A lot to blog about this past week...


First, Tuesday I voted to send the proposed condo development Hyde Park, slated for 69th and Wells back to committee. My reasoning behind this was pretty simple; the neighbors don't want it. I have promised never to forget that I was elected by the people for the people. Many elected officials forget this, I won't. Earlier this week I wrote a little blurb about 6502 W. North Avenue and how some had said that any development was better than what was there...not true. A check cashing business would have been detrimental to out neighborhood. I think the same applies to the corner of 68th and Wells, this proposed development isn't the right fit. Let's do this right.


Let's talk about the flooding. Thursday night at 7pm I was barefoot with my pants rolled up to my knees in the middle of the intersection of 70th and Meinecke on my cell phone desperately trying to get some city crew out to do anything. A crew did show up eventually but the flood water was already going down. This neighborhood keeps getting pounded and we need to find out why. Something somewhere isn't right. That being said, last Thursday's rain were epic, I doubt that any city could have sustained what we received without any damage. Finally on a high note yesterday was the inaugural Chili'n on the Avenue. To say the event was successful would be a little modest. It was magnificent. I was proud to be an East Tosan yesterday. I was humbled to be a small part of the group that organized the event, and I was honored to have been a chili judge. I can't wait till next year, its gonna be even better!

If you know North Avenue, you know 6502. That is the address of all addresses. The North Avenue Neighborhood Alliance was founded because a payday loan store wanted to set up shop there. Citizens fought, a law passed, and now it sits empty, no payday loan store.
    Flash forward to today. The building, the very definition of blight, sits empty and decapitated while it is contemplated what to do with it. But according to an article published today in Wauwatosa Now there seems to be some hope.

Lets all cross our fingers.

I wasn't kidding last week when I said the meetings are shorter in the summertime. The Traffic & Safety committee meeting lasted less than a minute on Tuesday night...perhaps a record.

On a more serious note wee got a lot of rain really fast the other night and had some basement flooding here in the neighborhood. While there is nothing that can remedy this immediately it is important to note that the City is aware of our neighborhoods needs due to our older infrastructure. But as bad as it can get in our neighborhood we have other areas with bigger and more frequent sewer problems. I can also assure you that I will never vote against capital improvement funds in favor of other non-infrastructure projects. The longer we put projects like this off the more expensive it will become down the line.

Some more on the North Avenue project; there will be a brief meeting tomorrow evening at City Hall at 6pm for an update and to announce that the survey is up and ready on RDG's Wauwatosa website
Next weekend brings the inaugural Chili'n on the Avenue event to North Avenue between 68th & 71st Street. I hope you are planning to attend, and it still isn't too late to participate! More details here.

Lastly I would like to plug Tosa Night Out coming up on August 3rd. This is a great family event and a lot of fun. So much fun that we are voting this week to have the Common Council Meeting an hour earlier that night and I hope it goes quickly so I can get back to the event. If you haven't signed up yet you still can.

Have a great week and stay cool!

    It's amazing to me how busy I am in the summer and how other things wind down. It would seem that the Common Council is no exception. The meetings this summer have been shorter and it would seem the issues brought forth are less meaty. I must admit that a wi-fi transmitter being mounted on the side of a building isn't nearly as interesting or engaging as senior housing projects or butterfly habitats.
    A few things coming up this week are of some interest...First we are taking another look at the proposed condos for 68th and Wells. I really hope they have something amazing planned. Anything less would be an injustice to that corner and will win a no vote from me. I am tired of mediocrity, I just won't stand for it anymore. Wauwatosa is a special place, we deserve more. I want a structure that when I drive by it 50 years from now with my grand kids I can say “See that?, I hand a hand in getting that there”. I understand the lasting effects of my actions in this job. Never doubt for a moment that I do not.
    Budget & Finance gets another kick at the proposed communications tower slated for Center Street Park. I hope to see something a little nicer over there. The 5th district has enough challenges facing it with and ugly tower emerging as a landmark. If you are wondering why, re-read the last paragraph.

Summer is half over, or if you think like me...we have half of summer yet to go. Stay safe, stay in touch.

  I have enjoyed being on the Wauwatosa Civic Celebration Commission for the past two years. Of all the boards and commissions the city has the CCC is as you can imagine, the most fun. It also has a pretty high profile because every year we are expected to produce a parade, some afternoon entertainment, and a fireworks display. This is no small task. Time, money, and effort are necessary and this year the money part was a challenge. Much of the money that goes for the celebration comes from business donations, in this economy that can be money hard to come by. We also had a unique situation this year because the 4th falls on a Monday. A few units we would not normally be able to get are free Monday, but due to their caliber we will need to shell out more to get them.

The fireworks took a hit too. The money didn’t materialize so something needed trimming. The fireworks will not be quite what they were last year. I can’t tell you the number of compliments I heard after last year’s display. At least we are having fireworks. I read this article this morning as I perused the news about cities that either pulled the plug or had to come up with a major compromise.

We are trying something new this year too. Music on the Move will be providing some afternoon and evening music at Hart Park and will also have inflatable attractions for the kids. I think this will add to the carnival like atmosphere at Hart Park and make the day even better.

I often talk about the things that make Wauwatosa great and our Independence Day celebration is no exception. Have a safe and fun weekend. See you Monday!