Thanks, very much, Whitewater, for your entries in this Pop Quiz of the Week. It’s a first-time feature, and I’m happily surprised — very much so — at the number of entries I’ve received. I’ll offer the question, then the results, along with a few remarks on some of the more unusual guesses. What possible…
City
City
League of Women Voters’ January Newsletter
by JOHN ADAMS •
Whitewater-Area League of Women Voters’ has published its January 2009 Newsletter, with a schedule of upcoming LWV events. A copy of the newsletter is available as a pdf link in this post, and as a link on my blogroll. Here are upcoming events: On February 15th, 2009 there will be an 18th Annual Susan B.…
City
Predictions for 2009
by JOHN ADAMS •
Here’s my local, amateur version, in honor of former columnist William Safire’s long-standing tradition, of offering annual predictions. The list for 2009: 1. In 2009, the University will win the following number of national sports championships: A. None B. One C. Two D. More than two 2. The land adjacent to Whitewater’s award-winning roundabout will…
City
Review — Municipal Exaggeration: Dream Towns
by JOHN ADAMS •
Here’s a post originally published in August 2008. Whitewater’s still not a dream town — the study about these supposed towns is not about Whitewater, for goodness’ sake. The real story, in the original post, below: UPDATE: A clever reader writes with insight into the data — Regarding your post about the ridiculous nature of…
City, Uncategorized
Review: Predictions for 2008
by JOHN ADAMS •
Here is my early January 2008 post with predictions for the year. How did I do? Results below the post…. Former New York Times columnist William Safire used to write an annual predictions column, with multiple choice answers to questions, each new year. Here’s my local, amateur version in honor of Safire’s efforts. My predictions…
City, Free Markets, Inbox Reader Mail
Inbox: Reader Mail from the Phantom Stranger
by JOHN ADAMS •
I received a message recently from the Phantom Stranger, whose storied career hardly need be recounted on these pages. He has been in Whitewater for a while, and dropped me a line. It’s my pleasure to hear from him. Here’s what he had to say, with my remarks thereafter in blue. Nice to see Walgreen’s…
City
Whitewater Aquatic and Fitness Center Announcement
by JOHN ADAMS •
Good morning – I received the following press release announcing promising opportunities for our Aquatic Center – with the local board of directors reassuming control on January 1st, 2009. Whitewater has every reason to be proud of the Center, and support its ongoing role in our community. Here is the full release: November 21, 2008…
City, Police
The Meyer Lawsuit: Pending Questions
by JOHN ADAMS •
Well, we in Whitewater, Wisconsin are not given to introspection. We lead by cheerleading. That’s not my view; I am happy in dissent from, and against, cheerleading. I would be ashamed to be so callow. The federal constitutional lawsuit against former investigator Meyer and the Whitewater Police Department is now settled. The world did not…
City, Police
The Meyer Lawsuit: Our Silent Press
by JOHN ADAMS •
Well, if settlement in this case represented anything good for the city, would it not have been writ large on the front page of the Whitewater Register? Settlement was a disgrace for the city, as I once wrote when it seemed possible: Larry Meyer’s career has been bad for the city, and all the king’s…
City, Police
The Meyer Lawsuit: The Intervening Event.
by JOHN ADAMS •
The constitutional lawsuit against Larry Meyer and the police department he served in our small town was filed in May 2005. It was settled, and the case closed, in September 2008. One might imagine that, during the pendency of the suit, investigator Meyer (now retired from the force), might have had a different profile. Not…
City, Police
The Meyer Lawsuit: Introduction
by JOHN ADAMS •
On May 24th, 2005, Whitewater resident Steve Cvicker filed a federal lawsuit against Whitewater Police Department investigator Larry Meyer, individually and as a member of that department, among other parties. The case closed on September 15, 2008, with a signed stipulation for dismissal, following settlement. Four years is not a long time for litigation, although…
City, Police
Police and Fire Commission — Last Meeting, 8/20/08 (Part 2)
by JOHN ADAMS •
Here is Part 2 of my post on the 8/20 PFC meeting. Freedom of Expression Resolution. In the spring, the Common Council, on a 5-2 vote, passed a resolution re-affirming rights of free expression. The resolution was reviewed, but not adopted at the August PFC meeting. The reception – but not adoption – offers insight…
City, Police, Uncategorized
Police and Fire Commission — Last Meeting, 8/20/08 (Part 1)
by JOHN ADAMS •
I’ll post now on the latest Police and Fire Commission Meeting, from August, as a prelude to a week-ending series of posts on the constitutional lawsuit against Meyer and the City of Whitewater. I will devote Saturday to that series on the lawsuit, and what it so clearly tells about our leadership and politics. (FREE…
City
League of Women Voters’ November Newsletter
by JOHN ADAMS •
Whitewater-Area League of Women Voters’ has published its November 2008 Newsletter, with a schedule of upcoming LWV events. A copy of the newsletter is available as a pdf link in this post, and as a link on my blogroll. Here are upcoming events: Date: November 20th (Thursday) Event: LWV Public Program – Election Analysis Speaker:…