|
 |
12/9/2010
This is enough. Appleton has better issues it MUST address
Ok. I’ve had it. Enough already. I know Appleton’s community parades are important. I know the Flag Day parade is the biggest in the world or something like that. I know the Christmas parade is a long-time tradition that committees and families and organizations work very hard to pull off. Yup, I know all that stuff – and truly appreciate everyone involved.
And I know everyone wants a front seat at the parade. But for crying out loud, can’t somebody at the city just make a gosh darn decision about blankets on the sidewalk the day of the Christmas parade? Is there just one adult in the room?
(As the Post-Crescent summarized the alleged problem, “The city seeks to draft rules and regulations along the parade route after public works crews ran into some problems during the Nov. 23 Downtown Appleton Christmas Parade. People had dropped off chairs and blankets on College Avenue too early. Crews tried to clean to enforce a policy but were overwhelmed by the volume of items.”)
I’m all for participative government. Absolutely all for it. But sometime it can just go too far. Someone pleeeze declare that street cleaning will be done on streets along the route the day before parade day. Is that too logical? Or if that’s not the whole problem, do whatever it takes to solve whatever challenges exist. Just do it for heaven’s sake.
Shouldn’t we be celebrating that we live in a community in which residents think their chairs and blankets will still be there, having been left unattended 3 or 4 or 8 hours or more?
Yes.
And yes, decisions are hard. Yes, life as an elected representative is difficult. That’s what leadership is. Make the tough choices. Enough with hearings and committees and feel-good commissions. Make the darn decision for crying out loud – and take whatever heat might be generated.
The sin of it all? Many many more issues simply must be handled at City Hall. This last budget trimmed staff by the equivalent of 15 workers for gosh sakes. And the remaining workers (none that come free of charge) are supposed to take testimony about the time of day stuff can be left on the curb during the holiday season?
Meetings about parades pale in import when two major development projects (or more?) are stalled, one city department has literally been torn asunder (Park and Rec), strong divisions show up not infrequently among the staff, the office atmosphere has been described as “poisonous” by some, and on so many fronts, staff and/or the Common Council just can’t seem to get anything done.
I like parades as much as many of you do; I like to sit in the front row too! Yes, people have different opinions about saving places and leaving blankets and all of that – and to some folks, it’s pretty important stuff. But darn it, has anyone asked the Mayor and the Council what absolutely must be done to remove the barriers of indecisiveness and bureaucracy to get the city growing again? Has anyone asked the Mayor what he’s going to do with another very tough budget coming up all too soon? This is very serious stuff.
The parade will soon be passing us by – more of us better recognize that governing during these critical times is not about blankets at curbside.
Jo Egelhoff, FoxPolitics.net
COMMENTS
Ok, I agree with some decisions should be made and move on.
We have lost track that the city needs developments for us to grow and continue to provide all city services including Park and Rec. Leadership will step up.
Joe Martin (Thu Dec 09 07:37:35 2010)
Jo, I think it's those (hundreds) who leave their stuff there in the afternoon before. Like 36 hours before the parade. That is a little much. Parking cars along the ave have a tough time getting in and out of their cars and it could create a hazard for people tripping over and then a law suit against the city. I say, no one puts anything out on the street till 4:00 PM before the parade and someone must stay with it.
John Hyland (Thu Dec 09 08:31:44 2010)
Amen on this one, Jo! Make a decision and move on!
Anne Strauch (Thu Dec 09 09:34:34 2010)
What's pitiful is that this could have political blow-back if it isn't handled well, but I'm with J. Hyland.
No one puts anything on the sidewalks until 4:00 the day of the Christmas parade and 11:00 the day of the Flag Day Parade with an overseer. All items left will be removed and impounded. I should think a stakebed truck would handle the blankets. I doubt this would happen more than one year.
C. R. Stevenson (Thu Dec 09 10:38:54 2010)
Perhaps you are missing the larger public policy issue here. Appleton is caught in a tension between those who want to grow into a bigger, more cosmopolitan community with amenities like a performing arts center, convention center, multi-carrier airport, etc. and those who want to preserve a quaint, friendly, homogeneous, family-oriented community.
Things like regulating traditions such as sidewalk space at the annual Christmas (Flag Day) parade highlight this tension.
While growth can mean more/better jobs and cultural diversity it also entails an influx of "outsiders" who may have different values, priorities, interpersonal sensitivities...ways of doing things.
Not all change is viewed as beneficial or accepted as better. A bigger community can mean government regulation where civil courtesies previously prevailed.
So, again, perhaps the sideway malaise is a symptom of the larger tension that will define the future direction of Appleton.
Dennis (Thu Dec 09 13:55:54 2010)
You are absolutely right Jo.
David (Thu Dec 09 14:10:23 2010)
I think it is ironic that Libertarian leaning folks here are all for regulation on the parade route, can you all now see the need in other areas?
Dean Weichmann (Fri Dec 10 05:47:08 2010)
You don't get it, Dean. Libertarian leaning folks want to regulate what they want regulated and when they want it regulated. End of story.
Jack Lohman (Sat Dec 11 02:39:33 2010)
|
|
Blog Archives
| 2010 |
  December
|
November
|
October
|
September
|
August
|
July
|
June
|
May
|
April
|
March
|
February
|
January
• Solberg: Healing After an Abortion
• Basketball fans eyeing extension of Miller Park sales tax
• Nanny sex-ed bill goes to Doyle
• A first. Village limits pension contribution for employees
• Nanny State update: Toothbrushing mandated
• Obama pushes education inflation
• WI Investment Board votes to borrow to juice up returns
• So Republicans have brought nothing to the table?
• You have got to be kidding me
• Nygren: Governor Continues Terms of Failure in State of the State
• Sen. Fitzgerald: Governor down the wrong track at high speed
• Phosphorus is the new CO2. $Billions in Wisconsin
• More Obama giveaways
• A reprimand? Would you keep him on the job?
• Burri: Sarah Palin for Prez troubles me
• Quote of the Day – Obama after the pie-eating contest
• Populism, abused and trampled
• Fitzgerald: Senate Republicans Propose Real Job Creation Agenda
• Stripped down health insurance – it’s about time
• Ok GOP, scrap the Party of NO; time to lead
• No way Feingold is a Coakley. Is Wall a Brown?
• Burri: Conservatives off the chart for a RINO?
• Paltry quid pro quo?
• Doyle says ARRA has ‘created or retained’ 44,000 WI jobs
• Does most of the public fall for this stuff?
• When you get signatures, always get a couple extra
• Blame it on the outmoded computers
• Scott Brown victory does not scuttle health bill
• 8th Congressional Candidate Forum, Jan. 25
• Scott Walker Meet-and-greet, Monday, Jan. 18
• Aren’t consumers taxpayers too?
• MORE taxes on investment income - dreadful and wrong
• Join the blaze orange army and say ‘Enough is Enough’
• The future of government-run health care
• Tax on banks is a really bad idea
• Roth, Savard on the stump, grassroots style
• Savard speaking in Appleton, 8 PM, Wed., Jan. 13.
• Rahmlow: Savard, Bies frontrunners for State Senate
• Burri: Failing Political Correctness 101
• School contracts and Race to the Top
• Senator Feingold worrisome and big red flags
• Psephological?
• This is really important. Contact Rep. Kagen. Now. Please.
• This is exactly what we need from Governor Doyle
• This guy is my hero
• Why am I not surprised?
• Talk health reform with Feingold (Th), Petri (today)
• Give the Mayor power over MPS - if he can break contracts
• Burri: Yup, Dems really are going to bypass a conference
• The $2.7 billion Wisconsin deficit no one told you about
• Walker launches county accountability website
• Rahmlow: Why is Van Hollen dodging the Nebraska deal?
|
| 2009 |
December
|
November
|
October
• The Lawton-Bader files
• Yup, it’s the TAX LEVY, not the tax RATE
• Ellis: costly automobile insurance laws must be rolled back
• If not Barrett, who?
• The subsidy game
• Burri: Bailouts, Banks, Health Care, and the Mob
• Attend Appleton Schools budget meeting tonight
• A public option WON’T increase costs? That’s delusional!
• Appleton Schools budget meeting Monday
• Wisconsin should be screaming for accountability
• Burri: If anything, we need more obstructionism around here
• WI on the leading edge - in the wrong direction
• Rep. Montgomery: Utility Customers Join State’s Crime-Fighting Efforts
• Public Conservation and Recreation Lands Total 16.5% of State
• In the crow's nest of the Titanic, shouting 'Iceberg!'
• Is Rep. Nelson a political hack?
• Health care: The road ahead will be brutal
• Kagen's pandering again
• Birthers - good stuff for you
• How much do we bend over backward for seniors?
• The trouble with health care is paying for it
• Two-parent families: The Gold Standard
• Burri: Kids... the joys and blessings
• Very, very worried about health care
• Rep. Huebsch: Wisconsin is proof government health care isn’t the answer
• School district contracts push up tax levy
• What? Obama, the Peace Prize?
• TODAY - hearing on Campaign Finance Reform
• Appleton School District tax levy up way too much
• CBO report is out - and the bill isn't even written yet?
• So, how much do YOU budget for health care?
• Burri: Copenhagen trip was amateurish
• “Sotomayor, you have blood on your hands...”
• Cap and Trade. Always follow the money
• Rep. Kagen gets (almost) free health services
• I actually agree with Rep. Kagen
• Future Wisconsin Conference for Conservatives, October 10, Wauwatosa
|
September
|
August
|
July
|
June
|
May
|
April
|
March
|
February
|
January
|
| 2008 |
December
|
November
|
October
|
September
|
August
|
July
|
June
|
May
|
April
|
March
• Important votes Tuesday, including Appleton Common Council
• Democrats are becoming supply siders??
• Further debunking Hillary myths
• WEAC has created an unsustainable monopoly
• From Mark Gundrum: One of the greatest honors an American can experience
• 'Operation Chaos' working?
• Joe Martin the best candidate in Appleton's 8th
• State programs to cut? - Volume II
• Oh the naivete of youth
• Not just disingenuous - flat wrong
• Steve - you will be missed
• Make cuts only AFTER you're elected....
• Getting serious: What programs can we cut?
• Rep. Steve Kagen joining me on Jerry Bader Show today
• Rep. Van Roy: Dental Care Pilot Program
• Has Dave Obey turned the corner on earmarks?
• Speaker Huebsch: Governor turns down Federal Aid?
• Mark Rahmlow: "We're Broke."
• As taxpayers, how do we know if it's a Chevy or a Lexus?
• This is trash talk - about a veteran
• Frank Lasee: Take time to get the Compact right
• 'The Gableman Ad' - is it racist?
• Roth thankful, Kagen shaking money tree
• Gov. Doyle's office not enamored with Freedom of Information
• Governor Doyle will never do it
• Leadership on smoking ban? Not Hanna
• Rep. Van Roy speaks out about smear ads
• You're threatening me about potholes?
• Losing the Hastert seat is NOT a trend and NOT curtians for the GOP
• First suggestion for 'slashing' programs
• Big money-saver for municipalities
• More one time fixes. Nuts.
• Any chances???
• I'm doing the Jerry Bader Show, today, the 11th
• Representative Frank Lasee: Final Waltz of the Season
• Guest Blog: It's not the county's business to be in the nursing home business
• Yup, Hillary won Texas and Ohio
• Gableman/Butler race featured - and it isn't pretty
• Lies from Planned Parenthood and NARAL
• He who sacrifices liberty.....
• Duh.
• The Troha sentencing, Doyle and that $200K
• Guns, passion and "originality"
• How hard is it anyway, to shut down a government program?
• Voting is a PRIVILEGE. And so are property taxes....
• Guest Blog: Governor Doyle, cancel your Ireland trip
|
February
|
January
|
| 2007 |
December
|
November
|
October
|
September
|
August
|
July
|
June
|
May
|
April
|
March
|
February
|
January
• Lots of ideas. No money.
• The Cigarette Tax - "Poor Policy Instrument?"
• School budget Lite?
• Frankenstein - not in the library, but in the legislature
• A librarian, a legislator, a president
• $1.25/pack - NO, NO, NO, and NO
• Kagen and Reagan in the same breath?
• Menasha: behind the 8-ball, but not biting the dust
• Any way you slice it, Wisconsin government wants (further) in on health care
• The World is Flat...what about health care?
• The PAC - too precious to fail. Day 3
• News follow-ups: Appleton West, Kagen at the White House
• Fox Cities PAC - too precious to fail - Day 2
• Fox Cities PAC - too precious to fail
• New Transit Tax coming your way
• Rep. Petri has his finger in the dike - I guess
• AASD Retirement Costs Burdensome
• Health care, health care, health care, health care
• Water rate increase was no slam dunk
• Education for all is just a bad dream
• New Year's resolutions from a parade snob
|
| 2006 |
December
|
November
|
October
|
September
|
| 2000 |
May
|
|
