There’s an essay in the Washington Post, that wonders if we face America’s new culture war: Free enterprise vs. government control. Arthur Brooks, president of the American Enterprise Institute, considers the topic and concludes that we do face such a cultural clash. First, Brooks considers the irreconcilable systems of free enterprise and state control: This…
City
City
Hello, Maurices! Welcome to Whitewater, from your friend, John Adams
by JOHN ADAMS •
Hello, Maurices, and welcome to Whitewater. I’m John Adams, a blogger from Whitewater, Wisconsin, and I welcome your latest store, one of a seven-hundred store chain, to Whitewater. I am sure that your corporate leaders, and those of your multi-billion dollar parent company, Dress Barn, have made a smart decision to offer popular products to…
City, Holiday
Whitewater, Wisconsin’s 2010 Memorial Day Parade
by JOHN ADAMS •
City
The Census by Foot: Census Taker Visits
by JOHN ADAMS •
Since early May, U.S. Census takers have been visiting homes across America, as part of a Nonresponse Follow-up. They’ve probably visited quite a few homes in our area by now, and their work may continue through July (nationally, at least). I’ve written about the census before, and have a link in support of this effort…
City
In Praise of Molly Pitcher
by JOHN ADAMS •
Molly Pitcher represents one of the best known symbols in American history. I’ll not wade into consideration of whether she was a certain colonial woman (by nickname), or a composite of several. For today, it’s enough for me to consider her example of courage under fire, and her willingness to take a stand after men…
City
Whitewater’s Chronic Affliction of Favoritism
by JOHN ADAMS •
Yesterday, I posted about Whitewater local government’s unfortunate (and likely cynical) embrace of one side concerning competition between types of local businesses. See, Whitewater Local Government’s Favoritism of Some Local Businesses Over Others. This is a legitimate, private debate that Whitewater’s local government should not have embraced — this city administration over-reaches when it favors…
City, Free Markets, Planning, Politics
Whitewater Local Government’s Favoritism of Some Local Businesses Over Others
by JOHN ADAMS •
In towns across America, private businesses and groups compete for support. This is to be expected and defended in a free society. That competition for support need not — and should not — receive a preferential boost from local government. It’s only in a community where bureaucrats are confused about the limits of government that…
Charity, City
Whitewater’s Bethel House Charity Golf Event: Saturday, June 12th
by JOHN ADAMS •
On Saturday, June 12th, Whitewater will see its 13th Annual Bethel House Golf Event. I received the following letter and flyer about the event, that I am happy to post. The full letter and brochure may be viewed, downloaded, and printed through the links below. The proceeds from this fundraiser are used entirely to support…
City, Development, Free Markets, Laws/Regulations, Planning
Local Merchants and Whitewater’s Walmart, Co-Existing
by JOHN ADAMS •
I’ve contended before that many local businesses can do very well alongside Walmart, and will weather an expansion of our current Walmart, store number 1274 of that retail chain. I can safely say this, because in towns across America with Walmarts, there are other businesses, too. They co-exist. Consumers should be able to make choices…
City, Holiday, Press Release
Whitewater’s Fourth of July
by JOHN ADAMS •
I received the following press release that I am happy to post — The Whitewater Area 4th of July committee is excited to announce it has a packed line-up of activities and entertainment for the 2010 Festival held at the Cravath Lakefront Park. The festival has secured national recording artist Heidi Newfield for a Saturday…
City, Free Markets, Laws/Regulations, Planning
Whitewater’s Planning Commission Meeting: Residential Overlay Miscellany
by JOHN ADAMS •
Here’s a bit more on the proposed overlay — there are arguments that I’ve made before, but did not repeat in my 5/16/10 post about the May 10th Planning Commission meeting. The proposed overlay has a grandfather clause for existing rental properties, but that hardly solves the long-term problem of restrictions on buying and selling…
City, Law, Laws/Regulations, Planning
Whitewater’s Planning Commission Meeting from 5/10/10: Residential Overlay
by JOHN ADAMS •
At Item 10 of the May 10th Planning Commission meeting, the Planning Commission considered a residential overlay ordinance, that would place greater restrictions than there would be, for example, in a conventional R-1 zoning district. (Two or fewer unrelated persons living in the single residence, rather than three or fewer persons.) The item stated that…
City, Development, Planning
Whitewater’s Planning Commission Meeting from 5/10/10: Walmart
by JOHN ADAMS •
After a few preliminary items, Whitewater’s 5/10/10 Planning Commission meeting considered Walmart’s proposal for a significant expansion at its present location. A video recording of the meeting is available at http://blip.tv/file/3624624. The agenda with a memo from Vandewalle & Associates about the Walmart expansion is available at Planning Commission Agenda & Attached Documents. The documents…
City, Development, Planning, Press
Whitewater’s Planning Commission Meeting from 5/10/10: Overview
by JOHN ADAMS •
On May 10th, Whitewater’s Planning Commission held a meeting at 6 p.m., with principal the topics being a possible expansion of our local Walmart, and an overlay to an existing residential zoning ordinance for the Starin Park neighborhood. Recording of the meeting — Here’s the video of the meeting, which I will be using for…