Friday, June 29, 2007
Is the iPhone an iFlop in GB?
There is no one in line at the AT&T store at Bay Park Square. Is $500 too much for this area?
Monday, June 18, 2007
License? Here's a hall pass
SOMERS — A Kenosha teenager was reportedly so impaired after a car crash that she gave a sheriff’s deputy her e-mail address when asked her name and a hall pass when asked for her driver’s license, a report says.
Adilene Guajardo, 19, got a drunken-driving ticket after she crashed her car into a telephone pole early Saturday in the 7000 block of 12th Street (Highway E), a Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department report says.
When the deputy asked for Guajardo’s driver’s license, the report says she offered him a blue card, which read “Red Alert Hallway Pass.”
She said she recently graduated from high school.
Guajardo also was confused when the officer asked for her name, twice spelling out her e-mail address before giving her name.
At the hospital, the deputy reported that Guajardo asked if he was going to "ground her” and not let her go to Country Thunder. She also was concerned that the deputy might fire her from her job.
Labels: SE Wisconsin
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Wake up P-G, Chad Fradette is not abusing his power
Sometimes I wonder what is going on at the Press-Gazette. Sometimes they can be spot on, other times they miss the point big time. Today is one of those days they just don't get it.
In today's paper, they go after Green Bay Alderman and City Council President Chad Fradette.
Green Bay City Council President Chad Fradette is close to the edge of abuse of power.
He needs to step back.
Wednesday, the Green Bay Protection and Welfare Committee delayed action on renewal of liquor licenses for more than 500 bars, liquor stores and other businesses while it considers an ordinance that would require any business with a license or permit to promise to adhere to federal immigration laws.
It's unfortunate that city government is distracted from its real duties, chasing after an issue over which it has no authority and can only heap embarrassment upon the community.
It's outrageous that Fradette appears to be using this as an excuse to go after a business owner who dared to oppose his initiative.
Fradette said Wednesday he wants to scrutinize the license of Carnita Guanjuato, 1908 University Ave., because owner Maria Sandoval dared to criticize the council president's immigration proposal.
In an interview with the Press-Gazette in April, Sandoval said that, although she was a legal immigrant herself and hired no undocumented workers at her business, she would relinquish her license before agreeing to make such a promise.
So, in other words, she won't make a promise to not hire illegal workers and follow federal law and verify workers are legal to work in the United States. She is unwilling to follow a law. In my book, that is called criminal.
Fradette claims Sandoval's exercise of her First Amendment right to criticize her government made him suspicious that she might not be here legally, or that she is hiring people who don't have proper immigration papers.
Exactly. If she is here legally, and conducts hiring in a legal manner, she has nothing to worry about. Law abiding citizens don't have to worry about things like that.
That kind of remark by a government leader has a chilling effect on free speech. The next time a resident complains about garbage pickup policy or traffic delays or the city budget, will Fradette or another official use the power of their position to investigate and harrass?
No, garbage collection is a service offered to Green Bay residents, much like good roads. The city doesn't have to provide either. Verification of legal residence is a law in with people must abide by.
And his suggestion raises a host of other thorny issues: How exactly will this ordinance be enforced? Will all 500 or so licensees be investigated proactively, or will authorities only enforce the ordinance in reaction to tips or the whims of city officials, or as payback for challenging elected leaders? Who will do the investigating? The door suddenly seems open to old-fashioned cronyism and influence peddling.
We don't believe Green Bay wants to be associated with vendettas and witch hunts.
Fradette is leading city government down a path it ought not tread.
All 500 licenses should be given a proper review, not just a fast track. When you're talking alcohol, public safety its at the utmost concern. Why do you think Hip Cats was on an abatement plan? Why was there so much concern over Nick Barnett's Five Six? It is because the members of the City Council were doing their job, looking at all angles of the business.
And let's not forget that illegal imigration is a public safety concern. First, they broke a law entering the country. They either work for cash and not pay taxes, which is illegal after a certain amount, or they steal identities to work, which is also illegal.
And let's not forget about the violent criminals that cross our borders, or worse, committ crimes to innocent Americans with in this country. Our prisions are filled with them.
Chad Fradette shouldn't be criticized for looking out for legal, law-abiding residents of the City of Green Bay. That is what an alderman does.
Labels: Brown County, Liberal Hypocracy
The year was 1987. Chrysler just purchased American Motors Company. The city of Kenosha didn't know what was next. Was the big Detroit automaker going to continue operations in Kenosha, or were they going to be moved to the Motor City. Thousands of workers had no idea if they were going to be making cars, or looking for new work.
Fast forward two decades later. Same picture. This time Chrysler was being sold. Some of the same people from 1987 had to ask the same question, what's next?
Unlike the years after the AMC buyout, the new owners, the state, and electric utilities are now investing in Kenosha. How the times have changed.
Chrysler made the decision to move everything except the production of hte 4.0L "straight six" engine from Kenosha. The city didn't know what was next. It had been building cars for more than 50 years.
I remember the last smoke stack from the lakefront assembly plant come crumbling down in 1988. I remember the toxic land that sat for more than a decade untouched. Downtown Kenosha for 15 years was dead. The city had no ideas of what to do with the former lakefront site.
Now, in 2007, the next chapter of Kenosha's automotive history isn't the shutting down of the Chrysler Kenosha Engine Plant as many workers feared. Instead of looking for new jobs, like so many did in in 1987, now they will he looking for new opportunities in the expanded and rennovated Kenosha Engine Plant.
Chrysler Group (DCX) announced today it will spend $450 million to retool its Kenosha engine plant, with the aid of an additional $16.8 million in incentives from the state, city, county and private entities.
The retooled facility is expected to begin operations in January 2011, and could produce 400,000 engines at full capacity.
The investment means that Kenosha's 820-employee work force will be part of the "powertrain offensive" that the Auburn Hills, Mich., automaker says is a key component of its restructuring plan.
"This retooling investment will allow us to build an entirely new, globally competitive family of V-6 engines," said Richard Chow-Wah, Chrysler Group vice president of powertrain manufacturing.
The joint incentive package includes a $7 million loan from the state Department of Commerce, $3 million in training assistance grants, a $2 million loan from the City of Kenosha, $1 million from Kenosha County, and $3.8 million in assistance from American Transmission Co. and We Energies to upgrade electrical service to the plant.
"I am pleased the state could be a good partner with Chrysler as they retool their Kenosha plant to meet the needs of a growing economy," Gov. Jim Doyle said.
I have to give Gov. Jim Doyle credit for this Granted, I think the UAW had some influence in getting him to pony up for the millions of dollars, in return for the hit pieces paid fro by the union, and the swarms of campaign volunteers last November.
But this is good for Kenosha, no matter which way you slice it. The city won't have to redevelop a toxic factory site like 20 years ago. They won't have to TIF the entire area to pay for it. The $2 million the city paidas part of this pacakge will go a along way down the road.
It could be the best investment in Kenosha since the Spot drive in was opened.
Labels: SE Wisconsin
Friday, June 08, 2007
Has the whole world gone mad?
I turn on the 11 p.m. re-run of Hannity and Colmes and the top story is about Paris Hilton's house arrest.
I don't get it.
I really don't.
I remember the day where the top story is about politics, not dumbass sluts.
I don't get it at all.
Labels: Liberal Hypocracy
