TCD’s week in review (2/10/12)
WINNERS
1. An amazing act of courage
Former NBA security guard Anthony Richards was honored this week by the Glendale Police Department for saving a man’s life. On Jan. 2, a suicidal man, distraught over losing his job, threatened to jump off the Green Bay Avenue bridge into traffic on Silver Spring Drive. Richards pulled over and tried to talk him off the ledge, and then eventually pulled him to safety. His act is nothing short of heroic.
2. Business HQ relocation and expansion
Connecture, a software developer for health insurers and brokers, will be relocating its headquarters from Atlanta to Wisconsin, and plans to add 100 jobs in the process. Generator manufacturer Generac will be making a $10 million investment to expand and remodel its corporate headquarters in Waukesha County, and plans to add more than 200 jobs over the next three years.
3. A former Wisconsin senator
Super PAC, as defined by “The Colbert Report”
Russ Feingold made headlines this week when he criticized President Obama’s new stance on the involvement of super PACs in the election process. The President previously criticized the role of super PACs, but roughly eight months from election day, he changed his stance on the ever-growing fundraising force that cropped up in the wake of the Citizens United Supreme Court decision. Feingold told the Huffington Post, “I think people will see it as phony that Democrats start playing by Republican rules. People will see us as weak and not being a true alternative and just being the same as the other guy. And as I have said before, to me this is dancing with the devil.”
4. Super Bowl springboard
Virtual unknown gubernatorial candidate Hari Trivedi entered the conversation this week, after he ran local ads before and after the Super Bowl. Trivedi is a kidney specialist who lives in Brookfield, and his platform is based on the need for jobs in Wisconsin. Trivedi’s ads, while nearly shattering the unintentional comedy scale, has brought a great deal of attention to the unlikely candidate.
5. Equality
In a major victory for LGBT rights, California’s Proposition 8 ban on same-sex marriage was ruled unconstitutional on Tuesday. The U.S. 9th Circuit Court upheld a lower court ruling, stating “Proposition 8 serves no purpose, and has no effect, other than to lessen the status and dignity of gays and lesbians in California, and to officially reclassify their relationships and families as inferior to those of opposite-sex couples.”
LOSERS
1. Theft and reckless spending
These days, it seems as if corruption is everywhere in the Cream City. This week, former MATC manager Kristin Seimits was charged with theft upwards of $250,000. According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Seimits illegally “purchased about 250 items, including a car, a golf cart, a piano, seven laptops, 10 flat-screen TVs, cameras, diamond earrings, household appliances, furniture, a lawn mower, a home theater system and a utility shed.” As part of Seimits’ job as procurement director, she oversaw MATC’s employee credit cards. You can’t make this stuff up.
2. Outsourced jobs
C&D Technologies announced they will be moving some of their product lines to Mexico. The company will remain headquartered in Milwaukee and will employ 100 people there, but the move will result in the loss of 120 jobs at the company’s plant at 900 Keefe Ave. in Riverwest.
3. Ignoring public opinion
Information has come to light over last year’s redistricting process, which strengthened the Republican majority in the legislature. A set of documents were released that indicate nearly all Republican legislators signed agreements promising not to discuss the redistricting process as it was being formulated. According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, talking points included this statement: “Public comments on this map may be different than what you hear in this room. Ignore the public comments.” Just like our founding fathers envisioned.
Former Milwaukee County employee Darlene Wink plead guilty to misdemeanor charges of intentional political solicitation by a public employee. Wink was a target of the ongoing John Doe investigation targeting former county staffers, in her case, for fundraising for now-Governor Scott Walker during his gubernatorial campaign. Wink, who was Walker’s constituent services coordinator when he was County Executive, plead guilty in exchange for providing further information for the investigation. Looks like it might be time for the governor to get legal representation. (Oh wait, that already happened.)
5. Pay big money
Menards has agreed to pay $1 million to settle a lawsuit over allegations over racial discrimination. The case, which began in 2004 with a claim filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission by three of the store’s former employees, alleges that the employees were passed over for promotions because of their race. According to the Eau Claire Leader-Telegram, “The 700 workers who ranged from assistant department managers to store managers can begin filing claims for their share of the money Feb. 23.” Menards representatives claim no wrongdoing, and that the matter was settled as a “business decision.”
