Journal Sentinel Confront's Region's Responsibilities For Poverty

I thought the newspaper's Labor Day editorial was pretty thoughtful, calling out Scott Walker in particular as the obstacle to transit that is keeping workers disconnected from jobs.

Frankly, I don't see either the suburbs, the business community or state leaders stepping up and doing much in response.

They've lived with the status quo for generations - - literally, figuratively and politically - - so what's to motivate them to do a 180-degree turn now?

There's simply a lack of leadership that really wants to take the probable short-term political risks, or commit long-term to solving the issues that the newspaper lays out - - an agenda, in print and plain English to be sure, if one were motivated to so define it - - and that is achievable if there were the will to tackle it as a Wisconsin and urban agenda.

At the State Capitol, compromised budgets cater to the wishes of out-state legislators and special interests who have relatively little use for, or understanding of, the realities of a big city.

It is the state that froze the City of Milwaukee's borders in the 1950's just as white flight was gaining strength.

It is the state that buried Milwaukee without a vote in a rural and suburban-dominated regional planning commission - - a body with power, and that could have been working on urban issues with energy and focus and intention these last 50 years, but sees no need and feels no pressure to do so.

The commission doesn't even have a single minority individual, or person with a City of Milwaukee address, on its management staff in the Pewaukee-based agency, according to records.

And it is the state, in partnership with the regional planning commission (SEWRPC), that has distorted Milwaukee's transportation connections and stunted Milwawukee's economic development by boosting suburban highway spending, and disregarding urban transit.

Complicit in this diminution of Milwaukee is the city's passive legislative delegation.

Together with a Waukesha County government that wants new water supplies from Milwaukee, and more highways built through the city - - and little else - - the powers-that-be in both counties, the business community and state transportation department allowed a Milwaukee County bus line in January to die that served city workers riding into Waukesha County for jobs.

So I wouldn't look to the state for much real help.

The regional planning commission and M-7, the relatively new private sector-led regional collaborative, need to broaden their horizons and open up their work to the grassroots, and to meaningful minority participation.

The newspaper, however, should not overlook or undersell its power.

It should withdraw or withhold endorsements from elected officials who do not meet the paper's goals that were stated in the Labor Day editorial.

It can begin with Walker, whom it has routinely endorsed, and extend that editorial clout through this election cycle, and beyond.

Define what the standard is and hold elected officials to it. Support the leaders, and the risk-takers, and toss the obstructionists under the bus.