Open Book Co-op Out of Business

It’s never good to see a Wisconsin business close, but…

Open Book, the bookstore co-op that opened in Shorewood last fall, will close by April 30, the store’s directors said Friday.

The shop opened in November in the N. Oakland Ave. space previously occupied by a Harry W. Schwartz Bookstore. The organizers raised money from local residents and also secured a low-interest, $35,000 loan from the village.

Organizers cited “a confluence of events” for the closing, including the economy, a change in the public’s book-buying habits and strong competition from online booksellers.

“We had an expectation that we would have a much more robust holiday season than we did,” said Keith Schmitz, chairman of the Open Book co-op.

...seriously… what about the book industry has changed in six months?  The economy is about the same if not a bit better than it was when they opened.  Online booksellers, reading devices like a Kindle, and people’s book buying habits have been on this trend for quite some time.  The market hasn’t substantially changed.  It looks like the organizers here had some sort of fantasy that they could buck the trend and didn’t have enough capital to give themselves enough time to build a customer base. 

Clarke Improves House of Corrections

Nice to see some progress.

The once troubled House of Correction in Franklin has undergone a major transformation, with big improvements in security, staffing, maintenance and fiscal oversight, according to a report done by the National Institute of Corrections.

The turnaround over the past year under the management of Sheriff David A. Clarke Jr. has turned a “deeply troubled” lockup into a good jail, according to the report, written by California-based corrections consultant Jeffrey A Schwartz.

Still, the jail - renamed by Clarke the “Milwaukee Correctional Center-South Facility” - has a long way to go before it could be deemed excellent, the report says. Ongoing problems include sometimes being too thinly staffed, a core group of embittered workers and inmate food and recreation problems, the report says.

Absentee Ballots Available

FYI.

The city of West Bend has received its shipment of absentee ballots for the April 6 general election. City Clerk Amy Reuteman ordered 2,075 absentee ballots. The races on the ballots include District II appellate judge, four aldermanic seats, two seats for the West Bend School Board, and several county supervisor races.

  West Bend residents are able to vote now during regular City Hall office hours. Ballots are available on the second floor of City Hall in the clerk’s office.

Word is that there were people voting yesterday already. 

Obamacare to Drive Costs Up

You didn’t actually believe that it was going to save you money, did you?

Caterpillar Inc. said the health-care overhaul legislation being considered by the U.S. House of Representatives would increase the company’s health-care costs by more than $100 million in the first year alone.

In a letter Thursday to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and House Republican Leader John Boehner of Ohio, Caterpillar urged lawmakers to vote against the plan “because of the substantial cost burdens it would place on our shareholders, employees and retirees.”
Caterpillar, the world’s largest construction machinery manufacturer by sales, said it’s particularly opposed to provisions in the bill that would expand Medicare taxes and mandate insurance coverage. The legislation would require nearly all companies to provide health insurance for their employees or face large fines.

The Peoria-based company said these provisions would increase its insurance costs by at least 20 percent, or more than $100 million, just in the first year of the health-care overhaul program.

Jobs Bill Unlikely to Actually Spur Hiring

Well, duh.

Don’t look for a burst of hiring by small businesses in Wisconsin as a result of the federal jobs bill signed into law on Thursday.

A number of small-business owners in the state say they make hiring decisions based on the business they generate, not whether they can save nine months’ worth of Social Security payroll taxes per newly hired worker, which is the main feature of the law.

But in an economy that seems stumped about which way it is heading - signs of growth one day are replaced by signs of stagnation the next - every bit of aid that business can get helps, they say, and they plan to take advantage of the new law if they can.

New jobs, though, won’t come in large numbers until there is enough work to justify them.

Neumann Benefited From Stimulus

This is a BS story.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Mark Neumann is against the stimulus package and the bailout plan.

Except when his private companies are benefiting from them.

In one of his recent ads, the former congressman chides D.C. types for pushing through these proposals.

“You know some days it’s hard to tell Republican insiders from liberal Democrats,” Neumann says. “Bailouts, stimulus, huge spending.”

It’s standard election-year stuff from a veteran politician.

But this is what is out of the ordinary:

Neumann owns a stake in two companies that are benefiting big time from the very same stimulus plan that he criticizes.

We all have to play by the rules of the game even if we disagree with the rules.  For example, I oppose the Earned Income Tax Credit, but if I qualified for it, I would most certainly take it.  Why?  Because those are the rules. 

Neumann didn’t do anything wrong here and this story is a stretch.

Obama Hung in Effigy

This is disgraceful.

A teacher at a failing school where he and all his colleagues are being fired hung an effigy of President Barack Obama in his classroom, apparently in reaction to Obama’s support of extreme measures to ensure accountability in schools.

[...]

Gallo told the AP on Thursday evening that the foot-tall Obama doll that she saw Monday was hung from its feet from a white board and was holding a sign that said, “Fire Central Falls teachers.”

[...]

She said that the teacher had been issued a “strong letter of reprimand” and that she considered it an internal matter.

Obama had called the firings in Central Falls an example of holding failing schools accountable. The White House declined to comment Thursday. U.S. Secret Service spokesman Malcolm Wiley said the agency was aware of the doll but declined to comment further.

The president of the Central Falls Teachers Union, Jane Sessums, said in a written statement that the teacher, whose name wasn’t disclosed, hung the doll “as part of what he described as a lesson plan.”

I’m all for hanging politicians in effigy as a means of political protest.  It’s a long tradition in this and many other countries.  But for a teacher to use classroom time to vent his political frustrations is an utter disgrace.  A letter of reprimand is not good enough.  He should have been fired on the spot. 

On a side note, good for Obama for backing the superintendent’s actions. 

Doyle Colluded with Veterans Affairs Board

So much for “independent boards.”

At least a week before Veterans Affairs Secretary John Scocos was fired, the department’s board members had secretly come up with a strategy to dismiss and replace him, complete with a “PR plan” and “talking points” about the decision, e-mails show.

And Gov. Jim Doyle’s office reportedly had advised a board member to openly criticize Scocos to “ensure public exposure prior to the actual removal vote,” according to the e-mails, which were obtained through a state open records request.

The board voted on Nov. 24 to fire Scocos and replace him with Ken Black, a department administrator. The governor’s office and board members have repeatedly said the board acted independently of Doyle, but the e-mails raise questions about whether that’s the case - and if the state’s open meetings law was violated.

If this is obviously a case of the governor imposing his will on an “independent” board, what other boards has he manipulated (PSC?)?

RIP Fess Parker

Davyyyyyy… DAYYYYYYVY Crocket… King of the wild frontier!

Fess Parker, a baby-boomer idol in the 1950s who launched a craze for coonskin caps as television’s Davy Crockett, died Thursday of natural causes. He was 85.

Family spokeswoman Sao Anash said Parker, who was also TV’s Daniel Boone and later a major California winemaker and developer, died at his Santa Ynez Valley home. His death comes on the 84th birthday of his wife of 50 years, Marcella.

Forced to Buy

I just want to make sure y’all are aware of what’s in the legislation that the House is considering:

Beginning in 2014, most Americans would be required for the first time to purchase insurance, and face penalties if they refused.

You got it.  The government would FORCE you to buy health insurance - even if you don’t want it.  Not only is this unconstitutional, it is tyranny. 

Unemployment Rate in West Bend 13.9%

Yikes.

The jobless rate in West Bend started the year higher than the previous month, according to statistics released Wednesday by the state Department of Workforce Development.

  The city’s January unemployment rate was 13.9 percent, up 1.5 percent from December.

  In 2009, the city’s jobless rate topped out at 14.6 percent in June after starting the year at its lowest point, 10.5 percent in January.

  In Washington County, the January 2010 jobless rate was 9.6 percent, up 1 percent from December, but lower than the 2009 high mark — June’s 10.1 percent. Washington County has the 46th highest unemployment rate from among Wisconsin’s 72 counties. The jobless rate is highest in Rusk County, at 14.3 percent, and lowest in Dane County, at 6.3 percent.

Cleptocrats

What a bunch of thugs.  They’ll cut everyone else’s pension, but won’t cut their own.  Shameful.

A proposal to cut pensions of elected Milwaukee County officials to match the same trim approved for other county workers was defeated Thursday by the County Board on a 7-7 vote.

The measure came up only after a substitute calling for a study of the county joining the state pension system also failed on a tie vote.

Voting in favor of imposing a 20% cut on future pension credit on supervisors, County Executive Scott Walker and a handful of other elected county officials were: supervisors Mark Borkowski, Paul Cesarz, Christopher Larson, Joseph Rice, Joe Sanfelippo, Jim “Luigi” Schmitt and Peggy West.

Voting against the pension cut were supervisors Marina Dimitrijevic, Willie Johnson Jr., Theo Lipscomb, Michael Mayo Sr., Johnny Thomas, John Weishan Jr. and Lee Holloway.

For the record, none of these jokers deserve a pension funded by the taxpayers. 

Senator Coburn Throws Down

Wow. 

“I want to send a couple of messages to my colleagues in the House. If you voted “no” and you vote “yes” and you lose your election, and you think any nomination for a federal position isn’t going to be held up in the Senate, I’ve got news for you. It will be held.

Number two is if you get a deal, a parochial deal for you or your district, I’ve already instructed my staff and the staff of 7 other senators that we will look at every appropriations bill at every level at every incidence and we will outline it by district and we will associate that with the buying of your vote. So, if you think you can cut a deal now and it can not come out until after the election, I want to tell you that that ain’t gonna happen. And, be prepared to defend selling your vote in the House.”

Awesome.  Those House members should realize that Obama is not a king and doesn’t have the sole authority to deliver on all of the deals he is making. 

Hat tip Dad29.

Earthquake in Hawaii?

Who knew!?!?  Smartest.  President.  Ever.

West Bend Superintendent Lectures Reporter for Asking Questions

This really pisses me off.  Here is an email that the West Bend Superintendent sent to Judy Steffes in response to an inquiry.  Herdrich copied everyone and their dog, including the media, so I think she meant for it to be public.  It also went from her public account, which is subject to public record requests.  I won’t tell you where I got it. 

rom: Pat Herdrich

Subject: response to Judy Steffes for my W2
To: “Deb Roensch”

, “Pat Herdrich”

, “judith steffes”

Cc: “LeadershipTeam”

, “Board_Members”

, “Jason J Penterman”

, jbadzinski@conleynet.com, “Steve Ciccantelli”

, “Bob Bonenfant”

, “Shelly J Krueger”

, “Kim Will”

, “Wickland, Jeff”

, “Joe Donovan”

, “Mark Lustig”

, “Craig Farrell”

, “Jim Hodges”

Date: Wednesday, March 17, 2010, 11:12 AM

Judy,
My contracted salary is $147,347.
The administrative team as a whole recommended to the board that our salaries be frozen for the 2009-10 school year. And they were. Therefore this is the same contracted amount as the 2008-2009 school year.  The administrative team also recommended to the board the higher level of co-pay for insurance based on the budget recommendations we framed for the current year.  So we did.  The entire leadership is working with the same pay and higher health care costs as they did in the 2008-09 school year.
On my W2 you will find an amount of $152,206 and here is the difference
Less the tax sheltered annuity dollars I set aside annually
Less the flexible spending dollars (medical) I set aside annually
Less Health Insurance Dollars I pay pre tax
Less Vision Insurance I pay pre tax
Less Cost Health Insurance paid
Less the taxable fringe benefit of the car lease through the school system
Thus resulting in the total taxable compensation level of $152,206.
I would be happy to share with you also the amount of taxes I pay state and federal every year once my returns are completed by my tax adviser should you be interested in that information as well.
The lease of the car for my role has been assessed as less expensive in comparison to paying me mileage on an annual basis.
You asked on the phone for my W2 questioning a compensation rate you were stating was $168,000.  I stated to you that was inaccurate.  You asked me how you got that amount and I responsed [sic] I did not know. The W2 record has been printed and redacted for confidential information (social security numbers etc) that would not be accessible through open records.  You may pick that up with Deb Roensch, my assistant to verify the information.  She will charge you for the open record request.
You asked me if I had been contacted by recruiters for other positions.  I indicated that I had, but I have not submitted any resumes and I am not pursuing any employment opportunities other than my current job as the Superintendent of the West Bend Public Schools.
You asked if the evaluation process also results in conversations of pay raises.  I stated to you that I do not ask the board independently for compensation during my evaluation process that is conducted annually.  We have an administrative compensation process for the entire leadership team that examines the benchmark data for positions in the market as well as performance.  We freeze the salary of administrators who are not performing to their job expectations.  We will also shorten the number of years a contract will be issued in accordance with their performance.  We examine the benchmark data for the number of administrators we employ in comparison to the benchmark districts and the job scope and responsibilities to ensure the span of control is appropriate.
Our focus is to sustain a balanced budget and sound fiscal decision making for team compensation for retention and replacement.
You asked if you may quote me.
I indicated yes as long as the responses are accurate and used in context.  I am sharing this with the board, the leadership team and our Citizen’s Financial Advisory Committee, prior to your article, so they inturn [sic] may understand the context of our conversation. 
I would expect that your reporting follow the ethical standards for appropriate journalism which I have forwarded to you in the past which is provided by your national association.
If they are not Judy, I am indicating to you now that as a leadership team we will no longer respond to your requests other than the public information requests specifically required by law.
I work regularly with reporters from print media, TV, and the radio and have for decades.  I have always been committed, and remain committed, to strong working relationships.
I expect the same, however, when I work with media representatives and writers who publish their work within regular media venues.  Fair reporting on hard issues I will never debate.  Skewed reporting is a concern I have discussed with you prior.  I recognize you are a freelance writer and do not represent the West Bend Daily News.  I am copying their leadership, however, as they are the entity who inturn pays you for your work.  I want everyone to understand my position with respect to our ongoing working relationship.
My concerns continue with your focus of reporting Judy.  And here is why.  At no point in time has your work focused in the same way on the other leadership teams in the region, or school boards, that the newspaper covers.  At no point in time has your work focused on the other municipal leadership teams or boards in the same way as you have the public school system of West Bend.  Yet, the West Bend School are recognized for being more fiscally responsible and higher performing than our counterparts.  Our team and our results are nationally recognized as programmatically strong, financially sound and we are ranked in the top 7 percent of all school districts in the state for sound fiscal management.  At no point have you covered that information.  Rather your work has repeatedly targeted this team, this board, this district negatively.
This leads me to conclude that the specific elements framed within the ethical standards for journalism are compromised within your current focus.
I have stated to you directly that we will continue to work well with each media representative.  We remain committed to the community and families we serve.  We face hard issues on a daily basis head-on.  This leadership team is recognized collectively and individually.  We have strong work ethics and serve with a strong code for professional conduct.  We have actively worked to better the context of funding for this system with the state while sustaining strong programming for our students.
I would again ask that you too engage your work on the issues, the critical issues, facing public schools and this community.  Your work has not represented that to date.  We would be happy to work with you if that in turn is your focus.
Short of that, if your articles focus on responses inaccurately, continue to focus solely on this system, and in a skewed manner; we will respond solely to the open records required by law.
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions regarding my email or the information you requested.
Sincerely,
Pat Herdrich
Deb please copy to CFAC as well.
Superintendent of Schools
West Bend Joint School District #1
735 South Main Street
West Bend, WI 53095

With all due respect… WTF?  I have sent countless requests to Herdrich and district and NEVER received such a condescending response like this.  Is Herdrich berating Steffes because she’s a woman?  Because she reports regularly on the district?  I don’t know.  I think the entire response is condescending, bullying, and downright unprofessional.  For a public official to lecture a reporter on journalistic ethics and the focus of their reporting is utterly unethical and unprofessional. 

Is this how Herdrich treats all inquiries?  Not to me, but is this how she treats other folks who ask questions?  Didn’t the district just make a stink about bullying in the schools?  Did Herdrich not attend these sessions? 

This kind of behavior by the Superintendent is utterly unprofessional and condescending to a qualified reporter who was asking relevant questions about how the district spends our money.  I hope that the school board takes proper corrective action regarding their out of control superintendent. If this is how the Superintendent responds to a mild request, is Steffes on to something?