Good morning, Whitewater

The week ends quietly, without to my knowledge any municipal meetings.

Yet, so much more to consider.

Our local economy, our schools, the recession as excuse and opportunity, the municipal bureaucrats endless search for press lapdogs – all before Whitewater.

Good morning, Whitewater

In the City of Whitewater today, there are no municipal, public meetings scheduled.

In our schools, there will be an all-classes diversity presentation at Whitewater High School.

In Wisconsin history on this date, the Wisconsin Historical Society reports a first, from 1861:

On this date Dr. Erastus B. Wolcott, a Milwaukee surgeon, performed the first recorded removal of a diseased kidney. [Source: History Just Ahead: A guide to Wisconsin’s Historical Markers edited by Sarah Davis McBride, p. 22.]

Good morning, Whitewater

Some scheduling conflicts are odd, and almost inexplicable. In the City of Whitewater today, there are two municipal, public meetings scheduled — at the same time. At 5:00 p.m., both the Tree Commission and the Landmarks Commission meet, separately.

At the very same hour.

I have no idea how this could happen. It’s as though someone scheduled the Super Bowl at the same time as the Presidential Inauguration. Picture-in-picture, two televisions, whatever — it’s just not a good solution to a conflict like that.

There’s simply no way something like this should happen in a micropolitan dream town.

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Good morning, Whitewater

There are two municipal, public meetings scheduled in Whitewater today. At 6:15 p.m., the Alcohol Licensing Committee will meet, and at 6:30 p.m. there will be a Common Council meeting. The agenda for the Common Council meeting is available online.

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Good morning, Whitewater

It’s a new month, ending one season literally and another figuratively. Thanks very much for making May a great month at the FREE WHITEWATER. Despite light posting in the last week of the month, May saw noticeable increases in new visitors, from the area and beyond. Welcome.

So what’s the City of Whitewater doing today? The CDA Board of Directors meets today at 4:30 p.m. at the Municipal Bulding, City Administration Building, City Hall, Whatever They’re Calling It Now. The agenda is available online, and two — count ’em two — Common Council members sit on the CDA, so you can guess that each meeting is especially productive. Hard to believe we’re not Manhattan by now.

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Good morning, Whitewater

There are no public meetings scheduled for the City of Whitewater. Still, something’s bound to happen somewhere.

In our school district, there’ll be a meeting today at 9 a.m. in both executive (closed) session and open to the public, as noted in the agenda:

Call to Order and Roll Call

Executive Session
Adjourn to Executive Session, pursuant to § 19.85(1)(e)(f), Wisconsin Statutes, to review the WEA and WESS Collective Bargaining Agreements and issues relating to possible layoffs; and§ 19.85(1)(c)(f), Wisconsin Statutes, to discuss circumstances surrounding possible student disciplinary measures.

Reconvene in Open Session at approximately 9:15 a.m.

Discuss and Act on Possible Layoffs (Possible Action Item)

3. Adjourn

Good morning, Whitewater

In Whitewater today, the Census Count Committee meets at 4 p.m. at the Municipal Building, and the Tree Commission meets at 5 p.m.

The census is only useful if it counts all residents, but then, all residents have to commit to counting all residents. Look back over the last few years of life in Whitewater, and one sees only that an accurate census of all residents will be particularly difficult. If achieved, as I hope that it will be, it will rob a dissipated faction of its conviction that the city belongs only to itself.

(As of this writing, the Census Count Committee posts no agenda on the City of Whitewater website — they should make their work open and transparent, reviewable and verifiable, not as a matter of law, but of good government beyond any provision of law. Very few activities should be more transparent than this one.)

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Good morning, Whitewater

The are no public meetings scheduled from the City of Whitewater today.

There is, however, a scheduled Listening Session with Representative Tammy Baldwin, scheduled from 3-4 p.m. today, at the Irvin Young Memorial Library, on Center Street.

In Wisconsin history on this date, the Wisconsin Historical Society reports that on this date in 1997, “sixty festival attendees were arrested at the 8th annual Weedstock Festival, a pro-marijuana event in Ferryville. [Source: Timeline Wisconsin].” When they called it Weedstock…

In our schools today, there’s a plan that concerned parents and community members have proposed, following racist graffiti found at Whitewater High School. Here’s the undertaking, in the words of those who developed the proposal, from two messages that I have received, as sent to the press, and at least one blogger:

Greetings.

On Tuesday, May 26, various student organizations will be gathering with community members to make buttons proclaiming, “STOP THE HATE.” This effort is a response to the racist threat that occurred last week at Whitewater High School.

-A student reported the racist and threatening message on the stall door of a boys’ bathroom in the science wing of the high school on Thursday, May 14, around 2:30 p.m.

-Six African-American students were identified in the threat.

A few Whitewater professors and I met with the Administration at Whitewater High School and asked if we could do something proactive to help the student body feel “empowered” through this sad and scary time. We saw this incident as one that the community also needed to act on, not just the school. We found the administration to be very open, supportive, and concerned. They were willing to do all they could to facilitate our efforts.

The professors and I had the idea to make buttons with the students. The message was shared with the student organizations and they jumped on it. The kids are enthused and much more hopeful about letting the community know that there is a STOP THE HATE message coming from THEIR school and they are not a school that tolerates hate and racism.

Please come out to Whitewater High School on Tuesday…any time from 9-3 and see the students in action. The students need the positive publicity; they need to see that their voice of peace is more powerful than the racist/fearful ones….

You are aware that there is going to be a Stop the Hate button campaign at Whitewater High School. The parents who initiated the conversation about what should happen at the high school wanted to be clear that the students themselves are making and distributing the buttons. We also wanted to be clear that the feelings and safety of the threatened families and other African American families in Whitewater is the number one priority.

Thank you.

Good morning, Whitewater

The holiday weekend begins, and there’s lots of posting ahead over the next few days — on local press coverage, the Police and Fire Commission, our local economy, and charitable and civic press releases to publish.

To set the right mood for the writing ahead, I offer two clips that encourage a positive outlook while working. I’ve posted the second before, and it’s a clever homage to the first.

Enjoy.