Between the Bars

Vote! It's important and it's easy.

Tomorrow is probably the most contentious and maybe the most important election in Wisconsin history. Make sure you get out and vote!

Polls open across Wisconsin at 7 a.m. tomorrow for the big Governor and Lt. Governor Recall Election and will close at 8 p.m. You might want to take note that the busiest times for voting are expected to be before work from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m., and then after work from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

If you don’t know where your polling location is, well, let's be honest here, finding out where to vote isn't always a cakewalk. Plus, if you're new to the city or a first-time voter, even knowing who your elected officials are can be quite the hassle.

Don't forget to vote!

Voting is underway and already there has been an impressive turnout at the polls, according to news sources.

Actually, the state Government Accountability Board predicts 50% of Wisconsin residents could turn out for today’s election. I don't know how close the board's projection will be to the actual turnout, but 2.2 million people would be a historical high.

Either way, it's evident that folks are stoked about this election, and there will be a pretty noteworthy turnout overall.

I'm not always the most enthusiastic voter, but I do practice my right and I acknowledge that this election bears more significance than most.

Why you ask?

Holiday's message is what's key

Christmas is a taboo topic lately.

Last year, an Assembly committee in Madison declared the state Capitol tree should be dubbed a Christmas tree. According to WTMJ-AM (620), the tree was a "Christmas tree" from 1916 until 1985, when it was renamed a "holiday tree." Twenty years later, it's a Christmas tree again.

Some believe it's inappropriate to revert to Christmas tree because it's offensive to non-Christians. Others argue that Christmas represents Christ and the name should reflect that.

What's the future of malls?

As Black Friday arrives, reports suggest that folks will be spending with less gusto at the mall than in past years, as they fret about tightening credit, massive layoffs and shrinking retirement funds. And with more and more people turning to online shopping for its convenience and selection, it prompts the question: Is the mall dead?

Last year was the first time in 50 years that a new indoor mall didn't open somewhere in the United States, according to Georgia Tech professor Ellen Dunham-Jones, co-author of the book "Retrofitting Suburbia," as cited in a recent Newsweek article.

Bike racks on buses offer option

We've all had those "where were you when?" moments. I was on National Ave. when I had my most recent.

The other day was the first time I witnessed one of the new bike racks secured to the front of a Milwaukee County Transit System bus.

Following a 2 1/2 -year campaign and vetoes by the Milwaukee County executive, the County Board included a Bike Rack on Buses program in the county budget. As a result, all 470 transit system buses eventually will be equipped with bike racks.

Jazz in the Park whine party

For 19 years, Milwaukee residents would duck out of work a little early, run home to grab a picnic blanket, a bagged dinner, and a bottle of something, and then they’d head to Cathedral Square for Jazz in the Park.

This was widely practiced by about 99% of all who attended; it was tradition.

This year, however, East Town changed their policy, no longer allowing that bottle of “something” to be carried into the festival. Essentially, Jazz in the Park is throwing out the tradition that made the event special. By changing their alcohol carry-in policy East Town has changed Jazz in the Park from a community event into a street festival, and while street festivals are definitely still enjoyable, it’s evident that something is lost.

Of course, people can still drink alcoholic beverages if they choose (picnic food items will still be permitted too), and, yes, there will still be music and people hanging out each Thursday night. But to many locals, this new policy devastates a beloved East Town event because it ruins the overall experience. Scores of Milwaukeeans strongly believe that carrying in your own beer or wine is what facilitated the spontaneous gatherings, random meetings, and even that sense of community that made up Jazz in the Park.

Understanding lakefront development

For years, the beaches and parks around Lake Michigan here were the victim of age, neglect and changing times.

The shoreline was filthy, smelly and used as a dumping ground for trash. Less funding for maintenance compounded the problem, and the debris washed in from the lake stayed put.

Last year, Milwaukee revamped Bradford and McKinley beaches, giving the community a new reason to hit the sand and to keep the area clean. The Bradford Beach House was given a facelift and now offers live music, events, concessions, rentals and volleyball. Vivacious crowds are breathing life into a once-desolate beach.

Smoking ban? Yes, workers' health must come first.

It is expected that legislation will be passed on Wednesday for a statewide workplace smoking ban.

Currently, there are laws that prevent smoking in offices and other such workplaces. Under the new legislation, all workplaces, including taverns, restaurants and hotels, would have to be smoke-free by July 2010.

Of course, this potential law has spurred highly charged debates. Opponents believe that a smoking ban would harm patronage to establishments such as bars and restaurants. Supporters believe that it's unfair to subject workers at these establishments to unsafe working conditions.

Milwaukee should be more receptive to art

Milwaukee has a talent for making benign art controversial. Recently, innovative ideas were presented and, unsurprisingly, almost killed on the spot.

Talk about a serious case of déjà vu.

Reminiscent of Milwaukee County's ill-fated "Blue Shirt" by Dennis Oppenheim, local policy-makers tried to put the kibosh last week on award-winning artist Janet Zweig's public art project - despite the acclaim from an advisory committee of business leaders and art experts - because, well, they just didn't like it or, rather, understand it.

I was dismayed to hear that the Common Council's Public Works Committee wasn't receptive to the project initially. I found the interactive piece exciting for its ability to engage Milwaukee in a thoughtful and playful manner, as well as for its uniqueness in the overall inventory of Milwaukee's public art.

Several aldermen considered Zweig's plan "old school," referring to the old-fashioned signs she uses to create her short animations. But her flip-sign technology isn't what's outdated; Milwaukee's perception of public art is. It's a huge problem that most of the previously proposed art for our city has been left to collect dust and that a project, which essentially already had passed, faced rejection.

That's why it's no surprise that just a few years ago, the Public Art Network used Milwaukee as a case study for how not to administer public art. It seems that Milwaukee always has struggled when it comes to approving such projects. Artists are continually forced to be sensitive to people like those who objected to the "Blue Shirt" installation, the Third Ward's highly criticized "Stratiformis" by Jin Soo Kim, the bemoaned Mark di Suvero's "The Calling" and the recent controversy over the bronze Fonz. The furor just shows that some Milwaukeeans are narrow-minded whenever it comes to art.

I'm sympathetic to the fact that we live in a truly colorful city with an unfortunate and chronic image issue. Milwaukee has long battled with preconceived notions regarding its workforce, its competitive advantages, its ability to attract and retain young talent, its openness to change and its intolerance for new ideas.

I'm convinced that the best way to combat these stereotypes is not to stamp out new ideas in both public art and otherwise, but to make smart, measured decisions while embracing the occasional risk. Undoubtedly, places besides Milwaukee have dealt with controversies surrounding art. When looking at cities with prominent works of art, it's rarely the safe and conservative pieces that are memorable. Denver's "Blue Mustang" still is not without criticism, yet the piece remains on display for the public to debate.

Public art shouldn't consist entirely of conventional statues that disappear into the landscape. That's what's so great about Zweig's project: It has the potential to make an impression for its originality and its ability to enliven downtown.

Thankfully, there's an arts community here that has a strong interest in living in a creative and vibrant city, which showed up in force at Tuesday's hearing and encouraged the Common Council's 12-2 vote in favor of the project. Green-lighting Zweig's project will go far toward convincing both outsiders and many Milwaukeeans that our city is ready to embrace a more intriguing, innovative and dynamic image.

Perhaps we've finally learned from the "Blue Shirt" debacle.

Originally published here.

Early release for state prisoners is wrong

After reading my latest editorial in today's Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, my dad told me that gangsters are going to hunt me down.

Cripes!

While that's probably unlikely, I have, however, received a handful of responses via email. Some were filled with praise while others were quite condemnatory, heavily saturated with labels of ignorance. In fact, I've already been damned by a Reverend!

With that, I sincerely apologize if my opinion offends you or any other member of the clergy...

It's no secret that Wisconsin is facing a significant fiscal crisis.

I understand that rather than tax our way out of this problem, the government needs to find creative ways to save money and spend less.

So, when faced with an economic recession, Gov. Jim Doyle developed an interesting state budget proposal. Tucked within the plan, Doyle proposed a creative yet outrageous way to save money. In addition to taxing, Doyle wants to grant early release to a large number of state prisoners.

According to his proposal, some state prisoners would be allowed to trim as much as a third of their sentence for good behavior. This means that inmates who avoid violating prison rules could earn up to one day off for every two days incarcerated. Those in prison for violent crimes such as sex offenses, murder, etc., wouldn't get time off, but presumably nonviolent drug dealers, repeat chronic drunken drivers, white-collar or public corruption offenders and others who fall into this extensive category would be eligible to have a third of their sentence cut as a cost-saving measure.

Currently, keeping more than 22,000 inmates locked up in state prisons costs Wisconsin a hefty sum of money. While Doyle's proposal would save money and reduce overcrowding, there are reasons why this measure is one of the most ridiculous suggestions for public policy I've ever heard.

There's obvious motivation for keeping offenders in prison: to teach them a lesson, to teach others a lesson and deter them from doing the same and to protect society. Now, the state government wants to pat some of these offenders on the back for behaving while imprisoned and then allow them back in our communities early.

I'm baffled.

While incarcerated, prisoners must behave. Good behavior in prison isn't something that should be rewarded. After all, shouldn't obedience be mandatory?

From my understanding, it's difficult for police to get repeat criminals into state prisons in the first place. With the exception of the most serious offenses, criminals rarely go to state prison immediately or on a first offense in Wisconsin. Generally, by the time offenders are incarcerated at the state level, they've already amassed a long rap sheet.

Who will take responsibility when one of these early-release prisoners commits another crime?

Police are trying to get a handle on crime such as drug dealing, which is destroying some communities in Milwaukee's inner city. Due to large-scale gang roundups, crackdowns in high-crime neighborhoods, partnerships with neighborhood groups and block watches and taking illegal guns off the streets, violent crime in Milwaukee was down in almost every category in 2008. But it doesn't end there. Improving our communities will take long-term commitment.

Doyle's proposal will be devastating to neighborhoods and police officers who have been working hard to get drugs and other crime out of neighborhoods.

When the government begins to put the public's safety at risk, I draw the line.

Originally published here.