Newspaper Still The Same After Minor Changes

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Recently, the Janesville Gazette has gone through a series of small changes mainly within their paper delivery schedule and how news content is disseminated between the print hard copy and their Web Site. The biggest change for paper subscribers was that home delivery has been shifted from the late afternoon to the early morning hours. They also seem to have a better handle on brief articles and submissions from the various community organizations. However, their loosely constructed local content along with their Republicanized socio-economic engineering very much remains the same.

In one article just two days before a Janesville city council decision on water rates, the Gazette posted a typical water bill description comparing the projected price hike with the current costs verbatim from official city sources. Although it is common practice for city officials and utility agencies to use only water and fire service charges, the actual Janesville water utility bill arrives in the mailbox with additional storm water and waste water charges. By neglecting to clarify this information, the city and newspaper gave the impression the "average" Janesville water utility bill was much lower than it really is. The reason to provide only part of the story appears to be an effort to sell the water rate increase without attracting much opposition. A few days later in another article, the Gazette affirmed this wrong impression again.

In Wednesday's paper, the Gazette demonstrated its ability to play a huge part keeping readers off-balance on civic affairs with this confusing article and titles about the private investment hockey group (WHP) now suggesting the city should consider rebuilding, instead of repairing the city ice arena. Note: The online version lacks the sub-titles. Although this is a minor mix-up, most people see little difference between rebuilding and repairing, but considering it is the private investment group (and not the city) suggesting and seeking a new arena in a public/private partnership, the newspaper repaints the pursuit with the secondary title on Page 13A, "ARENA/Private money would be sought," instead of a more honest message, "Hockey Investors Suggest New Arena/Public Money Would Be Sought."

Anyone with any common sense would see the run-around and lose this private investment group in a hurry. The hockey group's tactics are reminiscent of the millionaire investment group that tried to finagle the farmland at 14/51 away from the county. On the other hand, I can't blame the hockey investors for their bravura, they may as well ride the compliant city taxpayers for everything they can get.

Still selling the business group to the taxpayers, the Gazette repeated mentioning the hockey team would bring up to $20,000 a year in revenue for the city, while neglecting to remind city taxpayers of their obligation to cover operating losses of $65,000 a year at the ice arena facility while it is under contract with the for-profit hockey group.

The Gazette changed their news distribution, but they continue to loosely construct facts and re-arrange reality in order to achieve their politically engineered goals. It's still business as usual.

On the Gazette's finger-flipping photo:
I received an email asking why I did not jump on the band-wagon slamming the Gazette for publishing the photo of a murder suspect flipping the bird. After all, the emailer wrote, I (a flaming left-wing hypocrite) unfairly loudmouth the newspaper regularly. Here's my response emailer:
I believe newspapers should not hide or distort human realities pertinent to a story, so I think the Gazette did right by printing it. Just not on the front page. The only concern I would have on this matter is for small children. If the kids have to see it, let the burden of control rest on the parents so they are the ones to stop their kids from seeking it inside the paper. The front-page photo exposure made viewing it almost unavoidable for nearly everyone.

Past City Growth Elevated Danger On Thousands

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Monday's Janesville city council meeting was another job well done by the city administration and council. The council rammed through a water rate increase of 15% based on less demand for the stuff resulting from the closure of the GM factory. But the water utility's presentation didn't get interesting until the Janesville Utilities Director, Dan Lynch, started explaining his request for another water tower to be built on the city's North-East side.

JG Excerpt:
We're not talking about the future. We're talking about right now. When we have a major main break, we really don't have water for anything." -- Lynch

The utilities director went on to describe how the lack of water pressure can inhibit firefighters and also increase bacteria in the water system. And that we have already had up to eight instances occur since he knew about the problem. How long ago was he aware of this? Since 2005. How many folks have been effected? Up to 30,000 people. Yet, during all of the requests for annexation and building permits on the north and northeast sections of Janesville over the past several years, I don't recall Lynch even once stand at the podium and urge the council to deny any builders request in that area based on 'public endangerment.' Not once. The only recommendation coming from the city administration was "the parcel is consistent with the city's comprehensive growth plan." But now they need a water tower for further growth, so let's play up the public danger and see where that takes us. If we believe Lynch right now, then we should take him to task for his dereliction of duty (silence) during requests for growth development over the past four years. He knew lives were at stake, and by his own words now, even one time was too many.

But there are even more conflicting statements from the utility director that were left unchallenged by the city council. For instance, he explained Janesville was divided into two water service sectors (north and south) and for that reason the additional capacity expected from GM closing (south side, lower elevation) would not help the north side. Yet no discussion was given for the northeast quadrant to use the NW water tower (Hendricks) to shore up additional pressure requirements needed during those few low pressure emergencies. Perhaps this is why they want to connect the East and West side pipes. So why a water tower? Remember, the request for another tower has nothing to do with future growth according to Lynch, the "big pipes" supply the volume, additional pressure is only needed during a few random events. Which brings me to the heart of the situation.

After a quick search on Google Earth, it appears most of the city of Janesville stands at 825 ft. - 875 ft. elevations excluding the immediate Rock River valley, which is at or below 800 ft. The Hendricks property has elevations soaring to as high as 975 ft. and the only other area above 900 ft. is north of the I90 curve on the farthest NE side. The existing development north of I90 was built on land in the 910 ft. to 940ft. range with hundreds of vacant farm acres left to develop in those upper elevations. For no other reason than the high elevations (compared to base utility elevations), sprawl cannot continue without a static pressure facility such as a water tower. Without a water tower, additional sprawl can't be fed. That is the only obstacle blocking the fortunes of developers in the near future. Yet, the city administration refuses to charge land owners and developers encumbered by these elevations for the special water facility (tower). It then becomes more obvious the only reason to request a NE tower is for "growth-prepareness." They are at their low pressure limit right now.

Since they don't seem to be in any hurry (according to them) and they used fire safety and bacteria contamination as the alarm bell in the run-up for the NE tower, it becomes apparent that the city administration and council have been and continue to endanger Janesville lives every time they approve of a home or commercial building permit for the NE side. Although Lynch knew about this years ago, Monday was the day of 'discovery' for all of us to learn of the danger further growth on the North side presents. Of course I don't believe the so-called danger warrants a new water tower, but this is the administration's deception. So they have to believe it and all of the consequences it may bare.

Council members Truman and McDonald were the only ones to read through some of the smoke and mirrors on the water rate increase and tower project. Unfortunately, they split their votes on the two issues but at least they matched their rhetoric with their votes. Still, it's not enough.

Capital improvements for the benefit of developers have been socialized by us, the city then must satisfy a minimum rate of return with the higher value principal, thus compounding the increases. Water rates will continue to go up. Obviously then, sprawl never pays for itself - we all pay. If you don't have Google Earth, you can download it here. Highly recommended!

Does Paul Ryan Want Obama To Fail?

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This article in the Journal Sentinel seems more like an official GOP propaganda piece, not to rebut, but to re-characterize honest observations about Rep. Paul Ryan posted a couple weeks ago in this article, from the Isthmus.

Paul Ryan is perhaps the last of the old guard corporate politicians. He voted 90% of the time with the Republican-led Congress during the first 8 ½ years of his career. He helped push the country over a 1000-foot cliff and thought it was flying for the first 950 feet. Now that it’s ready to hit bottom, Ryan says, “the nation is at a tipping point.” Anyone who thinks the answer to our complex battery of economic woes is to simply cut taxes for the wealthiest even further and make draconian cuts to Medicare and Social Security during a time when they are needed most is not only naive, but completely delusional.

Over the past ten years, Ryan and his personal capital investment cronies on Wall Street had their chance to prove Social Security unnecessary – and they failed - miserably. So miserably in fact, that they had no choice but to run to the collectivist system of taxation (government) for a series of huge capital injections to stay afloat. The fact is, these failed capitalists turned socialist for refuge and approached government - not the other way around.

Ryan and his insurance company campaign donors too, had their chance to prove the free market health care system competitive and affordable – again, they failed miserably. It is the current system of private health care that is crushing the country, destroying lives, nest eggs and businesses - not Medicare or Medicaid. In case you hadn't noticed, universal health care is not here yet.

Isthmus Excerpt:
In Wisconsin, 60.6% of the Bush tax cuts backed by Ryan will benefit the richest 1% — those earning over $1.1 million — saving them an average of $17,962 annually, according to the Citizens for Tax Justice. Meanwhile, the state's poorest 60% will save an average of just $29 a year, or 5.8% of the total cuts.

Ryan and his Republicans have ‘cut’ everything they could get away with and still bankrupted the country. Our current economy is the final destination of a domestic liquidation and class wealth shift that began with Ronald Reagan, and it will be the Bush/Republican economy for at least several more years. Ironically, while Ryan's congressional district is the country's trophy economic train wreck, he has prospered politically. How is this possible?

In all reality, Obama might not be able to ever repair the damage done by the likes of Reagan and Bush. He is just one man against a machine. And if Paul Ryan ever succeeds at anything, it seems it will be to make sure someone else fails.

Old Houses Better Kept Than Knocked Down

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Picked up this interesting article from the May 4th edition of Time magazine.

Greening This Old House

Time Excerpt:
...it would take an average of 65 years for the reduced carbon emissions from a new energy-efficient home to make up for the resources lost by demolishing an old one. So in the broadest sense, the greenest home is the one that has already been built.

In Janesville, the city administration and their academic followers are big on tearing down anything older than 40 years old if they have the chance. We have an indoor ice arena that's 35 years old and some folks around here talk about it like it's an old shipwreck. Even the private investment hockey group who couldn't wait to get in and use it, lowballed the structure as a decrepit "old barn." Then there's the Jackson Street Bridge, worthy of being the subject in a Monet and still structually sound, is now basically condemned by its neglectful owner as a non-conforming old relic left to wither away and die like an unwanted old dog. For shame.

The same can be said for the Tallman House. During relatively good economic times, maintenance and restoration funding for this treasured asset was decided by city councils playing whack-a-mole with city operations and services expenditures like mowing the grass and weed control. "Knock it down" is the frequent response from those who just don't care.

Even the casual observer can see the city doesn't take care of its stuff.

Big Pipes Bringing Big Bills For Janesville

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In a short article that reports on a request to hike water rates in Janesville a whopping 15% AND make an additional request to hike them even further in the near future by building yet another water tower at the price of $7.5 million (guesstimate another 15% hike on top), the Janesville Gazette, just two days before the council hearing, de-emphasized this major impact on Janesville residents under the title Ordinance would regulate Spencer gifts, Page 4.

JG Excerpt:
Currently, the average residential customer’s quarterly water bill is $40, which is a $35.10 charge for water and $4.90 for public fire protection. That would increase to $40.28 and $5.62 for a total of $45.90.

They must be counting all the vacant homes with their water turned off as customers. In that case, expect the average water bill to go down even further.

My three person and a dog household has a water saving washer, water saving toilets and shower heads. We never, I mean never let the water ‘run’ at the faucet. We don’t water the lawn and for years we’ve had a rain barrel for watering plants in the garden. Believe it or not, we conscientiously make an effort to save water every day and consider ourselves very frugal when it comes to water use, yet our ‘average’ quarterly bill is $75 - $80. Mind you, I’m not complaining about it, but it does take an effort and sacrifice on our part to keep it low. Yet, the city has the average water bill (household) pegged at $40 a quarter, which means half of the households are paying even less. But I’m not posting here to talk about the price of our water as much as the future cost from the impact of Janesville’s so-called ‘big pipes.’

Water rates went up in 2008 by 5.5% to socialize the costs of the water tower for the Hendricks residential development. Now, rates will go up again because the utility will pump less water (to GM) and again to socialize the costs on a second water tower to serve growth projections. And yet again to pay for upgrades at the waste water treatment facility. And yet again to satisfy city budget formula's requiring the utilities to earn a 6% rate of return. Remember, this is just one small facet of the expected multitude of cost-of living impacts at a time of an expected and prolonged recession – not growth, coming down the pipes for Janesville taxpayers and rate payers.

And the truth is, excluding the waste water facility upgrades, all the other projects are of little to no use to current residents. The other requests for water rate hikes are based simultaneously on flawed 'old world' growth projections and believe it or not, over-capacity, during a time of projected population destabilization and receding local capital flows.

It was only recently during a city council hearing when growth consultants bragged how well positioned Janesville was with big pipes going out to nowhere.

JG Excerpt:
Action to proceed with plans to build a 1.5-million-gallon water tower on the city’s northeast side and a large diameter water main to connect the existing 24-inch mains on the city’s east and west sides.

The city can defend the ‘big pipes’ boast with the ‘24-inch mains’ but the request for a water tower blows a hole in their growth management, meaning, their claim for a water tower to serve current customers (not growth) and to connect east and west sides giving the project a city-wide use and obligation seems like a sales pitch fabrication to cover up established growth mismanagement.

Question: Where are growth impact fees and why aren’t special assessments utilized?

But forget about all of that. Instead, the newspaper wants you to focus on the social impact of potentially harmful visuals and materials on display at your nearest novelty store.

Residents in Janesville are constantly being fed a load of crock from either the city’s only newspaper or city government. I blame the newspaper mostly because they should know better and number two, it's their job to accurately portray reports, governmental activity and the consequences of action as fairly as possible without the focus shift or semantics. Specifically, this article should have been two articles with slightly more detail and perspective given to the water rate hikes, given our economic circumstances. But who am I to say? I'm just an idiot.

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Beloit Property Values Decline

Some areas decline as much as 15% percent in just one year!

BDN Excerpt:
The overall tax base this year is down 1.8 percent, with some neighborhoods seeing a property value decrease of 1.5 percent and others as much as 15 percent, said City Assessor Dan McHugh.

Environment Without Government Is Unsustainable

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Tuesday's Janesville Gazette carried a surprising endorsement for Earth Day activities individuals could carry out during their lives to help create a sustainable and living planet. The editorial title, We cannot wait for government to save environment was somewhat misleading as it gave the impression the newspaper editors believe the government wasn't doing enough to protect the environment. To the contrary, after reading the first few lines of the editorial, it appears the newspaper would favor letting economic development, sprawl, venture capitalists and consumers self-regulate to protect the environment rather then work in tandem with the government to create and enforce regulatory policy.

JG Excerpt:
But we shouldn’t wait for government to force us to do the right thing. After all, state law requires businesses to recycle, but do you see recycling bins adjacent to trash containers at gas stations? Likewise, the debate continues on whether ethanol subsidies are wise.

We’ll also argue long about whether Barack Obama’s proposed “cap and trade” plan will fight global warming enough to warrant soaring energy prices.

To their credit, the paper followed that politically inspired opening by posting ten smart ideas to help celebrate Earth Day everyday, most coming from Julie Backenkeller of the Rock Environmental Network. But absent from the list was arguably the most important activity we can do to help save ourselves.

So I propose Earth Day idea number eleven.

11. As often as possible, call, write a letter, send an email, or attend a meeting with your local city council, congressional representative, senator or state legislator and ask them what bills, regulations and resolutions they intend to sponsor that can help develop and build support for a sustainable economy and defend the environment. And tell them what you believe will help our nation and neighborhoods transition to a sustainable society. Our environment is a living organism that is not too big to fail, we can't let it go bankrupt and a bailout is useless. Once it's dead - it's gone. Time is of the essence.

'The economy is a wholly owned subsidiary of the environment, not the other way around." -- Earth Day founder and former Wisconsin Governor and Senator Gaylord Nelson

Congressional Health Care Not Among Ryan's Entitlement Reforms

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The following quotebox was found in a comment posting at Express Milwaukee. The author apparently then sent his viewpoint to the Janesville Gazette. It was published in Tuesday's paper.

Express Milwaukee Excerpt:
Paul Ryan is for Paul Ryan. I attended a listening session in Kenosha 4/16 & suggested to the congressman as he stood up front in his well pressed suit, shiny shoes and neat hair cut that he Sponor an UN-Bill to negate Health Coverage for all Congress members and all Senators. Until All American has as good a plan as he & his family. He seems to think that was humorous. Although he commented on all others questions in the meeting, he did not answer or comment on my suggestion. I doubt the 50 million of Americans without Health Coverage & others with inadequate coverage thinks its funny that they have no or limited coverage while he enjoys a Plan that is 75% funded (a nice perk) & he pays only 25%. It's barbaric that we have a health system that favors elected officals, yet not for ourselves. Yes very, very funny Paul for those who can't afford the medication needed, must decide to go to the doctor or pay rent. Extremely funny Paul!! -- Bill

Corporatism Taking The Wind Out Of Localism

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Folks in Union Township are rightfully upset over the idea of the state taking away their ability to write and control ordinances to regulate wind energy within their township boundaries.

JG Excerpt:
But proponents of the bill say it would allow “stalled” wind projects to get moving across the state, creating jobs and increasing renewable energy. “The major challenge we face is inconsistency in ordinances across the state,” said Ben Schicker, director of marketing for EcoEnergy, a wind developer proposing projects in Rock County.

If that doesn't sound like the same rhetoric politicians and corporatists used when AT&T's greased Video Competition Act pushed its way through the Wisconsin state legislature. Like the Video Act, the proposed state wind energy legislation would disable local authority from exercising their own prerogative and instead transfer developmental control to a state-run bureaucracy.

JG Excerpt:
Rep. Brett Davis, R-Oregon, worked with the town of Union during its ordinance-writing process and plans to oppose the legislation if it goes through as written. The missing element, he said, is respect for decisions already made by local governments.

Where was this element of respect for local authority when Davis voted to pass AB207 (Video Competition Act)?

You Can't Buy Sustainable Economic Growth

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In a newspaper editorial, came a bizarre position I would never suspect coming from the “club for growth” Wisconsin State Journal, was a plea to state officials to stop bribing companies and others with tax collected subsidies and other capital hand-outs to compete for their business.

State Journal Excerpt:
But Wisconsin should pursue its own priorities. Automotive industry research is one example. The biomedical and biofuels industries -- both growing in Dane County -- are two more. Let other states compete in bidding wars for factories. Wisconsin should devote its resources to the building blocks -- from education to investment incentives to transportation -- that will yield long-term growth from within.

Have they been reading my blog? Are they catching on to this? This same "free market" concept should not be held captive at the state level, but be applied locally to the Janesville economy. Unfortunately, we have a city administration and council who have bought into a facade of economic development built on nothing more than a legalized bribe and blackmail. As a result, Janesville’s business environment identity has been wiped out. What strengths do we have to build on? Chain restaurants and retail stores? What do we stand for and what do we build?

Janesville Company Expands Into Europe

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Packaging News Excerpt:
Construction has started on custom medical thermoform packaging manufacturer Prent Thermoforming's first European base in Holbaek, Denmark.

Prent Excerpt:
“The development of Prent-Denmark—like our other global expansion initiatives—has been through organic growth, not acquisition growth,” he points out. “This growth has been generated entirely within our own organization. Consequently we have a very defined effort when we open new facilities.

JG Excerpt:
In the 10 years or so that Prent has operated global facilities, employment in Janesville has increased, he said. More than half of the company's worldwide payroll of 1,000-plus work in Janesville at either Prent or GOEX, a Prent subsidiary that makes and extrudes plastic sheet products.

This is good news! With any luck, it’ll keep the workers in Janesville busy and who knows – maybe they’ll expand here again from the larger global customer base.

But I have to ask. What incentive does Malaysia, China or Denmark offer to attract businesses like Prent? A forgivable loan? A tax credit or rebate? A TIF District perhaps? None of the articles reported on any of those details. Or do businesses like Prent build and expand because their business and customer base demand it - as the articles say - if we can believe it. Who knows? If it's true, this could be a radical new business model by Prent. Imagine, prosperous and capable businesses pulling themselves up by their own boot-straps, re-investing their own profits to expand their wealth instead of raising our taxes by running to government for an economic development hand-out. What a pioneering if not unique idea! Of course, I could be speaking too soon here.

Actually, I shouldn’t be the one asking. Janesville city administrative officials and state legislators should be asking these questions of themselves.

Double-Standard Leases At City Facilities

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During Monday’s Janesville city council meeting, the council sounded as if they were willing to scrooge Janesville Youth Baseball out of the batting cage lease at the Jackson Street location. After being presented with three different contract scenarios by the city administration, council members scrutinized the options with the non-profit community organization (JYB is a non-stock, non-profit, apolitical organization) and seemed bothered that the batting cage facility still might cost the city a few thousand dollars to operate in 2009.

JG Excerpt:
The council - delayed renewing a lease with Janesville Youth Baseball to operate Swinger's batting cages. The council wants staff to come back with a lease that makes sure the city doesn't lose money on the deal. In 2008, the city covered a loss of $2,929.

This directive (not to lose money on the deal) came just a few weeks after the council literally gave away primary use and control of another city-owned facility to a for-profit private investment junior hockey venture. With the hockey group, city taxpayers still expect to cover a loss of at least $65,000 a year at the ice arena facility. And unlike the WHP, revenue collected by the JYB helps with expenses at the Janesville Sports Complex instead of padding profits. In addition, the baseball group has accepted equipment maintenance and utility bill obligations of the batting cage facility.

The city collections at the batting cage facility provided in the lease (no revenue sharing from admissions) are still short in my view, but it doesn't even compare to the disgraceful city give-away to the for-profit WHP. Yet the batting cages are a much needed public participant sporting activity for Janesville youth.

The Janesville city council’s double-standard towards the primary groups representing each facility should sicken the average taxpayer and raise suspicions on whether the city council received a quid pro quo from the politically connected hockey group. Their attitude towards the non-profit youth community group just doesn't add up.

Adding more fuel to the fire is a new report showing the $200,000 in ice arena improvements may actually cost closer to $350,000. What will the fickle city council do now?

The obvious question: Why is a city facility leased by a controlling user group expected to break even, if the primary user is non-profit? Yet it is acceptable to operate at a loss if the primary user is for-profit.

The city council decision on the batting cage lease has been postponed to the next meeting in two weeks.
Note: This posting is the independent perspective and opinion of its author, and does not imply an affiliation to any of the individuals or organizations mentioned.

Newspaper, Council Pretend Alcohol Debate Continues

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Last week, the Janesville Gazette made another effort to make it look like Janesville city government was still busy debating over whether or not to allow alcohol to be served at the Janesville Ice Arena. This article about Janesville’s Alcohol License Advisory Committee carried the usual false concerns from committee members, as if they were toiling over some complex problems and the private investment hockey group was navigating their greased skid through difficult city governmental hurdles. What a joke.

JG Excerpt:
The contract signed between the council and Wisconsin Hockey Partners allows the partners to terminate the contract if it does not get a liquor license.

THAT is the final authority on the deal. All the talk and debate from the city council and administration over concerns about alcohol are phony arguments meant to look like they care. Once the council approved of the contract on March 23rd, they agreed in principle to alcohol sales and all the other contingencies and demands in the contract. Everything else became uselessly rudimentary.

But that didn’t stop the council’s carnival of comedy at the Monday night’s meeting. Some concerned residents continued to speak out against the alcohol as if it mattered, and were led to believe the council was still grappling over whether or not the city can justify selling alcohol at youth oriented hockey games. No way, not with this city council. They are way beyond that now.

Believe it or not, the alcohol issue became contentious only after a council member suggested restricting the type of alcohol sold at the arena to beer only. Oh the outrage! Talk about a change in pursuit.

Yet, concerned residents are still being fed this load of crap, and the Gazette continued to dump more yesterday when they implied that the new council member, Frank Perrotto, might eventually hold the deciding vote on the license.

JG Excerpt:
After Monday's meeting, Perrotto said he didn't think it was appropriate to say how he would vote until he could share his opinion as a member of the council. He will be seated Monday, April 27.

Uh - oh. Looks like we got more of the same with Frank Perrotto. How many times have you heard council members say, "I don't like the idea about blah, blah, blah, or " I'm concerned about blah, blah and blah" only to turn around and vote against their concerns! Do we need more council members who "courageously" vote against their principles? Well, don't look now. Regardless, I highly doubt Perrotto will hold the power to deny the hockey group's liquor license among this group of waffling wafflers. To imply he does just keeps this charade alive.

Probably the best decision or sign the hockey team received in the past few weeks from the city of Janesville were the election results showing that the residents really don't care about the issues when they voted all the incumbents back into office. The city council received a 'confidence' mandate to pretty much do as they please.

JG Excerpt:
McCoshen doubted if Wisconsin Hockey Partners would immediately apply for a liquor license because it's not needed right away. The partners might wait to let the council see how the summer camps work and then come back to request a license, he said.

Well, that makes a lot of sense. EVERYTHING depends on whether they get the beer license and they're implying it's the council who is waiting to see how the summer camps work? Before they apply for the license? Who do they think they're kidding? Wait....don't tell me.

In Uncertain Times, Milton Votes For Change

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Last week's election produced a new mayor for the City of Milton. As reported in the Gazette, challenger Tom Chesmore ran on a platform of change. Understandably, he’ll take it slow at first as he said.....

JG Excerpt:
....he’d rely less on city staff………. and listen more to council members on issues such as agendas and committee placement…… he wants to get young people involved in government…………will be keeping the budget under control and addressing aging public facilities …..want to try to avoid getting into a pinch where all of a sudden one of our buildings, something happens where it’s not usable……don’t want to have any of our people operating out of a facility that’s not adequate.”

It’s no wonder why the Janesville Gazette seems miffed by Chesmore's election. How in the world could anyone with that platform beat stability and experience? Chesmore wouldn't have a chance in Janesville. How did he do it?

Just a couple days after that article, the Gazette ran a follow-up seeking to find some answers. But after reading the Gazette's findings, I couldn't help but sense the newspaper's condescending tone towards the new mayor. As if there were really no good reasons why he should have won.

But according to the Gazette's editorial on Wednesday (April 8), when the Janesville status quo (incumbents) won re-election, the paper explained that it must be because voters apparently know what they're doing - in uncertain times they want "stability and experience." Of course this was a direct slap to the challengers but apparently, Milton voters and Tom Chesmore weren't listening, reading or just didn't care about what others were saying. For whatever their reasons, they turned away from the incumbent - the status quo lost in a close race - so now it becomes nobody really knows why voters do what they do. It's just good to have a change.

Congratulations to the City of Milton and your new mayor, Tom Chesmore!

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Support Assembly Joint Resolution 2 (AJR 2)

On a related note, call your state legislator and let them know you support the Assembly Joint Resolution 2 (AJR 2). This constitutional amendment, proposed to the Wisconsin 2009 legislature, eliminates the spring election for nonpartisan offices so that all regularly scheduled elections will be held in November. AJR 2 could also save local jurisdictions money by no longer funding the spring election as a stand alone local expenditure and will allow candidates for local office a larger share of the voting audience, resulting in better local representation.

1st CD Test-Riding Ryan’s Road To Ruin

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Excellent article on Rep. Paul Ryan from the Isthmus.

Isthmus Excerpt:
Take UAW staffer Diana Hrovaiten, who lost her job at Delphi as it downsized locally while expanding in Mexico: "Ryan's 'Roadmap' protects the fortunes of the rich, but for the rest of us, it's an eight-lane expressway to destruction."

But professor Dresang says it's not unusual for voters to have "a particular image of a politician" based on personality and not voting records, especially in the absence of aggressive media coverage.

To list the facts on Paul Ryan's record and report on the results, we don't need 'aggressive' media coverage. An honest media would do just fine.

But this is a major (mis)perception voters must overcome to save ourselves. That the image of a nice guy with a family somehow offsets his awful congressional record and all the damage he has done to his district and country. The last thing anyone should call someone like Ryan is, is a 'nice guy.'

Conservation - The 'New' Conservatism

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Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters announces the pro-conservation positions on issues before the Wisconsin Senate, Assembly and/or Governor in the week ahead to state legislators. Others wishing to follow activities in the state legislature can also receive Conservation NOW, including legislative staff, conservation voters, and media. All of these issues are tracked on the Conservation Vote Tracker. Issues in the Conservation NOW may appear in the Conservation Scorecard, to be released in the summer of 2010.

Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to electing conservation leaders, holding decision makers accountable and encouraging lawmakers to champion conservation policies that effectively protect Wisconsin's public health and natural resources.

Get more information about the Wisconsin League Of Conservation Voters here.

Why Were Council Incumbents Re-Elected? Good Question

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In the article titled Incumbents untouched by controversial issues, even the Janesville Gazette seemed befuddled that some of the Janesville city council incumbents were re-elected.

JG Excerpt:
Incumbents George Brunner, Bill Truman and Russ Steeber cast differing votes on such issues as the Milwaukee Street bike tunnel, the children’s museum and spending $200,000 to bring a hockey team here. That makes it difficult to say if voters looked at the issues or were mostly happy with the status quo.

Doh! Since voters chose to re-elect incumbents with opposing views anyways, doesn’t that actually make it easy to say the voters ignored the issues and chose incumbents for some other reason? Any chance, is it possible? Ya' think?

In a post election editorial, the Gazette editorial staff felt the voters stayed with the incumbents for stability and experience. That’s possible since we know most of the incumbents weren’t chosen for economic sustainability or progress.

But there is much more riding on the real reason why the incumbents were re-elected. Since we now know issues were not a priority, and stability and experience are mostly matters of opinion, a better guess would point a finger towards the at-large system of Janesville’s city council candidacy and government.

It is safe to say that the only reason why one challenger won a council seat at all was because Amy Loasching vacated AND because the winner represented the status quo more than the others. If each council member represented an individual ward district, they would have to stand on their own against a challenger(s) on the issues in their ward, instead of the personality-based and forgiving system we have today. If this election proved one thing, it proved the issues did not matter. At least not in Janesville.

But here is the dichotomy. If a challenger were to actually challenge one or all of the incumbents on the issues at a candidate forum, the status quo wouldn't view it as a good open honest debate on the issues, they'd spin it around as an attack on them and paint the challenger as divisive and combative. They'd twist the issue oriented challenger into a person with a unstable character flaw. Yet it’s equally frustrating to hear most (not all) of the challenger’s generally agree with what the past council has done. If you don’t see anything wrong, you’re probably not going to make a difference – so why run at all?

Obviously then, residents challenging incumbents for the Janesville City Council run at an extreme disadvantage in more ways than one because they think the voters want something new and refreshing. Perhaps a new and refreshing personality. But on issues? Unfortunately, that does not appear to be the case at all in Janesville. Like a comedian on a stage looking for a few good laughs, you’d notice that most of the winners all play to a committed at-large voting audience. And it's important to note that the at-large voting audience is the at-large status quo. However, the at-large voting audience should not to be confused with the silent majority simply because the silent majority are not voting. Confusing? It shouldn't be.

Change the majority in the voting audience either by instituting ward representation OR awake the current non-voting majority - and you would change the council into one that better represents all the communities that make up Janesville. Of course, that's easier said than done.

Backenkeller Thanks Supporters, Congratulates Winners

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* Press Release *

Dear friends,

I would like to send a huge thank you to all that wrote in "Backenkeller" for City Council! I also thank those who encouraged others to vote, called me and wrote letters, and supported this last minute effort. With only a three week campaign and a $100 budget, the number of votes received was a great success, and I believe that we need to continue our involvement with City government.

My sincerest hope in moving forward, is that we can join together and help our elected City Council make decisions that are not only positive for our present population, but also for our future generations. Janesville's Sustainability Committee will continue to make recommendations to the City Council, in the hopes of furthering our efforts to become an eco-municipality, not only in name, but more importantly, in our actions. Please attend one of our meetings to help steer the community toward a more sustainable future.

I can't thank you enough for your efforts, and I would like to congratulate the winners.

Sincerely,

Julie Backenkeller
Janesville, WI

Three Weeks Notice – Write-In Captures 1,038 Voters

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In what only can be described as a victory in defeat, 1,038 folks in Janesville had the audacity to pencil in the twelve letters of the name “Backenkeller” for Janesville city council. This is by no means a small feat coming after only three weeks notice of her candidacy and with little advertising. Truly amazing! This also shows there is a solid core of support to bring new priorities and considerations that have largely been absent from the city's budget and planning process. Progress hasn't been defeated yet, a pulse still exists.

But it also shows there are huge obstacles to overcome for Janesville to pull itself out of the mind-fog and stagnancy it has so freely come to accept as part of its identity. Its’ also a sad testament to the state of political affairs and public discourse in Janesville and shows a complete breakdown in the willingness of the people to organize themselves if only to control their own destiny.

Tuesday’s vote confirms the continued and expanding Chicago machine-like death grip the Janesville Gazette and Forward Janesville has on the city. Trying to create a sustainable economy in Janesville under these circumstances is nearly impossible. We can't wait another generation.

We can do better – we must do better.

Status Quo Wins Big In Janesville

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The people of Janesville have spoken and once again they said they like things just the way they are. If you liked the past ten years, you’ll love the next year. No jobs, no ideas, no creativity, higher taxes and utility rates, more hand-outs to venture capitalists, more priorities put off, deeper potholes and sprawl - and that's if they're successful.

But hey, we’ve got a junior A hockey team we can rally around.

Another Bogus WMC Claim

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Capital Times Excerpt:
For the past few years, Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, the state's largest business lobby, has made reforming the state's legal system one of its top priorities -- proclaiming that excessive litigation "is costing businesses and individuals billions of dollars, and is affecting our international competitiveness."

Not true, says a new study published by the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Law School that aims to "examine some of the persistent myths" about civil litigation.

Vote Truman and Backenkeller For City Council

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It’s that time of the year again when we go through the annual ritual of futility in Janesville trying to pick a few good residents for city council without further perpetuating the status quo. The voting public will be asked to choose four candidates from a pool of ten comprising of three incumbents and six challengers on the ballot, and one write-in candidate.

First the incumbents. The voting record of the three incumbents and their general perception and attitude toward the taxpaying public are definitely not the same. In my opinion, only one man stands out – Bill Truman.

Aside from the inexcusable ‘yes’ vote on the Comprehensive Plan, Truman has made the fewest bloopers on the current council and has been one of the spark plugs for rare inner-governmental reforms at City Hall, and has refused to surrender public-use assets for next to nothing. His positives outweigh the negatives and his plain spoken demeanor on the council isn’t salted with sarcasm or the arrogance of a power-tripping sociopath.

It’s impossible to please all the people all the time, yet Truman has handled the power granted to him by the people with dignity and respect for the community. He exemplifies the good neighbor in all of us and the hardworking ethics of Janesville's silent majority. He gets my vote.

But before I do anything in the voting booth, I will be writing in the name, “Julie Backenkeller” first. Here’s why.

In my view, she would bring a lot to the table at city council meetings. Among them a new and refreshing if not absolutely necessary angle to solutions of some the city’s problems and priorities, not to mention a contagious energy level. Some people know her as the “landfill lady” because of her concerns about the Janesville landfill facility and the threat it poses to the future of the city and its residents, an issue which leads me to a common misconception some folks have about “sustainability.”

The fact is, sustainability is not even on the radar of the current city administration or council’s economic growth agenda. Most of the administration’s city-building academics still rely on old world growth templates rooted in the status quo’s perceived delusion of never-ending energy resources and disposable consumerism. But that's only a minor infraction the city has waged against sustainability.

Those who think the newly described and popular “sustainability” movement is a one issue pony are sadly mistaken. Sustainability also encompasses laying a foundation for sustainable schools, infrastructure, jobs, businesses, farms, budgets and of course, natural resources. Without strong consideration given to “sustainability” in each and every issue facing Janesville, the city will arrive at its final destiny sooner, rather then later. Everything else is secondary.

But like Bill Truman, Amy Loasching or the occasional dissenting vote from Tom McDonald, their lone vote or two on a single issue isn’t enough to over-ride the blindfolded soldiers of the status quo. Like them, she can’t do it all herself of course, she needs our help on April 7th.

Of the remaining challengers, there is at least one clone among the pack and possibly one partisan plant. I won't mention names but I will recommend consideration of any of them over the two remaining incumbents, if anything to at least send a message to the loud and vocal power-broking minority.

Janesville is at a crucial moment in its history. We have gone from a manufacturing identity to a joblessness identity overnight - without a fight. The prognosis of such complacency shows us heading into a slow and steady decline. Don’t depend on the academics at City hall or the people who have anointed themselves the leaders of Janesville's economic development to pull us out of this growing recession. If you do, you will be disappointed.

This endorsement is the perspective and opinion of its' author and was not written in collaboration with any candidates. Also, the individuals endorsed in this posting do not necessarily imply an endorsement of the views and opinions expressed on RockNetroots Blog.

GOP Star Gives Wall Street Response On Budget

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What could be worse? When you consider our country is in the middle of an economic catastrophe, Paul Ryan's only solution is to cut taxes for the wealthy even further than ever before and baits the working poor and middle-class to gamble away their safety net under the guise of choice. Likewise, his solution to cutting health care costs amounts to nothing more than a consumer-based shopping clinic. In the end, Ryan's Wall Street driven manifesto masquerading as a budget plan would shrink the U.S. economy further than anticipated. Even Hoover would roll over in his grave.

Capital Times Excerpt:
But even some Republicans didn't vote for Ryan's plan when it was offered on the House floor. And Wisconsin Democrats criticized it as an "extreme" budget with "trillions in Bush-style tax cuts for the rich, and nothing for working families."

See the response here (complete with Green Bay Packers helmet in the background).

Farms, Downtown Not Only Losers In Janesville Growth Plan

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It wasn’t bad enough that folks who love Janesville knew the city’s growth plan was deeply flawed by laying waste to rich farmland and abandoning the downtown business district. Now comes word from a city official that the city’s newly minted Comprehensive Plan is a powerless guide for most of the city's future growth. At least 60% of the growth is expected to occur inside the Milton School District. This coming at a time when the Janesville School District is struggling with an enrollment decline of 259 students and projected estimates running as high as 500 in the next year or two.

City’s growth plan abandons own schools

JG Excerpt: (April 2, 2009)
Despite thousands of job losses at General Motors and other companies, Janesville will grow in the long term. And much, if not most, of the growth will be in the Milton School District.

Janesville school enrollment falls dramatically

JG Excerpt: (March 24, 2009)
Several board members have suggested the district might consider closing an elementary school if enrollments dip low enough.

The Janesville Comprehensive Growth Plan, rushed into "incontinence" eight months early by a belligerent city council, is a plan with guidelines so weak and cockeyed, it can’t even muster the strength to control it's own destiny, let alone protect it’s own school district.

If the plan has no control over growth - why have a plan? But I'm not going to try to fool myself into thinking that the Comprehensive Plan, a mere document, is solely responsible for itself. It was developed and approved by folks who knew exactly what they were doing. That's the part that really hurts.

Attack Ads Key To Endorsement For Newspaper

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Breaking only slightly from tradition of past endorsements for Wisconsin’s Supreme Court Justice, the Janesville Gazette editorial staff endorsed Shirley Abrahamson for the court without completely tearing her down. The Gazette if you might recall, would not endorse a candidate in the Ziegler/Clifford campaign, except to explain that Wisconsin would deteriorate into a near wasteland if you vote for Clifford. They did endorse Louis Butler last year, but not without bashing him. So what’s the difference this time around?

Apparently, the Gazette staff believes that third party attack ads are a legitimate source for information and play a huge role in their decision-making process on whether a candidate is worthy of an endorsement.

JG Editorial Endorsement:
But it’s telling that, unlike in the last two races, the Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce and other independent parties are sitting out this campaign. No third-party group has been running ads attacking Abrahamson or supporting Koschnick.

It also becomes telling for the Gazette, that because the WMC did not attack Abrahamson, they endorse her.

JG Editorial Endorsement:
Instead, the fact that third parties aren’t running ads speaks to the respect that Abrahamson has earned in more than 32 years on the court.

But is that a dignified way for the Gazette to justify how she earned their respect, because others seemingly show it? Judging by this editorial, they think so. Again, I find the lack of third party attack ads as a qualifying reason to endorse anybody a very poor if not parochial way to promote a candidate.

Shirley Abrahamson is one of the smartest, fairest and classiest people Wisconsin could possibly have for a Supreme Court Justice. I certainly could care less what the WMC would have said against her or have against any other candidates in the past. It’s the WMC and their board of directors that have poisoned the campaign process in Wisconsin government. At this point, being dissed by the WMC should be a badge of honor.

And finally, after serving 32 years as a premier justice, the Gazette editors urge you to give her a chance - again. Like Abrahamson has something yet to prove herself capable of the job. Urging another “chance” be given in an endorsement to someone of Abrahamson's caliber is like saying maybe Tiger Woods should be given another chance as a professional golf player or Norm Abrams from “This Old House” deserves another chance being a carpenter or, oh never mind…you get the idea. She's a winner.

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On Thursday, the Janesville Gazette endorsed Rose Ferdnandez for State School Superintendent.

Check out the Rose Fernandez money pyramid informational ad by OneWisconsin involving several lobbyist groups including state interloper and attack specialist ‘All Children Matter’ and local GOP operatives like Bill McCoshen and Brett Davis.

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Three candidates running for Janesville school board and city council were in attendance at the 2009 Rock County Republican Party Caucus, held on February 7th at the Beloit Inn.

Rock County GOP Excerpt:
……..several other notable guests graced the audience, including Senator Glen Grothman from the state’s 20th senate district, Beloit School Board members Pam Charles and John Acomb, Janesville School Board candidates Karl Dommershausen and Diedre Richard, and Janesville City Council candidate Daniel Straasburg.

Republicans Propose Budget On April Fools

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One factual statement made in the Republican budget proposed by Ryan is the acknowledgment that the deficit President Obama has inherited from Bush is $1.7 trillion. After that, it’s all crystal ball theory. Not to be overlooked, Ryan also proposes to give the wealthiest Americans a huge tax cut, even larger than the one he rubber stamped for Bush.

And what about the economy we're enjoying now built on the last wave of tax cuts to the rich? Ryan wants to extend the joy and make it permanent.

Wisconsin Democratic Party Response to Republican Budget.

One Wisconsin Response To Republican Budget.

Fox News Channel source Ryan's Op-Ed budget remarks for FoxFacts.

Blackhawk Tech Got The Janesville Veto

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A big hat-tip to Rep. Tammy Baldwin and Sen. Herb Kohl for standing up for the recently unemployed in and around Janesville by providing federal funding for job training and placement services at Blackhawk Technical College.

JS online Excerpt:
"There is an urgent need to help GM's former employees get back on their feet. Families are struggling and the whole community has been stung by its largest employer pulling up stakes. This desperately needed investment will partner Blackhawk Technical College and former Janesville GM employees to retrain these skilled workers and help put more people back to work."

The above quote was not from Paul Ryan or Sen. Russ Feingold. Instead, those were the words of Sen. Herb Kohl who stood up for the people of Janesville when he inserted that earmark. What an embarrassment for Feingold, who only recently was touting new expansive executive branch earmark powers with Rep. Paul Ryan under the moniker the "Janesville Veto."

Both Ryan and Feingold voted "Nay" on the Omnibus, but that's not the issue here. Most supporters understand the vote when they understand their congressman or senator. What's important is Kohl and Baldwin were the only ones willing to attach their name to the earmark. Kohl could have disagreed with the total Omnibus package and still vote against it, but he chose to vote for it.

Paul Ryan needn't explain his position on the Blackhawk Tech earmark - nobody cares. But Feingold? He has repeatedly said he and Ryan are friends. That's cool. No one has ever implied anything's wrong with that. Friendship is a wonderful thing. However, when politicians create the appearance that friendship (cronyism) carries more weight than the needs of the people, it becomes an embarrassment to the congressional district and state they represent.

Whether Feingold thinks the folks in Janesville deserve an explanation on whether the $950,000 earmark is wasteful spending or a bad investment - is up to him. Was the Senator willing to shut down the educational earmark during these hard economic times just to prove a point about earmark reform? Where does he stand? Is it with Ryan or with the people?