Politics - June 19, 2009
Task force seeks to update liquor license process
A special task force, chaired by former state Supreme Court Justice Louis Butler, would like to see the Common Council modernize the mechanism for hearing license requests in order to keep politicians from tampering with the process and alleviate the appearance of "aldermanic privilege."
Tags: common council, liquor license, over-concentration, tony zielinski, scott walker, barry mandel, noyes pool, pulaski pool

Milwaukee Buzz - April 3, 2009
A designer's Zweig thoughts and call to action
I first found out about Zweig's innovative art project coming to Milwaukee about three years ago when the project was still just an idea. I was curious. Today, it's grown into a minor "controversy." Here are my thoughts and what you can do to move the project forward.
Tags: Public Art, Common Council, Janet Zweig, bronze fonz, public funding, blue shirt, MARN, Brenner, Wille Wade, Joe Dudzik

Bars & Clubs - Feb. 25, 2009
City takes measures to alleviate "problem bars"
From the larger venues on Water Street to the tiny spots on residential corners, bars and taverns are an integral -- some might even go as far as to say indispensable -- part of Milwaukee's cultural identity. But, the picture is not always positive. At different times and in different neighborhoods, establishments can become what the city refers to as "problem taverns." The city has a brochure telling residents how to deal with them.
Tags: bar month, problem bars, water street, common council, liquor licenses, shank hall, peter jest

Politics - Feb. 20, 2009
Who should run MPS? The discussions continue...
Conversations about a potential takeover of the Milwaukee Public Schools continue, with politicians considering ideas ranging from letting the mayor run it to creating a pseudo MPS czar. Last week, the Public Policy Forum released a report that looked at other cities with mayoral control over the school system. Mayor Tom Barrett hasn't entirely dismissed the idea, which was entertained by former Mayor John Norquist some time ago. Another pitch would have the mayor appoint a "chancellor," and that chancellor would appoint the school board.
Tags: tom barrett, common council, willie hines, mps, bob donovan, jim doyle, bradley tech, jane pettit, bob bauman, dan sykes

Bars & Clubs - Feb. 17, 2009
Aldermen hold key to smooth liquor licensing
If you have aspirations of someday opening a bar in Milwaukee, you should know two things: Getting a liquor license depends largely on where you plan on putting your pub; and it goes a long way to be an upstanding citizen who's willing to work with your alderman.
Tags: liquor license, common council, zielinski, tonic tavern, highbury pub

Politics - Oct. 21, 2008
Active Citizenry
I have been paying close attention to Milwaukee's Common Council and the legislation at stake each month through committee meetings and the regular Council sessions. Recently, a local group called Common Ground has been attending Common Council meetings. They are, (according to an event post abou...
Tags: Common Ground, politics, Common Council, Milwaukee, community issues, city, legislation