Green Bay wins!
Maybe it's because of the politically charged environment in these times but something about this list got my attention. It looks to me like all five cities out of the top five all tend to vote Democrat.
On a totally unrelated note... Happy Towel Day!
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Veto! Districts aren't settled.
In answer to the question posed in my previous post, yes, the County Executive Streckenbach did veto the increase of three county board supervisors.
It'd sure be nice if the districts weren't so bent out of shape to maintain incumbents. It'd be very nice if they didn't cut up (I could be coining a term here) sub-political entities like Neighborhood Associations as much.
From here it goes to the courts and it looks like anyone is allowed to submit a map proposal. I'm learning QGIS as we speak.
It'd sure be nice if the districts weren't so bent out of shape to maintain incumbents. It'd be very nice if they didn't cut up (I could be coining a term here) sub-political entities like Neighborhood Associations as much.
From here it goes to the courts and it looks like anyone is allowed to submit a map proposal. I'm learning QGIS as we speak.
Monday, May 16, 2011
New Districts
With some drama, the county board approved new district maps. I hate it when back room deals go down but that's the way some folks get things done.
The new layout seems a mix of 29c and 29d. It moves all of the incumbents in to their own districts. And reduces the previously recommended drastic shift of district six.
Will the Executive veto? If so, my understanding is this issue would go directly to the courts.
Once the county maps are settled, then it ball goes to the local municipalities. They cut the districts up in to wards and draw their own local districts. What will the city council do? My best guess is that the city will adopt the same districts and cut them up in to four wards each thereby enabling people to continue campaigning for two jobs in the same district.
The new layout seems a mix of 29c and 29d. It moves all of the incumbents in to their own districts. And reduces the previously recommended drastic shift of district six.
Will the Executive veto? If so, my understanding is this issue would go directly to the courts.
Once the county maps are settled, then it ball goes to the local municipalities. They cut the districts up in to wards and draw their own local districts. What will the city council do? My best guess is that the city will adopt the same districts and cut them up in to four wards each thereby enabling people to continue campaigning for two jobs in the same district.
Friday, May 13, 2011
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
New District Map Recommendation
The Exec Committee recommends a map with two Alders in the same district. It's a slightly modified version of the previously proposed 29d. If you support Ned Dorff or Amy Kocha, be aware that they are the only two incumbents on the City Council or County Board in a city district (I didn't look outside) who are set up to run against one another.
A cynical person might observe that the new district three is crafted to give Bernie Ericson his own district on the council in the next election after losing to Ned in the last.
Here's a map of the old districts.
Here's the old city district map with the new districts as bold, black lines over it. You can draw your own conclusions but it seems pretty obvious to me.
While the proposed map passed Executive unanimously, the rumor mill is still buzzing about going with 26 districts. This would mean a smaller city council...
...unless the council finally breaks from this absurd tradition of duplicate districts. The jobs were split years ago. It's time to split the districts. Be it tipping fees or drug task force officers, most everyone who pays attention has seen County Supervisors lose site of what's best for Green Bay, in this case they seem to be going beyond getting lost in a larger picure to dictating the Green Bay City Council candidates.
If you care to let the board how you feel, Supervisor Andrews mentioned, "The Public Hearing on the redistricting proposals is on Tuesday, May 17th at 5:30pm, in room 200 of the Northern Building, which is located at 305 E. Walnut St."
A cynical person might observe that the new district three is crafted to give Bernie Ericson his own district on the council in the next election after losing to Ned in the last.
Here's a map of the old districts.
Here's the old city district map with the new districts as bold, black lines over it. You can draw your own conclusions but it seems pretty obvious to me.
While the proposed map passed Executive unanimously, the rumor mill is still buzzing about going with 26 districts. This would mean a smaller city council...
...unless the council finally breaks from this absurd tradition of duplicate districts. The jobs were split years ago. It's time to split the districts. Be it tipping fees or drug task force officers, most everyone who pays attention has seen County Supervisors lose site of what's best for Green Bay, in this case they seem to be going beyond getting lost in a larger picure to dictating the Green Bay City Council candidates.
If you care to let the board how you feel, Supervisor Andrews mentioned, "The Public Hearing on the redistricting proposals is on Tuesday, May 17th at 5:30pm, in room 200 of the Northern Building, which is located at 305 E. Walnut St."
Indirect Political Funding
Apples are apples.
When a union member pays dues (those do not go to politics, btw) or extra deduction to their union related political organizations, Republicans are outraged. They claim the taxpayer is funding Democrats. Total B.S. of course, it's the union member's money at that point and no longer belongs to the government.
When Democrats decline to do business with M&I or local businesses that fund Republican candidates, Republicans are also outraged. Outraged I say!
Either you can be offended by indirect funding or not. To be offended in one case but not another is hypocrisy. Sometimes both sides work harder on scoring points against one another than they do trying to get things done. That's a shame but it's also reality.
I have absolutely no objection to someone who lives in a district contributing to a candidate seeking to represent that district. Sometimes their views are not my views and that's OK. When a business directly supports a candidate who works against positions I support, they lose my business. (I'm talking to YOU shoe repair store on University Avenue and Chambers of Commerce!) It turns me off when a major shareholder or executive supports someone I don't but it's not the end of the world. Life is complex. Liberals, progressives and union minded folk are rightfully concerned about the agenda the Koch brothers are funding with profits from their business empire. What people don't think about is that same business empire has many employees who would be hurt by boycott and many of them are union employees.
When a union member pays dues (those do not go to politics, btw) or extra deduction to their union related political organizations, Republicans are outraged. They claim the taxpayer is funding Democrats. Total B.S. of course, it's the union member's money at that point and no longer belongs to the government.
When Democrats decline to do business with M&I or local businesses that fund Republican candidates, Republicans are also outraged. Outraged I say!
Either you can be offended by indirect funding or not. To be offended in one case but not another is hypocrisy. Sometimes both sides work harder on scoring points against one another than they do trying to get things done. That's a shame but it's also reality.
I have absolutely no objection to someone who lives in a district contributing to a candidate seeking to represent that district. Sometimes their views are not my views and that's OK. When a business directly supports a candidate who works against positions I support, they lose my business. (I'm talking to YOU shoe repair store on University Avenue and Chambers of Commerce!) It turns me off when a major shareholder or executive supports someone I don't but it's not the end of the world. Life is complex. Liberals, progressives and union minded folk are rightfully concerned about the agenda the Koch brothers are funding with profits from their business empire. What people don't think about is that same business empire has many employees who would be hurt by boycott and many of them are union employees.
Monday, May 2, 2011
Celebrating Assassination
While the organization he grew will go on, I'm glad that bin Laden won't issue orders to hurt anyone else anymore.
There is wisdom to be found in Proverbs. (Thanks Jodi!)
I find myself wondering who #2 on the most wanted list was and how it felt when they realized they are #1 on the list now. My thanks to everyone who went after the old #1, may the new guy prove an easier catch!
There is wisdom to be found in Proverbs. (Thanks Jodi!)
I find myself wondering who #2 on the most wanted list was and how it felt when they realized they are #1 on the list now. My thanks to everyone who went after the old #1, may the new guy prove an easier catch!
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