Julilly Kohler

City Unveils Plan to Replace Swing Park

'The Landing at Tannery Row' would be a big change. Citizen input sought.

Long-Vacant Riverfront Lot to be Developed

Plus: Milwaukee Brewers owner Mark Attanasio ends up in a sand lawsuit.

Bernie Sanders to Host Private Brunch in Milwaukee

Event canceled after publication.

UWM Alumni Association announces 2024 awardees

New Ruth Foundation a National Player

Late Ruth Kohler's newly born, Milwaukee-based, $440 million Ruth Foundation for Arts the biggest of its kind in U.S.

Thurman’s Is Back From The Dead

Closed for more than a year, the baseball/Grateful Dead-themed bar off Brady Street returns.

Airport’s Soviet Peace Mural Covered Up

On display since 1990, part of US-Soviet cultural arts exchange. New site sought.

Fro Zone Moves Next Door

Rolled ice cream shop takes over former retail space.

Brady Street Area Has Many Delights

It’s a great urban walk, filled with Polish and Italian history and so much variety.

Liberal WRRD-AM to End Broadcasts

Liberal talk radio station will close Milwaukee office and concentrate on Madison station.

Contribution to Aycha Sawa of $2,400

City Plans Walker’s Point Water Trail

A Water Centric City tells its story. Trail could include a beach, public art, other attractions.

Brady St. BID Head Heads to Shorewood

Steph Salvia also quitting Downer Ave. BID to head suburban business district.

John Norquist’s 70th Birthday Party

A host of Milwaukeeans and former city officials attend gala party in Chicago.

Contribution to Peter Burgelis of $250

Contribution to JoCasta Zamarripa of $500

Nomad World Pub Worth $1.75 Million

The sales price is $1 million more than its assessed value.

Contribution to Bob Peterson of $500

Tavern at Turner Hall Is 1882 Classic

New owner Mike Eitel has transformed the place yet respected the history.

Meeting Addresses Swing Park Homicides

Mayor, police, city officials, residents have a solution-oriented meeting short on anger.

A Home Built for Entertaining

Owners of this riverfront home hold their share of Democratic fundraisers.

Special Elections Attract Local Interest

Milwaukee Democrats raising money for outstate special elections Walker resisted calling.

Jane’s Walk Is All About Neighborhoods

Annual celebration of urban theorist Jane Jacobs offers 30 guided walks.

Riverwest Octagon House Cuts Corners

Who built it, when and where? Many mysteries surrounding rare home built in 1850s.

Brady St. Will Get West End Anchor

Former Hybrid Lounge would become 24-hour diner, coffee shop and beer garden.

Nomad’s History Goes Back to 1880s

"Soft-drink parlor" of 1920s now has soccer-themed, international ambience.

The Land of Single Family Homes

Why riverfront land on Kane Pl. hasn't attracted big, multi-unit projects.

New Radio Station on Brady Street

New liberal station, Talk Radio 1510-AM, is moving to Brady Street.

The Return of Jane’s Walk

Second annual event inspired by Jane Jacobs offers many activities.

A Lift For Brady Street, Swing Park

Casablanca gets old lift station for dining patio; Swing Park area gets redesign.

Chisholm For Governor?

Will District Attorney run against Walker? DA's son encourages speculation.

Inside New Jan Serr Studio at UWM

Doors Open site will also host Milwaukee Film Festival Party.

Democratic Party of Wisconsin Announces New Business Advisory Council

The council has recommended four crucial steps needed to grow our economy and put Wisconsinites back to work at well-paying jobs.

Last Site at Kane Commons Getting Built

Single family home is last piece in complicated, $4 million real estate jigsaw puzzle.

Pourman’s Used To Be Sausage Factory

Yet it's been a tavern for more than a century. This is truly old Milwaukee.

Live From Milwaukee, It’s MSNBC!

Chris Matthews and company are broadcasting to the world from Lakefront Brewery.

Shelter for Homeless Women Changes Focus

After 20 years, Nia Imani Family Inc. will now serve only first-time mothers and children.

Behold The ECO Mayor

Barrett touts green efforts, changes name of environmental sustainability office to ECO.

City Birthday Party All About Dining

Politicians and candidate hopefuls mix with winners of dining awards.

All Hail Our Business Improvement Districts

City party celebrates work of 35 BIDs, which have helped improve many city neighborhoods.

Brady Street’s Delicate Balancing Act

Residents strive to keep a healthy mix of uses in their densely populated neighborhood.

Contribution to Tom Barrett of $400

Wisconsin Falling Behind on Renewable Energy

These businesses spend much of their time battling political opposition in Wisconsin, an expert notes.

Journal Sentinel Will Lose All Local Control

Gannett purchase will make it part of national chain, integrated into USA Today-centered operation.

Vacating Fourth Street for a Bucks plaza would be drastic and risky

Vacating any downtown street involves major ramifications for current and future transportation and land use.

The Return of Peter Park

Now a top consultant, the former city planner says Milwaukee's 20-year plan was done in a decade.

Brady Street Apartments Debated at Meeting

And Frank Alioto gives remarkable speech about Brady Street's potential.

De Blasio Descends on Milwaukee

New York's mayor and crew of handlers and security came for his speech to state Democrats. Later he partied with local pols and local brews at Nick's House.

Davis Sets, Cancels Meeting on Streetcar

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

Swing Park Nominated for MANDI Award

And its story -- and controversies- keep getting retold.

What Is Milwaukee Water Commons?

The recently-formed grassroots group, which looks to make sure all citizens benefit from Milwaukee's water resources, holds a fundraiser.

Why the Swing Park Failed

It became a comedy of errors, but raises serious questions about the city’s strategy for “creative placemaking.”

New Apartments Planned for Third Ward

Building which once housed Northwestern Coffee Mills will be renovated to include 15 urban apartments and two retail spaces.

Last Remaining Single Family Riverfront Lot

“Build your dream home in an established community.” The lot can be yours for just $79,000.

For Rail or Trail

A path along the lake could connect cyclists/hikers to Ozaukee County, but coal freight is hogging the line.

“Controversy” Over Swing Park?

Architect blasts city for altering her design. Are her complaints valid?

The Swings are Back — and Better than Before

Guerrilla urbanism triumphs, as “magical” swings re-installed under Holton Avenue Bridge.

Marcus Prize-Winner’s New Installation Unveiled

Tokyo-based architect Sou Fujimoto gets the $100,000 Marcus Prize and works with students to create a temporary installation at Prospect and Ogden.

The City’s New “Social Network for Neighbors”

National social networking platform Nextdoor.com hopes to connect every neighborhood in town.

Why We Lost the Marsupial Bridge Swings

The city hasn't allocated money to maintain them. Should the nearby Business Improvement District adopt them?

Streetcar Social

Gathering of notables tracks the route of proposed streetcar. And HGTV comes to town to film a straw-bale home.

Mike Jacobs’ Landmark Condominium

TV anchor Mike Jacobs' landmark day and condominium.

Grand Opening of Marsupial Bridge Connector

Hurrah! Newly-opened Trestle Stair connects Marsupial Bridge to Commerce Street and better knits neighborhoods.

16th Annual Mayor’s Design Awards Announced

Which are the best designs? You be the judge.

Brady Street BID Expands Boundaries?

And Milwaukee's corporations asleep on gay marriage issue?

Neighbors Boiling Over Boylston Plan

Too much congestion, they complain. Ald. Kovac is feeling the heat.

The Ghost Sign That Wasn’t

A bit of fake Milwaukee history, some questionable MATC ads, and debunking a war on pot.

The Holton Bridge Swings

Kinetic sculptures enliven the gathering place below the Holton Bridge. And Weird Al holds court in MKE.

Ex-Trustee Phinney, Figure in Workplace Boy Porn Case, Pleas Guilty

Phinney's wife, Lisa Froemming, filed for divorce last month.

Kaye to Pay in Tossed RICO Suit — Updated!

“Only a Fool has Himself for a Lawyer” –proverb On September 13th, 2005, Atty. Joe Kaye filed a lawsuit on his own behalf (“pro se”) in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin alleging a violation of federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act (RICO) by a number of entities, including the City of Milwaukee, Ald. Michael D’Amato, Julilly Kohler, Lincoln Fowler and others, claiming they conspired to wrongfully deny him the opportunity to buy and develop city-owned real estate. The riverfront property at 1142-58 E. Kane Place was eventually sold to Kohler, who had been vice-chair of the City of Milwaukee Plan Commission. On July 11th, 2006, U. S. District Judge J. P. Stadtmueller dismissed the case, finding it to be frivolous, and ordered sanctions against Kaye, including that he “reimburse the defendants for their reasonable and necessary attorney’s fees.” Kaye made many allegations in his complaints, including behind-the-scenes machinations between Kohler and fellow commissioner Fowler; that Ald. D’Amato collaborated with officers of the East Village Association [EVA] to create a historical preservation district that would exempt Kohler’s proposed development; that D’Amato, Kohler and others engaged in a fraudulent scheme to manipulate the EVA election; that a wire fraud scheme existed; that D’Amato stole a yard sign from a neighbor; and that D’Amato’s actions constituted theft and extortion. The allegations were contained in a rambling 19 page complaint riddled with grammatical and spelling errors, reminiscent of “Riddley Walker,”a post-apocalyptic cult novel of which Kaye is apparently fond. His business address on court documents is listed as “Grooling and Smarling, 7355 N. Green Bay Av., Glendale.” “Grooling and Smarling” are neologisms introduced in the novel, which is either gibberish or inspired, depending upon the reader. [Editor’s note: It is gibberish.] The city attorney’s motion in November, asking to dismiss the suit, called Kaye’s case “a rambling, disjointed and unsupported complaint that fails to state a claim. “[Kaye’s claims are] fatally deficient in every material respect … [and are] linguistically and logically incoherent.” In other words, the sort of case one might find from a jailhouse lawyer, but not from a licensed attorney. In the court’s ruling yesterday, Stadtmueller said, “While we treat pro se litigants gently, a pro se attorney is not entitled to special treatment,” the veteran jurist ruled. “Although the court liberally construes allegations in a pro se litigant’s complaint … the court does not apply this principle of construction to Kaye’s complaint because Kaye is an attorney.” He added, “Kaye does not specify the many victims, the time frame involved, the five separate schemes or the distinct injuries. Kaye does not cite to any allegations within his complaint or to any exhibits. “Kaye’s RICO claims must be dismissed for another reason: Kaye has not properly pleaded the existence of an enterprise. … Each of the RICO claims, therefore, fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted. “Kaye should have known that his RICO claims had no legal basis,” he added. The amount […]

City Moves to Dismiss Rico Suit

A Milwaukeeworld Scoop

Buffett Tour on Hold

“Spirit – The Seventh Fire” has been put on hiatus.

State Elections Board Responds to Complaint Against Walker

John Weishan and Gerry Broderick filed an official complaint today with the Wisconsin State Elections Board against Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker.

Henningsen Moved

milwaukeeworld.com scoop

McGee’s Folly

If you want to get a chuckle and a “no comment” out of a Milwaukee alderman these days, just tell him that Ald. Michael McGee, Jr. “certainly has a way with words.”

Scott Walker and the Milwaukee Curse

Milwaukee has not been the home of many of Wisconsin’s governors.

In-House Election Commission Good Idea?

It is more of an internal workgroup,” Pat Curley said.

Crisses Averted

Barrett and Walker Announce Plan for Ballots in Milwaukee

Plale Recall Drive Begins

Can a group of south side political activists pull themselves together enough to acquire 13,212 signatures to force a recall election against Sen. Jeff Plale? Rep. Jon Richards said he doubts it. “This thing is going nowhere,” says Rep. Josh Zepnick. “These people are so lazy! They’ve taken out a newspaper ad asking people to come by and sign a recall petition. Who is going to do that?” True enough. To win an election, you’ve got to knock on doors, post signs in windows and do all kinds of grass-rooted activities. There is scant evidence of this in the Plale recall attempt, and absolutely no evidence of it in the northern fringes of Plale’s district, including Brady Street and the East Side. That hasn’t stopped Plale from printing up thousands of football schedules that he is handing out at every turn. The South Milwaukeean made the journey to St. Rita’s Church last week to attend the Brady Street Association monthly meeting where he was asked about the recall. “They’ve got until September 7th to get the signatures to recall me,” Plale told the audience. When told there seemed to be no effort on the East Side to circulate petitions, Plale said, “well, these people wouldn’t know how to find Brady Street.” Plale was also in the Brady Street area for what the neighborhood hopes is an annual Artisinal Food Festival. The gig was held Sunday, July 25th, and Plale was there along with his schedules. The recall effort against him stemmed from his crucial vote to uphold Governor Doyle’s veto of a republican-sponsored measure to limit property tax increases. Plale says the upcoming plans to sponsor a constitutional amendment known as the Taxpayers’ Bill of Rights, (TABOR) is similarly flawed, and a potential recipe for disaster. He cites Colorado, a state that has enacted similar provisions into its laws and is now in the midst of its worst fiscal crisis ever. Amendment on the Run The legislature republicans spent the last unedifying session promoting the agenda of Gays, Guns and Gambling. The Madison gang came up with loads of goofy legislation, none of which could sustain a veto by the governor. Leave it to this group to be able to reconvene and pass a constitutional amendment, no less, in just one week. This was the decision of Sen. Mary Panzer, the republican leader who had earlier been criticized for not rushing a Taxpayers’ Bill of Rights law through the Solomonic deliberations of the nation’s most august lawmakers. But, as soon as she faced a primary challenge from Rep.Glenn Grothman, an ambitious fellow republican who covets her senate seat, Panzer decided to schedule a vote for this week. Then, the legislature can go home and come back next year to vote again. Then, finally, the matter will be put to public vote in a referendum, if it is still alive. But, if the legislature does not act by August 5th, the whole procedure would have to be repeated in yet one […]

Lavender, Black and Green

The Green Party’s national convention will be in Milwaukee this week, with voting by delegates to be held on Saturday. The big question: will the outfit endorse Ralph Nader? This vexing question will put Milwaukee, however briefly, once again in the national spotlight. The party has endorsed the formation of several subgroups including the Black Greens, and the Lavender Greens. The first group consists of African-American members of the party, and the second with its Gay, Lesbian, Transgendered and “Intergendered” (a new one for me) members. As of May there were 297,964 registered greens from 22 states, along with an undetermined number from states like Wisconsin where voter registration does not specify political party. Candidates for the party include four for U.S. Senate, 38 for the House of Representativees, one for Governor, one for Lieutenant Governor and 94 for State Legislatures. According to the party, at least 204 Greens hold office in 27 states, including Wisconsin. Nader, who received the party’s nomination in 2000, has 50 delegates thus far, behind David Cobb, with 194 and Peter Camejo with 112. Over 200 delegates support none of the above or are uncommitted. Nader wrote the party in March to say “I am running as an Independent and am not seeking nor accepting the Green Party nomination. If you do not choose a presidential candidate in Milwaukee, I would welcome your endorsement.” You can figure out for yourself whatever that means. Whomever the candidate, the party promises to run television ads in the presidential race, another first. One of the featured speakers at a post-convention rally will be Frank P. Zeidler, a former presidential candidate himself (Socialist Party) and reason enough to attend the event. A Man in a Hurray: Marc “Leadfoot” Marotta Department of Administration head Marc Marotta has a date in the Jefferson County intake court on June 29th at 9 a.m. in conjunction with his citation on May 24th for speeding on the freeway. The 41-year old attorney and former basketball star was busted for exceeding the speed limit by 20 – 24 miles per hour, an offense that carries a $255.40 bond. Officer Michael Meyers of the Jefferson County Sheriff Department collared the Mequon resident after clocking him going 21 miles over the limit. Earlier this year, on February 25th (the day after Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager was busted for drunk driving) Peter Moe of the State Patrol cited Marotta for speeding on the freeway, also in Jefferson County. It was a more easy-going Marotta that time, since he was caught speeding 16 – 19 miles per hour above the speed limit. On April 22nd, that charge was amended to Speeding on Freeway 1 – 10 miles above the limit. Marotta pled no contest to that charge and was fined $181. The vigilant officer Moe also noted that Marotta, a senior government official, had expired plates (PUR108), so we assume it is his personal vehicle in which he was hot-rodding, but that charge was dismissed. His attorney was Michael […]

“Groundbreaking” for Bridge

Pratt’s “Reimbursement” Mystery Money

Acting Mayor Pockets $7,500 with no explanation

Clark Picks Up Two State Endorsements

Two of Wisconsin’s elder statespeople jumped on the Wesley Clark for President bandwagon recently. Former alderman, secretary of state and attorney Vel Phillips, who most recently issued the oath of office to Acting Mayor Marvin Pratt says she backs the Arkansas general for president. With her support, she joins such black leaders as Charles Rangel and Andrew Young. Phillips was at a fundraiser for Clark Tuesday, January 27th at the home of Julilly W. Kohler. Phillips said she had just got off the phone with Henry Aaron who has offered to send her airplane tickets and to put her up in Atlanta February 6th for his birthday party. “Oh, I’m not sure I’m going to go,” said Vel, to the dismay of partygoers who could not imagine turning down any invitation from Henry Aaron, with or without free air travel and lodging. She still hadn’t decided by Sunday. Vel Phillips faces many decisions. When she left the Common Council, she bought the old roll-top desk aldermen once used until the present gems were installed. The desk will probably go to the Historical Society of Wisconsin. Why not the city-owned Milwaukee Public Library? “Well, the historical society already has a full-size statue of me,” Phillips said. Good enough reason. The attendees, including Frank Gimbel (who has a huge Clark sign posted in his east side yard), Mort and Dani Gendelman, Curry First, Dennis Conta and about 40 others filled the Kohler residence to talk up their man and to dine on way too much food provided from such disparate sources as Sam’s Club and Watermark restaurant. A special guest of honor was to have been former Senator Gaylord Nelson, ranked fourth on a list of the most important Wisconsinites in history. He’s the only one of the top five who is still alive. Alas! Nelson hadn’t even made it as far as the end of the driveway of his Kensington, Maryland home in days, so he called in his visit by speakerphone. Heavy snowfall complicated by quaint Maryland snow removal traditions kept him home, Nelson said. He endorses Clark for president, the Earth Day founder told the attendees in Milwaukee. Nelson speaks very slowly these days. The delivery, although halting, does nothing to mute the intellectual vigor and wit of Nelson. Regarding his choice of the military man for president, the anti-Vietnam War ex-Senator said, “People were wondering how could Gaylord Nelson support a general for president?” (Pause.) “Well, George Washington was a general.” (Pause.) “And he was a pretty good president.” (Laughter.) Apparently, Nelson held republican president Dwight D. Eisenhower in high regard. He noted that General Ike warned us about the military-industrial complex. “This is a fascinating race,” Nelson said, (Pause.) But there is a long way to go.” The State of Wisconsin constitution, as amended, does not give the Lieutenant Governor much to do. This suited Scott McCallum fine, but Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton is a restless sort and has been an early supporter and campaign groupie of […]

Art Jones Pension better than $100K per year

Two other Mayoral candidates eligible soon

Who’s on Fifth?

An $89 billion bank is muscling its way into the Milwaukee market, and you read about it here first.