Straws, Bathrooms, and Mascots – Is That Really All We Have Left to Worry About?
Statement from Alderman Bob Donovan November 25, 2019
You can tell a great deal about people and organizations by looking at their priorities. Paging through the agenda for tomorrow’s Common Council meeting, I can only shake my head and wonder where we all evidently lost the plot.
At the start of the meeting we will take up Mayor Tom Barrett’s vetoes of the amendments the Council made to his proposed 2020 budget. It is a budget in which the Council, without my assent, voted to reduce the sworn strength of the Milwaukee Police Department by 60 positions. And it is a budget in which the Council scrambled for pennies to repave a few alleys and keep our streetlights burning a few minutes longer.
All this will happen, I suspect, with little debate or fanfare. Then we will turn to the real business of the people of Milwaukee. The issues for which we each decided to run for office and to serve.
While it was not my intention to debate the merits of any of these proposals, I will say that I have long been skeptical of those who claim Native American mascots are offensive in and of themselves. I continue to believe, for example, that Marquette University erred when it chose not to call its sports teams “Warriors” and did so in an undemocratic way that continues to rankle alumni.
My concern is not these proposals in themselves. It is that none of them represent the primary concerns of my constituents – they don’t even come close. I defy anyone to poll the residents of the City and ask them what their priorities are. What are the odds drinking straws, bathroom policies, and team mascots scratch the top 50?
It would be easy enough for me to vote against these proposals and move on. I am afraid, however, that they are more symptom than disease as our challenges become so great that we grasp at trivial things that are within our control rather than struggle to solve weightier problems. This is the definition of constructing a fool’s paradise and is no way to govern a great city like ours.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.
Mentioned in This Press Release
Recent Press Releases by State Rep. Bob Donovan
Dear Alderman Donovan, Are none of your constituents concerned that their blood steam is pulsing tiny plastic particles as well as its red and white blood cells? Perhaps you could let them know and then say why you support this banning of plastic straws and would support the banning of other single use plastics …and ask if they would send the message to the state legislature {who in their infinite wisdom (sic) deny that local power}) that this is what your constituents want as the majority of the council seems to support such a ban. Perhaps gender inclusive bathrooms are not on your constituent’s list of high priorities. Perhaps as a leader in our city you could support this in a positive manner and inform your constituents of the reasons why this is important to a minority of their fellow citizens. Then perhaps you would be adding to the increase of care and compassion for others that is part of a civil society. As to care and compassion for our fellow citizens you might consider how you might feel if a school mascot was named after a term that would be considered an ethnic slur to an Irishman, as I think perhaps Irish may be your ancestry. These are some thoughts for you in this season of Thanksgiving for the abundance some of us enjoy.
I agree with Alderman Donovan. City leader should focus on issues that affect the majority of city residents. While Milwaukee leaders focused on plastic straws and bathrooms, neighborhoods are dealing with overflowing garbage cans, and litter on the street, which pose a greater health risks than a plastic straw.