Transit union President James Macon said earlier Monday the drivers will go on strike beginning at 3 a.m. Wednesday.
He said 93% of the union’s membership was against a new four-year contract offer, adding that 92% voted to strike. This could lead to the first bus drivers’ strike in Milwaukee County since the late 1970s.
Public Services
Public Services, Veterans
Mistreated, otherwise ignored
“What, I wonder, would happen if our elected officials and their families, and our Federal employees and their families were placed under the care of the Veteran’s Administration? Would another year pass with the situation worsening rather than improving? Of course not because they would see to it that changes were made and made very…
Government Spending, Public Services, Television
WPR SOL
this is a backdoor budget cut where Walker didn’t have the guts to play it straight, and now the Joint Finance Committee has to come up with nearly $3.7 million tomorrow to cover this gap, or else Wisconsin’s public broadcasting and emergency communications are slated to take a legitimate hit. Via Another budget gap to…
Misconduct, Public Services, Sen. Baldwin, Veterans
At least no one’s starving
Janet Piraino — former state director for U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan, a Madison Democrat — will replace Doug Hill, who was demoted as Baldwin’s director of state operations in March. Baldwin, a Wisconsin Democrat, bumped Hill from that $131,000-a-year post after a report commission by Baldwin was critical of her staff’s handling of complaints about…
Government Spending, Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Public Services
Nice at the top
Milwaukee County Health and Human Services director gets 39% raise this year http://t.co/EWaql9G1VE — Don Behm (@conserve) March 15, 2015
Government Spending, Public Services
$15,000,000
Government Spending, Public Services, Television
WPT on the Block
Government Spending, Milwaukee, Public Services, Transportation
Milwaukee’s streetcar battle
Via Streetcar: A statement begets a response which begets a response @ JS All Politics Blog.
Ethics, Public Services
Did the Commissioner Ellen Nowak tip off Big Energy?
Opponents of the controversial increase in solar power fees that the Wisconsin Public Service Commission just awarded We Energies are complaining that a Walker PSC appointee inappropriately communicated with and advised the company…. Via Allegation of inappropriate behavior in latest We Energies rate increase @ The Political Environment.
Federal Government, Government Spending, Local Government, Public Services
Falsely blaming the Feds
The story, conveniently published almost two months after Democratic candidate for the 15th District State Senate, Austin Scieszinski, claimed the decision to approve the interstate expansion was done behind closed doors and resulted in a deal that washed up to $500 million away from local road repair and maintenance, confirms almost everything he said. That’s…
Public Services
Who’s fault is the condition of Wisconsin’s
Via Wisconsin’s Deficient Bridges: Walker, #WisGOP Shirk Responsibility. Squander State Surplus @ Rock Netroots.
Government Spending, Gubernatorial race 2014, Public Services, State Government
How They’d Pay You’ll Pay for Roads
Government Spending, Politics, Public Services, State Government, Taxes
Road expansion kills road repair
….Janesville taxpayers should think long and hard before committing themselves to additional new taxes. Keep in mind that regardless of who is governor next year, the state is considering a slew of new license and registration fee hikes, including raising the state gas tax and even mileage charges. These higher taxes and charges will be…
Local Government, Public Services, Weird Tales
Racine to become Waukesha’s toilet
The City of Waukesha will hold a meeting tonight in Racine about its plan to move millions of gallons of Waukesha waste water via the Root River daily through Racine despite State Rep. Cory Mason’s long-standing objection to his city becoming “Waukesha’s toilet.”… more» Via The Political Environment.
Accidents, Public Services
Sagging
Those who plan to use I-43 to head up north this weekend, and for the foreseeable future, should plan to take alternate highway routes near Green Bay while the sagging Leo Frigo Memorial Bridge remains closed. Via With sagging I-43 bridge closed in Green Bay, drivers face detours @ JS Online.
Campaign Ads, Free Speech, Legislature, Public Services, State Government, Television, Wisconsin
WisconsinEye tries to keep video of public proceedings out of political ad
Planned Parenthood uses Sen. Mike Ellis’s public remarks in a political ad. “Do we have a democracy here in the state of Wisconsin or do we have something else we’re trying to hide from voters?” [Planned Parenthood lobbyist Nicole] Safar said. Via WisconsinEye tells Planned Parenthood to remove Ellis ad @ JS All Politics Blog.
Employment, Government Spending, Public Services, Schools
The Left doesn’t help when it advocates workers’ cuts
“….do not expect Mary Burke to be the leader on standing up to all of this abuse, UNLESS, she wants to be run for Governor. If so then the only story I can find on her doing a google search should NOT be that she wants to cut teacher pay again! She needs to take…
Madison, Poverty, Public Services
It’s simply wrong to think that the Madison Library is an acceptable solution for homelessness
Officials also hope the renovated Central Library, which will reopen in September, can take some of the pressure off the homeless services. “We have to acknowledge that will be reopening and back in the mix,” says Green. “The library has been wonderful to acknowledge they’re a service for everybody.” Green, is director of Dane County…
Environment, Public Services
If you’re looking for water in the Town of Jackson…
then you may be waiting until next year. Via About 100 Town of Jackson families waiting until 2014 for new water supply @ JS Nature’s State Blog
County, Health, Milwaukee, Public Services
They’re shifting patients from the Milwaukee County Mental Health Complex to a community setting
Whether there’s an adequate safety next for those patients in a community setting awaits an answer. Via Abele’s Mental Health Safety Net Has Torn @ Cognitive Dissidence.
Gov. Walker, Government Spending, Public Services, State Government
Gov. Walker contends that conservatives are unhappy with access to state-owned land
Walker’s mistaken about conservatives’ concerns – it’s how much public land the state owns, not access to it, that’s the (spending) problem. Via Walker’s Spending Desire @ Dad29.
Local Government, Public Services
The Town of Waukesha joins the City of Waukesha’s water service area
The Town of Waukesha joins the City of Waukesha’s water service area. [Responsible, perhaps, but still a close run thing at a 3-2 vote – ed.] Via Town of Waukesha makes the responsible choice @ Wigderson Library & Pub.
Federal Government, Government Spending, Politics, Pres. Obama, Public Services
Is the Air Traffic Controllers’ Furlough just an Obama Admin scam?
Milwaukee, Public Services
Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District dumping partially treated sewage into local waterways
Local Government, Public Services, Weird Tales
Oshkosh can’t figure out what to do with unclaimed human bodies
Public Services
2,800 We Energies customers without power
Public Services, Weather
We Energies ‘reports’ power failures across SE WI
Nice the cosseted public utility is able to report what its customers are already experiencing; nicer if they’d fix the problems sooner. Via 620 WTMJ.
Government Spending, Local Government, Madison, Public Services
Bureaucrats plot more public bus transit for Madison
Accidents, Milwaukee, Public Services
Milwaukee Fire Dept pulls motorist from icy Lake Michigan
Public Services, Weather
200 We Energies Customers Lose Power
Probably a surprise that more We Energies customers aren’t without service. Via Caledonia Patch.
Government Spending, Milwaukee, Public Services
The AWOL Milwaukee Sheriff Clarke
Clarke is right he wasn’t caught in a hot tub in Las Vegas. He’s even right that young black men should look up to other black men who are continuing their educations. But disappearing from his responsibilities and then arrogantly trying to put his disappearance beyond discussion is nothing to be admired or respected. It…