“We'll see whether being Lee Holloway's water boy pays off for Ryan,” Sykes wrote.

I recall Ryan McCue was one of a group of 10 supervisors who went after Chairman Lee Holloway during the witch hunt last year. Now that McCue is taking a stand against the county budget proposal submitted by the neo-con Scott Walker, McCue is a bad guy?

The conservative Sykes adds, “McCue ran as a reformer, but has become a poster child for politicians who go native.”  Hmmm … McCue went “native” to fight against his own kind? After reading Sykes’ description of a white politician taking a stand against Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker as going “native” I thought to myself, “what an odd word."  At first, I thought Sykes was using the term “native” in the manner the characters in the movie, Gangs of New York (2002) used the term.  The movie is based on Herbert Asbury’s nonfiction book, The Gangs of New York — originally published in the late 1920s.  The book highlights 19th-century New York awash with crime, corruption, and poverty.  The movie takes place in 1846 as waves of Irish immigrants poured into a New York neighborhood called the Five Points.  Of course, opposition to these new immigrants caused citizens of British and Dutch heritage and who were born in the United States to begin openly displaying resentment toward the new arrivals.  William "Bill the Butcher" Cutting (Daniel Day-Lewis), called so for his deadly mastery with a knife, organized the "Natives" (those of British and Dutch heritage born in the United States) into a gang to take on the Irish immigrants; the immigrants organized a gang of their own, "The Dead Rabbits."

Then I spoke to a number of county board members, I got a sense from them that this term was sinister, and another example of subliminal racism.

But to be sure, I asked Sykes to explain his use of this word. To his credit, he responded. First he said that that I was misinformed to believe that his use of the word “native” was racist.

“… It has nothing to do with race. It means that a politician has forgotten where he came from and begins to think of himself as one of the "insiders…" said Sykes.

Then why not use the word “insider?”

Sykes goes on to say that he uses the word “frequently to describe politicians who side with special interests or government bureacracies."

I guess Charlie is trying to coin a word here.

Frankly, this term to describe an embedded politician makes no sense at all.  What makes sense is that the word “native” is being used by Sykes to point out to his listening audience those white politicians who are siding with the people of color on the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors, while not agreeing with Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker’s recent budget veto.  Charlie ended his response to my questions with, “That is what the phrase means. But, feel free to detect racism, as you usually do.”

Well, thank you Charlie, I think I will point out the racist notions this word conjures up.  I stated to Sykes that many of his listeners deny racist thoughts came to them when he used the word “native.”  Indeed, I went on to say, many whites, that is, except those in prison and members of white supremecist groups outside of prison who openly call for racial war, seldom admit in public that they are racist.

Sykes continued by stating, “I use the term frequently…” That McCue was elected into office because of the pension scandal.  I asked, “frequently, meaning recently?  Did you use this term during the pension scandal?  Please point me to the articles/references you made about 'going native' or 'native' during that period.  If I am misinformed, then I ask that you correct my inferences.”

I’m still waiting for a response. I won’t hold my breath.

###

Guest Contributing Writer Robert Miranda, the author of this piece, is an award winning columnist. 

Yep! The Sheriff was right at home serving up the drinks to the folks of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Grinning ear to ear while blowing off the suds from the tops of those cold mugs of Millers, gave Sheriff Clarke some good quality time with the voters. I wonder if the Sheriff after handing off one of the cold beers reminded each voter that drinking and driving don’t mix.

Well, it seems that serving beer and wearing a gun are two ingredients that should not mix either.

There the Sheriff was, having a grand ol’ time passing out the beers while wearing his pistol and looking like as if he were in some southwestern saloon filled with hard-drinking Mexican banditos and gringo bad men.

He was not at some saloon, but at Miller Park.  He was at a ballgame handing out alcohol and in his own subtle way reminding people that he was the Sheriff, the gun prominently displayed in public helped to remind the drinking voters of that fact.

Don Holt, a concerned voter also took note of the fact that our Sheriff was wearing his gun while serving alcohol to the electorate at Miller Park. So much it bothered Mr. Holt that he went on to complain to Mr. Kevin Kennedy, Executive Director Wisconsin State Elections Board.

Mr. Holt wrote to Mr. Kennedy that “The current sheriff (Clarke) was in uniform and wearing his sidearm at the time. Clarke’s action is a clear and serious violation of the Milwaukee County Code of Ethics. “9.05. Code of ethics. (1) The county board hereby reaffirms that a county elected official, appointed official or employe [sic] holds his/her position as a public trust, and any effort to realize personal gain through official conduct is a violation of that trust.”

Holt is arguing that Sheriff Clarke betrayed his position as a leading law enforcement official by promoting alcohol while Clarke was in uniform.

I think Holt has a point here.

If Sheriff Clarke is at one end of the public service message wearing his uniform telling people not to drive when they drink, how could he expect that message to be taken seriously if he’s at public events wearing his uniform serving beers?  There is tomfoolery here!

Is alcohol the leading cause of death in automobile accidents?  If it is, should the Sheriff of Milwaukee County be serving beers while in uniform at a public forum like a baseball game?

In the letter to the Wisconsin Election Board Holt states, “The current sheriff’s (Clarke’s) action of serving alcoholic beverages while in uniform, wearing his sidearm and clearly recognizable as the sheriff is in direct conflict with his responsibility to enforce all laws and ordinances relating to the improper or illegal use of alcohol. The citizens of Milwaukee County could be subject to severe liabilities should one of those to whom the sheriff served alcohol to, later become involved in vehicle crash involving the intoxicated use of a motor vehicle or illegal use of a firearm.” Good point! Let’s suppose that one of those people the Sheriff served a beer had gotten into an accident.  Would the people of Milwaukee County be held accountable to the family of the person or persons hurt?  
 
Fortunately, the tax payers will not have to deal with that issue this time around. It would nevertheless be wise for Sheriff Clarke to think about what he’s doing in the public. Serving beer while in uniform is counter-productive to the idea of law enforcement’s message that drinking and driving don’t mix.

Wisconsin’s ultra-conservative unfavorite son is about to cost America billions of dollars in expenditures that will be needed by law enforcement if his failed ideas are passed. Unable to see the costs to human life and the billions of public dollars about to be wasted, Americans are being duped into compliance with sensational snake-oil statements made by the Congressman and the far right-wing political networks that support him.

This week the League of United Latin American Citizens, (LULAC) will be holding its 77th annual convention in Milwaukee. With approximately 115,000 members throughout the United States and Puerto Rico, LULAC is the largest and oldest Hispanic Organization in the United States.

The organization is already making noise regarding the dangerous statements and laws being promoted by Congressman Sensenbrenner. In a statement to the general public, LULAC’s national board chairman, Hector Flores stated, “If Congressman Sensenbrenner were serious about addressing the issue of comprehensive immigration reform, he would draft policy that attempts to address the root of the problem, which is a broken immigration system that is so outdated and unworkable, it encourages illegal immigration. Instead the congressman insists on simply focusing on an enforcement-only style approach that is costly, highly ineffectual, and deadly.  Holding town halls featuring himself as the sole speaker do not allow the community to express their concerns or to ask questions.  It is a travesty.”

These tough words are aimed at H.R. 4437, commonly referred to as the Sensenbrenner bill. LULAC states that the bill “does nothing but criminalize the undocumented and those who provide them with assistance…”

Indeed, H.R. 4437 is chilling example of a growing world-wide trend towards neo-fascism elevating its goose-stepping political crusade back onto the world stage without fear of criticism.

H.R. 4437, the Sensenbrenner bill, comes from a United States Congressman who almost sounds like the paranoid Wisconsin Senator who took the nation by storm with his fanatical right-wing fascists accusations of communism taking over the United States government in the 1950s—Joseph McCarthy.

The Sensenbrenner bill is elementary politics derived from fears and misconceptions promoted by simplistic political statements made by goofy right-wing radio talk-show hosts and political opportunists. These right-wing simpletons have seized an opportunity to attack weak and defenseless people as a means to advance neo-conservative political campaigns designed to advance their political ambitions at the expense of human life.

LULAC points out that “since 1993, when the Clinton administration began to crack down on border crossings in San Diego and El Paso, more than 3,500 people have died trying to cross into the United States through the desert. Yet, according to Border Patrol statistics, although the death toll has steadily grown annually, the number of those apprehended while crossing the border has not changed significantly.”

With laws designed to promote punitive actions continue to be passed in congress, LULAC states that the coyotes or smugglers who transport undocumented men, women and children have begun sneaking into United States through increasingly dangerous areas where temperatures are high, water is scarce and death is abundant.

This is the inhumane side of the immigration debate the United States is ignoring, but yet the rest of the world is aware of.

Compassionate conservatism, my foot! As Sensenbrenner continues to promote his half-witted measures for border security, he continues McCarthy’s legacy of fear politics.

Robert Miranda is a national award winning columnist, Latino community activist and Publisher of the Milwaukee Spanish Journal. Email at: rmiranda@wi.rr.com  

WTMJ talk radio show host Charlie Sykes and company are as silly trying to categorize McGee’s remark as equal to those made by WISN talk show host Mark Belling. This is akin to President Bush‘s ludicrous attempt to tell Latinos in the United States that singing the national anthem in Spanish is out-of-line. Latinos will sing the anthem as we want, and we will interpret McGee’s comments as WE want too. Sykes and the other conservatives who support oppressive laws and Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner like reactions against the immigrant population of our community will not tell us how to interrupt such issues.

Charlie Sykes idea of a double standard is assumed to be valid only because white bigots have traditionally set the standards. As for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel editorial, I have this to say. If this was such a serious matter for the editorial board to address, why then use the term “wetback” and then turn around and say that McGee used the “n-word.” Are these words not equally offensive? The editorial was in itself hypocritical.

Latinos will not be fooled into unnecessary confrontation with Black people because we have much in common with African-Americans. Moreover, an observant Latino leadership stands ready to correct misguided efforts by those among us who dare to create dissension and mistrust about our mutual efforts to fight racism in this city. It is true that in the Black community there are those in leadership ready and willing to do the same as we continue to build a solid force of solidarity based on human needs and mutual respect.

Sykes and his horde of anti-immigrant operatives trying to equate McGee’s comments to those made by Belling are elementary and lack substance. Sykes, Jessica Bucher and Belling are white conservatives who represent a political perspective of the right-wing movement in this country that has taken on the mantra of the conservative ultra-right-winger Lou Dobbs. These people also share the political belief, values and ideals of Wisconsin Congressman James Sensenbrenner.

Belling’s comments, unlike McGee’s, against the Mexican community in 2004 were intended to cast a political shadow of racism against people of Mexican decent. Mexicans planning to vote during the elections of that year were negatively affected by Belling’s comments. Are Mexicans being affected at Taco Bell by McGee’s joke?

Belling’s objective was to stir Anglo poll workers into challenging the Mexican voter into proving his or her citizenship status before voting. Belling’s political attack augmented by his use of the term “wetback” was intended to further dehumanize Mexicans as unpatriotic in the eyes of conservatives who follow his pandering rhetoric.

Are the right-wingers that sensitive that they are unable to decipher from what is a stupid joke from that which is a serious political attack against our community?

That said, Michael McGee Sr’s words are seen as being distasteful by many, I have to agree. Using the n-word has never been a word I allow anyone, including Blacks, to use around me. When I hear that word, I, as I hope many of you do as well, ask that the word not be used in my presence. I can remember once when the mere mention of this word called for an immediate beat down — how times have changed. It must be noted, however, McGee did not use the w-word when he made his joke about Mexicans unlike Belling who blurted the w-word in his political rant and rave. Belling was not joking when he said these words. He was dead serious when he lied about illegal Mexicans voting in our elections and he was indiscreet when he used the w-word.

Still, ethnic jokes are told on Comedy Central all the time and on the Laser 103 rock and roll show with Bob and Brian. These two morning jocks every now and then mimic Asian people’s speech with a heavy accent over the airwaves. Are these two Laser 103 morning jocks doing this offend the Asian community? Charlie Sykes and the conservative army that supports him have not condemned this local talent for doing these antics over our public airwaves. Sykes’ conservative army are too busy monitoring McGee’s radio show, waiting to come up with some simple statement to hold up as proof of a nefarious double standard on speech against conservatives.

Indeed, the antics that Laser’s Bob and Brian do in the morning and what the folks at Comedy Central broadcast on national television are not funny either.

What Charlie Sykes and everyone else who screamed double standard are only concerned about is politicizing the McGee issue and to create misdirection between hate speech and political pandering.

Their aim is to confuse the public between what is a political attack and what is just a tawdry joke.

In reality, the conservatives are not interested in eradicating politically motivated hate speech. If conservatives were truly concerned about eradicating hate speech from public airwaves, they would not have argued the case for free speech when Belling slurred the Latino community.

Double standard my foot! It’s only a double standard issue when a non-conservative is caught doing something stupid, but becomes a matter of free speech when a conservative like Belling is caught in a political attack campaign.

Hmmm….This McGee matter smacks of goofy political race baiting by conservative right-wingers to me.

Charlie Sykes, Jessica Bucher and the like trying to equate this incident to the Belling slur are wrong.

Belling’s slur was politically motivated and meant to stir hate against people of my “ethnicity.” McGee on the other hand followed a long line of jokers who have over the years used race for their distasteful jokes, and that is all it was, distasteful, nothing more.

Latinos will not be fooled into confrontation with Black leaders simply because Charlie Sykes, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and the conservatives of the Republican Party say this is hate speech. There are Latino leaders who know differently and will stand to inform our people that they should not be allowed to be played as pawns by the race baiters of the Anglo conservative community.

Without shame and brazen inhumanity, conservative extremists continue to lie and spread vicious rhetoric about the undocumented.

Millions of lives weigh in the balance of this political campaign.

At issue is the need to secure our borders from terrorist attacks. The issue manifested itself into a debate about the millions of illegal immigrants now living in the United States. Swiftly did the conservatives of the right-wing move the American public’s attention away from President George Bush and his illegal spying of American citizens.

Because of Wisconsin Republican Congressman James Sensenbrenner, the United States is embroiled once again in a debate that pits people against people. This waste of human energy takes away from efforts to organize people into challenging the corruption and deceit of the Bush administration.

The heroic stand made by United States Senator Russ Feingold, seeking to censure and hold the most powerful man in the free world accountable for his spying actions, will forever go in the annuals of history as a lost opportunity to clean government of wild-eyed elected oil baron slaves allowing themselves to be subjugated by the oil cartel seeking to influence our government into doing war and other madness around the world.

The millions of Americans and immigrants now marching to protest the crazy actions of a few Republican Senators and Congressmen spurred on by zany and whacky right-wing talking heads, such as Rush Limbaugh, Pat Robertson and Lou Dobbs, provide the rest of us a sobering look at the madcap world of GOP neo-conservatives acting to appease the extremist conservative part of the population that view these guys as messiahs and visionaries.

Lou Dobbs points to the immigrants as the cause of our national strife, Rush Limbaugh blames the Liberals for America’s global decline in prestige, and Pat Robertson continues to make wild and ridiculous statements against world leaders.

Other major issues include President George Bush being fingered by Scooter Libby as the person who authorized the release of information that could have caused the death of a CIA agent. China is now a major influence in Latin America, because Bush is too busy fighting an illegal war in Iraq.

To be sure, the United States is a divided nation because of the war and immigration.

The right-wingers point to immigration as the most important issue of our day. They’ve forgotten about the victims of Katrina. They don’t care about the millions of American seniors unable to pay for health care and prescription drugs. They turn a blind eye to the fleecing of tax-dollars by war corporations Halliburton and Bechtel. To the GOP, the undocumented is the biggest threat to the United States.

The American people are being duped by dopes.

As Walker goes down for the count in the match up for the Governor’s house, tension begins to mound as the right-wing crusade scurries to round up a less than perfect choice as a candidate to out seat Democrat Gwen Moore for Congress.

During a segment of the Eric Von radio show, “Backstory”, produced every Thursday on WMCS 1290 AM, and of which I am a panelist, I was asked my opinion about Hispanic Chamber of Commerce chairman, Perfecto Rivera, running for Congresswoman Moore’s seat. Perfecto (Juan Bobo) Rivera running for Congress?

Not surprised by the announcement my reply to Von was frankly, “I’m not voting for him.”

Gwen Moore as a Wisconsin State Senator, where she did not even represent Latinos, did more for Latinos than the GOP and its base of supporters in the Highspanic elite could ever do.

Perfecto Rivera is the Republican’s prop dangling in front of disconcerted crowds of anti-immigration woe. No better spot comes from out of a pile of remnants than a brown face that is made to fill the void. What better way to stop a band of rivals than to dress up one of its own and put’m up on a stand.

The GOP thinking it can do damage control by providing support to Perfecto, as an attempt to reestablish itself as a friend of the Latino community, is the most elementary political action I’ve witnessed yet from the Republicans.

Really!

We’re supposed to forget HR 4437 and AB 69 and all the other anti-immigrant campaigns orchestrated by leaders of the GOP, because they’re going to support a “Hispanic” to run against an African-American?

Give me a break!

No stranger is Perfecto to costumes when it comes to dressing up to play the part of a jester. When the curtain is called his role as comic relief for the GOP seeking a political hack willing to support anti-Latino right-wing political campaigns will forever be his epithet.

Perfecto has a history of being bought for a very cheap price. Clear Channel gave him thirty pieces of silver when it gave him a thirty-minute Sunday morning radio program. Clear Channel was engaged in damage control after its employee Mark Belling lied about Latinos voting in the last election illegally, and then he slurred our community by calling us “wetbacks.”

There he was, Johnny on the spot, Perfecto hooking himself up with a radio program courtesy Clear Channel. I was never prouder of a Chicano leader than when Jesus Salas asked Perfecto to leave a community meeting once he announced his deal with Clear Channel.

The GOP political ploy is perfectly imperfect. The attempt is simplistic.

Not only will Congresswoman Gwen Moore smash this futile effort, it will be the people of the Latino community who will see this politrixs for what it is. What we see is the attempt by the GOP to make itself look good by presenting itself as a supporter of “Hispanic” candidates by backing Perfecto. The GOP will also be seen as a user of “Hispanics” to create a split within the fabric of collaboration and mutual respect between the Latino and Black people of Wisconsin.

It is a divide and conquer action rooted in the history of imperialist and racist politics.

Latinos must not be fooled by this imperfecto move. I for one will not stay silent on this traitor graphic.

County Executive Scott Walker’s decision to shoot a flare of distress was shot through the pages of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel last week. And the boys who ballyhooed a new efficient and effective government, as they drove F. Thomas Ament out of office, have yet to play any tune that would send a call to action.

In the MJS report, Walker “in unusually blunt terms,” admits Milwaukee County is in serious fiscal crisis, which could essentially force Wisconsin’s largest county government into bankruptcy.

Walker, ever the smooth talker, insists he’ll not raise local taxes, however, to remedy the problem. He wants the State of Wisconsin to come to the rescue.

Sure, Walker won’t raise taxes, but he wants the state to raise taxes to cover for his administration’s fiscal blunders. This is the same state that has stuck it to Milwaukee to cover for School Choice costs by raising Milwaukee resident’s property taxes .

The county executive says in the article, “tough decisions” have to be made, or else Milwaukee County could find itself in the same predicament as United Airlines, the airline that filed for bankruptcy, or face what officials in San Diego are facing. As reported in MJS, Walker expressed dismay about San Diego because “officials there have come under investigation during a municipal budget meltdown for allegedly not making proper financial disclosures regarding city finances…”

Let’s back up here. Walker is warning the public that his administration wants to avoid being investigated for “not making proper financial disclosures?”

Wait a minute! Where did that concern come from?

Why would the chief executive of Milwaukee County make such a statement?

Is there something we should know?

It was confirmed a few weeks ago by a source at the Wisconsin Department of Justice to me that the DOJ is investigating fiscal matters at the county government. It is also confirmed by sources at Milwaukee County that an employee who works within the county budget system has filed a formal complaint regarding the reporting of funds and the manner in which Trust Funds are being handled.

Now we have Walker alluding to the possibility that his administration is seeking to avoid having to be investigated for improper financial disclosures.

Why is this a concern?

Should the public seek an explanation as to why Walker felt he needed to inject this concern within the debate?

We know about the pension issues and the retirees and the fiscal deficits of county departments. We also know of the fiscal wreck that nearly destroyed the Milwaukee Public Museum and the cost over-runs that are now afflicting the annex. But this idea about being investigated for fiscal misrepresentation is a revelation that needs further scrutiny.

The outlook now being presented is a far cry from what Walker reported in his state of the county address.

It looks like we’re not only going to have to put coffee shops in the parks, but in every county department as well.

The Attorney General’s statement is “tentative” meaning subject to change, which means that the special meeting scheduled for Monday would be nothing more than a takeover akin to the likes seen in nations with whacked-out dictatorships.

As reported in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, even Lautenschalger’s office “…cautioned that her letter does not definitively answer whether the timing of the election now is legal.”

So this means that as of today, Holloway’s foes have nada! Because now we have a timing issue that must be cleared up.

The coup d’état can be challenged by Holloway’s lawyer, and all that the 10 supervisors seeking to oust Holloway have accomplished is to burden Milwaukee County with needless spending on legal fees.

That’s right! Money that should be allocated towards helping Milwaukee County get out of its fiscal red ink will be going to fill the wallets of trial lawyers.

And why will we taxpayers be spending this money? Because 10 supervisors believe Holloway is distracted from his duties due to his efforts to defend himself from questions regarding his business dealings with the now defunct Opportunities Industrialization Center of Greater Milwaukee.

Let’s revisit this point. Holloway faces no criminal charges. Holloway is merely responding to ethical issues raised about his ties with the Opportunities Industrialization Center of Greater Milwaukee. He is challenging some of the issues raised by the ethics board.

So, because some issues raise an eyebrow of suspicion, 10 board members have decided that due process is a luxury Holloway can practice as a supervisor, not as board chairman. Well, this logic stinks.

It stinks, because these 10 supervisors have sent a disturbing message to our society. And that message being, that just because one faces questions (without formally being charged), is reason enough to remove one from office. This is a terrible message to send into our community.

These supervisors have judged Holloway, and have ruled that he has no right to due process as board chairman. In addition, they have set a tone in the community for the private and public sector to follow. Anyone in the process of defending oneself from unjust accusations is guilty, and should therefore be removed from office, or any position they hold in the private or public sector.

Judging without cause?

This pirate-like mutiny at the county board, reminiscent of peg-legged, parrot-toting, red-bearded scoundrels, is making a mockery of the very principles and judicial values that we, as Americans should stand for and defend. How dare they refuse an American the right to defend himself from accusations?

Indeed, the question is not whether Holloway can perform his duties as chairman that we should concern ourselves with, but rather, why the county board has not acted to hold the county executive accountable for the fiscal chaos now gripping our county government.

Deficit spending is out of control, and the Milwaukee Public Museum is costing taxpayers millions of dollars, and all that these 10 of the 19 members of the county board can muster is a campaign to have a man removed from office, because of questions regarding his business ties to a defunct agency.

Are they saying that Holloway’s troubles have contributed to the county’s current fiscal calamity? Is Holloway’s chairmanship a direct cause for the deficits of the Parks department, Family Care and the Milwaukee Public Museum disaster?

Who’s calling for an investigation of Milwaukee County’s financial health? Why isn’t anyone calling for Walker to explain why the fiscal chaos at the county is now drawing the attention of the Wisconsin Department of Justice.

Chairman Holloway is a great diversion from these very real and disturbing financial questions.

Robert Miranda is a national award winning columnist, Latino community activist and Editor-in-Chief of the Milwaukee Spanish Journal. E-mail: rmiranda@wi.rr.com . Miranda’s opinions are his own and do not reflect the opinions or views of either the Editor or Publisher of Watchdog Milwaukee — but he sure writes a firey column, doesn’t he? (A trait we admire.)

In a recent article published by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, reporter Dave Umhoefer, who covers Milwaukee County government for MJS, revealed last week that Milwaukee County’s Parks Department is $2.3 million dollars in the hole. While the story labeled the deficit as “deep”, it implied that this was not really a big deficit when you look at the overall

Realizing that the directors of both the Department of Administrative Services, and the Department of Aging had been pressured by Walker’s office to conceal these problems from the County Board and the general public, county supervisors issued a warning to department heads that the County Board would consider revoking the confirmations, and thus terminating the employment of any department head who knowingly and willfully withheld knowledge of or deceived the County Board about major fiscal deficits. It appears that the troubled Family Care program in the Department of Aging may also have started the New Year with a near two million dollar deficit. This matter is one that still needs to be reviewed. (post-publication link addressing family care deficit.)

THE FIGHT TO DE-MERGE WALKER’S DPPI MESS
About a year ago, County Supervisor and Transportation Committee Chairman James White drafted legislation designed to separate the Department of Parks and Public Infrastructure—in effect he called for the disaggregating the Walker merger. Several attempts were made by supervisors to block his de-merger legislation – but White had called for an audit of the DPPI merger earlier in the year, and the County Board decided to wait for the audit results before acting on White’s proposal.

There’s nothing that indicates that Walker responded to the audit’s troubling findings, or that he initiated a corrective action plan. Supervisor White tried to get corrective action through the budget process, and tried to get it done administratively; however, his efforts met with resistance. Just last week, White demanded that research staffers draft legislation calling for corrective action and restoration of the funds. After fighting since September for accountability and corrective action on $300,000.00 of the misspent funds, Supervisor White was shocked to hear the news that the Department of Parks had actually misspent up to $2.3 million. News of the Department of Parks $2.3 million dollar deficit sent shock waves throughout the County Board last week, Friday.

GETTING TO THE BOTTOM OF THINGS
Insiders at the county say that the Journal Sentinel story was misleading. They point out that the story combined the budgets of the Parks, General Facilities, and Architecture and Engineering to come up with the $74 million figure. In fact, the Walker merger created one big department with two different divisions, a Parks Division, and a Transportation Division. The superintendents of each division had oversight of all of the sections within their divisions, but each section had their own managers.

Walker promised taxpayers that Milwaukee County’s financial accountability processes and procedures would be reformed. “Instead, it appears that Team Walker has beaten, battered, and bruised those processes and procedures to within an inch of their institutional lives,” White said. “The County’s financial accountability processes and procedures are not reformed, they are deformed.”