor Bruce Murphy who previously was the first editor of Milwaukeeworld.

KOHL, FEINGOLD RECOMMEND NY ATTORNEY, THREE LOCALS FOR WISCONSIN SEAT ON APPEALS COURT

horne.milwaukeeworld@gmail.com (Michael Horne) — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 23:26:00 +0000

Three are Noble Sons of Wisconsin and Members of its Bar Association

The Fourth Owes Her Allegiance to the State of New York --

-- And is Daughter-In-Law of Wealthy Appeals Judge
Her Ties to Biden Extend 20 Years

* * *

New UWM Chief Cans Neighborhood Liaison Officer

Special to the Readers of Milwaukeeworld

By Michael Horne

And The Milwaukee World Hound Dog Team Judicial Division

MAKIN' THE BACON

VICTORIA F. NOURSE, ESQ.

(MRS. RICHARD DICKSON CUDAHY, JR.)

Sens. Kohl and Feingold forwarded four names for the president's consideration to replace retiring Judge Terence T. Evans [Marquette U '67] on the United States Court of Appeals Seventh Circuit today, Friday, January 22nd, 2010.

The four are:

U. S. District Court Judge Lynn Adelman [Columbia U. '65],
Atty. Dean Arthur Strang [U Virginia '85],
Judge Richard J. Sankovitz [Harvard U '86] and
Victoria F. Nourse [U C Berkeley, '84].

The first three are proud members of the Wisconsin Bar Association, as is the retiring Judge Evans.
Nourse, however, was admitted to the New York Bar in 1986 and apparently never bothered to join Wisconsin's noble order of admitted attorneys, being content with her Empire State carpetbagger status.
Her father-in-law, Richard Dickson Cudahy, Sr.is a member of the Wisconsin Bar -- and of the very same court of appeals to which she aspires.

Also, Cudahy, Sr.[Yale '55], the father of Nourse's husband Richard D. Cudahy, Jr., is one of the wealthiest members of the judiciary, with a personal fortune far exceeding all members of the United States Supreme Court combined.
His assets include two in the $1 - 5 million range, and one in the over $5 million range with numerous others of smaller denomination. He was cited in Door County Circuit Court for a private sewage system violation last year, a charge to which he pleaded "not guilty." Charges were dismissed without prejudice, which means that sewage system could get back on the docket some day.

Ms. Nourse is no stranger to the courts herself, specializing in failure to obey this state's laws on vehicular registration and speed -- the very sorts of cases that sometimes ultimately lead to appearances in Federal Appeals Court for narcotics traffickers and other dangerous criminals.

So she knows what it's like on both sides of the bench.

Nourse was busted in Madison in 2005 for operating her vehicle after suspension or revocation, probably on her way to the University of Wisconsin to deliver a lecture on obeying the law as part of her duties as the Burrus-Bascom Professor of Law.

Nourse was picked up by the Milwaukee County Sheriff in September 2009 for exceeding the lawful speed limits of the State of Wisconsin and fined $204, and was fined another $178 from the same stop for driving an unregistered vehicle.

With the money she spent on fines, Ms. Nourse could easily have afforded membership in ours, the nation's pre-eminent Bar Association. Yet she did not. Is this the sort of person we want serving alongside such distinguished jurists as Diane Sykes?

SENT $7,100 TO OBAMA CAMPAIGN IN 2008

Nourse may be the most politically connected of the four finalists, if you consider her campaign donations. She gave $7,100 to the Obama campaign in 2008. Judges Adelman and Sankovitz made no contributions, as is appropriate, or as used to be appropriate before God-Knows-What situation the Supreme Court has established for us with its ruling last week in Citizens United vs. Federal Election Commission. Strang also made no campaign donations.

BIDEN ONCE TOOK CREDIT FOR NOURSE'S WORK ON VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT

The group Accuracy in Media called then-presidential candidate Joe Biden a "Senate Embarrassment" in a 2007 post, saying the then-Delaware senator took full credit for authoring the 1994 "Violence Against Women Act" legislation he sponsored.

Of the legislation, Biden was quoted as saying:

“What I’m most proud of in my entire career was writing the Violence Against Women’s Act because it is evidence we can change people’s lives, but the change is always one person at a time.”

Later, Biden was quoted on p. 240 of his book, "Promises to Keep," as saying he had the help of a staffer in drafting the legislation:

“'The staffer, Victoria Nourse, and I wrote' the legislation, says Biden."

Nourse is rather circumspect about the matter on her website at UW:

In 1990, she returned to the Senate as Special Counsel to the Senate Judiciary Committee. From 1991-1994, Professor Nourse was the chief attorney advising the Committee's chairman on criminal law matters. While serving in that capacity, Professor Nourse assisted the committee in drafting the Violence Against Women Act and in managing two omnibus crime bills.

But, Biden, by then Vice President, and Nourse got together on April 22nd, 2009 to deliver a joint speech about their experiences at a Georgetown University forum. Her work with Biden on the legislation is the subject of the final two chapters of "Equal: Women Reshape American Law" by Yale professor Fred Strebeigh.

An excerpt, taken from a Strebeigh article about his book in The New Republic:

In the spring of 1990, a new staffer in the offices of the Senate Judiciary Committee received a surprise project from her boss. Joe Biden wanted her to figure out what Congress should do to reduce violent crimes against women. Victoria Nourse, the staffer, was then just six years out of law school ...

Biden posed a challenge to Nourse: figure out what Congress should do, and start by looking at the marital-rape issue he had tried to tackle a decade earlier. In the legal reading room of the Library of Congress, Nourse found a twist that shocked them both. Some states had extended the marital-rape exemption to become a date-rape exemption that downgraded a rape charge if a woman was a man's "voluntary social companion." One state that had done so was Delaware, where Joe and Jill Biden were raising a young daughter.

-- Michael Horne

UWM NEIGHBORHOOD LIAISON REASSIGNED

Oscar Perez, the popular UWM neighborhood liaison officer was reassigned to other duties today. The move comes just after Michael Marzion took over as Chief of the University Police on January 18th 2010. I suppose the two events might be related.

http://wispolitics.com/1006/100122Kohl_Feingold_release.pdf

"ALDERMANIC PRIVILEGE" TAKES HIT

horne.milwaukeeworld@gmail.com (Michael Horne) — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 20:00:00 +0000

WITKOWIAK OPPOSES LIQUOR STORE IN ZIELINSKI DISTRICT

AFTER THE DEATH THREAT, CELEBRATE AT APPLEBEE'S

TWO NEW TAVERNS FOR DOWNTOWN

FEINGOLD HOLDS CIVIL LISTENING SESSION IN MILWAUKEE

Special to the Readers of Milwaukeeworld

By Michael Horne

And The Milwaukee World Hound Dog Team

"ALDERMANIC PRIVILEGE" GETS SLAPPED

The myth of "Aldermanic Privilege," in which Common Council members allegedly have the power to approve or deny Alcohol Beverage license applications within their districts took a slap today, Wednesday, January 20th, 2010, when the council voted to deny a Class "A" Liquor and Malt application for "Best Liquor," 551 W. Becher St. in Ald. Tony Zielinski's 14th District.
The Licenses Committee approved the liquor store application on a 3-1 vote on Tuesday, January 5th, 2010 with Chairman Jim Bohl the sole objector, and Ald. Coggs excused.
At the hearing, 12th District Ald. James Witkowiak spoke against the license, formerly located in his district, and now across the street in Zielinski's district on the basis of concentration of outlets in the area. However, Ald. Zielinski, who either very much supports or very much opposes license applications in his district based on a formula that appears to be a sliding scale, moved for approval of the license. This despite objections from neighborhood groups who are often treated as oracles of divine wisdom by Zielinski in his other crusades.
There things remained until the Common Council meeting of this morning, Wednesday, January 20th, 2010, when Witkowiak took the unusual move of asking the council to reject the license, despite committee recommendation.
Witkowiak said the city's concentration of outlets ordinance, often observed in the breach, and subject to creative cartography, would be worthless if not enforced. Zielinski got a bit testy (you should be able to watch the proceedings here) and said he knew his district plenty well from his service on the County Board, and the license should be approved.
In the end, the council rejected the guidance of the committee, and voted 11-4 against its recommendations, with Alds. Ashanti Hamiliton, Nik Kovac, Robert Puente and Zielinski forming an unlikely and losing alliance.

AFTER A DEATH THREAT, WHY NOT CHOOSE APPLEBEE'S

Former Milwaukee Assistant District Attorney Bob Donohoo [Marquette '73] said his wife Diane Dohonoo [Marquette '92] had quite a rough time at work last week, where she serves as an A.D.A. in Walworth County. She was the subject of a death threat from John K. Gorman, 51, of East Troy, who wanted to . rub her out along with two others.
Gorman is now charged in Waukesha County with three charges of attempted first degree homicide, in addition to other pending charges in Walworth County. Bail exceeds $210,000 on all charges.
Now that the pressure is off, how do the Donohoos plan to celebrate?
"I'm taking my wife to Applebee's," Donohoo said.
Beg pardon?
"We like Applebee's. We go there for special occasions," he responded.
I know some folks who might fear a justified death threat, from the source itself, if they suggested taking their spouse to Applebee's for a celebration.

CHANGES

Port of Call wants to open as a tavern at 106 W. Wells St., a spot in the Cawker building occupied by Byron's Beer Garden and Bistro. That place closed a couple of weeks ago, claiming a remodeling was imminent. But the place was left in quite a mess. Over at the parking structure building at 770 N. Jefferson St., an application for a new Class "B" Tavern and Cabaret Night Club license was made for Shamrock. Will it be a real Irish bar or a "Sham?" ...
The Redevelopment Authority of the City of Milwaukee will consider issuing $30 million in revenue bonds for the Park East Square development, proposed for a 2-acre block vacated by the demolition of the Park East Freeway stub. The property, with a street address of 406 E. Odgen Ave. will be in the block bounded by E. Lyon Street to the north (incorrectly spelled "Lyons" in the RACM document), N. Jefferson St. and N. Milwaukee St. RACM will hear the matter tomorrow, Thursday, January 21st, 2010. ...

FEINGOLD, WITH FILL OF TEA BAGGERS, LISTENS TO NORMAL CITIZENS IN MILWAUKEE

Sen. Russ Feingold has been getting teabagged at his recent listening sessions, drawing television coverage during an appearance in Pewaukee in Waukesha County. His classic response: "I hold listening sessions in every county every year regardless of the politics."
His listening session in Milwaukee County, yesterday, Tuesday, January 19th, 2010, was the 1240th since he took office in 1993. At the time of his election, Feingold was regularly criticized in the media for his insistence on the annual tour of Wisconsin's 72 counties. As I recall, the Milwaukee Journal thought it was just plain dumb. Feingold persevered, however, and he says the listening sessions are his best source of information from his constituents.
Feingold had an "easy time" at the Milwaukee session, according to Fox6 News coverage of the event. This makes sense since Milwaukee voters, unlike those in Pewaukee, have not been radicalized by the phony tea party movement.

BIKE POLO ARRESTS DRAW RESPONSE

horne.milwaukeeworld@gmail.com (Michael Horne) — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 18:49:00 +0000

PARKS DEPARTMENT,

WAREHOUSE OWNERS

CONTACT BICYCLE POLO CLUB

View Larger Map

THE SCENE OF THE CRIME

By Michael Horne

News reports, including a video last night that led off the WITI Fox 6 News, about the arrest of 10 bicycle polo players and one spectator by Milwaukee County Sheriff Deputies has led to offers of a possible indoor winter practice facility for the award-winning team.

According to Jake Newborn of the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin, who was not among the players arrested Sunday, January 10th 2010 at the County-owned O'Donnell Parking Garage, there may be a happy ending to the story yet.

The team has practiced in the parking structure for years, particularly during inclement weather.

The television news coverage, which includes file footage of a game taking place earlier at O'Donnell garage, included a request for property owners and the parks department to help find a resolution to the team's winter woes.

In a message to Milwaukeeworld, Newborn said the team has heard from the Milwaukee County Parks Department and from owners of private warehouses in the city.

Jeff Beaudry, a Parks Department employee could not immediately confirm if the department had contacted the team since the mass arrests, or the nature of the conversation.

But the Team and the County have had a long history of discussions on the matter of Bike Hockey at any time of year, with the players finding their locations thwarted at every turn by threats from Sheriff Deputies and intransigence on the part of the Parks Department, which seems unable to recognize the existence of an urban sport within city limits.

The players also have had run-ins with the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Department at Red Arrow Park, where the unused ice rink provides a durable, attractive and convenient playing field in summer.

However, a letter from Susie Devcich of the parks department to Milwaukeeworld in September vetoed that possibility:

The concrete is a special mixture for the winter ice rink. Residue from bike tires, etc leave the surface contaminated which will impact the thermal conductivity of the rink surface. The cooling coils that are under a very thin sheet of concrete are sensitive to any impact. The cost to repair these coils would be over $1 million. The department is obligated to protect this area.

According to Newborn, also writing to Devcich in September:

Another issue that seemed to arise in the discussion is that we are damaging the rink by playing polo on it. I would like to clear this up as much as possible now. Bike Polo is played on cement in many cities and we have traveled to many tournaments over the past 3 years as a club and we have yet to see a mallet, bike, or person do more than scratch cement such as a rock rubbed on it might do. Polo Bikes have rubber tires, and rubber grips on handlebars, and most players have plastic pedals. The mallets are made of high density plastic and lightwieght aluminum skipoles. They would have an extremly difficult time damaging several inch think concrete.

Red Arrow would be an ideal location for Bike Polo, Newborn makes clear:

We have played bike polo on that rink several times this summer. Each time we have had dozens of people stop, look, take pictures, ask questions, and tell us how cool it is and that they enjoy watching, or ask to play! People have stopped to get out of their cars and watch games on the parklawn while enjoying a Starbucks coffee drink. Spectators sit in the chairs and enjoy the weather and a chance to experience a new sport that Milwaukee has to offer. Bike Polo is an unigue and growing sport across the world and it has, at least at Red Arrow brought something interesting and different to downtown on the summer weekends.

Still the County refused to allow this photogenic activity to take place at this natural location.What about outdoor hockey rinks?

According to the club's letter to the county:

The County Parks website boasts three outdoor roller hockey rinks that we have considered for usage for bike polo.
-Estabrook- is a run down poor condition concrete dilapidated space, taken over by skateboarders
-Warnimont- has foot high weeds growing through the 3 inch wide cracks in the cement, and the fencing looks to be hazardous.
-Hales corners park has basketball hoops and only half a fence lining it. As well as being a 30 minute car ride from where the most polo players live on the Eastside.

None of these would be fit to play bike polo, or for that matter roller hockey.
The downtown area or Eastside nieghborhoods would benefit from a roller hockey/bike polo court to help support the growth of a worldwide new sport.

See the original Milwaukeeworld post here.

SHERIFF PLAYS HARDBALL WITH BIKE POLO TEAM

horne.milwaukeeworld@gmail.com (Michael Horne) — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 18:23:00 +0000

Eleven Players Arrested for Trespassing

Spend Nine Hours in Jail Before Release

* * *
"We sit in this room amongst true criminals. Shoulder to shoulder with thieves, drug addicts, and prostitutes. Some of us up to 8 hours, without knowing what the next step is." -- Polo Player

WANTED FOR SLAYING THE GAME

Special to the Readers of Milwaukeeworld.com

By Michael Horne

And The MilwaukeeWorld Hound Dog Team

Eleven members of Milwaukee's champion Bicycle Polo Team were arrested by Milwaukee County Sheriff Deputies on trespassing charges at around 5:30 p.m. last evening, Sunday, January 10th, 2010 and were jailed before their release this morning. Some spent longer than nine hours incarcerated before being released, according to a person familiar with cycle circles.
One of those arrested told the Hound Dog he was surprised at being jailed pending the issuance of a mere citation. It was his first arrest for any offense. He said that the deputies did not find any illegal substances on any of the arrestees or any evidence of criminal activities at the site.

According to Eric Kremin, one of those arrested, writing at mkebikepolo.com:

In the end they arrested 4 college students, 4 college graduates, an Artist, 2 bicycle mechanics and new player to find absolutely nothing. No drugs no warrants, not a damn thing. They wasted our time and the city’s over a simple game that we are passionate about, bike polo.

Those arrested included bicycle messengers, bicycle shop employees, and Kremin, an inventor / manufacturer of polo accessories for bicycles. Members of the team, known as the Beaver Boys, placed second in the Midwest Bike Polo Champeenships in November, losing to Chicago's Machine Politics.

Team members have traveled internationally in the last year, spreading this city's fame and drawing players to Milwaukee from places like Paris. We could use more tourists from Paris around here.

MAY BE ARMED WITH A PLASTIC MALLET

The arrests occurred at the county-owned O'Donnell parking structure on Milwaukee's lakefront, long the site of the team's clandestine practices. The team had been searching for a winter practice facility, preferably one that was lit, but had difficulty finding a suitable location.

RESPONSIBLE FOR BRINGING PARISIANS TO MILWAUKEE IN 2009

The O'Donnell structure, otherwise unused at that hour and day, has relatively unobstructed flat surfaces sufficient for a decent practice session. This writer personally witnessed a spirited match held at the garage last summer. The team had hoped to use the Red Arrow Park skating rink for matches during the non-skating season, but was denied by the Parks Department, citing nonsense reasons.

RELEASED FROM JAIL. WHAT WILL HE INVENT NEXT?

The Sheriff has shown a continual pattern of inhospitability to the bicycle polo players whom he cannot distinguish from vandals, graffiti artists, or card-carrying Democrats, apparently.

Milwaukeeworld extends its condolences to the Beaver Boys and has sent a request to the Sheriff for information on this incident.

Update: Tuesday, January 12th, 2009: The Sheriff's deputies took the players' mallets which have not been returned to them. Players checked the courthouse Dumpsters to see if they were in the trash. They weren't.

The parking structure is hardly a high-crime scene. Only eight citations have been written there since 1998 -- three of them for prohibited skateboarding or roller skating.

Here is the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's coverage of the story by Tom Held.

A fundraiser for the Milwaukee Polo 11 will be held at an upcoming date at Regano's Roman Coin.

The Milwaukee Courier Company has offered the use of its cargo van to transport the confiscated bicycles back to their owners. MCC has also signed an agreement to be the courier of record for Good Harvest Market customers.

KENOSHA SCHOOL HOPEFUL, DAY LATE, WANTS TO BE ON BALLOT

horne.milwaukeeworld@gmail.com (Michael Horne) — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 17:49:00 +0000

Pleasant Prairie Man Follows School District Instructions;

Files Day Late

Should He Be On Ballot Or Off?

By Michael Horne

[UPDATE -- Tuesday, January 12th, 2009 -- The Kenosha Board rejected Gallo's request yesterday. (See attached file, below.) The matter is then expected to be heard by the GAB at its Thursday meeting. --Ed.]

Stacy Busby, the Clerk of the Kenosha Unified School District No. 1 board has received a verified complaint asking her to permit David Gallo to run for a board seat despite his having filed his nomination papers a day late.
Gallo said he submitted his 169 signatures on Wednesday, January 6th, 2010 because that was the date listed on his informational packet and on the district's website.

But the district denied Gallo's request because state law specifies "the first Tuesday in January" as the filing date for candidates for office in nonpartisan spring elections. The phrase was also included on the back side of nomination forms. Four other candidates filed in a timely fashion.

Sure enough, the incorrect date appeared on the district's website as late as today, Monday, January 11th, 2010, and was cited as an exhibit to the complaint.

From the Kenosha Unified School District No. 1 Election Instructions:

The Declaration of Candidacy form, properly signed and notarized, and the nomination papers must be returned no later than 5:00 P.M. on Wednesday, January 6, 2010.

If Gallo is not permitted on the ballot by the Clerk, he can appeal to the Government Accountability Board at its January 14th meeting.

I don't know how you would rule in such a case, especially since the district gave out the wrong day in its attempts to assist candidates to run for the board. I suppose if teacher wrote on the blackboard that the college board exams were on Wednesday, when they were actually a day before, the folks at SAT wouldn't give you a second chance if you showed up a day late.

The State of Wisconsin Government Accountability Board -- which begins its third year in business today -- has long had a policy of inclusion when it comes to similar situations. The six board members are all retired judges who know how to balance the requirements of the statutes, the intent of the framers, and the errors the school district administration may have committed in this matter.

However, I always encourage candidates to Go To The Source whenever they plan to run for office. Campaign registration requirements are clearly set out on the GAB website, and should be considered definitive. In the end, it is not the Kenosha Unified School District No. 1 that is holding this election, it is the State of Wisconsin, and that is who calls the rules.
Mr. Gallo is represented by Atty. David Halbrooks, although the complaint reads as if it were drafted by his associate Michael Maistelman.

The Verified Complaint.
Kenosha News article by Terry Flores
The Kenosha District's Response Denying Request

MAFIA-THEMED RESTAURANT OWES STATE TAX. SO DOES BALISTRIERI'S SAVOY ROOM.

horne.milwaukeeworld@gmail.com (Michael Horne) — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 19:11:00 +0000

DEBT RELIEF LAW FIRM TOPS LIST OF

IRONIC WISCONSIN TAX SCOFFLAWS

--- and other oddities.

Special to the Readers of Milwaukeeworld

By Michael Horne

And The Milwaukee World Hound Dog Team Revenue Collection Enforcement Unit

The Podell Ugent & Haney S. C. Law Firm advertises its expertise in "Debt Relief" for Wisconsin's "Hard-working families" on television and elsewhere. You couldn't find a more empathetic advocate, since it seems like P. U. & H. could use some debt relief itself.
The firm appears on the State of Wisconsin Department of Revenue list of Delinquent Taxpayers where it is shown to owe $14,214.28 in unpaid withholding tax:

PODELL, UGENT & HANEY, S.C.

611 N BROADWAY STE 2 MILWAUKEE WI 53202-2500 USA

$14,214.28

It is unclear why the 2008 and 2009 debt remains unpaid when the firm settled its tax warrants from 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2007, usually within three years.
The Podell firm might have a little problem airing the ads it needs to sustain its business. It is being sued by Ameritech Publishing, Inc., the folks who bring you the Yellow Pages, an anachronistic advertising medium that dates to the 19th century, was little changed in the 20th century and which is still around today. Old Yeller isn't going to make you money nowadays whether or not you pay their bill.

Looks like another lawyer -- well, former lawyer -- also has some DOR problems, as we can see from the case of Joseph Balistrieri, who is on the hook for much the better part of a "hundred grand," as folks in his racket like to call it:

BALISTRIERI, JOSEPH

1849 N PALMER ST MILWAUKEE WI 53212-2371 USA

W,S

$95,655.25

This sum may include a $47,633 state tax warrant from 2008. His Savoy Room restaurant, (nee Snug's) located in the Balistrieri-owned (and up for sale) Shorecrest Hotel, 1962 N. Prospect Ave. also left the State hanging for a good sum of money:

SAVOY GRILL CAFE ROOM LLC
SAVOY ROOM

1830 N HUBBARD ST MILWAUKEE WI 53212-2379 USA

S,E

$54,797.1

This news is a shame, since the location was quite popular with certain government workers some years ago. It looks like Savoy also left a number of debts to contractors on the table -- along with food and place settings -- when it suddenly closed its doors earlier this year.

It's not just swanky East Side residential hotel restaurants that owe money to the state. Why, it even happens to restaurants that exploit Mafia connections in a way that would never occur to Mr. Balistrieri.

Just take a look at the experience of Capone's Grotto, now shuttered:

CAPONE'S GROTTO, LLC

1003 N OLD WORLD 3RD MILWAUKEE WI 53203-3130 USA

W,S,E

$21,850.27

Milwaukee Mile Marketing looks like it left the State with a big obligation incurred running a state-owned racetrack. (How was it possible to mess it up that badly?):

MILWAUKEE MILE MARKETING LLC

1869 N CAMBRIDGE AVE MILWAUKEE WI 53202-2176 USA

S,E

$346,518.69

Who knew they were even still around, not to mention still suing the Wisconsin State Fair Park Board?
Maybe if they had held their business meetings a block away at the Savoy Room everybody would still be in business and the State would have its money!

CANADA REJECTS JORDAN DEMAND FOR RETURN OF DEAD SEA SCROLL

horne.milwaukeeworld@gmail.com (Michael Horne) — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 16:58:00 +0000

UPDATE -- REVISION

This post initially relied on numerous international sources, including the Jerusalem Post that indicated the Royal Museum of Canada's exhibition was headed to Milwaukee. This is not correct. In fact, the Milwaukee artifacts are not connected with the Jordanian Government's claims.

SCROLLS ARE NOT DESTINED FOR MILWAUKEE

AS CANADA REJECTS JORDAN'S DEMAND

Special to the Readers of Milwaukeeworld.com

By Michael Horne

And The Milwaukee World Hound Dog Team Antiquities Squad

Canada has rejected Jordan's demand for return of artifacts said to have been looted from the Mideast nation during a period of Israeli occupation, and said to be headed to Milwaukee for an exhibition this month at the Milwaukee Public Museum.

But the artifacts at the museum are not in any way connected with those on display at the Royal Museum of Ontario from June 27th, 2009 until yesterday, Sunday, January 3rd, 2010 in a show entitled "The Dead Sea Scrolls: Words that Changed the World," which drew a record-breaking 200,000 visitors to the queenly institution.

Milwaukee will host other artifacts beginning January 22nd, 2010 in a show called, "Dead Sea Scrolls and the Bible: Ancient Artifacts, Timeless Treasures."

The show, the largest ever produced by the institution:

brings together archaeological objects and manuscripts to tell a story 2,000 years in the making. Witness actual Dead Sea Scrolls and other early biblical artifacts to learn how transmission of these early writings has shaped the beliefs of Judaism and Christianity and influenced aspects of Islam.

According to a Ma'an news report:

The ancient artifacts were seized from an East Jerusalem museum in 1967, when Israel occupied the West Bank and illegally annexed Jerusalem. Since the artifacts were uncovered while the area was under Jordanian control between 1948 and 1967, it is the Jordanian government that requested Canada step in and protect the artifacts.

According to the Milwaukee Public Museum's press release on the exhibition:

Materials in Dead Sea Scrolls and the Bible are on loan from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the Department of Antiquities of Jordan, the Archdiocese of the Syrian Orthodox Church for the Eastern USA, Dr. David and Jemima Jeselsohn of Zurich, the École biblique et archéologique française de Jérusalem, the British Library, the Bibliothèque nationale de France, Saint John’s Abbey and University in Collegeville, MN and the University of Michigan Library at Ann Arbor, as well as local institutions.

Perhaps we could stage a little debate on the provenance of the scrolls when the representatives of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Department of Antiquities of Jordan come to town for the exhibition's opening here. Who knew there were enough scroll fragments to constitute not one, but two (or more) exhibitions?
The Milwaukee show is listed among the "10 Best Ancient World Exhibitions Coming Up in 2010" by Heritage Key.

DUGAN WON"T STOP CITY RENTAL INSPECTION LAW IMPLEMENTATION

horne.milwaukeeworld@gmail.com (Michael Horne) — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 21:30:00 +0000

JUDGE SAYS "NO" TO T R O

SPECIAL TO THE READERS OF MILWAUKEEWORLD

BY MICHAEL HORNE

AND THE MILWAUKEE WORLD HOUND DOG TEAM

Hon. Timothy G. Dugan [Marquette U '78] today, Wednesday December 30th, 2009, denied an ex-parte motion for a temporary restraining order preventing the City of Milwaukee from implementing its controversial rental inspection legislation. [Common Council Ordinance 090429].
It was the first step in a lawsuit filed in Milwaukee County Circuit Court yesterday, Tuesday, December 29th, 2009, challenging the recently passed City of Milwaukee pilot program requiring licensure of certain rental residential properties.
The case, Joseph Peters et al vs. City of Milwaukee et al, [Milwaukee County Case Number 2009CV020225], is assigned to the Branch 22 Court of Hon. Tim Witkowiak [Marquette U '84].
The plaintiffs are Joseph Peters of Milwaukee, Tomika Culpepper of Detroit and Salida Properties LLC of Brookfield.
All are represented by attorneys David Roland Halbrooks [U Wisconsin '87] and Matthew D. Lerner [Marquette '06], who could probably tell you who these folks are, since I never heard of them.
The defendants are the City of Milwaukee [a Municipal Corporation chartered in 1846], the City of Milwaukee Common "Counsil" [a misspelling of the name of the state's noblest deliberative body], the City of Milwaukee Dept. of Neighborhood Services and Arthur Dahlberg, its commissioner.
The City, its entities and agents are represented by Atty. Adam B. Stephens [U Wisconsin '99].

Here is a link to previous Milwaukeeworld coverage of this subject.

WISCONSIN: WE'RE HMONG FRIENDS

horne.milwaukeeworld@gmail.com (Michael Horne) — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 19:20:00 +0000

THAILAND SENDS 4,000 HMONGS BACK TO LAOS

SENATORS, STATE DEPARTMENT CONCERNED

By Michael Horne

In Wisconsin, we welcomed them as heroes.
In Thailand they are illegal immigrants.

Yesterday, Monday December 28th, 2009, 4,000 Hmongs were forcibly repatriated to Laos by the government of Prime Minister Abhisit Vajjajiv and his American-born King of Thailand, the Maharaja Phrabat Somdej Phrachaoyuhua Bhumibol Anulyadej, who is revered among his pitiful subjects.
The action was condemned in a joint statement by the senators of Wisconsin and Minnesota, where thousands of Hmongs settled in the mid-1970s and after.

Senators Al Franken, Russ Feingold, Herb Kohl and Amy Klochubar say the action:

"violates humanitarian and refugee principles and could have serious repercussions."

According to an account of 20th Century immigration from the Wisconsin Historical Society:

When the United States withdrew from Vietnam in 1975, the Hmong who had aided the U.S. were left in the hands of the communists they had fought against. Thousands fled to refugee camps in Thailand where resettlement organizations, such as the U.S. Catholic Conference and Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services, helped to sponsor Hmong immigration to the United States beginning in 1975.

Wisconsin has the third largest Hmong population in the nation, after California and Minnesota, and the 40,000 Hmongs, although recently arrived here, have made a tremendous impact on rural and metropolitan life in the Badger State, particularly in La Crosse, Sheboygan, Green Bay, Wausau, and Milwaukee, where their numbers are most concentrated.

There is not a single farmer's market in Milwaukee that does not include a significant Hmong presence, and they have introduced a number of oriental vegetables into our cuisine. Their bouquets of old staples like sunflowers and zinnias interspersed with exotic amaranth let us know we're not in Kansas anymore.

Hmong restaurants have exploded in number, and the Hmongs have established numerous civic and social organizations, including the Hmong Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce. We've got Hmong school principals, Hmong doctors and Hmong politicians. (Well, they can't all turn out good!)

Many of the Hmong farmers are purchasing their own lands, in such places as Plymouth, Wisconsin, where the soil is as fertile as any on the planet.
We can also thank the Hmongs for stabilizing and revitalizing old immigrant neighborhoods to the west and south of downtown in Milwaukeeworld.

As we enter 2010, it is safe to say that in Wisconsin, we're Hmong friends.

Not so in Thailand, where troops using batons forced 4,000 refugees onto buses and into Laos, where they may be marked for punishment due to their pro-American and anti-Communist actions of the 1960's and 1970's -- before many of those repatriated (as well as their parents) were born. [See U. S. Department of State article.]

It just goes to show you the power of ethnic rivalries in human affairs and the significance of political boundaries in people's lives. There may also be parallels in the treatment received by those our nation considers "economic migrants," as the Thais so delicately call the Hmongs.

The Joint Statement of Sens. Feingold, Franken, Kohl and Klobuchar:

“We strongly condemn the decision by the Royal Thai Government to forcibly repatriate over 4,000 Hmong back to Laos. This was done over the objections of the United Nations, the U.S. Government, and international human rights groups. This action violates humanitarian and refugee principles and could have serious repercussions. We share the concern of many of our Hmong-American constituents whose loved ones have been forced to return, and we will be paying close attention as the Hmong are resettled in Laos. We urge the Government of Laos to ensure the safety and well being of these individuals and to allow immediate and ongoing monitoring by international observers at all stages of the resettlement and reintegration process.”

State Department Statement:

27 December 2009

State Department on Forced Return of Lao Hmong Asylum Seekers

Operation is “serious violation” of international humanitarian principles

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
For Immediate Release
December 27, 2009
STATEMENT BY IAN KELLY, SPOKESMAN
Forced Return of Lao Hmong Asylum Seekers
We understand that the Royal Thai Government is now in the midst of an operation to forcibly return Lao Hmong asylum-seekers to Laos. Both the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the Royal Thai Government have deemed many of them in need of protection because of the threats they might face in Laos. We deeply regret this serious violation of the international humanitarian principles that Thailand has long been known for championing.
The United States strongly urges Thai authorities to suspend this operation. We also urge the Lao People’s Democratic Republic to treat humanely any Lao Hmong who are involuntarily returned, to provide access for international monitors, and facilitate resettlement opportunities for any eligible returnee. We will remain engaged in this important humanitarian issue.

BARRETT FOR GOVERNOR BASH AT BREWERY RECOUNTED

horne.milwaukeeworld@gmail.com (Michael Horne) — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 20:13:00 +0000

MAYOR'S SUPPORTERS CELEBRATE SEASON

STIRRED TO ACTION -- BUT NOT SHAKEN

(Especially Mayor's Still Messed-Up Right Hand)

* * *

Rep. Pasch Meets Her Summoner

* * *

Also: Receiver Appointed for Third Ward Building

Special to the Readers of Milwaukeeworld.com

By Michael Horne

And The Milwaukee World Hound Dog Team

About 300 people gathered at the Lakefront Brewery, 1872 N. Commerce St., Monday evening, December 21st, 2009 for a holiday party supporting Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett in his campaign for Governor of Wisconsin.
As the audience assembled, three police officers kept eye on an equal number of protesters who were chanting and carrying signs in the cold evening air.
These dissidents were school teachers opposed to a mayoral takeover of Milwaukee Public Schools. If their picket line was honored, it was in the breech, as the yeasty brewery filled with the mayor's supporters while owner Russ Klisch excused himself en route to the Christmas party at Von Trier Tavern.
Among the mayor's supporters were such notables as Supervisor Christopher Larson, chatting with Ald. Nik Kovac at a table near the cash bar. (In the old days Barrett would pay for the beer. Times are tough, when politicians expect the regular folk to pay for their own drinks, and honest Milwaukee Beer at that!)
Former health commissioner Paul Nannis made his way through a crowd that included other old timey city hall folks like Julie Penman, a serial former commissioner herself, accompanied by husband Jeff Bentoff, fresh from promoting AT&T's cellphone recycling program .
Democratic Party stalwarts Reynolds Honold and his wife, former party chair Linda Honold, took in the sights before leaving for a dinner engagement. Reynolds said the dinner, fancy as it might be, would end up costing him less than he spent on the mayor's little party. Zach Wisniewski was there, preparing a report for Blogging Blue.
Rep. Sandy Pasch was there, too, telling the mayor's brother, Clerk of Court John Barrett that she had been called for jury duty, as if she didn't have enough to do representing her diverse district, which includes the entirety of the villages of Shorewood, Whitefish Bay, Fox Point and River Hills, along with a scattering of City of Milwaukee wards nobody else wanted and much of the better part of Glendale, such as it is.
Vince Bobot made his way past such notables as Peter Bock, Martha Love, Mark Goff and Jay Walia, and remarked that he had never seen the brewery's Palm Garden quite so full of people, thus confirming that he had never been there for a Saturday tour after a Marquette victory.
Gary Goyke of the Wisconsin Council for the Blind and Visually Impaired introduced his son Evan Goyke, a 2009 Marquette Law School graduate, saying the new lawyer might consider a run for the assembly seat held by do-nothing Leon Young. Dad credited some Milwaukeeworld Hound Dog reporting as an inspiration, or at least as a time-saver when it came to digging up dirt on Young.
Les Johns was there, saying he's been laying low during this slow political season, with the exception of a little action in a municipal judge race in Cudahy. That's where John A. Zodrow [Marquette '83 ] has caused quite a stir in a battle with the police department over access to computers and other south suburban stuff. Cudahy is owed over $800,000 in unpaid fines, including over $300,000 in fines that cannot be collected since Zodrow has not processed them as part of his dispute. (Big surprise! Zodrow's taken almost two years to probate an estate that only has a stinking $44,000 in it!) The city has cut his pay, and "it's all a mess," as Johns puts it. The election for the three-year Municipal Judge seat is in the spring.
Former Scott Walker County Executive challenger David Riemer was in the audience, as he was when his mayor announced his run for governor last month. Riemer was in the vicinity of his fellow neighbor Pat Curley, the chief of staff for the mayor who sees a Tom Barrett - Scott Walker match-up as being a battle between competence (Barrett) and incompetence (Walker.)
Ald. Tony Zielinski, who has announced his candidacy for Lieutenant Governor, also milled about the audience, but didn't seem to be doing any campaigning. He didn't wear a name tag or a "Vote 4 Me!" button, but this is a rather subdued season, I suppose.
Eventually Milwaukee's fourth consecutive non-socialist mayor in as many decades made some remarks, after some preliminary announcements. (When will the democrats ever learn that it is not merely enough to have a microphone as part of one's public address system, but that one needs speakers as well?)
Anyway, after the apparent yet inaudible introductions were made, the mayor said something about why he would love to be the next governor. He told the crowd:

I love my family
I love my state

He also added his first priority as Governor would be:

"Jobs, jobs, jobs, jobs, jobs."

Barrett also alluded to the incident in which he was attacked outside of State Fair last summer, assuring his listeners that they would have a "fighter" in Madison if they elected him, so I guess that issue must have tested well. His right hand still is messed up, so the mayor must resist the natural urge to shake hands. Perhaps we can convince him to embrace the European tradition of kissing one on the cheeks as a form of greeting. How will that play in Hayward?

RECEIVER TAKES OVER RENAISSANCE BUILDING TODAY

It appears that after a hearing yesterday, Monday, December 21st, 2009, that Chester J. Oszkandy has been appointed receiver of the Renaissance Building, 309 N. Water St. The developer, Robert Patch, et. al, of Heartland Development Group is being sued for foreclosure of mortgage on the venerable loft structure, designed by Ferry and Clas in 1896 for the mercantile firm of Goll and Frank.
Oszkandy, president of NAI MLG Property Management has an Associates Degree in Heating and Air Conditioning from the Illinois Institute of Technology, although what the building could use right about now is a plumber to fix the leak on the overflowing 3rd floor urinal, a matter that should come to the attention of folks on the second floor and below in rather short order.
--Michael Horne

DOD DEPT'Y INSPECTOR GENERAL HOLDS WISCONSIN LAW LICENSE

horne.milwaukeeworld@gmail.com (Michael Horne) — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 19:16:00 +0000

LYNNE M. HALBROOKS IS MARQUETTE LAW GRAD

Minnesota Native with Wisconsin Law License

Holds Important Pentagon Post

Far Cry from Managing Legal Affairs of Senate Barber Shop and Restaurants

LYNNE M. HALBROOKS

PRINCIPAL DEPUTY INSPECTOR GENERAL, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE,

WISCONSIN LAW LICENSE #1000501

Special to the Readers of Milwaukeeworld.com

By Michael Horne

And The Milwaukee World Hound Dog Team

Lynne M. Halbrooks, a Marquette University Law School ['88] graduate, is possibly the highest-ranking Wisconsin-licensed attorney in Federal government service today.

Since August 2nd, 2009, she has served as the Principal Deputy Inspector General for the Department of Defense, which places her very, very high up on the department's organizational chart, answerable only to the Inspector General and the Secretary of Defense.

She oversees such vital areas as Audits, Congressional Liaison, Investigations, Policy, Intelligence, Administration, and Special Plans & Operations for the Pentagon.

The mission of the Inspector General is to:

Promote integrity, accountability, and improvement of Department of Defense personnel, programs and operations to support the Department's mission and serve the public interest.

FORMER HON. DAVID HALBROOKS

[NO RELATION]

Lynne Halbrooks, (who is no relation to the distinguished former Milwaukee Municipal Court jurist and lawyer David Halbrooks), holds Wisconsin Bar Association license 1000501, issued on May 23rd, 1988, which remains active and unblemished to this date, according to court records.

From 1992 to 1994, as Lynne M. Solien, (her maiden name) she worked at the Milwaukee office of Hinshaw & Culbertson, LLP, mostly representing defendants in personal injury cases. She had previously clerked in the offices of Justice John E. Simonett of the Minnesota Supreme Court in her home state, shortly after her graduation from Marquette.
While serving as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, she spent some time in Washington working in the Executive Office for United States Attorneys, and has remained in the Nation's capital since then.

In May, 2003, Atty. Halbrooks served as General Counsel to the Sergeant of Arms of the United States Senate William H. Pickle, until she was selected as Pickle's Deputy Sergeant at Arms in 2005. This position required her to assume legal leadership for a host of responsibilities, including all Senate computers, furniture, beauty shops, barber shops and restaurants.

This was during the time that Sen. Rick Santorum led the fight against the fiscal laxity of the Barber Shop, as he testified in a statement in January, 2005:

I also took on some other “sacred cows” – things like reforming the Senate barber shop and restaurant. Those of you who have been here for some time know that the prices at the barber shop and restaurant are not what they were when I came to the United States Senate in 1995, and that is because when I came to the Senate these institutions were being subsidized by the taxpayers. Now I still get some looks and occasional comments from my colleagues about the fact that the prices at the barber shop and restaurant are higher than they used to be, but I am not deterred.

The U.S. Senate restaurants lost over $18 million since 1993, or about the time Ms. Halbrooks moved to Washington. The Senate restaurant service, privatized since 1980, has been reformed, according to reports, but not until Ms. Halbrooks left the Deputy job to serve as Republican Liaison to the new Sergeant at Arms.
This was during the great January 2007 change of power in the Senate, when Pickle was ousted by Democrat Terrance Gainer, who continues in that position.

Milwaukeeworld salutes our Jesuit-trained public servant.

LADY BUG CLUB GRANTED TRO; WILL BE OPEN FOR HOLIDAYS

horne.milwaukeeworld@gmail.com (Michael Horne) — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 21:13:00 +0000

DOWNTOWN DANCE CLUB WILL BE OPEN FOR HOLIDAY SEASON

Judge Grants Stay of License Suspension

Next Hearing Set for January 6, 2010

Special to the Readers of Milwaukeeworld

By Michael Horne

And The Milwaukee World Hound Dog Team

Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Mel Flanagan [UW '84] issued a temporary restraining order today, Wednesday, December 16th, 2009, prohibiting the City of Milwaukee from enforcing its 60-day suspension of the Class "B" Alcohol Beverage license for Lady Bug Club / 618 Live on Water, 622 N. Water St.
The stay will remain in effect until January 6th, 2009, when the court will hold a judicial review hearing on the matter.
The council imposed the suspension at its December 1st, 2009 meeting, based on police and neighborhood objections. The suspension was to have taken place effective December 20th, 2009.
However, the club put up a spirited defense at the License Committee hearing where Ald. Bob Bauman [Northwestern U. '77] initially supported a revocation of the club's license. The committee voted for a 20-day suspension after nearly five hours of testimony on the file.
Speaking through his attorney, David Halbrooks [UW '87], agent Habib Manjee welcomed the judge's decision, saying, "I am happy the judge issued her order and look forward to the ultimate probability of success for us on the merits of the case." Halbrooks was assisted in the matter by Atty. Matthew D. Lerner [Marquette '06].
The City was represented by former Wisconsin Army National Guard assistant adjutant general Brigadier General (Ret.) Bruce Schrimpf [UW '71].

WALKER'S TRANSIT PERFIDY SHOVELED TO NEW DEPTHS

horne.milwaukeeworld@gmail.com (Michael Horne) — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 23:33:00 +0000

CITY OBLIGED TO SHOVEL COUNTY BUS STOPS FOR FREE

WALKER REFUSES TO REIMBURSE

BECAUSE SHELTERS HAVE "CITY-ISSUED PERMITS"

DPWs COLE CALLS POLICY "CIRCUITOUS" --

-- "CROOKED" IS MORE LIKE IT

Special to the Readers of Milwaukeeworld.com

By Michael Horne

And The Milwaukee World Hound Dog Team

Anybody who suspects that Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker keeps his budget lean by transferring his legal responsibilities to other taxing jurisdictions will find disturbing proof in the proceedings of the City of Milwaukee Public Works Committee at its hearing of Wednesday, December 9th, 2009.

Committee chairman Ald. Bob Bauman hauled in personnel from the Department of Public Works to give a communication relative to preparations it has undertaken for the 2009 - 2010 snow season. [File 091097]

During the hearing, it was revealed that city contractors provide snow removal at County bus shelters within the city limits, even though it is explicitly the responsibility of the county. [You can follow this colloquoy on video starting at 141:32.]

Alderman Robert Puente: "It's Milwaukee County's responsibility, but we're not getting any type of compensation for it. Is that correct?"

DPW: "That is correct."

Alderman Puente: "And what have we done since last year to be reimbursed by Milwaukee County for our efforts and labors?"

Chairman Bauman: [aside] "We've urged the Mayor to run for Governor, that's one thing. [Laughter]

Preston Cole, DPW: "We have had some conversation and their perspective is the City of Milwaukee permits these shelters. If we didn't want those shelters, we could stop permitting them in the right-of-way. ... It's our citizens who use those shelters and it is to their benefit that we have them there. It is their [the county's] opinion that if we don't want them there, stop permitting them there. Then we don't have to take care of them."

Alderman Puente: "Then nobody's going to be using their buses. It's contradictory."

Preston Cole: "It's very circuitous, but our perspective is, we're going to take care of them. We're not going to wait for them. We're going to get more calls, and you're going to get more calls. We have do do them."

Alderman Puente: "Well then we should be compensated for those things."

So, there you go. Rooted in his absurd premise, and ungrounded by any legal principles, Scott Walker absolves himself of the financial responsibility of providing a safe place for citizens to wait for and board county buses and transfers the responsibility to the city and its taxpayers.

The take-it-or-leave-it approach regarding bus service is further evidence of Walker's disdain for public transit, as well as for The Public.

But why stop there?

Walker should forbid using County Health Department employees at hospitals and health facilities in the city. That could save a fortune. After all, the city issues permits for hospitals (for example this Temporary Occupancy Permit for the new Columbia St. Mary's Hospital). So why not make the City of Milwaukee Health Department take over the county's work with the hospitals -- and pay for it.

And if the city doesn't want to do so, why the city just doesn't have to go around issuing occupancy permits for hospitals.

So there!

--Michael Horne

I checked the City of Wauwatosa and found it, too, expects the County to maintain its bus shelters, yet the County does not. --Ed.

BLAGO PR FIRM BEHIND ANTI-FITZGERALD RELEASE

horne.milwaukeeworld@gmail.com (Michael Horne) — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 17:30:00 +0000

RELEASE ALERTS MEDIA TO CONGRESSIONAL HEARING TODAY

ON NORTHERN ILLINOIS US ATTY

But Matter Apparently Not on Committee Agenda

Work of PR Firm Linked to Blagojevich,

Former Governor and Target of Fitzgerald Prosecution

Special to the Readers of Milwaukeeworld

By Michael Horne

And The Milwaukee World Hound Dog Team

A press release freighted with inflammatory language accusing a United States Attorney of "forcing witnesses to lie to gain conviction" landed in the e-mail box not long ago, notifying recipients that a congressional committee would hold hearings today, Thursday, December 10th, 2009, on the matter.

Here's the headline:

U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald's Office Under Investigation by Congressional Committee for Manufacturing Evidence, Forcing Witnesses to Lie to Gain Conviction
Congressional Subcommittee to call witnesses today. Investigation includes the conviction of a former Chicago real estate developer and attorney who submitted evidence to the committee showing he was framed by Fitzgerald's office when he refused to lie for prosecutors in their case against Gov. George Ryan.

* * *

Whew! Somebody's got a gripe! Don't you wonder who? The release recounts many objections against Fitzgerald by those he has offended, but does not identify who is behind the release itself. Is it merely the convicted Chicago attorney and real estate developer?

Milwaukeeworld took a look at thepublicityagency.com, the PR firm behind the release and noted its clients include former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who is being prosecuted by Fitzgerald's office. [It's Rod's 53rd birthday today!] Milwaukeeworld called The Publicity Agency to ask if Blago was behind this stupid move, and to inform the agency that today's calendar of the House Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts and Competition Policy shows no such investigation on the agenda.

Rather, the subcommittee will be holding a "Hearing on Examining the State of Judicial Recusals after Caperton v. A.T. Massey."

According to Glenn Selig of The Publicity Agency, in response to a Milwaukeeworld request:

Peter [Pavilos, convicted after a prosecution by Fitzgerald in 2003] and his wife Vicky will be in the front row. His case will be referenced as another example of misconduct where judges should have recused themselves. This is the fourth step in a process. The other times ended with conclusions that the us justice dept should investigate... You have copies of those letters. [I do not --Ed.] This investigation began 4 years ago and is just now becoming public. Peter and congressman johnson are avail after for interviews.

I do not think this qualifies as a matter of a "U. S. Attorney ... under investigation by Congressional Committee." Nor does having somebody sit in the front row of a hearing hold the same weight as being a witness in a hearing. (The name of Mr. Pavilos does not appear among those listed.)
Also notice Selig didn't answer the question if Blagojevich was behind this stunt.

"congressman johnson" (as Selig styles him) is apparently Hank Johnson, Democrat of Georgia who is the chairman of the Subcommittee on Courts and Competition Policy. Wisconsin's F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr. is a Republican member, where he represents the Princely House of Liechtenstein.
The Publicity Agency also represents former Bolingbrooke, Illinois Police Sergeant Drew Peterson among its classy stable of clients. However, Peter and Vicky Pavilos are not accounted among the firm's clients.

Randall Samborn, a spokesperson for U.S. Attorney Fitzgerald says he "knows of no congressional investigation" of his boss, and thanked the Hound Dog for bringing the spurious charges of this press release to the public's attention.
If this is a sideshow of what is going to happen in USA v. Blagojevich et al 1:08-cr-00888, then that trial will prove to be a real circus. I bet you Hon. James B. Zagel won't stand for this sort of nonsense!

FED APPEALS COURT FINDS AGAINST JOE KAYE IN D'AMATO / KOHLER SUIT

horne.milwaukeeworld@gmail.com (Michael Horne) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 21:31:00 +0000

AFFIRMS STADTMUELLER'S RULING IN 2005 CASE

RETAINS SANCTIONS IMPOSED BY DISTRICT COURT

Special to the Readers of Milwaukeeworld

By Michael Horne

And The Milwaukee World Hound Dog Team

The United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit ruled Friday, December 4th, 2009, that the action of Joseph A. Kaye, Plaintiff-Appelant v. Michael D'Amato, et al, Defendants-Appellees in 05CV982 be dismissed.

The case involved an alleged land swap agreement and other mischief in the East Village, particularly the purchase from the City by Julilly Kohler of a city-owned vacant parcel where the soon-to-be-completed Kane Commons project is underway in the 100 block of E. Kane Place. Kohler, then-Ald. Michael D'Amato and Alterra Coffee owner Lincoln Fowler were all alleged to be conspirators along with mastermind Shirley Ferguson, a housewife on N. Warren Ave., and her alleged sidekick Jan Christenson of the neighborhood association.

The absurdity of the allegations and the unlikely acts of an unlikely cast of characters strained credulity at every level -- including, we now see, at the Federal Appeals Court level.

Kaye's initial pathetic district court filing was laughable, and the judge threw it out.

The District Court had ruled in its decision that:

"Kaye's first complaint was so plainly lacking that the court had ample reason to dismiss it without unnecessarily expending even more time by examining fully the sufficiency of the bribery claims."

The appeals court used taxpayer money to hire a lawyer for attorney Kaye, as can be the case for pro se appellants -- even those with law degrees like Kaye [Ohio U. '94]. (Usually the appellants with court appointed attorneys are indigent or imprisoned.)

The hired attorneys cleaned up the bewildering complaint, as far as it was possible to do so, and argued the case before the appeals court on May 20th, 2009.

Throughout the Final Order, the appeals court makes such statements as

"Kaye's bribery allegations lack the factual support to constitute sufficiently alleged predicate acts..."
"Kaye's bribery allegations were wholly unsupported by factual allegations..."

Additionally, the court affirmed sanctions leveled against Kaye by the district court which, in the words of the appeals judges, was appropriate because:

"The district court stated that it was awarding sanctions because Kaye, as an attorney, filed a RICO claim that was unsupported in fact or law.

"It further stated that sanctions were appropriate because Defendants incurred considerable expenses defending Kaye's serious yet demonstrably frivolous claims."

"Congress enacted RICO to target long-term criminal activity, not as a means of resolving routine commercial disputes. ... This well-established fact should have been clear to any attorney, including Kaye, after minimal research.

"Given the district court's thorough analysis of Kaye's obviously deficient RICO claim and its reasonable explanation for awarding sanctions, we see no reason to fine that the district court abused its discretion. Therefore, we AFFIRM."

IS THIS THE END FOR KAYE?

The decision by the appeals court should be the end of the line for this waste of time.
God help us all if this makes it to the Supreme Court.

FUN FACT:
In the only recent Wisconsin Circuit Court case where Kaye has appeared as an attorney (one of four times since 2001) the court also heard a request for sanctions against Kaye, but denied the motion in November, 2009 after study.

--Michael Horne

DISCLOSURE:
[I lived at the adjoining Kohler-owned property at the time in a building since demolished for the Kane Commons and was as astonished as anybody (except for Kaye and a few cronies) by the absurd lawsuit and its unsupported allegations.
I also recently planted the trees and shrubs at Kane Commons alongside the developer, so go take a look at what a nice job we did. And, if anybody can find proof that non-working attorney and so-called developer Joe Kaye ever put so much as two bricks together within the last five years, please notify this department.--Ed.]

Here is a link to a list of the numerous stories about this case previously reported by The Milwaukee World Hound Dog Team.

Here is the Final Judgment of the Court.

APT. ASSN. URGES BARRETT VETO OF RENTAL INSPECTION ORDINANCE

horne.milwaukeeworld@gmail.com (Michael Horne) — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 20:54:00 +0000

Say Veto Will Save City from

"Expensive Litigation"

Warn Bill "Could not Withstand Legal Scrutiny"

Special to the Readers of Milwaukeeworld.com

By Michael Horne

And The Milwaukee World Hound Dog Team

[UPDATE -- Tuesday, December 8th, 2009 -- Tom Daykin of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel wrote about this issue in his Land and Space Blog today. Likewise, Charlie Sykes made it a topic of conversation on his 620WTMJ-AM radio talk show.--Ed.]

In a press release issued today, Monday, December 7th, 2009, attorneys for the Apartment Association of Southeastern Wisconsin say they have sent a letter to Mayor Tom Barrett urging him to veto Common Council Ordinance 090429.
The ordinance, passed on a 9:5 vote of the Council at its meeting of Tuesday, December 1st, 2009, calls for a pilot program requiring inspection certificates to be issued before apartments can be rented in two target neighborhoods.
The Association has opposed the bill since it was introduced in July, 2009. The release outlines some of the group's concerns with the enforceability of the law.
It also claims the law may be unconstitutional in its provisions, since it grants sole authority to the Commissioner of the Department of Neighborhood Services for the implementation, enforcement, alteration and review of the act's provisions.
Association lawyers also point to what they call deficiencies in the drafting of the law, including its lack of specifics, referenced only in an attached "Inspection Checklist."
They add that there is no provision in the ordinance to enable legal occupancy of any subject rental property in time for its January 1st, 2010 inception.

The Mayor has seven days, excepting Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays to sign legislation presented to him by the counsel. If the ordinance is not signed by Thursday, December 10th, 2009, it would go to the council for reconsideration.
See release and links below.

# # #

MAYOR URGED TO VETO RESIDENTIAL RENTAL CERTIFICATE LEGISLATION

DEFICIENCIES CITED; MOVE WOULD FORESTALL EXPENSIVE LITIGATION

MILWAUKEE December 7, 2009 -- A Mayoral veto of Common Council Ordinance #090429would spare the City considerable expense defending it in court, according to a letter sent to Mayor Tom Barrett from Tristan Pettit, president of the Apartment Association of Southeastern Wisconsin, Inc.

The ordinance targets rental property owners in two Milwaukee neighborhoods. It would compel an $85 per unit inspection fee prior to the issuance of a certificate permitting rental occupancy.

Echoing the group’s earlier sentiments urging a Council vote against the ordinance, the association pointed out numerous deficiencies in the legislation, which grants sole authority to draft, implement and review the Inspection Checklist – indeed the entire law -- with the Commissioner. For example the standards (also known as the Inspection Checklist Items):

·         are not incorporated in the ordinance,
·         are not required to be legally posted,
·         can not be appealed,
·         and can change at the will of the Commissioner of the Department of Neighborhood Services.

“This could not withstand legal scrutiny,” said Attorney Matt Lerner, legal counsel to the Association, in a letter to the city attorney. The Commissioner cannot legally review his own orders and decisions.”

The provisions are part of a 5-year “Pilot Program,” which the Association says strains the exemption given such programs from the Equal Protection Clause of the United States Constitution, which could be yet a further cause of legal action.

The legislation is to take effect on January 1^st, 2010, at which time all apartments in the target neighborhoods – even those legally occupied at the time based on existing leases – must be licensed.

Yet, on January 1^st, 2010, the five inspectors to be hired by the City will have not yet begun their jobs of evaluating the properties based on the 100 + items on the Inspection Checklist. This is just one of the bill’s absurdities, the Association suggests.

“If there is ‘ice or snow’ on the sidewalk of your property on January 1^st, when the law takes effect, you would be denied a license. Or, if the inspectors don’t get around to you until June and there is ‘excessive dampness’ in your cellar, the rental contract would likewise be impaired,” said Atty. David Halbrooks, speaking for the association.

“Not only is the legislation unconstitutional, its provisions are arbitrary, capricious and administratively unenforceable,” Halbrooks added. “The mayor should do the right thing and avoid associating his name with this legally deficient legislation.

http://bit.ly/4CLMUP

SOBEHART RESIGNS AS STRITCH HEAD

horne.milwaukeeworld@gmail.com (Michael Horne) — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 18:17:00 +0000

By Michael Horne

Dr. Helen Sobehart, first lay President of Cardinal Stritch University, resigned her position today.

http://www.stritch.edu/Content.aspx?id=4294968082

Dr. Helen C. Sobehart, president of Cardinal Stritch University, announced her resignation today.

Her last day in office will be Dec. 31, 2009. The Stritch Board of Trustees will immediately address the issue of interim leadership.

“In the past year, I have had to make many difficult decisions, so typical of a major transition during very tough economic times,” said Dr. Sobehart. “While the Sisters of St. Francis, Board of Trustees, faculty, staff and I all share a common commitment to our Franciscan mission of transforming lives through value-centered education, there are different leaders for different times, and the time is right for new leadership. I am deeply grateful to all of the people mentioned above for their shared support and commitment as we all have worked to serve the group of which I am most proud – our students.

“In addition, I have had to face some serious personal challenges. My son, who is currently with us but away from his own family in Pittsburgh, is experiencing very sudden and severe health problems, and it is most important now to tend to my family. For both of these reasons, it is in the best interests of everyone that I step aside to provide a smooth path to new leadership.”

“The entire Cardinal Stritch University community thanks Dr. Sobehart for her hard work and leadership,” said David Hawke, chair of the Board of Trustees. “Her steadfast dedication to this University and its unique Franciscan identity and mission is to be commended. She truly understood and embraced what it means to be Franciscan, and that philosophy governed her every interaction. We understand her decision to step down, and we wish Dr. Sobehart, her husband Joe, and the rest of her family nothing but the best in the future.”

Dr. Sobehart became the sixth president of Cardinal Stritch University – and the first lay president in its history – in 2008. During Dr. Sobehart’s tenure, the University made significant advancements. Under her leadership, Stritch opened its new City Center campus earlier this year, a 24,000-square-foot facility located in the former Laboratory Building at The Brewery redevelopment project in downtown Milwaukee. The City Center establishes a major presence for Stritch in the heart of Milwaukee’s downtown business community, allowing the University to provide a significant enhancement to the educational opportunities available in the city and beyond.

In addition, the University saw a historic expansion of its traditional-age undergraduate population in the last year and a half, which necessitated the renovation of the Education Building on the main campus into a second residence hall for undergraduate students. The building, called Assisi Hall, houses more than 75 students.

Her community involvement has included the Leadership Cabinet of the United Way, the Milwaukee County Ethics Board, and the boards of the Public Policy Forum and the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. She also serves on the TEMPO Mentoring Committee, Homeless Children’s Fund of Pittsburgh, and the International Commonwealth Council for Education and Management. She has also been leading the Talent Dividend Initiative through the Greater Milwaukee Committee.

She received the Legacy Foundation’s Educator of the Year award this fall, and was honored by Milwaukee Achiever Literacy Services with a Legacy Award for her international work promoting access to basic education as a way for women and minorities to break down social barriers and attain community leadership roles. In 2008, she was the recipient of the American Association of School Administrators’ Dr. Effie Jones Humanitarian Award, a prestigious national honor that recognizes individual efforts related to the advocacy and support of women and minorities in education.

In addition to her local service, Dr. Sobehart chaired the second International Conference of the Women Leading Education Across Continents in September in Augsburg, Germany. Co-sponsored by Stritch, the American Association of School Administrators, the University Council for Education Administration’s Women’s Special Interest Group, and the University of Augsburg, the conference brought together educators from around the globe to examine the status of women in K-12 and higher educational leadership.

Dr. Sobehart is also a continuing chair of Women Leading Education Across the Continents, an international group of scholars who study and provide information about the status of women in educational leadership positions, both in basic and higher education. She edited a book, “Women Leading Education Across the Continents: Sharing the Spirit, Fanning the Flame,” that features her colleagues from numerous countries around the world.

A native of Pittsburgh, she began her career in 1969 as a special education teacher, going on to positions as a state administrator, special education director and assistant superintendent, ultimately retiring as superintendent of the Fox Chapel Area School District in suburban Pittsburgh. She was immediately selected after retirement to direct the doctoral program in educational leadership at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh. She later was promoted to associate provost and associate academic vice president prior to coming to Stritch.
Dr. Sobehart holds a doctorate from Carnegie Mellon University, a master of science degree from Duquesne University and a bachelor of arts degree from Slippery Rock University.

JUDGE ADDS BLOGGING TO HIS CASELOAD

horne.milwaukeeworld@gmail.com (Michael Horne) — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 18:04:00 +0000

JOHN DIMOTTO DEBUTS

"BENCH AND BAR EXPERIENCES"

Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge John DiMotto [Branch 41] entered the blogosphere yesterday, Thursday, December 3rd, 2009, with a site he titled "Bench and Bar Experiences." It's available at the link to the left or at johndimotto.blogspot.com.
In today's post he recounts, in general, his activities of yesterday, exercising judicial restraint by redacting names and particulars.
Although the judge says he usually has a good idea of what he will face in court each day, sometimes you just never know.
Let's take a "routine" name change case, for example:

The morning case was a name change. Simple you might think. Think again. The individual seeking the name change is in the middle of a felony prosecution. No direct notice given to the DA. Result, case adjourned.

DiMotto also heard a Restraining Order case -- by a woman against her probation officer. "Not something you see every day," he says.

He is believed to be the first Milwaukee County Circuit Court judge to blog about his experiences, and it is likely other judges will follow his blog, and maybe later, his lead.

Colleague J. D. Watts, informed of Dimotto's new blog, noted there are numerous restrictions on public expressions by the judiciary. For example, judges are generally restricted from issuing opinions on matters that are before their courts or are likely to become so. Judges also don't get involved in political issues, and no jurist wants to be tagged with the term "Judicial Activist,' with its implications of bias.
As a result, unfortunately, it is exceedingly rare to hear any judge say anything about anything, or write anything about anything.
Still there are exceptions -- Judge Richard Posner, of the United States Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, with 40 books to his credit, cranks them out like he's Danielle Steele, and he's a blogger as well. So, there's a precedent!
I think too often the judiciary has erred on the side of caution by its silence. As a result the workings of the law have become too opaque and removed from the people. Furthermore, recent contested court elections show the public could probably use some information about what a judge does -- and doesn't do. Or, as a title of a Posner book suggests, "How Judges Think."
Judge Watts was confident if anybody could do a good judicial blog it would be DiMotto, adding "he's the expert on the issue" of what judicial propriety. He's also a good writer, which helps.
DiMotto, an early riser, says he's likes to compose his blogs and Facebook posts in the morning before he heads to the courthouse, and checks in during his lunch hour when he can. I was happy to spend an hour of my lunchtime yesterday giving the judge a few blog pointers at his request. He's off and running, and I look forward to following his bench and bar experiences. I hope other judges follow suit, since it is in the interest of the People that we learn "how judges think."
--Michael Horne

BIKE SWAP SUNDAY AT UWM UNION

above: CHIMO BIKE

The UWM Union will be the site of a citywide Bike Swap Sunday, December 6th, 2009 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Parts, clothing and entire bikes will be featured. A number of merchants have rented tables, and individuals can bring in a bike to be sold at the Bike Corral. Entrance fee is $5 and it's $5 to sell a bike at the Bike Corral. Donations, especially of kid's bikes will be accepted, according to Jake Newborn of the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin, which sponsors the event along with the Milwaukee Junior Cycling Team and the UWM Cycling Club. I'm bringing a 1980's Chimo Capri, similar to the one above. Too small for me, ideal for somebody in the 5'4"-5'8" range.
--Michael Horne

MADISON WINS NATIONAL BIKE POLO TOURNEY BID

The 2010 North American Hardcourt Bicycle Polo Championships will be held in Madison next July it was announced this week. Milwaukee's Beaver Boys took 3rd place in the 2009 Seattle championships.
--Michael Horne

FORMER POLICE COMMISSION CHAIR STARTS GAY NEWSPAPER

Leonard Sobczak, CEO of Eastmore Real Estate and former Chair of the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners of the City of Milwaukee has founded the Wisconsin Gazette, and WisconsinGazette.com, information sources for the gay community.
The mission:

To inform, engage and empower Wisconsin's LGBT community by providing a professional, independent print and online source for news and commentary, as well as coverage of political and cultural issues.

The publisher / editor is Louis Weisberg, formerly of the Chicago Free Press, who also does a considerable amount of reporting in the paper, following standard principles of journalism, not always a guarantee in the gay press.
The second issue hit the stands Thursday, December 3rd, 2009. It is the first gay publication in these parts to have a fair number of non-gay advertisements, which is perhaps a herald of the mainstreamization of the gay culture, let's hope.
--Michael Horne