Scooter Schmidt Dead

Water Street fixture Scott “Scooter” Schmidt, 42, was shot in his home at 202 E. North Avenue at 11:45 p.m. Wednesday evening and died shortly thereafter. Schmidt, a tall lanky individual with a penchant for rollerblades was shot following an altercation in his home. His dog Cosmo was also injured in the attack. A memorial will be held at Rosie’s at a time to be announced.

Plan to Cut 220 Might Backfire: Could Raise Taxes

A surprise plan to end the popular Chapter 220 program has both Milwaukee Public Schools and suburban school officials scrambling to save the 27-year old desegregation initiative.

James Rickabaugh, Whitefish Bay superintendent, said the proposal is “straightforward. The legislature is looking to find money in one place of the budget to put it in another. They hope for some fungibility and want to put it in the general account

The plan might backfire for a few reasons.

When state set program up, state required schools to serve students and get their money the next year. Thus, the supposed tax saving would require an immediate $7.5 million to reimburse the school districts for teaching already done according to the program. “The legislature is already committed to funding 220 thru [sic] June 30, 2006. Would the legislature seriously consider denying payments which have already been earned,” asks the Suburban Schools Legislative Committee.

Also, the funds for city students who study in the suburbs – the overwhelming majority of traffic in the program – represent a property tax relief of sorts for the suburban communities. The money to support the education of the affected children comes from outside the community.

Elimination of the program would end annual payments ranging from $296,383 in Germantown to $4,162,699 in Wauwatosa.

Opponents cite these figures when they call 220 “a cash cow for suburban districts.”

The Whitefish Bay school district hosts 265 Milwaukee students. “A relatively small number, say 12, Whitefish Bay students go to Milwaukee schools, usually specialty schools,” Rickabaugh said.

Why move to dismantle “if not the most successful, then one of the most successful desegregation plans in the country?” Minority graduation rates in suburban schools is “better than state and national norms,” according to the memo from the Suburban Schools Legislative Committee.

Some republicans also want to get rid of K-4, with Rep. Dean Kaufert saying he’s concerned that it is no more than “day care for certain children.”

What is so troubling about “day care for certain children?”

Paper Folds

The Observer Lakefront Edition has ceased publication after two issues. Volume 3 Issue 2, April 29, 2005 was the putative weekly’s last. The paper was an outgrowth of the South Milwaukee Observer, published by Jim Logic, best known as the non-victor in a tie vote for mayor of that lakefront community last year.

It was unknown why Logic figured it would make sense to extend his publishing empire’s reach up the lakefront.

One possibility was to harass Sen. Jeff Plale, whose district includes both South Milwaukee and a chunk of the east side.

The paper employed two talented young writers, Lisa Ridgely and Liz Greenawalt. Both women say Logic owes them pay in the amount of about $1,000.

Brady Street Cocaine Bust

Over 13 ounces of cocaine were found in an automobile and in an apartment on Brady Street last week. The suspect was under surveillance by Milwaukee Police. He apparently had relocated from Chicago and hoped to market the cocaine on Brady Street this summer with the assistance of some women associates. Guess there will be yet another “for rent” sign on the street.

(Last updated December 29 2005 16:19:06. )