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In the Race
Now, here, you see, it takes all the blogging I can do to keep in the same place. If I want to get somewhere else, I must blog twice as fast as that! You see, I'm in the Red Queen's Race...
March 2008 - Posts
By Janet Evans
Monday, Mar 31 2008, 08:16 PM
"Maybe she's been pondering the Monica Lewinsky question from a college student last week?" |  Either way, do you think Chelsea is kind of feeling like a child from a broken home right about now? I'm sure she's dreaming of those days when the press wasn't allowed to ask her questions. Maybe if Bill hadn't screwed up earlier in the campaign, she wouldn't have to be out there doing his dirty work.
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By Janet Evans
Monday, Mar 31 2008, 06:35 AM
 Map of the Amazon rainforest ecoregions.
The yellow line encloses the Amazon rainforest.
National boundaries shown in black.
Satellite image from NASA.
The destruction of the rainforests is now being thought of as one of the main causes of climate change in the world. These rainforests are what forms the "cooling" strip around the Earth's equator.
Carbon emissions from deforestation cause far more damage than planes, cars and factories.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Biofuels aren't part of the solution at all. They're part of the problem."
"Backed by billions in investment capital, this alarming phenomenon is replicating itself around the world. Indonesia has bulldozed and burned so much wilderness to grow palm oil trees for biodiesel that its ranking among the world’s top carbon emitters has surged from 21st to third according to a report by Wetlands International. Malaysia is converting forests into palm oil farms so rapidly that it’s running out of uncultivated land.
But most of the damage created by biofuels will be less direct and less obvious. In Brazil, for instance, only a tiny portion of the Amazon is being torn down to grow the sugarcane that fuels most Brazilian cars. More deforestation results from a chain reaction so vast it’s subtle: U.S. farmers are selling one-fifth of their corn to ethanol production, so U.S. soybean farmers are switching to corn, so Brazilian soybean farmers are expanding into cattle pastures, so Brazilian cattlemen are displaced to the Amazon. It’s the remorseless economics of commodities markets. “The price of soybeans goes up,” laments Sandro Menezes, a biologist with Conservation International in Brazil, “and the forest comes down.”
Deforestation accounts for 20% of all current carbon emissions. So unless the world can eliminate emissions from all other sources–cars, power plants, factories, even flatulent cows–it needs to reduce deforestation or risk an environmental catastrophe. That means limiting the expansion of agriculture, a daunting task as the world’s population keeps expanding. And saving forests is probably an impossibility so long as vast expanses of cropland are used to grow modest amounts of fuel. The biofuels boom, in short, is one that could haunt the planet for generations–and it’s only getting started."
Read the entire article from TimeThe Clean Energy Scam É here
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By Janet Evans
Sunday, Mar 30 2008, 10:37 PM
By Janet Evans
Sunday, Mar 30 2008, 08:36 PM
I came across a bit of information about a contest called Miss Tourism Queen International.
I have never heard of this contest before, have you?
Here's what Wikipedia has to say about it ~
Miss Tourism Queen International is an annual Chinese-based international beauty contest established in 2004. In July 2007, Miss Tourism Queen International set the record for the most participants in an international beauty contest with 108 women competed, not just from participating countries and territories, but also contestants from provinces known as tourist destinations like Bali and Fernando de Noronha, and regions of special interest like Borneo, Siberia, and Hawaii.
Miss Tourism Queen International was founded by Mr. Charlie See and currently owned by Exclusive Resources Marketing Pte Ltd or ERM, which is private limited company incorporated, based in Singapore.
China sure is busy lately....
You know, with Olympic protests going on and the Tibet crisis....
I don't know where they find the time for a beauty contest.
And this contest goes on for days...March 20-April 12th.
The contest just doesn't seem typical of China to me.
Here is the winner of the bikini portion of the contest, Miss Canada.
The winner must be physically fit.
You can check out the rest of the contestants on the site for
Miss Tourism Queen International í here
By the the way, you can vote for your favorites on the site...$3.00 each vote...
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By Janet Evans
Sunday, Mar 30 2008, 12:05 PM
It happens in several locations around the country...the latest was March 28th in New Jersey.
The closest to us is in Chicago.
If you are ever in Chicago the day of this event....
Run away as fast as you can....
Are these brides that desperate?
I've been to a Filene's Basement in Pittsburg and in Chicago.
Personally, I would never set foot in Filene's Basement in Chicago again for regular shopping, let alone to buy a wedding gown.
But if this is what makes a bride happy....to each her own.
Read about it at Filene's Basement í here
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By Janet Evans
Sunday, Mar 30 2008, 07:05 AM
This year marks the 95th anniversary of the gift of cherry trees to the United States, from Japan.
I can just imagine the fragrance of the sweet cherry blossoms.
It makes me long for a warm spring day with birds singing , the sun on my face, and a slight breeze.
While I look outside and can still see some piles of snow, I also see signs of spring finally popping up. I have patches of white snowdrops with green leaves blooming up against the house. And in the back corner by the deck, my daffodils finally have yellow tops trying to peek through.
I saw two chubby robins and one bright red cardinal. And our gold finches, which never went away all winter this year, because we provide food and a heated bird bath, have finally gone from a brownish-green, to their familiar bight yellow color.
But how I love cherry blossoms....I think even more than lilacs, which, out in the yard, I noticed finally have their buds.
The sad thing about spring, especially in Wisconsin, is that we wait so long for it to come, and there are such beautiful flowers that pop up....tulips, daffodils, crocus, dogwood, magnolia....and then before you know it...they are gone.
They seem to last only for a few days, while summer flowers linger, just like the long, hot days.....
So, I'll close my eyes and picture the cherry blossoms and remember days when I was a child...days that were carefree...days that seemed to last forever.
And I'll try not to let spring pass me by so quickly (when it finally does arrive).
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By Janet Evans
Saturday, Mar 29 2008, 08:14 PM
 The first Opening Day game at the Los Angeles Coliseum, Dodgers-Giants April 18, 1958,
drew a crowd of 78,682. (File/Associated Press)
Tonight, the Dodgers return to their first Los Angeles home. They are coming back to the Coliseum one more time to play the Red Sox in an exhibition game, and officials are hoping for a world-record baseball crowd of over 115,000.
"I remember the Coliseum all too well," said commissioner Bud Selig, who watched the Sox in Japan and plans to be at tonight's game. "My team, the Milwaukee Braves, lost the 1959 pennant there. I remember those Wally Moon shots. There's a lot of history here. We're recreating something from 47, 48 years ago, and it's just amazing."
Read about it from the Boston Globe
Gladiators return to Coliseum í here
| EXHIBITION EXPECTED TO BE A SIX-FIGURE AFFAIR |
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Facts and figures about the exhibition game to be played at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Saturday (7:10 p.m. PT) between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Boston Red Sox:
Expected attendance: More than 115,000
The ballpark: The Coliseum, built for football, was an oddity for baseball. The Dodgers played four seasons there, from 1958 to 1961. The left-field foul pole was 251 feet away from the plate, with a 42-foot screen in left. Because of changes to the stadium since then (removal of the track, added seats), the configuration for Saturday's game are even stranger -- 201 feet down the line in left, with a 60-foot screen.
Memories: The Dodgers won the World Series in 1959. The three Series games in the Coliseum drew more than 92,000 fans each. In May 1959, the Dodgers played the New York Yankees in an exhibition game to honor Roy Campanella, the great Dodgers catcher who had been paralyzed in a car accident. The crowd was 93,103, the largest ever to attend a game between major league teams.
Fan Festival: The Dodgers are putting on an all-day festival of baseball activities outside the Coliseum, including attractions for kids, autograph booths with former Dodger players and live music from the 1950s and 1960s.
Take me out: When the more than 115,000 stand and sing Take Me Out to the Ball Game during the seventh-inning stretch, it will be the largest sing-along of the third most-popular song in U.S. history. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the baseball anthem written by Albert Von Tilzer and Jack Norworth. The tune ranks as the third most-sung song in the USA, trailing only Happy Birthday to You and The Star Spangled Banner, according to the recently released book Baseball's Greatest Hit, The Story of Take Me Out to the Ball Game. by Seth Livingstone, David Leon Moore | |
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Coliseum under construction in 1922 Wikipedia
Model proposed renovation Wikipedia |
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By Janet Evans
Saturday, Mar 29 2008, 06:35 PM
East African bananas Wikipedia
"To all of the ill-effects blamed on man-made global warming, we might add one more. It appears that an obsession with climate change can make sane people warm to mad ideas. Take the Soil Association proposals to make it harder for produce from Africa to be labelled as organic, in order to cut the amount of fruit and vegetables flown into the UK. The justification is that this will reduce “food miles”, CO2 emissions and man-made global warming, and thus protect the developing world from the impact of climate change. The likely effect will be to put some of the most downtrodden farmers in the world out of work.
So how do we save Africa from a possible future disaster? Apparently, by creating a real disaster in the here and now: making poor Africans even poorer. That sounds like madness - or plain badness." Maybe if we were talking about organic tea leaves it would be a different story....
Read the entire article in the Times Online
This organic view is bananas í here
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By Janet Evans
Saturday, Mar 29 2008, 12:35 PM
Nothing.
Wouldn’t this be a dream come true for every high school?
A group of motivated students who form their own SAT (or ACT) study group, three days a week after school, without the help of the Administration, in order to boost their test scores?
No complaining, no quitting, no excuses…they are on a mission….
Is this for real?
Could it go over in Franklin?
Read about it in the New York Times
A Do-It-Yourself SAT Class à here
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By Janet Evans
Saturday, Mar 29 2008, 07:15 AM
 Ronald McDonald ® balloon in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade
I'm sorry....but each time I read the story I'm about the tell you, I just have to keep repeating my title.
McDonalds has had many slogans as the years have gone by.
Here are just a few that ran in the U.S.~
1967 McDonald's is your kind of place
1980s There's nothing quite like a McDonald's
1981 Nobody makes your day like McDonald's can
2000 We love to see/make you smile
2002 Make every time a good time
2007 Things that make you go 'mmmm'
Well, you get the point...but perhaps the 2007 slogan, changed back to "Things that make you go hmmm," would be more appropriate when you consider what happened to Ethan Wade, in Greenville County, South Carolina at a local McDonalds.
Ethan went through the drive-thru and had a problem with his order, so he decided to go inside to get it straightened out.
Ethan happens to be a little person.
Here's what happened ~
Wade said, "Young lady had her back turned to the counter and when she turned around and spotted me she threw her hands up in the air, started yelling 'Oh, my gosh! Oh my gosh!' and ran to the back of the restaurant, continuing to yell as she was in back of the restaurant."
Wade said that the employee's response caught the attention of other customers, as well as her co-workers. He said, "The person that was coming to help me actually responded, 'I thought you had a gun. I thought you were robbing the place.'
"Wade said that the shift manager and store manager apologized after the incident. He said the employee who screamed told a supervisor that she had a phobia of little people. And employee in the franchise office told Wade about what the woman had said.
Wade said, "The employee had stated to her, 'Imagine if you saw a snake or a spider, how would you respond?' And that employee said she understood that. And I said, 'That's unbelievable. I am a human being.' "
"How could you compare the fear of a snake and spider to a human being? That makes no sense to me," Wade said. "I've seen kids kind of react like that. Understandable. But grown adults to act like that? That's just not acceptable."
Like I said....Things that make you go hmmm......
Read the article from NBC WYFF Channel 4
Little Person Says Clerk Screamed, Ran From Him í here
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By Janet Evans
Friday, Mar 28 2008, 06:30 PM
Hopefully, being the good parent that you are, you know where your teen is spending his or her evenings.
And you know his or her friends and their parents.
And, like most parents, you would never host an underage drinking party at your home.
But, what if your teen ends up at a home where a parent allows such a party?
A group of teens obtained alcohol somewhere, somehow, and brought it home, and the parent allows it.
What if your teen, arrives at this home, sees what is going on, knows s/he should leave, makes the wrong choice and decides to stay?
After all, so and so’s parent is there…
Your teen stays, drinks too much, and leaves, driving drunk.
Your teen has an accident and hurts, or unimaginably, kills someone.
Your teen made the decision to drink and drive.
That parent knew your child had alcohol, but didn’t know your teen was intoxicated or driving drunk.
Well, guess what?
“Wisconsin adults who allow underage drinking parties on their properties cannot be held liable if guests later get into drunken driving accidents, the state Supreme Court ruled.”
Now, this law is specifically in regards to adults who are not providing/serving alcohol to the minor. Wisconsin does have a law regarding responsibility in that case. This law was imposed regarding minors who brought the alcohol into the home where the parent did not know the minor left the home intoxicated. It also would apply if the parent was out of town and a minor held a party on the property.
What do you think about this?
Fair?
Especially if you are away and the teen throws a party?
Or, dead wrong?
It’s still your house, your kid, you are responsible for what goes on there. And, where there is alcohol and teens, there will be intoxication…it’s just a fact.
What say you?
Read about the case and the ruling on TwinCities.com
Supreme Court ruling prevents extension of alcohol liability å here
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By Janet Evans
Friday, Mar 28 2008, 11:45 AM
It’s just a fact since 9-11…
And everyone who travels by air should know it by now.
The rules are more strict.
Some metal detectors are set higher than others.
You must remove your jewelry before passing through metal detectors.
TSA workers are not always consistent.
But here’s a warning for you…especially for women.
If you are planning on traveling by way of Lubbock, TX, and you have nipple rings….
Remove them at home.
Read about what one woman went through in Texas when she was required to remove her nipple rings in order to board a flight, including having to use pliers to do so, on MSNBC
Nipple Rings Cause Airport Security Issue í here
Oh, boo hoo
You know what?
I don't feel too sorry for Mandi Hamlin.
If she's got some medical reason she can't remove her freak jewelry before she comes to the airport, maybe she can come with a doctor's release.
I know what I can take and what I can't when I go.
Yes, it's strict.
But with the metal left on her body, it could, in a rare case be masking something else that could be hidden on her.
I know that's reaching...but who knows who that one terrorist will be?
And if you are on a plane, do you want TSA to take a chance?
Should they apologize, if that's all she is asking for?
Well, if they were in fact laughing at her, or rude, then yes.
But not for making her remove the jewelry.
And you've got to hand it to Attorney Gloria Allred...she sure can pick the cases.
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By Janet Evans
Friday, Mar 28 2008, 06:35 AM
Well, a lot.
But you can use Adobe Photoshop Express for free!
Online.
It's a web-based version of Adobe Photoshop, which I've been using for years (and isn't the easiest program to use).
Adobe Photoshop Express is easier to learn....and to get it, all you have to do is sign-up.
Photoshop Express is completely web-based so you can use it with any type of computer, operating system and browser. And, once you register, you can get to your accounts from different computers.
So, what are you waiting for?
Go.
Get out of here...and go play with some of your photos.....
Adobe Photoshop Express í here
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By Janet Evans
Thursday, Mar 27 2008, 05:46 PM
It was just a couple weeks ago that we heard about pro golfer Tripp Isenhour losing it and killing an endangered red-shouldered hawk because it was making noise on the golf course.
Now, I don't play golf...I've always wanted to.
I think I'd be great at it.
I don't much like watching golf though.
I don't like all of the whispering.
Give me a break.
If you can't play a sport with a little noise going on in the background, then there's something wrong.
Maybe it's because of all of the money involved for these pro golfers.
Anyway, Tiger Woods seems to like the quiet.
But he didn't do so well on the 9th hole on Sunday.
He finished his swing with just one hand on the club.
And he wasn't very happy about it.
It seems someone snapped a photo of Tiger as he swung the club.
Oh, oh.....not a very good thing to do....
”Jackass!” [Woods] yelled as he dropped a hand off his follow-through and that usually effortless, smooth swing suddenly seized and turned into something ugly.
Woods had some choice words for the photographers who were shadowing him as he walked from the ninth green to the 10th tee. ''The next time a photographer shoots an [expletive] picture,'' Woods warned, ``I'm going to break his [expletive] neck.''
Well, if those are the rules, then I could see why he would be upset.
But geez, get a grip, (literally) Tiger.
Because the way things have been going....
You just may lose it and end up breaking someone's [expletive] neck next time.
Read the article from the Miami Herald
Round leaves Tiger agitated É
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By Janet Evans
Thursday, Mar 27 2008, 11:50 AM
 Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez
If I were John McCain…I’d be shaking in my boots right now….
Why?
Because Cindy Sheehan’s best friend, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, a harsh U.S. critic, warned, this week, that his relations with the United States would worsen if McCain becomes president.
Oh, really?
First of all, just how much worse could his relations with us get?
No matter where he sets foot, this guy is a bully and a loud mouth.
And I know I will make sure I pay attention to his opinion on who he thinks I should cast my vote for in the election.
Chavez said McCain “seemed warlike.”
Okay, Mr. Red Beret….I guess compared to Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and Ralph Nader, you could say John McCain might appear “warlike.”
Or did you really mean to say likes war?
I don’t know.
All I do know is, like those in the past have said to you, “Shut up, Chavez!”
Nobody cares!
Read the story on Reuters
Chavez Says U.S. Relations Could Worsen with McCain à here
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By Janet Evans
Thursday, Mar 27 2008, 11:41 AM
Following are my "notes" from the Aldermanic candidate Forum on March 24th. As with my notes on the Mayor's forum, these are not quotes and were just taken as best asI could during the forum.
Opening:
Kristen Wilhelm:
Strong believer in getting people involved.
Wants to see more involvement with constituents.
Pete Kosovich:
Over the last 4 years has seen development come and has been a part of it.
Enjoys serving people.
Sees people on the st. and wave and say hello to each other or they stop by the store.
Steve Taylor:
Wants to serve the public and make the place better than when he came.
You need to get to know people you serve.
You must make Franklin strong and if you get more public involvement it will make the government better.
Have to get more people to the polls.
Al Hammelman:
Helped to bring high quality development and collaboration with 27th St.
There are good constituent services. He keeps in touch with residents.
Answers telephone and email messages. Judgment is Key.
Adequate staffing police dept. is important. When do you add another person?
Question: How do you have an appropriate balance of business and residential development?
Kosovich:
The 70/30 split is working so bring in more high quality development…
Franklin is the place to go. NW Mutual decided it was the place to be and grow.
A lot of good things are happening here. Push the 27th St corridor.
Franklin receives city portion of taxes (School Dist.). Bring in quality development. Taylor:
Lowering taxes is the #1 thing – to do that we need to get more development.
Most of that has been going on along 27th St. NW Mutual phase 2 –is in a TIF district.
Development is happening too slowly.
We need things to happen now.
We need relief now.
Hammelman:
Shoot for 70/30 mix – good pro-business growth…
NW Mutual came here and is happy to be here.
Franklin has a positive pro-business growth environment.
We need to move more of the tax burden on business to relieve pressure.
Wilhelm:
Lower taxes - weighted more toward business.
It’s important what types of business – out of state companies have fewer ties.
Locally owned businesses start right up.
We need restaurants so we can spend our own money in our own community.
Don’t add more students to over-burdened schools.
Question: How can you improve communication?
Taylor:
Involve the constituents in decision-making process….
Get to know the people you represent. Put out newsletters and hand it to them.
Look at the voters list. Issue – call a dozen people at a time – listen to people – They're my boss.
Their conduit to 4th district…to city hall. Hammelman:
Know your neighborhoods – People tell the council people how come I didn’t know about so, and so…
Tell them to look at agendas on website and be aware of local government.
I have to be approachable.
I listen to what they have to say.
Wilhelm:
People have access to internet, website, emailing -
I’m always accessible by phone, and I checks emails.
We need Better recording systems at city hall so constituents can
get tapes of meetings more easily.
They need to be a part of decision making and be able to get involved.
Kosovich:
I’m a small business owner…I’m connected with a lot of people…I get recognized.
I know citizens want to get involved.
I welcome input during citizen comment period.
Question: What are specific issues facing your District?
Hammelman:
Dist. 3 - Sycamore street – Introduce a motion to vacate property .
Proper development of 27th St corridor – no strip malls.
NW Mutual, Wheaton Franciscan anchoring ,… proper level of expectation… have business come to us.
Wilhelm:
At the planning commission meeting the Mayor asked is Sycamore going
to be put through – it’s not issue. I see more spending as an issue.
We need to be careful what we bring in to the area.
We need to look at the DPW – There are a lot of complaints.
Tax levy and budget has increased – need to find better ways to use services…
light fixtures…street lights cost a lot of money to maintain.
Start to find alternatives. Cut money – look at way Milwaukee has cut – LED lights – biodiesel. Higher more snow plows.
Kosovich:
Dist. 4 -
We have good services – library, city hall, meal function, seniors programs run through city…
a lot of citizen involvement.
Our Health Dept. monitors our restaurants…..
people take time to find out and take advantage of our services.
People are proud to be here – It’s a good place and gonna get better.
Taylor:
Franklin is a wonderful city with good city employees.. We need to be smart how we spend tax dollars – find a way to cut taxes…not over tax.
Hammelman:
The police dept. is doing an excellent job.
We need motorcycles…reduce speeding.
Reduce full time employees (FTE) – Fire Dept. – realign dept. and Emergency Medical Services. Planning dept needs to be improved - underpaid. DPW is challenged.
Question: How do you feel about the working relationship with school districts?
Kosovich:
We have a quarterly meeting with the school district.
They need to deal with the school portion of tax dollars – what can you do about taxes?
Being responsible with money –
I hope that people in control make best decisions at least dollars spent.
Taylor:
I met school board members.
I will work with school board members – try not to meddle in affairs – work with them.
Hammelman:
I attend quarterly meetings –
We have mutual goals and objectives – schedule growth out –
The referendum was shot down – constituents were not happy – it’s a hard sell. We need to work together.
Wilhelm:
We need to listen to each other’s point of views –
Like Ed Holpfer said, Have a cooperative sharing of services – form better relationships – make comments on development plans.
Question: Do you feel that TIF districts are necessary in Franklin?
Taylor:
People want to see relief from taxes now –
It takes quite a while to pay off.
Would have done those things themselves….revenue would have helped now. .
Hammelman:
That’s the great debate…
We do need TIF…
There’s competition out there – cities need to be smart.
NW Mutual had incentives to move…great pro-business – help fill up.
TIFs – good idea.
Wilhelm:
Simple explanation might work –
Flat piece of all land approved by putting property there – tax goes up
– taxes that were paid in go to pay off roads and infrastructure –
money does not go into tax revenue until TIFF is paid off.
Important not to stretch 20-30 yrs. Short-term.
Kosovich:
There’s a time and place – NW Mutual didn’t bring them here.
TIFs encompass more than NW Mutual – 31st St road.
Not going to take a lot of years – less than 10 years - to pay off.
Question: Do you support effort to get Franklin out of high MATC into lower Gateway ?
Hammelman: Yes….
Wilhelm: Yes…reduce taxes by not having to be tied in to MATC as
alternative system – look at all facts.
Kosovich: Yes – look at pros and cons.
Taylor: Yes – find ways you save money you get out of agreement – yes.
Question: What is your vision of Franklin in 20 years
Wilhelm:
A place for community gathering –
sense of people – meeting each other – retail shopping –
for all the people – variety of housing – not just high end – balanced community…
attract people to community. Compare to Greendale.
Kosovich:
See more restaurants, retail, spend dollars in community.
More going to come. Find what residents want.
Landscaping, architecture – planning commission. Don’t see all work devepers put in.
We allow committees and planning to do their job – work well – then evaluate…work great.
Taylor:
At the end of the day – Franklin can be envy of the area…
A people friendly environment– business friendly, park lands, great community…looked at.
Hammelman:
Sewer , additional development, continued fiscal practices, increase bond rating, downside –
retire healthcare – pay as you go – liability – challenges to infrastructure –
Jack Bennett said roads , sewers need repair.
I see a more mature city.
Closing:
Kosovich:
I am helping city to grow with quality development.
People are friendly and care about each other.
The current council works well together. I’d like to see that continue.
Taylor:
There’s one winner and one loser…your friendly…and you’re selling yourself..
The voters in the 4th District want someone more vocal.
Someone in area more…with a different style…who keeps in touch with people.
I served in this capacity before and I will be ready to serve on day one.
What I would want is a good turn-out. I’m looking forward to represent.
Hammelman:
I want a pro-business environment for the constituents.
City hall has been productive – The development that has taken place is not by accident.
I want to keep moving forward – be fiscally conservative –
be responsive to constituents calls…word means far more.
Wilhelm:
I believe I’m a great candidate choice – work well with others –
voice own opinion – support diverse opinions –
believe consideration from others when I spend hard earned tax dollars –
support exploring financial issues – neighborhood safety –
I have the Fire fighter’s endorsement…
I’m a hard worker – volunteered for 8 years…dedicate time to represent and serve.
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By Janet Evans
Thursday, Mar 27 2008, 07:00 AM
The following are my raw notes from the questioning to the candidates for Mayor from the forum on March 24th.
Please be advised, these are just notes. The questions were read very quickly (so I don't even have those typed out completely) and answers started right away. I did my best...maybe you will find the notes useful, maybe not. These are not quotes (maybe there are one or two) but I attempted to write down as much as I could. Forum for Mayor – 3/24/08
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Questions
Question: What is the biggest issue facing Franklin:
Tom Taylor:
The biggest issue facing Franklin is keeping crime low, with no gang activity. Recently met with the owners of Southridge, and the leaders of Greendale and Greenfield to discuss minimizing gang activity at Southridge – to try to keep crime low. We have a great community - we want to keep crime low here.
Basil Ryan: Taxes and development and being over-assessed on homes. The value of a home is greater on tax dollars – “We are being over-assessed 100%.” $ are going to the state, county, and MATC – development is causing a strain on police, fire –[ TIF districts are getting the money and the taxpayers are paying.] These are critical issues...
Question: What is the best balance between residents and Development?
Ryan:
The question earlier about 70/30 [to the aldermanic candidates] came from Randy Ridder. There are no supporting . Look at balance – what will support development in the long run. We need to look into putting development around the House of Corrections [instead of 27th St. corridor] so taxes stay in Franklin school district.
Taylor:
We are striving toward a 70/30 – moving in that direction – We have the Fountains of Franklin, Shops of Legend Creek – Tom Tickner brought a study in – a 400 page study – We have Northwestern Mutual…they made an investment here.
Question: Views on Development?
Taylor:
The real trick is to keep the rural character here in Franklin. A 70/30 mix. Like the Silicon Valley – they have high tech but they insist on rural character to be present – a balance.
Ryan:
The city has to decide what it wants. Bringing companies – a second phase of NW Mutual. I sat on the council when the first phase came in. We insisted on open space and greenery – the council fought against other businesses that wanted to come in. We have to turn down businesses and control growth. Landmarks have to be followed – less is not beneficial to the city. Attract more like NW Mutual – I was not given credit for NWM.
Question - We have a strong police force, library…what are the drawbacks in maintaining?
Ryan:
Attract businesses to compliment…Develop businesses that will take relief off of the taxpayer. Good business brings good results. Go the extra step to get them in.
Taylor:
I’ve never been a fan of the landfill in the city. I’d like to make it go away – to get filled up – get on with life. Super fund site on 27th st. – next to NW Mutual – we have an old amusement park that’s an eyesore – it’s not so good. Rawson from 51st to 61st St. is dilapidated – it’s concrete. We now have Sendiks, Azana Spa…Now it becoming a palace. Franklin has more and more attributes – Franklin is the envy of SE WI and our reputation is getting better everyday.
Question - What is your Vision for the “City” of Franklin?
Taylor:
76th Street, HWY 100, 27th Street. Business will go where businesses will do well. Close to the freeway, with easy access, visibility – a corridor – a long shot – it looks like a sure thing. NWM is in. 27th St. may achieve a goal of bringing 1 billion in Planning commission is working on the Business Park and HWY 100. The DOT is planning expansion of road. There is a great deal of development planned for HWY 100 and 27th St.
Ryan:
76 & Rawson and 27th St. have a different looks. Different atmosphere and feeling, focus. We have new and old - We need to stay consistent. Look at what people want. We need to eliminate congestion – On 27th St. there’s too much density – no green space – We need to define character.
Question - Assess the operation of city services:
Ryan:
Need improvement fire/police – don’t go backwards. This past summer a private citizen bought fire truck. Services are being strained. Parks putting lots of money into development and growing – DPW sit around in winter – more people put on budget – more for retirement. Assess situation.
Taylor:
Police 66/77
Fire- added bodies – Many deficiencies
Need more sidewalks – 76 St.– more infrastructure for children to play.
Question - Will you as mayor complete a master plan for a downtown Franklin?
Tom – working on – SW quad of city – results of landfill negotiations to go forward – began birth of civic center – location of city hall and comm. Center – culture center – far end civic center nailed down – walkways Add places for ice cream, coffee…
Ryan: Yes downtown – right in backyard tie in police dept and library < | |
