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The TV sets on county buses are silent.
The annoying sets, which blared advertising and old news, went off permanently when TV Transit, the company that gave the county the TVs for free in exchange for a piece of the ad revenue, folded.
Buses have featured the TVs since 2003, to the displeasure of many transit riders. The bus company says the TVs helped meet requirements of the Americans With Disabilities Act because they also announced upcoming bus stops. They also liked the cash they brought in.
The county is now seeking input on what to do next. Send them your opinions here.
UWM on the move: UW-Milwaukee seems to be resisting overtures from city officials, who want the university to put its new engineering school Downtown.
Instead, the university has negotiated a sale price for land at the County Grounds in Wauwatosa. Dazed by the dangling of millions from philanthropist Michael Cudahy, who promised to help pay for the place, UWM has eyed Tosa as a possible location from the start, despite efforts by the Milwaukee mayor's office and other city officials to try to sway them Downtown.
The university has agreed to pay the county $11.8 million for 89 acres on the County Grounds to build its $150 million engineering school. UWM officials say the proximity of the Milwaukee Regional Medical Center would make a good fit for the engineering school. Proponents of other sites say UWM isn't exactly a hotbed of biomedical research to begin with and splitting the university that far from the main campus would create transportation, housing and other issues that would make Downtown a more attractive and reasonable site.
UWM is also closer to taking over the soon-to-be vacant Columbia Hospital, which is located right next door to the East Side campus. Columbia St. Mary's has negotiated a sale to Weas Development, which has built dorms for the university in the past. The university wanted $112 million to pay for the hospital. It has suggested that the hospital could become dorms, which has neighbors in an uproar.
In an effort to deal with rowdy students, the UW System Board of Regents held a public hearing this week on a proposed student conduct code that would make students responsible for their behavior off-campus as well as on campus. It would subject students to discipline if they get caught acting up off campus.
The conservatives are coming: The Midwest Airlines Center will roll out the red carpet for the right wing this weekend as Americans for Prosperity brings its road show to town. Saying that special interests are drowning out average Americans (nothing new there) the brochure says, "You can send the politicians, special interests and the mainstream media a powerful message, while meeting hundreds of grassroots leaders like yourself."
Speakers include the infamous "Joe the Plumber," County Executive Scott Walker, Sheriff David Clarke, former Brewers outfielder Larry Hisle, various conservative candidates for public office and a cadre of radio squawkers. Grassroots training is also promised. All for only $36.
No standing around: Milwaukee's Common Council expanded the loitering ordinance to include convenience stores and gas stations. The measure already applies to bars, restaurants and public buildings, but no formal rules on loitering applied to the stores, even though the council regularly considers loitering issues when licenses come up for 24-hour gas stations and convenience stores.
Under the rule, if a no loitering sign is posted, police can cite malingerers for hanging out. If there is no sign, a store operator has to tell those cooling their heels in front of the store to move on before police can be called and tickets are written. The Police Department favored the new rule.
Dam decision delayed: The Milwaukee County Board will put off making a decision on what to do with the Estabrook Park dam on the Milwaukee River and will instead hold a public hearing on the issue March 24. The meeting is set to run from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Transit Center's Harbor Lights Room, 909 E. Michigan St.
Feeding without smoke: The tavern environment will change dramatically under the stimulated vision of the State Senate. Given its penchant to legislate social mores, we could find breast-feeding mothers in a smoke-free environment coming to a bar near you within the next year or so. The Senate passed a bill allowing breast-feeding in public places and Senate president Fred Risser has promised to fast-track a smoking ban in taverns and restaurants.
When it comes to breast-feeding, perhaps the Legislature should crack down on breast-feeding drivers like in Ohio. A woman in Ohio was cited for endangering a child after she reportedly was driving, breast feeding and talking on the phone all at the same time.
An avid outdoors person he regularly takes extended paddling trips in the wilderness, preferring the hinterlands of northern Canada and Alaska. After a bet with a bunch of sailors, he paddled across Lake Michigan in a canoe.
He lives in Bay View.
