Over at the Real Janesville™ Twitter feed, a resident of that nearby city offers observations on his city’s politics. In a tweet stream from 3.11.21, he describes the election scene in Janesville. First the feed, then a few remarks of mine on Whitewater. Advice for Janesville city council candidates: Don’t think you’re an agent for…
City
Boosterism, CDA, City, Culture, Economics, Economy, Local Government, Politics, School District, That Which Paved the Way, University
Local Politics Hasn’t Been Merely ‘Local’ for Years
by JOHN ADAMS •
Over at the Wisconsin Examiner, Henry Redman writes (with concern) that All politics is national (‘Candidates for local office are ignoring community issues, instead highlighting national culture wars’). First, Redman’s case, then a few remarks. Woodman [Kyle Woodman, a Republican running for Eau Claire’s city council] is part of a mostly conservative group of candidates…
CDA, City, Conflicts of Interest, Development, Economy, Free Markets, Law, Laws/Regulations, Local Government, Regulatory Capture
Texas (But Not Only Texas): Regulatory Capture
by JOHN ADAMS •
Regulatory capture is a simple concept: it applies when regulatory agencies become dominated by the industries or interests they are by law required to regulate. These agencies begin to act to benefit particular incumbent firms or people in the industry they are supposed to be overseeing. The concept is also sometimes called agency capture or…
City, Crime, Misconduct, Negligence, Public Relations, University
WGTD.com: UW-Whitewater Student Faces Allegations of Assault After Viral TikTok Post Overnight
by JOHN ADAMS •
WGTD.com reports that UW-Whitewater Student Faces Allegations of Assault After Viral TikTok Post Overnight: Nearly 3,000 signatures have been gathered in less than 24 hours on Change.org, a digital petition website, after an alleged overnight assault by a University of Wisconsin-Whitewater men’s basketball player left at least one woman bloodied. The petition calls for the removal of…
City, Film
Film: Tuesday, March 9th, 1 PM @ Seniors in the Park, Let Him Go
by JOHN ADAMS •
This Tuesday, March 9th at 1 PM, there will be a showing of Let Him Go @ Seniors in the Park, in the Starin Community Building: (Crime/Drama/Thriller) Rated R (Violence) 1 hour, 53 minutes (2020) A retired sheriff (Kevin Costner) and his wife (Diane Lane) learn, after the death of their son, that their grandson has been adopted…
City, Local Government, Taxes/Taxation
Whitewater Common Council Meeting, 2.18.21: 6 Points
by JOHN ADAMS •
? The Whitewater Common Council met on Thursday, 2.18.21. It will meet again tonight, 3.2.21. The recording of the meeting is embedded above. The amended agenda for the meeting is available. A few remarks, on selected items of the agenda — 1. Amended Agendas. A good rule of thumb for amendments within 72 hours of a meeting…
City, Film
Tuesday, February 23rd, 1 PM @ Seniors in the Park, 21 Bridges
by JOHN ADAMS •
? This Tuesday, February 23rd at 1 PM, there will be a showing of 21 Bridges @ Seniors in the Park, in the Starin Community Building: (Action/Police/Crime/Thriller) Rated R (Violence, language) 1 hour, 39 minutes (2019) An embattled NYPD detective (Chadwick Boseman)is thrust into a citywide manhunt for a pair of cop killers after uncovering a massive conspiracy…
City, Economy, University, UW System
The Bad Economy Isn’t Causing Good Enrollment Numbers
by JOHN ADAMS •
Catherine Rampell observes Tough economies usually push people into more education. It’s not happening this time. She writes that Usually, postsecondary enrollment increases during tough economies, as workers seek shelter from the lousy job market and invest in upgrading their skills. This can be a (small) silver lining of downturns: If displaced workers choose wisely…
City, Disinformation, Economy, Employment, Poverty
Unemployment Imagined and Real
by JOHN ADAMS •
National unemployment figures have been undercounting the true number of those unemployed. Rachel Siegel reports Fed chair: Unemployment rate was closer to 10 percent, not 6.3 percent, in January: Federal Reserve Chair Jerome H. Powell said Wednesday that the unemployment rate in January was “close to 10 percent,” significantly higher than the 6.3 percent rate…
Business, City, Coronavirus, Economy, Free Markets
Buy Local Will Change
by JOHN ADAMS •
The pandemic has made takeout and delivery more valuable than ever, not only for convenience but also for reduced exposure. In larger cities, some changes to restaurant delivery (among other services) have been building for years, and are likely to be permanent. See Heated patios, QR code menus and pop-ups: Milwaukee restaurants got innovative during…
City, Film
Tuesday, February 9th, 1 PM @ Seniors in the Park, Mulan
by JOHN ADAMS •
? This Tuesday, February 9th at 1 PM, there will be a showing of Mulan @ Seniors in the Park, in the Starin Community Building: (Drama/Adventure/Family) PG-13 1 hour, 55 minutes (2020) Mulan is a legendary folk heroine from the Chinese dynasties, AD 4th to 6th century. According to their legend, Mulan takes her aged father’s place in…
City, Government Spending, Local Government
Whitewater Common Council Meeting, 2.2.21: 5 Points
by JOHN ADAMS •
The Whitewater Common Council met last night, 2.2.21. The recording of the meeting is embedded above. The agenda for the meeting is available. A few remarks, on selected items of the agenda — 1. Term Limits. Whitewater has relaxed term limits for boards and commissions. A city that has an admitted same-ten-people problem will now allow some…
City, Film
Rescheduled: Thursday, January 28th, 1 PM @ Seniors in the Park, Seraphim Falls
by JOHN ADAMS •
This Thursday, January 28th at 1 PM (having been rescheduled from 1.26 due to expected inclement weather), there will be a showing of Seraphim Falls @ Seniors in the Park, in the Starin Community Building: (Western/Action/Thriller/Chase) Rated R (Violence, extreme action) 1 hour, 55 minutes (2007) Now for something totally different—-a two-fisted, good old Western! Five years…
CDA, City, Development, Government Spending, Local Government, Poverty, WEDC
Whitewater Common Council Meeting, 1.19.21: 6 Points
by JOHN ADAMS •
The Whitewater Common Council met last night, 1.19.21. The agenda for the meeting is available. A few remarks, on selected items of the agenda — 1. Public Works Buildings. Whitewater plans to update its public works buildings, now scattered over a multi-acre plot near Starin Road. The total estimated price is high for a small town (about…