Patrick Curley

Did Harbor Commissioner Have Conflict of Interest?

Ron San Felippo has for many years been managing a private company for Summerfest.

Did Harbor Commissioner Serve Illegally?

Ron San Felippo has homes in East Troy and Florida while serving on commission and also voting in elections as city resident.

Brewers Could Lose Money on TIF Deal

Why team may not want tax incremental financed entertainment district.

About That Brewers ‘Entertainment District’

It’s not exactly a new idea. Do the Brewers even want it? Could it help support the team?

Tom Barrett Takes Oath To Serve As Ambassador

No longer mayor, Barrett is preparing to head to Luxembourg.

Mayor Appoints Jodie Tabak Chief of Staff

Communications director promoted, as Paul Vornholt takes job in Racine.

Who Lost the City Residency Rule?

Lena Taylor blames Mayor Barrett. But did she fight the state law killing residency?

John Norquist’s 70th Birthday Party

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

Streetcar Opens to Public

"This is your assignment: ride the streetcar," says Mayor Barrett.

Adam Schlicht Confirmed as Port Director

New director envisions growing the port through international marketing, diversification.

Council Moves to Confirm New Port Director

Adam Schlicht has dreams of growing the port through international marketing.

Chief of Staff Comment on FLAC

Chief of Staff Patrick Curley released the following statement regarding Freshwater For Life Action Coalition (FLAC) press conference statements:

Mayor Barrett’s Power in Decline?

Council taking more power, mayor taking a beating.

11 Sure-Fire Predictions For 2018

How crazy will 2018 be? Let us count the ways.

Fire Fighter Lives Far Far Away

Union leader Seager lives In McMansion Jr.-style home worth $475,000 in Town of Jackson.

Bill Keeps Accused Cops on the Job

State bill would also let cops union grab power on Fire & Police Commission.

Name calling from Mayor’s Chief of Staff will not be tolerated

Statement by Alderman Tony Zielinski

Barrett Versus the Backdrop Boys

Or how police-fire benefits are driving the city budget crisis.

Mayor’s Chief of Staff Responds to Ald. Zielinski

In response to this morning's statements made by Alderman Zielinski, Chief of Staff Patrick Curley offered the following response:

Statement From Chief of Staff Patrick Curley

In response to comments made by Alderman Zielinski and Alderman Borkowski at today’s media event

The Hit Job on Chief Flynn

Someone leaks incomplete report to Journal Sentinel, which slams chief with it.

Will Judge Siefert Run for Sheriff?

Insiders say he's retiring, could target Clarke. And Charlie Sykes won't run for Senate.

Where Are Top CEOs on City’s Unrest?

The silence is deafening. But Mayor Barrett says they want to help.

City Birthday Party All About Dining

Politicians and candidate hopefuls mix with winners of dining awards.

Does Milwaukee Need More Police?

Mayoral candidate Bob Donovan thinks so. How does this city compare to others?

Barrett’s Chief of Staff misses mark (and has a short memory!)

Statement from Alderman Bob Donovan October 29, 2015

The City’s Real Costs for Bucks Arena

The exact total is unknown, but will be much higher than media has reported.

How Abele Bailed Out Walker

Governor made fatal error on Bucks arena, but Abele volunteered county taxpayers to solve the problem.

Mayor’s indecisiveness on the Downtown Arena project may cost the City of Milwaukee taxpayers millions!

Statement from Alderman Joe Davis, Sr. April 3, 2015

A Broken City

Statement from Alderman Joe Davis, Sr. March 20, 2015

Streetcar Signing Is Quite a Celebration

The mayor, business leaders and pols toasted the streetcar in Cudahy's Irish Pub, with Michael Cudahy on hand.

Milwaukeean Scores Top NYC Job

Phil Walzak, who ran campaigns for Kohl, Barrett and Abele, is now a high-paid aide and good buddy of New York Mayor de Blasio.

The Tragedy of O’Donnell Park

The proposed sale to NML suggests the city has yet to learn from its folly in building this eyesore.

Will Joe Davis Run For Mayor?

He probably has a better chance of beating Barrett than Bob Donovan. But what exactly does Davis stand for?

Will Waukesha Be Less Hostile to Milwaukee?

Defeat of Mayor Jeff Scrima could mean better relations between the two cities.

Stealth Investors Target City’s Foreclosed Homes

Somebody wants to buy all of Milwaukee’s foreclosed homes. Should we be glad -- or worried?

How Republicans Will Hurt City Real Estate

Reacting to a smelly deal involving one school building, legislators are pushing a badly-flawed bill that worsens the problem.

Is Milwaukee the Next Detroit?

Analyzing this city’s key strengths and weaknesses.

Don Smiley’s Ever-Higher Salary

His salary rose by $114,000, to more than $886,000, and the explanations keep getting thinner.

The Arrogance of Summerfest

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

Rocky’s Throne of Stone

Neighbor and boss Tom Barrett says DCD head Rocky Marcoux worthy of Nobel Prize, but is his house?

Every Politician in Town

Well, not quite, but the City's Birthday Party had a big turnout of politicians and insiders.

Mayor Backs Flynn, Slams Newspaper

Journal Sentinel’s series on data errors “takes crime fighting officers off the street,” Barrett charges.

How State Aid to Cities Has Plummeted

Milwaukee is getting killed by declining shared revenue, violating a century-old state agreement.

Books Aren’t Banned Here

Little free libraries are welcome in Milwaukee -- unlike in Whitefish Bay.

Rocky Road

Some aldermen want to dump DCD head Rocky Marcoux, but Mayor Barrett disagrees.

Chest of Drawers Nets $1,808,000

Exclusive to milwaukeeworld.com

Kennedy Walks

Substantial Fine for Possession of Forged Artwork

The Governor and the Empire Builder

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 […]