Feature
M.O.R.E. Ordinance Approved by F&P Committee
The controversial M.O.R.E ordinance which had been sent to committee at the previous Common Council meeting was further debated at this Finance & Personnel Committee meeting.
Mar 23rd, 2009 by Dave Reid
City Moves Forward With Water Initiative
Planning for the future of Milwaukee as the Fresh Coast appears to be moving ahead.
Mar 21st, 2009 by Dave Reid
Five Reasons to Look Forward to Summer in Milwaukee
What did I miss?
Mar 20th, 2009 by Jeramey Jannene
You’ll Never Drive Drunk If…
St. Patrick's Day is always one of my favorite days of the year, though often the day after is one of my least favorite, because everybody comes out and has a good time.
Mar 19th, 2009 by Dave Reid
The North End – ONE
UrbanMilwaukee.com was recently taken behind the construction fence for a tour of the first building, ONE, to be complete in Mandel Group's The North End project.
Mar 18th, 2009 by Jeramey Jannene
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee or University of Milwaukee?
A group of University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Student Association Senators will be proposing a bill to consider changing the university's name from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee to the University of Milwaukee.
Mar 16th, 2009 by Dave Reid
Streetcars Coming to Milwaukee
With the recent news of the federal approval allowing the City of Milwaukee to move forward on a modern streetcar system we thought it would be good to see what one of these systems might look like.
Mar 14th, 2009 by Dave Reid
Chicago Doesn’t Always Beat Milwaukee
Too often we, as Milwaukeeans, are too quick to assume all the good ideas in Milwaukee are trickling up from Chicago.
Mar 12th, 2009 by Jeramey Jannene
UW-Milwaukee Should Expand in “Our Backyard”
Normally people oppose projects because it is in their backyard,
Mar 11th, 2009 by Dave Reid
What’s Going On Everywhere Else?
As the RTA inches closer and closer to reality in Milwaukee, what else is going on in transit elsewhere in the country?
Mar 6th, 2009 by Jeramey Jannene
Is it Time for Milwaukee to Consider a Combined City-County Government?
Municipal government plays a vital role and provides necessary services, but sometimes you can have too much, or in this case too many.
Mar 5th, 2009 by Dave Reid
Contentious M.O.R.E Debate Continues
The controversial M.O.R.E ordinance was the primary item of discussion at this meeting of the Common Council. This ordinance proposed new requirements related to hiring City of Milwaukee residents, the utilization of emerging small businesses, and the paying of prevailing wages for all City of Milwaukee projects and private developments that receive $1 million or more in TIF funding. It was widely believed that this ordinance was going to be put to a vote of the full Common Council today, which made Alderman Michael Murphy‘s motion to send this file to the Finance & Personnel Committee all that more contentious. Through the discussion it became evident that this file had originally been scheduled to appear the Finance & Personnel Committee but was removed at the last minute because of a legal technicality. Immediately prior to the Common Council meeting a fiscal note that indicated the ordinance would require a number of full-time employees to manage the new programs arrived which made the motion to send it back to committee both legal and appropriate. Although he indicated he would likely support the ordinance Alderman Murhpy argued that “basic issues, and basic questions are just not being addressed” and that “one needs to take the time to do it right.” At first the sponsors of the legislation were surprised and took the motion as a delaying tactic. They argued that the process had been fully transparent and didn’t require any further delay. Alderman Ashanti Hamilton stated that “I think the public has been engaged and involved in the creation of this ordinance.” During the discussion Alderman Nik Kovac piped in saying “I believe in process, I campaigned on process”, but he then indicated he didn’t believe sending it back to committee would change anything. In fact he said “the controversy today will be the same in 21 days.” Alderman Joe Davis fired away at the implication that not enough questions had been asked or that there wasn’t enough transparency to the process contending that “I made a point to schedule a special meeting to achieve transparency.” Initial supporters of the motion argued more questions needed to be asked and that it would be appropriate to send it back to the Finance & Personnel Committee. Specifically, Alderman Terry Witkowski supported the motion in an attempt to gather more information saying “I do support sending this back to committee, this was a constantly evolving piece of legislation.” In an attempt to bring a bit of levity to the debate Alderman Jim Bohl joked “I’m feeling a Rodney King moment, why can’t we just all get along here?” Then he defended Alderman Murphy’s motives and attempted to call the question. Oddly on this specific motion the ability to call the question isn’t an allowed so the debate continued. Alderman Murphy responded to the criticisms by stating “I do feel I was attacked unfairly” and he again attempted to clarify his position stating that “the fact is somebody, literally two minutes before the meeting handing you […]
Mar 4th, 2009 by Dave Reid
