tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6621691715090523319.post2116587316215400714..comments2023-10-08T04:12:46.273-05:00Comments on The Political Environment: At SEWRPC, The Pace Of Work Is ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZJames Rowenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10203270946492159686noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6621691715090523319.post-57225539276339374742009-12-11T10:21:40.759-06:002009-12-11T10:21:40.759-06:00James,
Certainly the lack of progress in the regio...James,<br />Certainly the lack of progress in the region is depressing. I believe the dysfunction is systemic and has developed into a way of life. The Milwaukee County Board and the Milwaukee Public School Board are two examples of why necessary reforms cannot take place. We tried to create the world many people envision back in the 1970s. Forced busing within MPS was implemented based on the noble social cause of integration. However, the results were devastating to the city of Milwaukee, MPS and drastically increased the segregation and the subsequent concentration of poverty within the city limits. Middle-class non-minorities fled the city for the suburbs and suburban schools. So, the very program meant to solve the social problem of segregation has failed and exasperated the problems. MPS is 88% minority students with 77% qualifying for the free or reduced lunch program. Liberal policies with excellent intentions back in the 70s have helped create the very suburbs that have developed a hatred for Milwaukee. <br />The dichotomy is represented well within the divisive politics of the region and state. People in Wisconsin have long memories and are very stubborn. (James, I do sense some stubbornness in you as well!) That stubbornness can be a good thing at times. However, when it comes to moving this region forward stubbornness is deadly. Fragmented local governments clamoring for their piece of the shrinking Southeastern Wisconsin pie are selfish and put themselves before the region. West Allis should not compete with New Berlin for landing a new company. Milwaukee should not compete with Brookfield for an office tenant. The Milwaukee area should compete with Minneapolis, Denver, Indianapolis or Columbus.<br />How do we do this? A massive shift in the way we think is necessary. If Oconomowoc gets a company with a 1,000 jobs, that’s great for Oconomowoc and good for the region. If we could get transit from the city center to access those jobs – now we’re getting somewhere. Affordable housing near the new job center in Oconomowoc that would be epically amazing! Having the government force these policies on people is not the right way to solve the problems – it has a proven track record of causing more problems. People like us advocating and educating people about the needs in Southeastern Wisconsin so they can make their own informed decision at the polls is the correct way to bring about positive change. I lived in Milwaukee all my life, my family helped build this city and I love this city but you don’t want to drop a watermelon to pick up a poppy seed. We could build something great here but we need to let go of but not forget the past to move forward. <br />Best Regards,<br />A Concerned MilwaukeeanAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com