Politics - Oct. 30, 2009
Debate rages over a hot corner in Oak Creek
Richard Rothen, who operates Cupid's Toys at 27th and Rawson, has an inkling that local officials don't want his business to thrive. Rothen has had license issues and believes that officials covet his location on the northeast corner of a busy intersection, for development. When a recent road repair was underway, Rothen found his store had been removed from a planning map.
Tags: cupid's toys, oak creek, 27th Street, Rawson Ave., terry witkowski, wisconsin democracy campaign, citizens for responsible government, nik kovac

Politics - Oct. 2, 2009
Bar opponents play the "not in my backyard" card
Riverwest residents turned out en masse this week to oppose the re-opening of Smokey's, 2425 N. Dousman St. Neighbors pointed out that there are four bars in a two-block stretch of Dousman -- which is similar to what opponents in Bay View said about a proposed sports bar -- but they were told, in essence, "if you don't like it, you shouldn't have moved into the area."
Tags: riverwest, nathan potter, smokey's, the gig, steven vieth, bay view, tony zielinski, nik kovac, russ feingold, one wisconsin now

Arts & Entertainment - April 14, 2009
Whew, the council flip-flops and approves Zweig art
It was great to see the Common Council do a flip-flop this morning on Janet Zweig's flip-photo project for Wisconsin Avenue, getting what would have been a major Milwaukee flop back on the rails. At a morning committee hearing, aldermen were wowed by the turnout and by the messages received in advance of it from constituents.
Tags: janet zweig, michael murphy, nik kovac, robert bauman, mike brenner, james witkowiak, joe dudzik

Politics - July 22, 2008
Milwaukee Talks: Ald. Tony Zielinski
Recently, OnMilwaukee.com met Ald. Tony Zielinski for coffee and to chat with him about the future of Bay View, his environmentally friendly actions and his experiences working with Michael McGee, Jr.
Tags: Tony Zielinski, alderman, common council, Nik Kovac, Michael McGee, Jr., Bay View, Cafe Lulu, Lulu, Schwartz Bookshop, Boulevard Theater, Groppi's Market, The Outpost, fair trade, solar power

Politics - March 26, 2008
Observations from the political winds
It's been a somewhat lackluster spring election in the City of Milwaukee -- except maybe for an open aldermanic seat on the East Side and the Ald. Michael McGee vote -- as incumbents are facing relatively weak opponents who got late starts. But there have been some interesting developments.
Tags: Election, vote, Alderman, Angel Sanchez, Witkowiak, Michael McGee, Milele Coggs, Willie Wade, Ralph Ovadahl, Nik Kovac, Pat Flaherty, Lena Taylor, Franky's Newport, Rebecca Dallet, Leon Young, Bradley DeBraska, Brenda K. Pullen-O'Donnell, Jim Bohl, Sharon