Letter Perfectly Frames The Regional Water Issue
Props to environmental and social justice Attorney Dennis Grzezinski for the analysis in his Wednesday letter to the editor published in the Journal Sentinel:
Milwaukee asking right questions about water
It has been very interesting to read news reports and editorials seconding the City of Waukesha's argument that Milwaukee should provide it with Lake Michigan water in the interest of regional cooperation - because it is necessary to strengthen the region.
Waukesha's argument, and the media coverage, ignores the fact that time and time again over the years, Waukesha County communities and officials have turned their backs on any kind of cooperation with Milwaukee - on transportation issues, on access to jobs and on affordable housing, among others.
They even prevented Milwaukee from moving ahead with public transit projects that would have been located entirely within Milwaukee County. It is hard to understand why the media would fail to recognize, and fail to point out in their coverage, that Waukesha is applying a double standard here today.
Under these circumstances, City of Milwaukee officials are properly asking questions about Waukesha's need for this water, about the size and scope of the request and about Waukesha's willingness to cooperate with Milwaukee on other issues that affect the region.
Dennis Grzezinski
Milwaukee
2 comments:
Thank you, Dennis Grzezinski - and James for distributing his fine letter summarizing Waukesha's participation in regional activity - not so much.
Now, before someone else does it for us, let's define "regional."
For starters, I would suggest we could adopt the MPO map, that federally mandated Regional Planner that is supposed to find a region and serve it. Ours, here in SE Wisconsin, represents (or is supposed to represent) seven counties in this, yes, region - or more accurately, in this collection of uneasy relatives trying to divide up Grandpa's estate. Division is not the language of the 21st century; if you wanted global trading, you need to live with its demands.
This means, Waukesha, not concessions to make Milwaukee's water your water, but political support to make this area a region. With all due respect, Milwaukeeans do not really see Waukesha as a regional thinker; so you have a challenge on your hands. As Mr. Grezesnki points out we've tracked Waukesha County's behavior for quite a few years.
So, we're looking south. Let's start with Mayor John Dickert of Racine, who said in arguing for dedicated funding and regional authority for buses, we are dead if we compete among ourselves. Actual competition, Dickert pointed out to the State Assembly two years ago, comes from Hong Kong, Beijing, Seoul, Singapore, as well as the many cities of the West. It's time for our region to read Oriental tea leaves.
And the Mayor only scratched the surface in trying to wrest a half cent's worth of regional authority out of Madison. A region will not be a region simply by cobbling together enough authority to operate a bus or train, but it's a start. We must begin to think together as a region, building on each other's strengths.
Bill Sell
Thanks, Bill; I have long felt that Waukesha does not belong in a regional arrangement w/ Waukesha.
The counties are too dissimilar.
Waukesha could be combined w/ Washington, Ozaukee and, perhaps, Walworth; Milwaukee, if it cannot be a region of one, which makes sense, then it should be combined to the south w/ Racine and Kenosha, which have urban constituencies and issues, too.
And linkages to IL.
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