In October 2014, I wrote about Four Public Topics for the Fall. They seemed to be the city’s prominent public policy questions, looking ahead from 10.20.14. Those topics were (1) the 2015 City of Whitewater budget, (2) Whitewater Schools referendum, (3) UW-Whitewater’s social relations, and the (4) City of Whitewater’s waste digester proposal. Now, as…
City
Assault Awareness & Prevention, City, Crime, Law, Open Government, University
Former Coach Fader Vindicated Five Times Over
by JOHN ADAMS •
It’s been over nine months since Chancellor Richard Telfer suspended former UW-Whitewater wrestling coach Tim Fader, and later effectively fired him (Fader’s contract was not renewed). In April 2014, a woman alleged that a wrestling recruit assaulted her, and Fader has consistently said that he contacted the Whitewater Police Department about the incident, and that…
City, Local Government, State Government
The Tiny Benefit of Proposed Cuts to UW-Whitewater and the Whitewater Schools
by JOHN ADAMS •
For years, local conservative insiders (often big public spenders, always big talkers) have walked around this town like they owned all the city. Along the way, they’ve told anyone who would listen that they’re men of influence, movers and shakers, and people of particular importance. Gov. Walker has now proposed his latest biennial budget, and both…
City, Local Government, School District, University
The Power of Evaluating Simply
by JOHN ADAMS •
A woman walks into a retailer, to buy a new computer. She’s an architect, and her needs are like any capable member of that uncommon profession. Her computer should be able to manage large files and demanding software, with a few accessories she already has in mind. Those needs are specific to an architect’s work,…
City, Culture, Local Government, New Whitewater, Politics, School District, University
Whitewater’s Near Future Depends on What Year It Is Now
by JOHN ADAMS •
City, Good Ideas, Government Spending, Health, Hip & Prosperous, Planning
Arguments on Cost & Flexibility Under a Complete Streets Ordinance
by JOHN ADAMS •
There are two questions that I promised yesterday that I would take up today about the Complete Streets ordinance recently passed at Council on 1.20.15. The first is whether the draft ordinance was flexible enough, and the second about the costs of new roads or reconstruction that would include sidewalks or bike paths. I read…
Business, City, Cycling, Gov. Walker, Government Spending, Health, Hip & Prosperous, Local Government, Planning
The Common Council Session for 1.20.15: Complete Streets
by JOHN ADAMS •
I posted briefly yesterday on Tuesday’s Common Council meeting, and in that post mentioned that I would look a bit more at some of the remarks for, or against, the Complete Streets ordinance that passed Tuesday night. (I supported the ordinance.) Council discussed this issue previously, on December 16th. See, Common Council 12/16/2014. I’ve included…
City, Hip & Prosperous, Lifestyle, Local Government, Planning
The Common Council Session for 1.20.15
by JOHN ADAMS •
I’ve two quick remarks about last night’s Council session. On an appointment to the Third District seat until April, I’d say Brienne Diebolt-Brown was a solid choice. Three residents were willing to be appointed, two of whom (Ken Kienbaum, Christopher Grady) are running in the spring general election. Ms. Diebolt-Brown doesn’t plan to run in…
City
The Power of Perspective
by JOHN ADAMS •
Sometimes loving a thing – as one loves our small city – requires seeing it through the perspective of other experiences and other towns’ customs and habits. When someone touts having been in Whitewater for decades – as though that’s all that matters in the world – he does neither himself nor Whitewater the credit…
City, Cycling, Development, Economy, Good Ideas, Health, Hip & Prosperous, Planning
In Support of the Complete Streets Initiative for Whitewater
by JOHN ADAMS •
This Tuesday, January 20th at 6:30 PM, Common Council will consider a Complete Streets ordinance (item O-3) for Whitewater. A Complete Streets program simply requires planners to consider bike and pedestrian travel, for example, when either building or reconstructing streets within our city. (I listened closely to discussion of the idea at our 12.16.14 Common…
City
Whitewater Predictions for 2015
by JOHN ADAMS •
Here’s my amateur version of the late William Safire’s long-standing tradition of offering annual predictions. The list for 2015, the FW eighth-annual edition: 1. The biggest policy discussion of 2015 will be A. City of Whitewater’s scrutiny of vendors B. Campus culture and policies C. Police Department community relations D. Over debates about the direction…
City
Review: Predictions for 2014
by JOHN ADAMS •
Here’s a review of my amateur version of the late William Safire’s long-standing tradition of offering annual predictions. This was my list for 2014, the seventh-annual FW edition. Let’s see how I did: 1. In the governor’s race, Scott Walker will: A. Win the city and the state B. Lose the city but win the…
City, Culture, New Whitewater, Politics
The Absence of Equilibrium
by JOHN ADAMS •
Later this week, I’ll check to see how I did on my predictions for 2014, and make some new ones for 2015. The week of January 6th, I’ll elaborate on themes from the predictions for 2015. Here’s an observation, however, that I think describes Whitewater’s politics and culture, generally: there is an absence of equilibrium,…
City, Government Spending, Health, Waste Digesters
The Wastewater Facility Upgrades and a Digester
by JOHN ADAMS •
On Tuesday night, Common Council heard the proposed cost of wastewater upgrades ($18.7 million) and the separate possibility of large digester. Let’s be clear about what a big digester’s “solids treatment” truly is: a process of importing other cities’ unwanted manure, human excrement, and industrial filth into Whitewater. A few quick comments, as there is…