City Clerk

Young Voters Could Decide Election

Vote by 18- to-29 year-olds surging in some states. What about Wisconsin?

Early Voting by Democrats Is Higher

Madison turnout high, new Milwaukee system attracts bigger early vote.

Barrett Vetoes Inspector General

Council, Mayor at odds over how independent new position should be.

Voter ID Lowered Turnout, Studies Show

Wisconsin, other states had lower turnout, especially by minority and college-age voters.

The Inspector General Is Coming

Common Council creates its own watchdog to monitor city departments.

Council Okays New Health Commissioner

Unanimous vote hands Jeanette Kowalik one of the most difficult jobs in city government.

Police Can Soon Seize Scooters

Effective August 4. Now up to Legislature to change state law and make scooters legal.

City Will Contest Foxconn Power Deal

City Attorney will contest $117 million Foxconn subsidy charged to We Energies customers.

Mayor Allows Interim Health Leader

Returns file to the council unsigned, opens door to approval of McManus.

Taxis Will Be “At Your Own Risk”

State "deregulation" bill would also put hundreds of local cab drivers out of work.

Council Responds to Lead Crisis

Following Health Dept fallout, nine bills introduced to address lead poisoning issues.

Republican Bill Deregulates Taxis

All city regulations would be moot, including background checks on drivers by police.

Top 10 Bar Exams of 2017

Most popular stories: old bars. Corner bars. And some surprises.

License Issues Close South Side Bars

35 taverns on near South Side lost their licenses since 2012.

5 Milwaukeeans To Be Thankful For

These five people are making Milwaukee a better place for all.

City Atty Says Affordable Housing Plan Illegal

Will legal opinion kill the proposal? Or can Bauman and company rework the language?

The City’s Most Curious Lobbyist

Why is fire fighters’ president quietly lobbying on issues unrelated to his job?

Commission Approves 27-Story Tower

Madison developer revives 27-story proposal on Prospect next to Goll House.

Historic Preservation Winners Celebrated

And Best Place at the Pabst Brewery announces new coffee shop and bar.

Adding “Power” To 30th St. Corridor

New name for street will recognize power and energy companies.

Jazz Estate’s South Side Chic

Bought by Bryant's owner, who added some of its plush, padded style.

Unique Apartments for Clarke Square

Unusual partnership will build "affordable, quality housing" for those raised in foster care.

City Residents Hiring Program Falls Short

Promising effort employs minorities in construction, needs more monitoring and funding.

Rocky Marcoux’s Job in Jeopardy

Council majority votes no, but decision will get reconsidered. His chances look slim.

GOP Goal Less Access for Democratic Voters

But you have to sift through media coverage of trial testimony for the story.

Nick’s House to Meet Wrecking Ball

East Side tavern's building from 1880s has unique structure, virgin wood. Why destroy it?

Meet the New Boss

Ashanti Hamilton is new Common Council president, but how did he get the votes?

Kenney Targets Ald. Borkowski

Should challenger win, would be only military veteran on Common Council.

Aladdin Brings Cafe to City Hall

The Middle Eastern-restaurant is also located at Public Market and Amtrak station.

Where Can Former Sex Offenders Go?

Restrictive city law often leaves them nowhere to live, many are becoming homeless.

City Clerk’s Home Is His Castle

Jim Owczarski's home towers over the nearby ranch homes.

Celebrating the Life of Paul Jakubovich

A host of notables gathered to salute Jakubovich and the fabulous historic architecture of Milwaukee he helped protect.

A Battle Over Historic Designation

Developer Robert Joseph wants to demolish 1880s tavern but Ald. Bauman and Third Ward board vote for historic designation, which provides protection for now.

In Defense of Historic Tax Credits

National Trust for Historic Preservation's leader comes to town, where her speech to a crowd filled with notables dramatized the need for state to maintain the current credits.

Davis Sets, Cancels Meeting on Streetcar

His claim on streetcar turns out to be false. Meanwhile, new city assessor appointed with little fanfare.

Who Is Funding the Anti-Streetcar Effort?

Ald. Bauman and others are certain that dark money is pouring in for this, which streetcar opponents deny.

The Legacy of Paul Jakubovich

The City’s Historic Preservation Officer had an unmatched knowledge of and commitment to the preservation of historic buildings.

City Illegally Collected $196,000

State appeals court says Milwaukee must refund illegally collected BID assessment from Yankee Hill apartments.

Paul Jakubovich’s 1927 English Tudor

The city's preservation planner calls the shots on changes to historic buildings and districts -- as well as in his own home.

Let Them Take Taxis…or Uber or Lyft

City may lift cap on cabs and embrace upstart ride sharing services. There will be rides for everyone!

Taxi Cab Lottery Has Light Turnout

Though there were 1,706 applications for 100 new licenses, only about 200 showed up for the lottery. But the show must go on! -- and did.

Tower De Force

Mandel’s Groundbreaking High Rise

ABC and the Gay Governor

The catch, is that McGreevey announced he was gay, while the lover says he, himself, is straight.

Changes at the Election Commission

The Inaugural

Marvin Pratt did not stand up with the crowd when Tom Barrett was inaugurated mayor, and the press has made a good deal of the slight. However, just after Judge Louis Butler administered the oath of office to the new mayor, Barrett’s first comments were to commend Pratt, and the former acting mayor did stand up and take a bow. The ceremonies were held April 20th outside of City Hall in some perfectly dreadful Milwaukee spring weather. So, who was the idiot who came up with that idea? “I’m the idiot who thought to hold it outside,” fessed up Kris Martinsek. After all, the president is inaugurated outdoors in January. However, January in Washington is not nearly as unpleasant as Milwaukee in April. The stage was set up on Wells Street, facing east. Upon the stage sat Milwaukee’s new leaders, including the mayor, the common council, the comptroller, treasurer, city attorney, city clerk and a municipal judge. Their families sat out in the street and in the adjacent park next to the Frank P. Zeidler Municipal Building. Frank P. Zeidler was there himself, sandwiched between Marvin Pratt and Senator Herb Kohl. Kohl was dressed as he always is around here. He wore a shirt, a tie, a Milwaukee Bucks cap and a windbreaker. Except for the tie, he pretty much looked like the guy who harvests aluminum cans from my recycling bin. If he tried to walk on to the floor of the United States Senate in that getup, the sergeant-at-arms would toss him out. But this is Milwaukee, the “come as you are” capital of America, and he fit right in. Barrett has made a list of 18 things he wants to accomplish in his first hundred days in office. I don’t know if reducing the police overtime budget is one of them, but the men in blue were certainly racking up the hours during the interminable ceremony. The aldermen were sworn in sequentially according to district. Each alderman then gave a little speech. The last district, the 15th, is occupied by Willie Hines, who is now the Common Council president. He then gave a big speech. He began by saying, “my ascent to the Council Presidency is not a compromise or consolation prize for the African-American community.” This was an effective way to defuse speculation that his election was a compromise or consolation prize, and was a rather sharp thing to do. Hines also insisted that corruption will not taint his council. (We’ll check back on that in four years.) His delivery was generally quite good, and had a hint of religious fervor to it. Moments earlier, he did have a slip up. When Valarie Hill was about to be sworn in as municipal judge, Hines said, “The City Clerk will now come to the altar – er, the podium – to take the oath.” Also, when Hines introduced the new mayor he called him “Mayor Marvin Pratt – er, Mayor Barrett.” These things happen. The Common Council […]

On the Fundraiser Trail

David Riemer held a fundraiser and art auction to advance his bid for County Executive. Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design was the place, and over a hundred people showed up to look at the art (a Guido Brink retrospective) and to meet with the candidate March 8th. Wine was served, and the food was perhaps the finest of the larger-scale campaign events this year. The snacks included hummus and all sorts of veggie-cheesy items nicely prepared and tastefully presented. Everybody had to shut up for a brief speech by the candidate. Riemer is getting better at these, and unlike certain other candidates for president or even for mayor, he is able to adjust the message to his audience with a reasonable degree of spontaneity. The crowd at MIAD learned that Riemer has two brothers who are actors, and mom was too. In college (as an undergraduate) he studied poetry. “Art is not just an add-on. Art is essential to a metropolitan area. It is essential to its success.” No argument from the crowd on that account. Marvin Pratt showed up, and that created a mild buzz for a while. Riemer campaign guru Bill Christofferson wants us all to know that his candidate’s “Last Blast” fundraiser will be held in Turner Hall on March 23rd, 5-7 p.m. The Riemer campaign sent out a news release encouraging its supporters to cast absentee ballots. Election Day, April 6th is Passover, he reminds us. It is also a time when many of us might be out of town on Spring break. Riemer would appreciate it if we voted before fleeing this miserable weather. It is all about turnout, at this point. Molly Christofferson, Bill’s daughter, did campaign work for Sandy Folaron. She now works for Marvin Pratt. Strange bedfellows. Bob Weiss held a fundraiser for Acting Mayor Pratt March 10th, at his restaurant, Shakers, 422 S. Second St. He sent me a note: “Clueless staffers, no signage, no promo materials, NO candidate, when promised 6-8 p.m. for His fundraiser.” Weiss said the event coordinator “sat by self in back corner, left after an hour. Some big hitter clients of mine left in disgust since Marvin not there. … Overall, hardly our greatest political experience.” Weiss is planning a solstice party this week (good timing), with plenty of food and booze. Forget the politics! Unopposed and Raising Money: Musings on the Common Council Presidency It is tough to draw a crowd in an election year when you have no opponent, and it’s nice for a candidate to not have to sweat his election. “I only hold one fundraiser a year and this is it,” said Ald. Michael Murphy at Derry Hegarty’s Pub, an event that perhaps saw about 75 people. The event was Thursday, March 11th, close enough to St. Patrick’s Day, which is appropriate since Murphy claims to be of Irish heritage. Since the money wasn’t absolutely necessary, and since the candidate seemed destined to win, the fundraiser easily lurched into its secondary […]

Lautenschlager’s Mess

Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager’s drunk driving arrest last week removes her from behind the wheel of her state-owned vehicle for a year, and puts Governor Jim Doyle in the driver’s seat. The two had squabbled, privately, over terms of the Governor’s jobs bill, with Lautenschlager threatening to use her authority to see that the law comply with the state’s environmental regulations, which she intimated it did not. This sort of independent action by an attorney general is not new in Wisconsin. Doyle was the chief practitioner of it, but then again, he was a Democrat, and the Governor at the time was a Republican. The press has made note that Doyle suggests Lautenschlager forgo some of her pay as a sort of penance for her indiscretion, a matter that remains unresolved at this time. Doyle also suggested that Lautenschlager consider entering a program to treat problem drinkers. He said that he had a number of friends who had been in a similar situation and that the treatment had helped them. In fact, the public admission of guilt and responsibility (which Lautenschlager made) is usually accompanied these days with a prompt acknowledgement that a problem exists. The subject then usually promptly enters a treatment program and completes it, after which the matter is forgotten. Lautenschlager has not made that admission thus far, which leaves her in the position of either not having a “problem” or being “in denial” of it. It does leave Doyle high and dry, however, and much less likely to face interference in his plans from that peskiest of all politicians – an ambitious Attorney General. Walker at the War Memorial County Executive Scott Walker welcomed about 100 well-clad guests to a fundraiser February 26th at the War Memorial Center. The strictly upper-crust affair was a Republican-type fundraiser, which meant that hard liquor was consumed (in moderation) and beer, for the most part, was ignored. For those fans of the frothy stuff, Walker offered Miller products and Heineken. Food was by Ellen’s Prestige Catering, and included strolling waiters, another classy touch. Menu items included spinach somethings, meat and melted cheese on sandwich rounds, wrapped up little salmon tidbits, an entirely unsuccessful raspberry-brie tart, platters of some kind of 21st century sandwich product along with perfectly delicious fruit. The event was unmarred by public oratory, but was enhanced by an A-list of locals practicing up for the next time Bush is in town. Among the exalted: George Dalton, Dennis Kuester (on crutches), Michael Cudahy, mourning the recent death of Daniel Urban Kiley, creator of the $4 million Cudahy garden outside the adjacent Milwaukee Art Museum, Fred Luber, Tim Hoeksma, Carol Skornicka, John Finerty, Jim Weichmann, Joe Rice, Mary Buestrin, Corey Hoze and developer Mark Irgens. Hoze has secured speaker Dennis Hastert to appear at a $2000 fundraiser on his hopeless behalf in his upcoming congressional campaign. That’s rich. Marvin Pratt popped in and worked the crowd for about 20 minutes before his cop told him it was time to […]

Did Marilyn Want Millions From The Mayor?

Marilyn Figueroa never wanted money from the mayor