On the Issues

Transit | Parks | Reform | Community | Education

Reclaim Our Transit Legacy

In 1999, the Milwaukee County Transit System was honored as America’s best mid-sized transit system. Now, the system is in disarray, having fallen victim to annual service cuts and fare increases. Between 2001 and 2007, annual ridership has decreased over 17%, service has been reduced nearly 15%, and fares have increased 33.3%. In the interim, we have seen our federally allocated capital funds, including a pool of $32 million which had been saved for transit capital and infrastructure improvements, foolishly spent down to zero on annual operating expenses while the current administration refuses to act on a permanent dedicated, non-property tax source of transit funding. Eventually, these trends will lead us to a point where public transit will no longer be a cost efficient alternative for the average rider. What is left of the transit system will be of value only to those who have no other transportation alternatives, including those members of our community who least can afford increased fares.

A stable transit system within Milwaukee County is critical to our residents and to the county’s economic development. Residents need alternative means of accessing local jobs, hospitals, educational opportunities, and other attractions. Economically speaking, the investment in the transportation infrastructure sends a strong signal urging businesses to make similar investments in the county. New businesses mean new jobs and new revenues. A 2004 study commissioned by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation found that every $1 invested in public transit in Milwaukee County returned $4.75 in economic benefits for the region. Milwaukee County needs a visionary to make a stable transit system a priority.

Transit | Parks | Reform | Community | Education

Restore The Beauty, Vitality, And Potential Of Our Parks

Parks are essential to our sense of community, physical well-being, public safety, and frankly, to our economic development as well. It is time we recognize our parks for what they are: valuable county assets. We need to restore our once-beautiful parks and undo the neglect and deterioration brought on by mismanagement and flawed vision.

Public parks are a way for families and communities throughout Milwaukee County to come together and enjoy nature in an urban setting. The quality of the public parks is linked to the culture of a strong community.

At the same time, parks are county assets and we must devote the time and resources to maintain their value. Safe, well-maintained parks set the tone for our county and encourage businesses to invest here.

Parks maintenance requires full-time skilled workers. Otherwise, we place our parks and the equipment to maintain them, at risk. County services operate most efficiently when our county employees have a vested interest in their work, which requires that we have a vested interest in them.

County government needs to be a parks champion fighting for proper funding so we can protect and maintain the value of our assets. The county should explore public-private partnerships, to foster collaboration and to ensure that our communities’ needs are served.

Transit | Parks | Reform | Community | Education

Reform the Mismanagement

On issue after issue, Scott Walker has shown that he is incapable of effectively managing important county services. From the pension scandal, shrinking budgets for county parks and transportation, to pervasive low employee morale, the residents of Milwaukee County deserve better than what they’ve received under the Walker Administration.

On January 14, 2008 the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel released a report outlining severe problems with the Milwaukee County public aid office. According to their investigation, the welfare office “can’t provide an adequate level of customer service” (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 1/14/08). The budget for income assistance programs has dropped $1.7 million – 10% – since 2002, and the public aid office fails to answer more than 90% of the calls it receives. Those seeking benefits in person wait five to seven hours.

Soon thereafter, a discouraging report by the National Institute of Corrections was made public. The report cited dangerous security breaches, along with bad management and over-crowding, at the House of Correction in Franklin and the downtown work-release center (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 1/25/08). Poor safety coupled with low employee morale spells danger for staff and the general Milwaukee County public.

Milwaukee County needs a leader who will explore and identify best practices for modernizing and streamlining its city services. Employee morale is also a critical component. County employees need to know that their time is valuable and their work is important. Productivity, efficiency, and morale go hand in hand.

Transit | Parks | Reform | Community | Education

Reinvest in Our Community

Amid our budget crisis, Milwaukee County received service cut after service cut. We need an Executive to help pull us out of the budget crisis. Lena Taylor is a successful small businesswoman with big plans for financial accountability. She has innovative solutions to make use of untapped resources, and will be an advocate to fight for access to resources that can be made available. Here are some funding avenues the Taylor administration will explore:

1. County assets. We need to assess Milwaukee County’s assets—its infrastructure, buildings, and equipment—to determine what needs and opportunities for economic growth exist. By identifying how to invest our dollars, and how we can work together, we can make our transit system, parks, buildings, and land to be developed more valuable assets for our county.

2. State, federal, and private funding. Lena Taylor will be the advocate Milwaukee County needs. Her existing relationships on the local and state level and with the Democratic Party will help her to explore and maximize available funds. A proven negotiator, while in the Senate, Lena secured millions of dollars that otherwise would not have gone to Milwaukee County.

3. Collaboration. Lena understands that collaboration—with the county’s various cities, school districts, neighboring counties, and leaders—creates savings. These entities can work together to uncover inefficiencies and identify best practices to develop savings opportunities. Together we can do better.

Transit | Parks | Reform | Community | Education

Redefine the Issues

Education should be a top priority for everyone. At the same time, our county’s employers and economic development benefit from a strong education system. The County Executive must help to unite people on the issues that will enable us to educate our children.

Lena Taylor is a role model and leader on education. In the Senate, she consistently voted for enhancements in funding for education. She has always maintained that all education systems, public or private, need to be accountable, not only to the taxpayer, but to the educational needs of students. All teachers, public or private, should have a higher education degree. All schools, public or private, need to keep records that will allow students to go to college or show they have obtained their education. And we cannot overlook that our schools are imperative to the health and well-being of our children.

Education is critical to our county as a whole, as well. County resources are wasted and services become backlogged by poor job performance and deficient job skills. It’s also important that we recognize the value of skilled trades, as these jobs are critical to our county’s operating.

For many families, choice, charter, and virtual schools are important options. Lena Taylor supported recent legislation to keep virtual schools alive after the court decision revoking their operating power. The compromise brokered on the issue will allow virtual schools to operate and ensure that all students will be taking classes from a trained, licensed teacher. This will allow parents to home school their children in a social setting of their choice, but also assures us all that children are being educated properly.

A quality education includes quality teachers and a strong, self-esteem building curriculum. Quality teachers and training prepare our students for the future and to compete in the global market.

Transit | Parks | Reform | Community | Education