Walker Opines

Here’s some thoughts on the news of the day by Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker.

Two interesting stories today:

First, the annual “The Sky is Falling” story on the parks.  Since there was not much to get upset about in the budget request for the parks department, they played up the size of the reduction.  Basically, our parks department is asking to eliminate the entry level, year-round, full-time park worker and replace them with seasonal hires that have new equipment to make them more efficient during the spring and summer. 

The 6 wading pools that are being closed are replaced by splash pads (which are much more popular with kids - just ask the folks around Gordon Park).  There are NO deep well pools being closed in their budget request. 

Second, the Mayor is talking about using all of the $91.5 million on a streetcar system.  The cruel irony here is that the people who stand to lose the most in that plan are transit dependent people in the City of Milwaukee. 

Certainly the bus system has serious challenges today, but taking away a source of help to upgrade and improve the bus system and using it for a streetcar system seems to be a major flaw in priorities.  The budget request from the transit system calls for route reductions and fare increases.  Instead of helping the bus system, the City of Milwaukee seems to want to stick a dagger in it. 

My guess is that there are plenty of people in the City of Milwaukee who don’t want that money spent on a streetcar system either.

Scott