Senior Viewpoint

Now that we have heard from all the candidates for President none of them have taken a meaningful stand on two important

 issues for senior citizens.

1. Crime. This includes felonies, misdemeanors, and local ordinance violations. Drugs and alcohol is on the rise for both adults

and juveniles. Some will say that statistics prove that crime is decreasing, but some statistics are the product of those who have

a special interest in the numbers. Not all crimes are reported as such or are degraded by those who report them, and not all

those who commit crimes are caught or arrested.

2. Social Security benefits. Senior citizens who qualify for benefits have paid income taxes and the government taxes them

again on retirement benefits. This is not fair to those who have worked hard their entire lifetime the enjoy financial stability

while in retirement.

My research show that formal local government in the Brookfield area started in 1846 when Waukesha County was split off from Milwaukee County, and the Town of Brookfield was created. Prior to this time Brookfield was referred to as the "Milwaukee Woods".

After 1853 , when the first railroad depot was built, Brookfield was often referred to as "Brookfield Junction." In 1867, a second and larger depot was built at the present site. At that time Brookfield consisted of many small farms, and beautiful green fields criss-crossed by many brooks and streams were served by dirt roads. The area was joined by the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad, which also connected the area to points west, such as Waukesha and Watertown.

Brookfield remained primarily a quiet farm community, although there were some subdivions of lands in the 1930s and 1940s. After World War II there was a rapid growth in population and in 1954 the City of Brookfield was created with the incorporation of 16 square miles of town land. The Mayor-Council form of government was chosen because it was thought to be the most democratic and closer to the people. Franklin Wirth was elected the first Mayor.

The City was divided into 5 wards , now called districts with two Aldermen elected to represent each ward, forming a 10 person Council. In 1960 the City was redistricted and 7 districts were created resulting in the 14 person Council.

The vision of our forefathers was that the City of Brookfield would be governed by ELECTED officials who are chosen by the people, the city residents. Should a city-manager or similar type of government be formed it has to be done by the electorate in a referendum vote with a reasonable time before the vote for public debate and written notice to the residents explaining both the pros and cons of such a drastic change in our government

The City of Brookfield residents deserve "Open Government" because it is their tax dollars that finance our government and its employees.

By the way, what ever happened to the LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS, who sponsored public debate for public office and were a great service to our community ?

When I moved to the City of Brookfield 35 years ago I was impressed with the friendly greetiing from the welcome wagon host who made me feel wanted as part of the community. Today there is no official welcome from the city, and yet a new commercial business is welcomed with a well publicized ribbon cuting ceremony.

And so the old and time tested tratition of starting out as a newcomer who is made comfortable upon arrival has faded into the past.

Thats the way it was.

Mayor Wirth was most deserving of having Wirth Park named after him. Mayor Wirth preserved open green spaces and the true style of suburban living, with some horses, cows and farms in an atmosphere of Hometown America.

Thats the way it was.

Mayor Mitchell also was most deserving of having Mitchell Park named after him, and he represented a gradual transition of modern and careful progress. Residents were involved in social activities during his tenure such as the Mitchell golf outing and dinner at Brookfield Hills and his annual Christmas party at his home, both of which were very popular events.

.Under both Mayor Wirth and Mayor Mitchell there was personal contact and a friendly community spirit.

Thats the way it was.

The major political issue in 1974 was the future development of condominiums, and residents voted them out because of their fear that property values would be harmed. My how times have changed.

Community leaders like Rolland Ruby wanted to keep the City of Brookfield united around a concentrated area. Thus Ruby Isle was born.

Gone are the places where people could meet and greet each other and keep up to date with the local issues and topics of the day. 

Some of the hometown places were Judges' Beyond The Reef (Calhoun and North), Karters (now the Grecian Inn), Ciros and Phillips Pharmacy at Ruby Aisle (now Walgreens) with a real soda fountain.

Thats the way it was.

We still have the best hometown to live in and the future is bright if the pace of progress slows down and gives us a chance to catch our breath. 

My blog is named Senior Viewpoint and as a senior citizen the subject matters that I write about come from my experiences, memories and lessons well learned.

With the presence of the computer, internet, ipod, cell phone and all the other modern communication devises, as a senior citizen I see the world in a different perspective than those fortunate to be younger.

My gratitude to BrookfieldNOW.com for including me in this new era and method of exchanign ideas.