Sprawled Out: The Search for Community in the American Suburb

Local columnist McIlheran is smarter than any mere CEO (and, evidently, an aspiring "O'Toole" of big oil)

UPDATE to yesterday's RTA post: Adding additional weight to the pro-RTA argument is the fact that captain of industry Patrick McIlheran disagrees. (Because the Heritage Institute told him to, of course.)

It's especially fun to see McIlheran - evidently angling for a post-JS career as a subsidized special interests dogmatist ala bought-and-paid-for Randall O’Toole - grapple with the concept of what is euphemistically referred to as "the last mile"; i.e., if the train doesn't drop you off at your front door, what then? WHAT THEN?!?!?

Assuming McIlheran's creativity is not limited to folksy asides, he'd better go back to O'Toole for a sturdier (and, as always, fully subsidized) straw man. 

"The last mile" can be dealt with, thank you.

Northwestern Mutual CEO puts Franklin on notice regarding RTA: Get with the program

Did my colleagues on the Franklin Economic Development Commission read the Letters to the Editor in today's Milwaukee Journal Sentinel?

I speak of:

1. Commissioners who thought ridiculous my assertion that Franklin should begin to plan in earnest for the rail line that will eventually run through neighboring Oak Creek (that is: Reassure the business community that Franklin understands the importance of commuter rail and will provide and plan for the vital "last mile connection"), and;
2. Commissioners who regularly insert anti-transit materials into the EDC meeting packets (the last of which was an opinion column by George Torres, at the time an employee of county exec Scott Walker and head of Milwaukee County's shambolic transit system);

My fellow EDC Commissioners should now know that Franklin corporate citizen Northwestern Mutual is led by a man who gets it - - and will expect us to get it as well.

RTA should be sales tax-funded

I am writing to express my support for the creation of a three-county Regional Transit Authority and a viable, dedicated funding source for transit and Kenosha-Racine-Milwaukee commuter rail. As CEO of a major business in Milwaukee County, I know dedicated funding for transit is critical to the future success of my business.

The local business community in Milwaukee is solidly behind the current RTA's recommendations to shift funding for transit to a dedicated sales tax. Many opponents of this transit proposal argue that shifting transit from the property tax to a sales tax is anti-business or will drive business away. That is categorically untrue.

Northwestern Mutual has two major offices in Milwaukee County and employs a significant number of residents of Wauwatosa. Our current transit system is so inadequate and obsolete that my employees cannot get from our downtown office to our Franklin location on the Milwaukee County Transit System. The lack of available transit in this region has a much greater impact on my company than a shift in how we pay for transit.

Of the top 50 most populated U.S. cities or regions, only seven do not have or are not developing rail transit. Wisconsin is already behind other regions in this regard, and without a stable bus transit system - much less improved transit and commuter rail links connecting Milwaukee to other regions - southeastern Wisconsin will be left behind as the state's talent pool is attracted to other developing regions. Those remaining in Wisconsin cannot get to their jobs.

Please tell state legislators that a vote for a fully funded, three-county RTA is a vote to support business in southeastern Wisconsin.

Edward Zore
CEO, Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co.
Milwaukee

Ferch's is open in Franklin

It will be very interesting to see if a neighborhood-style grill can thrive outside the friendly confines of Greendale's main street, in an ambivalent-to-pedestrian atmosphere like that of Shoppes at Wyndham Village (the extra "p" is for "parking - lots of it!!!").

Andrew Sullivan: "We're all Socialists now"

Via The Daily Dish | By Andrew Sullivan:

In lieu of the (cancelled) Economic Development Commission meeting ...

... there will be an organizational meeting of "my" subcommittee (screenshot of Franklin's online meeting calendar above), which is exploring the creation of a commercial coffee shop/co-working facility on the city-owned land between the Public Library and Fire Station #1 (or thereabouts).

That's right: Like Leslie Knope of PARKS AND RECREATION, I have a subcommittee.

An invitation to attend has gone out to each member of the Economic Development Commission; however, potential participation is not confined to the EDC, so an agenda item will allow those in attendance to suggest possible members.

Having never so much as attended a city subcommittee meeting before, actually running one should be quite... interesting.

What? You didn't get to the OfficeMax grand opening this morning?

A box of 25 hanging file folders for $1! Free box of printer paper for the first 50 customers!

I got there at 8:50am (after getting the kids off to school); an employee told me they had at least 100 people waiting in line for their 8am opening.

As for me, my hanging file folder needs are met for another year or so.

Karma for State Senator "can't comprehend roundabouts" Mary Lazich ....

... would be if she was given the task of personally delivering news of death or horrible injury by t-bone collision at one of her beloved intersections to the victim's loved ones.

In fact, I would be in favor of putting her name on a curb-side plaque at specific intersections where her interference may have delayed or prevented installation of a long-since safety-proven roundabout. That way, paramedics can page her regularly. Quite regularly, she'd soon find.

Until then, as per usual, she doesn't get it.

"THIS [the MODERN ROUNDABOUT] MAY BE THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT DEVICE EVER CREATED TO HELP CONTROL TRAFFIC SAFELY AND SMOOTHLY"
Discover, June 2001, page 75

Beware the cul-de-sac nightmare....

2009: A Defining Year For Transportation in U.S. » INFRASTRUCTURIST

This year, we have the rare opportunity to fundamentally reform our country’s broken transportation policy. With Congress soon to begin debate on a new transportation bill, now is the time to embrace a 21st century program. This includes dramatically boosting investment levels, taking a more balanced approach to transportation, and better serving the needs of metropolitan areas (where three quarters of Americans live). If a smart reform agenda is ultimately enacted into law, in coming years transportation investments will drive the nation toward economic recovery, greater energy security and much lower levels of greenhouse gas emissions.

Right now, there are a number of helpful factors at play that combine to create this chance for meaningful reform: Obama has brought with him to Washington a strong interest in fixing and improving how we get around in this country; the highway trust fund is beginning to experience chronic shortfalls, spurring interest in overhauling the whole funding system; and it’s been nearly twenty years since the last substantial revision.

But before we dismantle any policy and erect structures in its place, it’s worth understanding the history that brought us a sprawling federal institution comprising 108 different programs.

Read the rest at 2009: A Defining Year For Transportation in U.S. » INFRASTRUCTURIST.

Coffee Shop/Co-Working project gets some ink

From the Franklin Citizen (no web site, unfortunately):

By Andrew C, Westbrook
Franklin Citizen staff writer

The City of Franklin Common Council approved further investigation of a  potential new commercial development near Lions Legend Park, Tuesday. 

The potential development was discussed as a mixed-use, community-based coffee shop with "co-working"  space. 

John Michlig asked the council to place the item on Tuesday's agenda after  it was discussed at length at the April 26 meeting of the Economic Development  Commission, of which he is a part. 

Michlig said the idea would be for the project to potentially be a community incubator that could involve  various educational groups, such as the Milwaukee School of Engineering,  Milwaukee Area Technical College or Franklin High School. 

The development, Michlig wrote in a letter to Mayor Tom Taylor, was suggested to also involve private commercial entities, as well, including possible philanthropic grants to co-fund and  operate facilities. 

The suggestion discussed at the meeting was that students entering into  businesses could learn in a hands-on way. 

"If you want to learn business, you can run a business," Michlig said. 

The idea is still in the experimental phase, and the EDC only sought, and  was given by the council, permission  to continue investigating to see what  potential is truly there by meeting with  various groups, 

However, the issue of location  became a concern, as the initial site talked about would be between the  Franklin Library and Fire Station 1, an  area the Fire Department listed as one they would like to expand their already cramped facility. 

It was suggested by Alderman Steve Olson that, as the fire department pro-  posed expanding for dorms and office space on that side of the building and  because their current dorm and office  spaces are on the east side of the building, a potential alternative would be  expansion of the tire station to the southeast side of their property instead. 

Most in attendance were in favor of the idea. 

Mayor Taylor noted that the idea  could potentially help create a greater  sense of community.