Interesting week this week. On Monday I attended the City Plan Commission Meeting. Two items of particular interest; the UWM TIF and Walter's Patio. On the TIF I need to say that I am a big believer of TIFs in general. If they are well planned they generally work out very well for the municipality involved. Wauwatosa has has some great luck with TIFs historically. The Milwaukee County Research Park is a good example of that, set to retire their debt in just a few years the payoff will begin. With just a preliminary look at the plan without getting into the details we should move forward with a positive frame of mind and see what the City and UWM can come up with.

Walter's on North, here in the 5th District came forward with a plan for an outdoor patio. The intent of the patio was so that smokers now impacted by the statewide smoking plan have a place to go. As the evening went on it was revealed that the patio would have seating, outdoor dining, and music. The neighbors feel it isn't a good fit for the neighborhood and the commission agreed. The item was held till next month's Plan Commission meeting.

A former neighbor of mine has started a Facebook page to raise awareness of the Wauwatosa flooding issues and holding MMSD accountable. Here is a link to her page.

Coming up this week we have The Red Hot Chili Pipers at Tosa Tonight on Wednesday at Hart Park and Zoo Ala Cart begins Thursday at the Milwaukee County Zoo. I love Wauwatosa!

Finally on a very positive note, Visit Milwaukee released this video to highlight what a great place Wauwatosa is to visit.

An odd thing happened this past Tuesday, we didn't have enough Aldermen to have a meeting. While it has not been confirmed, it is believed that this may be the first time this has ever happened. Where it really gets odd is that we are scheduled to be in recess until September 7th. That means if you were waiting for the council to approve a piece of business this past Tuesday you must now wait an entire month for that business. Not very efficient government is it?

I will not speculate or chastise my fellow alderman for this. I believe it to be a coincidence of chance that was bound to happen eventually, though not in a month that had plenty of other free time to choose from. On a personal note, I try to plan my week and my life around council meetings. Tuesday nights are sacred. I was hired and I am paid to do a job. I have a very large staff at my full-time job. I expect them to come to work unless they are too sick, or have planned the time off in advance. There, I am done. I will get off my soap box (and my high horse for that matter).

So, I spent Tuesday at Tosa Night out. Despite an inundation of mosquitoes it was a wonderful event for a wonderful cause. If you have never been I hope you can go next year, we'll be there.

SEWER UPDATE

Julie Terwelp from the Tosa East Town Neighborhood Association along with Meg Miller from the North Avenue Neighborhood Alliance are compiling a database of flood damage here in East Tosa. We are also trying to organize a listening session with City Public Works officials and hopefully someone from MMSD. I wanted to mention that I stumbled across this article that mentions Palmer valves. The more I find out about these the more I believe they are contributing to our problem.

TOSA NIGHT OUT

If you are looking for something to do this Tuesday evening I hope you will consider attending Tosa Night Out at Hart Park. This is a great event which is held in conjunction with National Night Out. It is a symbolic show of force that Wauwatosa is serious about fighting crime. Crime is usually mentioned as one of the top 2 or 3 issues when I talk with residents and Tosa Night Out offers the opportunity to meet the amazing men and woman of the WPD that fight crime alongside our neighborhood watch groups. I will see you there!

1 YEAR IN

While I have only been an alderman for a few months it was 1 year ago this week that I announced my candidacy and launched bobbypantuso.com, along with my Facebook, and Twitter sites. It has been an amazing, wonderful, and terrifying year. I have learned and accomplished much and I am just getting started.