The commission also heard from the No. 2 official in the Department of City Development, Martha Brown, who said the city needs 1,000 more units of housing for the city's mentally ill. The Village would add 40 units.

Ald. Tony Zielinski maintained his contention that the site shouldn't be used for a large building and that the city and county -- which is giving the developers a deal on the land -- should take more time to find a better site. He said they could start by getting West Samaria -- a troubled residence building that has had some bad operators -- back into shape.

"It's very disingenuous to put the onus on the city when the county isn't doing anything," he told the commission. "Name one city in this country that has as a model taking green space and using it for this purpose."

But despite the same arguments it heard a month ago, the commission did an about-face, recommending to change the zoning to allow the project to go forward. It now goes before the Common Council's Zoning Committee.

Transit Talk: We like the strong talk coming from the Scott Walker camp. If he's not running for re-election to Milwaukee County exec against "ultra liberals" and special interests from Madison, he's faced with a "smear piece" from the Journal Sentinel on his transit policies.

"Don't be fooled by the smear piece printed in Saturday's Milwaukee Journal Sentinel," reads the latest missive from the "Walker Weekly" e-mail newsletter. It goes on to blur the exec's record on transit, even though he's overseen two fare increases and substantial cutbacks in bus routes, including the recent axing of the key route that went down South Delaware Street in Bay View, which may have not been popular with some residents, yet was a key cog for many seniors in the area to get around.

Fare hikes? Not according to Walker, even though single fares went up to $2, among the highest in the nation. "In 2008, regular riders of the bus continue to pay the same amount as they did in 2007 (weekly passes did not go up). And even though the transit system originally proposed eliminating a series of routes, Walker put them back in his 2008 budget," reads the report.

But don't worry, "Scott has a plan to identify a stable form of support for transit from state government that does not include a sales tax increase."

On the other hand, his opponent Lena Taylor hasn't exactly seized the e-mail high ground on the transit issue, although she has said in a forum that she favors an increase in the sales tax to aid transit.

"Just recently Lena rode bus route 15 from Downtown Milwaukee to Bay View to hear and see the effects of the transit situation firsthand," reads a recent e-mail. "Reality hit home when one resident from Oak Creek stated that if Mr. Walker cuts this bus route, he will be forced to quit his job. He is not alone. And of on top of service cuts, riders agreed that the fare increases have put a pinch on their already-thin wallets."

The missive goes on to ask for donations to the Taylor camp.

In related news, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett cast his lot with the Taylor campaign, citing her views on transit reform.

"The status quo on transit is clearly not working," said Barrett, noting seven consecutive years of route cuts and/or fare hikes, and dire predictions of 35 percent more cuts to the Milwaukee County Transit System by 2010 if there are no changes. "If we fail to modernize and upgrade our transportation system, our entire region will suffer."

One issue Barrett was silent on was the retirement of Brett Favre, which drew press releases from County Exec Scott Walker and County Board Chair Lee Holloway.

Tower Deal on the Table: Milwaukee aldermen get another kick at the cat known as the Kilbourn Tower dispute. The dispute stems from Kilbourn Tower developers refusing to pay the city $950,000 for a pocket park on the corner of Kilbourn and Prospect to allow the luxury condo tower to be built. Kilbourn folks contend the city violated the deal by allowing the University Club to build its even more luxurious tower.

Aldermen rejected the first offer that Kilbourn pays its $950,000, but the city drops its demands for some $316,000 in interest. Nonetheless, aldermen will consider settlement offer next week.