Sprawled Out: The Search for Community in the American Suburb

"Ha! You stink!" cried the dyslexic hecklers

ABOVE: The Atlanta Braves' third base coach at last night's game.

Special thanks to the Brewers' field security guy assigned to the patch of grass in front of our section for A) Tossing a game ball to my daughter and her friend (they were thrilled); and B) Putting the "dudes" in our section on notice to watch their language in deference to the presence of kids.

What a terrific ambassador for the sport and the Brewers - -  who won, by the way, 1-0 (I've never been closer to a major league double play than the beauty Bill Hall turned at third).

Sometimes it's the little things that win ball games and make a ball park great.

The mayor faces the ongoing consequences of questionable commission appointments

First, Franklin Mayor Tom Taylor removed Kevin Haley from the Plan Commission, rendering that body inert; developers rejoice. Now he appoints a hostile alderman to the Environmental Commission, prompting a resignation by someone who will definitely make his grievances public.

Ouch.

From FranklinNOW.com:

Environmental panel member resigns

By John Neville

Franklin Environmental Commission Acting Chairman Gregory Kowalski announced his resignation from the commission today in a letter to Mayor Thomas Taylor.

Kowalski, also a blogger on FranklinNOW.com, said the position of the panel has been weakened by the recent appointment of Alderman Lyle Sohns.

"Considering that there were better aldermanic choices for the representative spot, that Alderman Sohns already didn't seem interested in the position, and his representation on the commission in the past was noted by other commissioners as not helpful, I will take it as a sign by yourself that you do not want this commission to succeed in its current form," said Kowalski in his letter of resignation.

Full text of Kowalski's letter is here.

Losing the last vestige of public free space

Planning Quote of the Day:

"Public libraries are the last vestige of public free space." -- Joshua Prince-Ramus, who worked on the design of the Seattle Public Library.

From today's Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

Milwaukee Public Library Director Paula Kiely is proposing to shut down four of the city's 12 neighborhood libraries, eliminate 39 jobs and cut the hours the Central Library is open. Kiely said she didn't want to do any of that, but she was faced with the need to slice $2 million from her budget.

[Milwaukee Mayor] Barrett said he hoped private donors would help, recognizing that libraries play a vital role as "institutions of learning and democracy." Murphy said aldermen would try to avoid closing libraries.

Outdoor seating at Sendik's

Sendik's in Franklin, Wisconsin, originally uploaded by johnruexp.

Snapped this about a week ago. I wonder if people will feel comfortable enough in an area surrounded by the parking lot to linger.

Flickr set of signs on "old 41"

WI, Milwaukee County-U. S. 41(Old) Sleepy Hollow Motel, originally uploaded by Alan C of Marion,IN.

"Alan C." writes:

I took a quick business trip to Wisconsin and managed to get off the interstate south of Milwaukee and find old U.S. 41, now designated WI 241. This was the first sign I ran into and the best of the bunch. I guess they wanted everyone to know that there was NO VACANCY by painting the NO onto the sign.

Click the image to see more from the set.

Souvenir picture from the soon-to-be-nostalgic days of "happy motoring"

I had a feeling while pumping gas this past week that I was passing a landmark. Sub-$4 gas for the last time; right down the road it was already $4.23 a gallon.

County Exec Scott Walker? Asleep at the wheel.

Here comes a capital "c" Crisis because Wisconsin is simply unprepared to cope with the approaching new reality - - we're talking about re-goldplating the Zoo Interchange, for heaven's sake. Meanwhile, Chicago, Racine, Milwaukee and Madison still exist as commercial centers "connected" by nothing more than asphalt when there should be trains - yes, expensive trains! -  running continuously between those points.

Still think $10 a gallon can't happen? Perhaps before the summer is out....

Will we see an exodus from far-flung suburbs as commuters tally their weekly gas bill? I already hear from people who are looking at changing either their work or home situations based on expensive car commutes. Combine this with the downward housing spiral; are a rash of abandoned subdivisions - old and new - ahead?

The days of "happy motoring" may be over.

Some people have a pretty good crystal ball. James Howard Kunstler, author of The Geography of Nowhere, wrote this last October:

Most American towns, including my own, are obsessed to the point of mania with the issue of parking and more generally the management of cars, and much of their spending is directed to those ends. Municipal leaders (and the public they serve) have no idea what kind of problems the nation faces with oil. Because life in the USA has worked a particular way all their lives, they assume that it will continue to operate that way. Not only will they be disappointed as happy motoring spirals into history, but they will create a lot mischief in the meantime in planning things based on faulty assumptions.

My own town, for instance, relies heavily on tourism, in particular tourism based on happy motoring. There is not the slightest apprehension among the people here, or our leaders in city hall, that automobile-based tourism may not be happening as soon as five years from now. All our political energy is being expended in fighting about what kind of parking structures we will build (with borrowed money) and where to put them, and how these things might incorporate some secondary uses, such as police offices. We have also been debating plans for the expansion of our modest convention center -- in connection with added parking structures. It seems to me that one of the first things to go as the US economy contracts, along with its energy supply, will be activities like boat shows and optometrist's conventions.

Now this town happens to be on a railroad line that connects New York City to Montreal. Before 1950, it was the main way that people came to this town. These days, we get one train a day in each direction. The trains are invariably late, and not just a little late, but hours late. The track bed is in miserable shape and, of course, Amtrak is a sort of soviet-style management organization. There is no awareness among the public here, or our leaders, that we would benefit from improving the passenger railroad service, and around the state of New York generally there is no conversation about fixing the railroads. (Governor Elliot Spitzer is preoccupied these days with arranging to give driver's licenses to people who are in the country illegally.) We are going to pay a large penalty for these failures of attention.

Another aspect of all this has to do with our assumptions about land development. Here in my town, and elsewhere around the country, the assumption is that suburban development will continue just as it has the past sixty years. This assumption is shared both by the developers themselves and their opponents. The developers expect the current "downturn" to reverse before long. From the opponents' point of view, the assumption is based on their legitimate fears and heartaches about what they've seen heedless development do to the American landscape. Consequently, whatever mental energy is left after the parking debates get tabled is dedicated to fighting over projected suburban expansion.

My personal view about this is apparently radical -- though I am a man of modest habits and philosophy. My view is that the suburban project, per se, in the United States is over, finished. Like, totally. You can stick a fork in it. What you see is basically all that we're going to get. Not only do we not need anymore of it, but we have way too much of what is already on the ground. We don't need anymore suburban housing pods, and the ones already out there are going to hemorrhage value (and usefulness) as far ahead as anybody can imagine. We need more retail like we need 300-million holes in our heads. Ditto suburban office capacity. Ditto new roads and highways.

Boomgaard: Relax - "professionals" have the situation in hand

The May 22nd Franklin edition of the NOW community paper printed a letter to the editor from Casper Green. As I've noted here previously, Mr. Green is a familiar fixture at various city meetings, keeping tabs on issues and reporting back to the senior community. Deservedly so, he was inducted into the Milwaukee County Senior Hall of Fame this year; to call him an asset to the Franklin community is quite an understatement. If anyone has earned the right to publicly register an opinion, it's him.

Mr. Green is not, in other words, simply an otherwise-disengaged attention-craver lobbing spitballs from the peanut gallery.

The grain of salt ...

I recall a conversation I had with Mr. Green almost a year ago regarding Shoppes at Wyndham Village development, and I was left with the overwhelming impression that he nurtures almost unshakable faith in "the professionals" and almost anyone in city government. The mayor "assured him" that the Wyndham Target would be "best in the state"; that was good enough for Mr. Green. He said of Doug Wheaton, Franklin’s Director of Economic Development: “He’s sharp. He could have taken lots of other jobs; he’s a lawyer. You heard his remarks, how he recommended going ahead. And he has nothing to gain from saying that.” That sealed the deal for Mr. Green.

I was especially taken with his response when I brought up the poor Shoppes at Wyndham Village site plan - - a layout that is distinctly unfriendly to persons with limited mobility such as the elderly. Mr. Green took this as a personal attack on Mark Carstensen, the developer of the project and, Mr. Green noted, a generous contributer to programs for the elderly:

"People fight him with excuses, not reasons," he said.

“You said 'they' fight him. Not 'they' fight the development?" I pointed out. "You said 'they' are actually fighting Mark Carstensen the person.” Mr. Green clarified that he didn’t mean to make that implication.

But then, later in our conversation: “When someone is against Mark, we …”.

I interrupted to call attention what he'd said; “It appears that you feel that a criticism of the development or elements of the development is personal criticism against your friend Mark Carstensen.” Once again, he assured me that that was not the case. Yet I could not help feel that, in Mr. Green’s eyes, if you hinder the progress of Shoppes at Wyndham Village, you hinder his friend personally.

Mr. Green's "Boomgaard" letter again reflects a rock-steady faith in "the professionals." Apparently, membership on a civic committee and/or employment at a PR firm(!) bestows special powers of perception that we should defer to without question. To wit (with emphasis added by me):

The name Boomgaard is thought, by professionals, to be a name which would attract businesses from all over the world...

In this case, they have started rumors that are not true and have no foundation, according to those on the committee and the Zizzo Group.

The committee expects to eventually attract $2 billion worth of tax-paying businesses to the corridor with only $300,000 budgeted for advertising.

...[M]aybe instead of second-guessing professionals, we amateurs ought to pull in our horns and allow the name to be used.

Let me, with all due respect, remind Mr. Green of some other great (and expensive) ideas dreamed up by professionals:

New Coke
Edsel
Miller Clear Beer
Betamax
Titanic - UNSINKABLE!
The Tacoma Narrows Bridge
The Green Bay Packers game plan in Super Bowl XXXII

All designed and conceived by "professionals." Some "second-guessing" would have been welcome in retrospect, yes?

Here's Mr. Green's letter from the FranklinNOW Public Forum:

Boomgaard! After culling through hundreds of names, that is the name chosen by a steering committee of two Franklin residents and two Oak Creek residents for the South 27th Street corridor. The Zizzo Group, a professional advertising and public relations firm, was also involved.

Now the second-guessing has begun.

I've lived in Franklin for 24 years. I've accepted leadership responsibility in helping run organizations, so I can tell you that no matter what decision one makes, second-guessers show up. Seldom do these second-guessers take on a responsibility of any magnitude, but to hear them talk you'd think they've been around the world at least twice and seen everything and done everything.

I happen to know, very well, the two Franklin men - Ted Grintjes and Jim Rhiner - who are on the 27th Street Corridor committee. I do not know the two from Oak Creek; however, one can bet they are also of upstanding character.

And one would think all four people are concerned citizens who are giving of their time for the good of both cities. These people have given thousands of hours of their time. Yet, when their committee comes up with a name, someone has to complain.

The name Boomgaard is thought, by professionals, to be a name which would attract businesses from all over the world, but that doesn't matter to the second-guessers as they shower committee members with ridicule. How sad.

What bothers me most, personally, is the way second-guessers work. In this case, they have started rumors that are not true and have no foundation, according to those on the committee and the Zizzo Group.

Yes, the name Boomgaard is different, but certainly not offensive.

The committee expects to eventually attract $2 billion worth of tax-paying businesses to the corridor with only $300,000 budgeted for advertising. If the committee is successful, it would be a very small price to pay.

The name Boomgaard is strange to those of us who have lived here all our lives. Some of us have never gone outside the United States and maybe have not even ventured outside of Wisconsin. But if we intend to further 27th Street's long-term image and status, maybe instead of second-guessing professionals, we amateurs ought to pull in our horns and allow the name to be used.

Casper T. Green

Franklin

Precarious

Precarious, originally uploaded by johnruexp.

I observe daily this death-defying trek to the mailbox by an elderly gentleman on Franklin's pedestrian-averse 51st Street.

This is where the nearby quarry promised to build a useful pedestrian path before they apparently diverted their funding to the scenic (and much-used-by-me) - but none-too-useful - Oak Leaf Trail connector path, which was going to be funded by a federal grant and the local group, JOLT, anyway. 

You know the path I'm talking about: It's the one that requires a parking lot in order to be accessed. I kid you not.

Former Alderman Don Dorsan pushed hard for the quarry to make good on their promise to create a useful, community-building 51st street pedestrian and bike path. This path would have created a safe passage for Franklin High School students and residents interested in traveling sans car to, for instance, Sendik's and whatever else Fountains of Franklin has up their sleeves.

No dice. Short-sighted political manuevering won out. The quarry is off the hook.

So, I personally get a great running and biking path that serves me just fine (though I have to drive my daughter and her bike to it if she wants to use it). Meanwhile, this gentleman hopes to survive another trip to the newspaper tube across the street.

Franklin Alderman's clumsy attempt to intimidate bloggers

It used to be so much simpler to be an alderman in the days before bloggers started coming to meetings and proliferating to the masses just what was going on in municipal government.

Franklin Alderman Lyle Sohns (district 5) stepped in it this past Tuesday when he decided to put local bloggers on notice by distributing a document/spreadsheet showing property values and taxes for a cross-section of Franklin residents.

He thought it would be a keen idea to personalize the issue for those bloggers who complain incessently about high property taxes (I am not one of them) by having someone - at taxpayer expense? - look up the home values and property tax history of each blogger. I've posted a portion of the document to the right, omitting the detailed property value and tax information.

Get the message?

Granted, this is all publicly available information and no names were used, but Sohns attempts to make his point by none-too-subtly serving notice to local bloggers that he is willing to, at the very least, make them uncomfortable.

And there is the legitimate question of "what's next?" Photos of bloggers' homes showing improper lawn care when making a point about beautification efforts? Screen shots of Wisconsin Circuit Court Online to reveal the speeding ticket I got in Wausau 12 years ago? (Note to curious searchers: I share my name with a much older scofflow who was born in 1948.)

Welcome to the New Day, Alderman Sohns. And say goodbye to rubber stamp re-election, because now you've made Fred Keller angry.

UPDATE: Blogger Janet Evans transcribed the portion of the Council Meeting wherein Sohns presented his spreadsheets.

Karma strikes the county exec

Our tragically shortsighted (in service to his personal ambition) county executive attempts to further shine his apple for gullible "tax freeze" fetishists - - but Karma strikes.

Meanwhile - how's that $4+ per gallon gas working for you?

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

Express bus idea leaves some behind

By LARRY SANDLER
[email protected]

It was a classic political photo opportunity: a shiny new bus for politicians to ride while talking about the merits of express bus service.

But when the bus left the Milwaukee County Courthouse on Tuesday, some city officials weren't on board - literally or figuratively.

In a metaphor for the disagreements that have permeated the public transit debate for nearly 17 years, a communications mix-up left several top city administrators standing outside Milwaukee City Hall, waiting for a bus that never showed up.

North American Bus Industries Inc., an Alabama-based transit bus manufacturer, brought a hybrid diesel-electric bus to demonstrate the kind of vehicle that is at the heart of a debate over how to use $91.5 million in long-idle federal funds.

County Executive Scott Walker wants to use all of that money for express buses, also known as bus rapid transit. Mayor Tom Barrett wants to divide the money between express buses and modern streetcars. The cash is all that's left of $289 million first appropriated in 1991 for a public transit project, but state and local officials never have been able to agree on what that project should be.

After a news conference, Walker - who hasn't yet decided which type of express bus he prefers - rode the diesel-electric bus from the courthouse to Miller Park and back, along with several county, city and Milwaukee County Transit System officials and journalists.

But some city officials had been told that the bus would stop at City Hall. Cecilia Gilbert, spokeswoman for the city Department of Public Works, said she waited in vain with Public Works Commissioner Jeff Mantes and City Engineer Jeff Polenske after receiving an e-mail from a transit system manager.

Walker spokeswoman Fran McLaughlin said the county executive's office had sent invitations to city officials, but only Ald. Jim Bohl said he was coming. Bohl was told of the route change, and the bus picked him up at the Marquette University campus.

Transit system spokeswoman Jacqueline Janz said the trip was arranged on short notice, and the Miller Park route was picked to provide a smooth and easy ride.

But the ride was neither smooth nor easy for the broader transit issues, as Walker and Barrett continued to snipe at each other in separate interviews.

Walker said the streetcar loop, which he derided as a "tourist trolley," would take money away from the financially ailing transit system by competing for limited state and federal aid.

Barrett said county officials had "put the bus system into its current death spiral" by relying on a different pot of federal money to pay for transit operations instead of using it to buy buses.

Separate reports by the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission and the Public Policy Forum have warned that after that money is used up, by 2010, the bus system will be forced to cut service by 35%. Those reports say that likely would end all Freeway Flyer routes and nearly all suburban, night and weekend service - unless new state or local funding is found.

State and local officials have yet to agree on a funding plan.

The 60-foot hybrid bus demonstrated Tuesday costs about $900,000, carries 63 passengers and gets 7.5 miles per gallon on the freeway and 4.5 mpg in the city, the manufacturer says.

By comparison, the transit system's current 40-foot diesel buses each cost about $350,000, carry 40 passengers and average 4.4 mpg between city and freeway use, county and transit system officials say.