Common Ground - All Comments

re: Time To Up The Ante For Drinking?

FivePoints — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 17:04:34 GMT

You ask "where does the source of the problem begin?" It begins and ends with the person doing the drinking, that is it. What happened to personal responsibility. It seems that people want to place the blame anywhere they can but one person and one person only is to blame: the drunk driver. Not the bars, not the beer company, not the liquor stores. Blaming taverns, gas stations, liquor stores and restaurants is a joke. Once you buy a 12 pack how in the heck is the store supposed to monitor what you do with it? I would think that a large number of drunk driving arrests are for people just over the limit, which likely means no bartender or waiter/waitress would have any clue as to whether a person is drunk or not either.

Why should the rest of us who responsibly enjoy beer have to pay for the irresponsible actions of others?

re: Weekend In Waukesha Review

Brien Lee — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 00:05:26 GMT

I'm with Alderman Tortomasi, who made a motion to have an event every year, though on a smaller scale.

re: Welcome Riders But Enforce Ordinances

Brien Lee — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 03:17:45 GMT

here's another reason for police to look the other way, as reported by Darryl Enriquez: Municipal Judge Joe Cook is asking police to limit the amount of tickets they give because of an unfilled staff position due to city budget cuts. So, if you're a Harley rider, enjoy, and don't worry about keeping Waukesha awake at 3:00 a.m.

re: Drive Right Up and Park Your Car!

bulma — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 22:24:09 GMT

Fivepoints - Parking will be an issue. I grew up in that neighborhood and finding a parking spot can be an issue at times. There are many events/activities that take place at the Schutze building, plus the Rotary building is used for various activities along with the church. Add to that the water/ski show and a baseball game and parking will be an issue.

Leave the park as it is. It's finally a great place for families and residents to spend time in. Don't mess it up with a large stadium and more traffic.

re: Drive Right Up and Park Your Car!

FivePoints — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 15:44:32 GMT

Steve, you make the comparison to State Fair with regards to parking and claim that it will turn residential neighborhoods around Frame Park into a circus grounds? Come on. State fair attracts almost 80,000 people a day. The baseball stadium will draw 2 percent of that per game. It will take almost 2 seasons of Northwoods baseball (assuming sellouts) to reach 80,000. I estimate 600 spaces would be needed for a sellout (avg of 3 persons per car). There is so much on-street parking that isn't used in that neighborhood that the parking is a non-issue.

re: Drive Right Up and Park Your Car!

luke — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 12:11:52 GMT

Steve-

I am a big fan of baseball. I likely will not visit a new ballpark if built in Frame park. Mostly, because I don't want to pay to go see a game there. Also, I don't want to have to fight for a place to park.

Although, based on the comments by many people, I am not sure parking will be that much of an issue cause I can't believe that many people will be going to the games. Either way, there are games there now and a lot of cars show up. As far as parking goes, people can park on city streets, in the parking lot by Waukesha State Bank and the new antique store. Yes people will whine about it, but those are the same people that could use the walk up the beautiful riverwalk to the stadium.

Finally, I disagree that this will be a big boost for downtown business. There are more empty store fronts in downtown Waukesha than occupied. I was down there for the art crawl a couple of weeks back which had a great turn out, but we simply will not see that kind of turn out for a baseball game that is blocks away.

So, let's go ahead and build a stadium. We can use some taxpayer dollars to help out, just like we are doing with the Clarke Hotel. Then, maybe in 5 years, we can all get together to clean the cobwebs and graffiti off of these places, because I can't imagine either one is going to be a big money maker.

re: Speak your mind about Minooka Dog Park

solorider — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 20:13:55 GMT

I've been walking dogs since the days when 'dog parks' didn't exist. Marshes, streams, lakes, woods, long grass, short grass, you name it. If there was ever a location I didn't want my dog to visit, I didn't let them go near it, whether it was the road, private property, people, etc. I do the same thing at Minooka if I don't want them near the mudhole. Real easy!

Dog Park « FivePoints

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re: Time To Spruce Up Grand Avenue....

Brien Lee — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 02:53:01 GMT

tell me about it! I'm a bike rider too...bicycle... and there's no spring suspension on those things either. I ride close to the curb where often the holes and pavement shifts are worst, and don't have a lot of room to swerve when cars are beside me. OK, I admit I don't wear a helmet either.

I hope someone touches up the potholes before the Carl Zach Cycling Classic July 19th.

re: Are We Independent?

Brien Lee — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 15:13:26 GMT

Thanks a lot. You wrecked it. Just got the stimulus check dated July 4th, now we'll have to deal with guilty consciences as we let it slip through our fingers.

re: Lets be proactive on drunk driving, reasonably

Brien Lee — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 01:47:34 GMT

What about warnings on prescription bottles? Monitoring by insurance companies generally works pretty well I feel -- they'll only cover one monthly supply per month etc. But what about those who, through wealth or knowledge of the system, have multiple doctors prescribing for them and several pharmacies they use? But there's really no bottle warning that will stop or slow a determined adict. There's no ignition interlock devices for drug abusers that I know of. I don't know that there is an easy answer.

re: In Memory Of Jenn, Courtney and Sophia

luke — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 12:57:34 GMT

Steve-I can't begin to understand what you and your family are going through however, remember that you have the thoughts and prayers of everyone around with you and your family.

re: In Memory Of Jenn, Courtney and Sophia

Jay Walt — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 01:09:43 GMT

Steve - It's impossible to feel what you and your family are going through. Waukesha is a close-knit, concerned Community where caring neighbors are the norm. I hope they provide solace and support in the coming months. My thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family.

re: In Memory Of Jenn, Courtney and Sophia

Brien Lee — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 23:40:45 GMT

Steve, I can't imagine your family's pain. A new marriage and a baby on the way cut short by the most senseless of accidents. Please accept my sincerest condolences.

re: More On The Harley Party

Brien Lee — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 12:30:54 GMT

There's probably more truth to this than satire. My next door neighbor must be already getting ready for this. He just got picked up for motorcycle DUI Saturday. I'm sure he's real proud to be the first drunk motorcyclist arrested in Waukesha this year. The first of many I'm sure.

re: Not So Fast On Compact Flourescent Bulbs.

Brien Lee — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 13:12:32 GMT

I once knew a gold digger.

re: Economic Stimulus Should Be Spent And Spent Locally

Steve Bukosky — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 17:03:22 GMT

For Brien; Your question asking where the money is going to come from is a good one. I believe the answer is from "our" taxes. There are those that think we are overtaxed and this is putting it back into the economy where it should have been in the first place. There are also those that say it is a redistribution of wealth, which it can be seen as, seeing that those that pay the most taxes get the least amount or none and I'm advocating that even those that pay no taxes get a check. However, that is not about redistribution of wealth, it is the best way to get the money into circulation.

re: Economic Stimulus Should Be Spent And Spent Locally

Steve Bukosky — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 16:34:26 GMT

For Fivepoints; I was going to expand on how American some cars are. I decided not to get too heavy for the blog but I'll take this opportunity to say some more on the subject. First off, I own two cars, a Pontiac and a Subaru. I bought the Subaru at the time that General Motors was a major shareholder in them and I owned GM stock. That has since changed and was sold to Toyota. For a company vehicle, I have a Toyota Sienna van. It is built in Evansville Indiana where the company I work for has a store. No doubt many of our customers make their living making Toyotas.

I also have two motorcycles. One is a Honda Goldwing which states right on that huge engine that it is made in the USA. FWIW, some Harley Davidson components, the shocks I believe, are made by a Honda owned company. Yes, the domestic versus foreign lines are very blury.

To further confuse things, my Subaru Forester is made in Japan while the Subaru Outback is made in Indiana, along with some Kia's. I pass that factory on my way to Evansville again passing the Toyota Factory.

So yes, I'm well aware of the difficulty of buying an American vehicle. That is why I pointed out some that are either made in Wisconsin or have components that are made in Wisconsin.

I do believe that American brands of carmakers do need some help. They have had to negotiate union benefits for many years and are strapped with healthcare and retiree benefits that foreign brands that are made in America are not saddled with. My father worked his whole career at General Motors and when he retired, was well taken care of by his benefits which continued to help my mother after he died. I don't think Toyota retirees will be so lucky.

re: Economic Stimulus Should Be Spent And Spent Locally

FivePoints — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 18:24:19 GMT

I guess I kind of disagree with you on a couple of points. Sure I think that some people should dump the money back into the economy but with so many people in deep credit card debt I would strongly suggest that you take that money and try to pay down your credit cards. The sooner they are paid off the sooner you will have more disposable income to put into the economy. No reason to go out and buy a new TV or clothes when you are wallowing in debt. Now if you aren't in debt I would urge you to spend the money but as you mention in your article, spend it on something useful like a car repair or pet supplies (I would recommend buying them locally too, at LDC Pet Supply on 164).

Where I disagree with you (and this is always a bone of contention for me) is that you should spend it on an American Car. I am so sick of people urging others to buy "American." Its these same people who have no problem buying all kinds of foreign made goods from TVs to sneakers but for some reason when someone buys a foreign car they are somehow betraying their country? Give me a break.

My Honda Accord is more American than several "American" brands. Honda has a plant in Ohio that employs over 15,000 people. Suppose we all stop buying "foreign cars" what happens to those 15,000 American workers? Is Chrysler or Ford going to hire them? Highly unlikely.

When an American car company can build an attractive, reliable car that holds its value on par with a Honda or Toyota then I may consider one but until then I will continue to drive foreign cars.

re: Economic Stimulus Should Be Spent And Spent Locally

Brien Lee — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 14:22:18 GMT

I'd have no trouble spending it locally - spent over $200.00 on last trip to grocery store! I know you didn't ask, and it looks like it will be coming, but there's reasons I have for not wanting the handout. Yeah, right now, just a month after Christmas bills hit the fan, most people I know would gladly welcome money. But where is it coming from? Will the economy get so much better that the loan for it will be paid off and more? I fear that by doing this every time the economy takes a dump we'll come to expect this sort of thing. Then what happens? Too much dependency eventually leads to loss of productivity.