Martin Matson

Bill Christianson Is Milwaukee’s New Fiscal Watchdog

Christianson defeats Greg Gracz for open seat as city comptroller.

After IKON Hotel Issues, Council Moves To Assert More Control of TIF Districts

City has foregone $540,000 in interest payments at discretion of administration.

Comptroller Won’t Run For Reelection

City's chief financial officer Aycha Sawa stepping down, city-wide seat now wide open.

IKON Hotel Dropped In Favor of ‘Sears Market’ Concept

New proposal to redevelop former Sears department store at Fond du Lac and North.

Milwaukee’s Credit Rating Cut

All three rating agencies have a negative outlook on cash-strapped city.

IKON Hotel Deal At Risk of Default

Haywood Group could default on $4 million city loan. City could end up owning empty mall.

Should Select City Employees Be Paid More Than Mayor?

Alderwoman Coggs warns it could primarily benefit white men.

Milwaukee’s Bond Rating Cut Two Levels

Change in rating by S&P Global will raise cost to borrow money, add to city's budget woes.

City Made $8.6 Million Debt Mistake

Past Comptroller blamed. Mistake equivalent to all the salaries of health department staff.

12 Election Takeaways

How high was turnout, lawyers will be busy, girl power, streetcar wins again and a new council president?

UWM Gets Okay to Partially Demolish Columbia Hospital

Plus: Council could delay convention center expansion, MSOE expanding nursing facilities.

Vote Aycha Sawa for Milwaukee City Comptroller!

“The TRUSTED & TRANSPARENT candidate.”

Contribution to Aycha Sawa of $500

Contribution to Aycha Sawa of $200

Health Department Probe a State Matter

Criminal investigation taken over by Department of Justice, city officials say.

Poll Shows Barrett Way Ahead

Zielinski, Taylor do poorly and more voters favor streetcar.

Contribution to Aycha Sawa of $1,000

Council Approves Ikon Hotel Deal Despite Objections

Plus: Council unanimously endorses host of other development projects.

Committee Okays $5 Million More for Ikon Hotel

But only after a debate as to whether a project in the city's black community is "risky."

Rep. Jason Fields Will Run for Comptroller

Fields joins Aycha Sawa and Alex Brower in race to replace retiring Martin Matson.

Outside Firm Auditing City’s Lead Program

Expert hired by Comptroller doing audit council originally wanted done by May 2018.

Council Okays Subsidy for One MKE Plaza

Comptroller calls the deal a "significant risk" but council votes 12-3 in favor.

Norquist Bashes Inspector General Idea

Council wants its own watchdog. Former mayor says post is unnecessary.

Barrett Vetoes Inspector General

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

The Inspector General Is Coming

Common Council creates its own watchdog to monitor city departments.

Wisconsin Center District Announces New Board

The board will hold its first meeting on Friday, September 21 at the Wisconsin Center.

Has Barrett Driven Up City Debt?

Conservative MacIver Institute says yes. Let’s look at the data.

Mayor Barrett’s 2017 Executive Budget Address

As Delivered

Contribution to Martin Matson of $70

Contribution to Martin Matson of $284

Contribution to Martin Matson of $370

Moore Backs Barrett, Brostoff Slams Abele

And One Wisconsin Now celebrates 10 years of bashing Republicans.

Kenney Targets Ald. Borkowski

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

WCD Board Says No Twice to Abele

Board won’t take over Marcus Center and won’t form committee to study idea. Might consider by 2020.

Could Marcus Center become downtown’s orphan venue?

Yet again, report shows Milwaukee tax burden ranks favorably among peers

News release from Alds. Nik Kovac and Terry L. Witkowski

City panel OKs $47 million for Bucks arena; opening may be delayed to 2018

Should City Approve Subsidy for Bucks Arena?

The costs keep rising. And the benefits seem iffy.

City comptroller recommends approval of Milwaukee Bucks arena plan

Frank Gimbel era ends on Wisconsin Center District board; Scott Neitzel in charge

Assembly sets Milwaukee arena vote for July 28, but what about the ticket surcharge?

Committee Takes No Action on Streetcar

Public Works Committee votes to send streetcar proposal to full council, setting up a showdown Dec. 16th.

Putting the Pieces Together

Can the 15 year project revive an area that’s been in decline for 50 years? Last story in a series.

Milwaukee’s Biggest Building Breaks Ground

"A beautiful day in Milwaukee" and for assembled power brokers as Northwestern Mutual's new skyscraper gets underway.

Gimbel Gets Reappointed to Wisconsin Center Board

Will continue after 3 decades as board chair! Did mayor and governor swap appointments to make this happen?

Wisconsin Center’s Leadership Adrift?

Many of the board's seats are either vacant or held by legally unqualified individuals.

The Arrogance of Summerfest

Mayor Barrett met with Summerfest board members, who agreed to share more information about its finances and director’s compensation.

Why Romney Can’t Win Wisconsin

Romney's misunderstanding of the Republican base could kill him.

Abele Under Fire

Has the Johnny Thomas situation poisoned relations between the county exec and county board?