New Berlin Housing Flap Is Learning Opportunity

The blowup in New Berlin over affordable housing - - now further inflamed by Mayor Jack Chiovatero's email stumble and misery - - could be a chance for a real regional discussion about the need for genuinely accessible housing in suburbs where there is commercial and industrial growth.

But where there is poor transit service to the larger regional workforce.

Which describes New Berlin, and other communities in Waukesha, Ozaukee and Washington Counties.

These issues were played out during the 2008 negotiation between New Berlin and Milwaukee when a Lake Michigan water deal was completed.

A deal completed without a firm commitment by New Berlin to increase either its transit connections to Milwaukee or to add affordable housing to the mere 80 units it had in a city of 38,000 residents- - with such housing now being called workforce housing.

And it will be an issue again if and when Waukesha negotiates for Milwaukee water - - an issue that came up during Waukesha's recent Mayoral campaign.

Beneath it are misunderstandings about lower-income people, and minorities - - problems that have stunted regionalism in this area for decades.

Let's hope that tempers cool off in New Berlin and that emotion can be replaced with facts.

Wednesday afternoon update: It looks like facts are giving way to hysteria.