I checked my email this afternoon, and found a press release from a group called Voces de la Frontera. I am not affiliated with the group, know none of its members, and have no idea what their event will be like tomorrow, with the exception of the news that’s contained in a press release that…
City
City, Development, Inbox Reader Mail
Inbox: Reader Mail — Downtown
by JOHN ADAMS •
From a reader in town: Your observations about entering Whitewater from the east or west on highway 12 focus on some true, although unpleasant, facts that suggest inadequate planning may have been a factor. Equally disturbing is the short glimpse of the UWW without a hint of the huge and sprawling Campus north of Highway…
City, Inbox Reader Mail, Press
Inbox: Reader Mail — On the Banner
by JOHN ADAMS •
From a reader who identified himself as ‘Aaron Burr’ — his remarks in black, my replies thereafter in blue. John, I couldn’t agree with you more concerning Steve Spear. If you are correct that he has applied to get his old job as municipal judge back, that is appalling. Under no circumstances should he be…
City
Who Can Stop Steve Spear? Only One Man!
by JOHN ADAMS •
Steve Spear, perpetual vulgarian, disgraced, former municipal judge, still persists in the notion that his former office belongs to him — he’s submitted an application to be appointed to the office from which he resigned in July. (That’s this July.) Perhaps you’ve seen Spear walking around town these past few weeks, plotting his comeback: Who…
City, Press
On the Whitewater Banner
by JOHN ADAMS •
I’ve written about the Whitewater Banner before, and I thought that I’d post more about that website. The Banner’s greatest strength is that it posts more Whitewater information online, more quickly, than any other website. Some newspapers post less (e.g., Daily Union, Janesville Gazette, The Week), or nothing at all (Whitewater Register). I’ve called the…
City, Police
Parsing Jim Coan’s interview with The Week on the Star Packaging Raid
by JOHN ADAMS •
Over at The Week, Mike Heine has an interview with Jim Coan, Whitewater Police Chief, about the Star Packaging Raid, and the plea of Star Packaging’s owner, Alan Petrie. I’ll leave Coan’s comments, and Heine’s text, in black, and my replies in blue, for easy distinction. Pending a sentencing hearing, a dark chapter in Whitewater’s…
City, Development, Free Markets, Inbox Reader Mail
Public Art, John Adams Replies
by JOHN ADAMS •
City
Public Art, Bill Bowen Writes
by JOHN ADAMS •
City
What if Steve Spear Returns as Municipal Judge?
by JOHN ADAMS •
Suppose Steve Spear is re-appointed municipal judge, or wins election in April 2008. What will our town do? The normal residents of Whitewater will need some way to reassure themselves that no untoward conduct will take place in the municipal judge’s chambers, or in open court. Let me offer a few suggestions. 1. The Technological…
City
Inbox: Reader Mail — Spear-o-Rama, Part 2
by JOHN ADAMS •
I received a second message recently about Steve Spear, from a reader who identified himself as “Thomas Jefferson.” (I like the name, by the way.) Thomas Jefferson relates that he’s learned that some residents and citizens of Whitewater may have sent a letter to the Common Council on behalf of Steve Spear’s re-appointment. (The Common…
City, Police
Reader Mail: Inbox — Spear-o-Rama, Part 1
by JOHN ADAMS •
I’ve received two messages recently about former municipal judge, and perpetual vulgarian, Steven Spear. The first is from a member of the Common Council. I’ll post the message in full, with my reply thereafter. (The Council member refers to my post entitled, “Spear, Coan, and Brunner.”) From a member of the Common Council: Dear “Mr.…
City, Police, Press
Coming Attractions for the Week of July 30th
by JOHN ADAMS •
We have a busy week ahead of us, with following topics on deck: Reader Mail: A letter from a member of the Common Council. Reader Mail: People who want Steve Spear’s return as municipal judge. Reader Mail: A letter from the owner of the Double Dip Deli on ‘Public Art.’ (Yes, printed in its entirety.)…
City, Police
Inflexibility as a Way of Life
by JOHN ADAMS •
Readers know that I’ve written frequently about the Star Packaging raid. The owner of Star Packaging, Alan Petrie (to whom I have no connection) faces multiple counts of supposed conspiracy to commit ‘identity theft’ for hiring Mexican workers. As I have written before, in my post entitled The Identity Theft Excuse, Petrie and the Mexican…
City, Police
Spear, Coan, and Brunner
by JOHN ADAMS •
First, Spear. Our recently-resigned municipal judge, Steven Spear, was charged in March with disorderly conduct, following a criminal investigation as recounted in The Week: Whitewater Municipal Judge Steven Spear was found guilty Wednesday of disorderly conduct, a civil violation stemming from allegations he forcibly tried to kiss a female secretary and masturbated in front of…