Friday, December 17, 2010

Rail backers to "crash" Wis. governor's inaugural

Seething over the jobs lost because of the cancellation of high-speed rail in Wisconsin, a church full of people in Milwaukee cheered calls Thursday night to “crash” Gov.-Elect Scott Walker’s inauguration on Jan. 3.

“What Scott Walker has done is despicable, is shameful,” Father Tom Mueller, an Eastern Orthodox priest, told the more than 300 people on hand. “He slams the city. He spits on the city. … He doesn’t care what we say. We have to take our message where he is.”
Father Tom Mueller


Added Marilyn Miller of the Reformation Lutheran Church: “We need to crash the party on Jan. 3.” Organizers did not specify what they meant by “crash.”

The emotional meeting was a reminder that the high speed rail issue is not just a political game. It affects real people. It could mean the difference between having a livelihood and not having one.


A long string of residents went to the microphone at New Hope Baptist Church on Milwaukee's north side and expressed dismay and anger that Walker turned down an opportunity to create thousands of jobs, which they described as badly needed. Several said they themselves were unemployed. Others spoke of the travails of living in a community with high unemployment.
Marilyn Miller

A church coalition called MICAH joined forces with labor unions and other groups to sponsor Thursday night’s event and the upcoming demonstration in Madison.


Walker had vowed to reject $810 million in federal money, mostly for building a high-speed rail system between Milwaukee and Madison.  As a consequence, the federal government took most of the money away and handed it out to rail projects in other states. Construction had begun on the project, but present Gov. Jim Doyle halted it in light of Walker’s statements.

Citing Walker’s anti-rail policies, Talgo, which makes trains, plans to move its manufacturing operations out of Milwaukee in 2012, but would leave a maintenance crew behind.

Walker’s rationale has been that, although the feds would fully cover construction, he didn’t want the the state to be saddled with up to $7.5 million a year in operating costs. The rationale makes little sense because the project itself should have generated more than enough state taxes to cover those costs.

“When you throw away $810 million, that’s a colossal mistake,” one audience member, a pastor, told the crowd.

“Who in his right mind gives away all that money?” asked a young woman.

Said another speaker,: “This man is on drugs. … That’s the only thing I can figure out. His brains are fried.”

Eddie Tipton, a bus driver said of Walker, “He doesn’t care about you or me.”

Rubin (Ben) Ciriacks carried a sign with the numbers “250,000,” the amount of jobs Walker has pledged to create in Wisconsin, and “-55,” the number of workers idled by the  halt in high speed rail construction that was already under way. During Walker’s tenure, he said, keep asking, “Where are the jobs?”

The Rev. Leonard Fuller, who works with ex-cons, noted the tough time they had finding jobs, the lack of which fuels crime.

One woman advocated “following Scott Walker everywhere he goes.”

Attendees signed up to go to the protest in Madison on Jan. 3 and to get others to go.

The sponsors of the event: Milwaukee Innercity Congregations Allied for Hope (MICAH), the Services Employees International Union, the Amalgamated Transit Union, the Milwaukee Area Labor Council, the League of Young Voters and Wisconsin Citizen Action.

Photos by Gregory Stanford

20 comments:

  1. Doyle and Barrett in office over the past five years leading Milwaukee
    to fourth poorest city in nation and most segregated city. These hypocrites
    should be crashing city hall and Madison now!

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  2. Fr. Mueller is not a priest at either of the Greek Orthodox Churches in the Milwaukee area. Is he Serbian Orthodox?

    ReplyDelete
  3. STANFORD REPLIES

    Actually, it's the Milwaukee metro area that's typically ranked at or near the top in racial segregation. That's because Milwaukee's suburbs are the whitest or almost the whitest in the nation. Milwaukee County Executive Walker is more to blame for that fact than is Milwaukee Mayor Barrett, who has no jurisdiction over the suburbs. And if you're going to blame Milwaukee'a poverty on Barrett and Gov. Doyle, I see no reason to absolve the county exec.

    The correction has been made with respect to Father Mueller. Thanks, Anonymous Reader 2, for the alert. His church, by he way, is SS. Cyril and Methodius at 30th St. and Arthur Ave. on Milwaukee's south side.

    Please pardon the awkward location of my replies. A drawback of Blogger, my service, is that it does not easily allow for replies to reader comment.

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  4. Our wishy-washy local editorial page gently chided Walker. I prefer the way the Kenosha News put it: WALKER THROWS AWAY $810 MILLION.

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  5. I disagree. Walker is one man. Doyle and Barrett failed to set the tone. No leadership was provided towards these issues by these two. Failed opportunities will be the legacy they leave behind.

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  6. STANFORD REPLIES

    I like that headline submitted by Anonymous 3, who's actually Bill Kurtz, a talented Milwaukee journalist. He says he wanted to sign his name but found it impossible to do so. If you run into that problem, feel free to leave your name in the body of your comment -- the beginning or end or wherever.

    Anonymous 4, who I believe is also Anonymous 1,
    I'm still puzzled as to why you are so ready to condemn Doyle and Barrett, but excuse Walker, who's not just one man. He's county exec, for crying out loud. He set no tone and he could have.

    ReplyDelete
  7. This economy is bigger than a couple of politicians but what Walker didn't do (accept the $$) is inexcusable. He has been trying to destroy Milwaukee Cty government for years now so he can make the excuse for privatization of all the services. We all know how well that works. Him being our governor for the next four years really makes my stomach turn. Blech!

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  8. Not excusing Walker. Walker's plan is clear. Pointing out the obvious here. Two white power browkers vying for almost a billion dollars. Both looking to spend that money among allies. Barrett/Doyle with the unions. Walker looking to shift that money towards his corporate allies. Walker said he'll stop light rail yet sought to spend the money for other Wisconsin projects I.e. Roads, bridges etc.

    Knowing the GOP was now in control of Assembly, Senate, Governor office, why not have the money move from high-speed to walker's plan? Had Doyle pushed Obama to do that, the money would be still in Wisconsin effecting job growth and economic development. Money was lost because neither side gave a damn about Wisconsin families. It was either one side gets what they want, or no one gets anything.

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  9. Mr Stanford,
    Mr. Walker can do nothing to instill a work ethic or a supportive family structure that values education into a community that has shunned these basics. As a result poverty is rampant in the city of Milwaukee. The people who should be taking the lead in this fight are the local politicians who represent these constituents and men and women of character in the community providing an emphasis to these core values. By insisting on job killing standards such as "prevailing wage" and mandated sick days as well as many other obstacles too numerous to mention, the city discourages the very jobs that could help alleviate the devastating unemployment rate crippling the city.
    Kurt W Schuller
    State Treasurer Elect

    ReplyDelete
  10. Mr Stanford....
    You are a Illegitimate Communist Progressive Soros Loving Ghoul.....
    The Train was a outright bribe that would have put us on the track of Maurice Strong, Al Gore ,. Obama Climate Exchange Company Called Fisker under Project NINA....
    Look it up ....
    Al Gore Gets 526 million dollar loan
    Let China Buy Detroit
    Fisker buys from GM liquidation Co,
    Chery and Fisker
    Fisker in Delaware
    Valmet and fisker
    Norway peace Prize committee invests in Fisker..
    Admin gives Brazil money to drill
    Admin Gives Mexico money to drill
    LOOK >>>>IT UP you yahoo.....the establishment is SELLING OUR COUNTRY ......
    and all you care about is your stupid train that would average only 30-35 MPH?????
    Destroy wetlands?
    and then Profits SPAIN in the long run????
    Even Gore said that ETHANOL was a mistake......
    I guess he isnt too worried about the Oceans rising BECAUSE HE HAS A 9 MILLION DOLLAR MASION ESTATE ON THE CALIFORNIA COAST....
    WHY DONT DO DO SOME RESEARCH AND REALIZE THAT YOU ARE BEING EITHER USED OR FUNDED BUY ELITES AND ALL THAT YOU DO IS TAINTED WITH CORRUPTION!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  11. If they were so enviormentally friendly ....
    They would have used the Money to Fix our DEEP TUNNEL.....and closed off the Gates to the Asian Carp, and gotten rid of the Ethanol Mandates that are destroying our Fresh water resources and Choking out Lakes and Streams with Fertlizer runoff

    ReplyDelete
  12. STANFORD REPLIES

    Mr. Schuller:

    You're saying of people who are angry with Walker for killing jobs that would put them to WORK: They lack a WORK ethic. Sorry. Doesn't compute.


    Anti-ghoul anonymous:

    You're hypervintilating. Try talking into a paper bag.


    Environmentally friendly anonynous:

    I get it. Cleaning up the air (by diverting travel from cars to train) doesn't count as environmentally friendly. Only cleaning up the water counts. Hmmm.


    Anti-liberal anonymous:

    You're a freak if you don't want your governor to kill jobs? Well, bring on the freaks.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Mr Ghoul.....
    Nice ad homeniem abuse.....
    You know it the Liberal elites are just as corrupt as your evil Business owners...
    I was just as critical of policies of things such as NAFTA, No Child Left Behind and Blackwater....
    The question I have for you is do you have the same courage and clarity of mind to be as critical of the current agenda??????

    ReplyDelete
  14. STANFORD REPLIES:

    Anti-ghoul anonymous: You call me all kinds of names, then you accuse ME of an ad hominem attack. You're nervy if nothing else. As for your conspiracy theory, I can't follow the links. I'm at a loss as to what Fisker, Al Gore and Mexico has to do with high-speed rail between Milwaukee and Madison. And your 30 to 35 mph assertion is preposterous.

    For some reason, you seem to want me to commit to attacking Democrats or liberals. Believe me, if a Democrat was doing what Walker did, I'd have no hesitation whatever in attacking that Democrat. Republicans right now are laying claim to the lion's share of stupid, but they don't have exclusive rights. Accordingly, in the post before this one, I was critical of the national NAACP.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Ad hominem abuse (also called personal abuse or personal attacks) usually involves insulting or belittling one's opponent in order to invalidate his or her argument.....

    "breath into a paper bag,,,you are hyperventaliating"

    Thats exactly what you did......
    I dont want you to attack anyone.......
    all Im saying is ...You need to have the same insight on the current agenda comming from the Progressives......
    When it comes to Social Justice...(the Progressives love this term)....I think it is unfair for me to risk everything that I have worked Hard for saved and made sacrifices that others havent to be Taxed into oblivion for people that are NOT willing to Make the same sacrifices, take the same risks and save through hard work and education......in the Name of "fairness"
    Hows that for Social Justice

    ReplyDelete
  16. STANFORD REPLIES:

    Don't want to keep beating this horse. But calling me an "Illegitimate Communist Progressive Soros Loving Ghoul" and "you yahoo" ARE personal attacks that divert from the issue I was talking about. And the rest of your comment doesn't seem germane either, since I was talking about people who were angry at the governor because he took away jobs that could have put them to work. These folks aren't looking for a handout. Nonetheless, I will take you at your word that you worked hard and made sacrfices to get ahead. Unfortunately, I have encountered many people who have worked hard and made sacrifices but still can't get ahead. I think the world should be fairer for such people.

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  17. FAIRER?????

    HOW ABOUT THIS ......

    If My little company misses one payment of payroll taxes and the IRS will do everything in its power including going after my personal assets.....
    yet they will waste 400 billion dollars on a rocket that will never be used????????????????????

    that's fair????????
    because Congress wouldnt pass a budget last year

    THAT WAS DUE IN MAY????????

    take your fairness and shove it

    guess who looking at the California train deal
    ........China......Im telling you its part of Project NINA



    FRESNO -- In the 19th century, laborers from China helped build railroads spanning California and linking the U.S. coasts. In the 21st century, the Chinese may be back -- not for backbreaking labor, but with financial and technological muscle.

    The People's Republic of China has more miles of track for high-speed trains than any country in the world, but California has none.

    The Chinese want in on the state's fledgling high-speed rail project. They're eager to help bankroll and build the system and, eventually, provide the trains to operate on the tracks


    well if they are to bankroll it
    WHERE IS THAT 900 MILLION GOING??????

    ReplyDelete
  18. So you gave up hey.......
    THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN SAY THAT CANNOT BE REFUTED WITH A LITTLE RESEARCH AND SOME FACTS....where is your article about the Hotel and restraunt venture that that is being blocked .....WHERE ARE YOU???????WRITING A SNIDE COMMENTARY HOW SOME STUPID A KNOB IS BLOCKING THIS BECAUSE IT IS A PRIVATE VENTURE ...
    FREE FROM MINIONS OF GRUBBY APPROVALS , BRIBES , PERMITS,
    WHERE IS YOUR COMMENTARY NOW??????HMMMM???

    ReplyDelete