[MCF] Groups Unite to Oppose Walker’s County Budget

Note: I serve as secretary for http://milwaukeecountyfirst.org/">Milwaukee County First, the advocacy group which is holding this press conference tomorrow morning.

Press contact: Keith R. Schmitz
info@milwaukeecountyfirst.com
(414) 963-0847

Groups Unite to Oppose Walker’s County Budget

(Milwaukee, WI) – State representatives, transit users, city council members, park
people, county board representatives, and economic analysts are holding a press
conference Monday, October 5 2009 at 11:00 am at the Milwaukee County
Courthouse Rotunda to voice their frustration with County Executive Scott Walker’s
2010 budget for the County.

State Senator Spencer Coggs stated: “The people I represent are struggling with
unemployment and low wages. Cutting the safety net for the poor and disabled
while raising bus fare is a cynical strategy.”

State Assembly Representative Fred Kessler agrees: “Scott Walker’s budget is just
campaign literature for the governor’s race. He is doing political performance art
while Milwaukee citizens grapple with real problems.”

County Board member Gerry Broderick said: “Every year Scott Walker creates an
unrealistic budget document that ignores fiscal reality. The County Board is
consistently left to balance the books so we can meet our responsibilities to the
people on Milwaukee.”

Alderman Robert Bauman also finds Walker’s budget irresponsible. According to
Bauman, the City of Milwaukee and surrounding suburbs pay the cost in police and
emergency service costs when Walker drops the ball for mental health and
addiction services.

The diverse voices gathering Monday at the County Courthouse have a single goal –
to focus the budget process on the common good of people throughout Milwaukee
County instead of the enormous political ambition on one man – County Executive
Scott Walker.

The speaker line-up is on the next page.


…more

Milwaukee County First is a registered 501(c)4 non-profit organization based in Milwaukee County.
Budget Press Conference – Page Two

Speaker line up includes:

Senator Spencer Coggs
Assembly Representatives Fred Kessler and Jon Richards
County Board Chairman Lee Holloway
County Supervisor Gerry Broderick
County Supervisor Chris Larson
Milwaukee Alderman Robert Baumann
AFSCME Rep. Dave Eisner
Transit Riders -- Peggy Schulz
IWF Fiscal Expert -- Jack Norman
Milwaukee County First – Jason Haas
Park People -- Sherie Driscoe (invited)

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Note: I serve as secretary for http://milwaukeecountyfirst.com/">Milwaukee County First, the advocacy group which held this rally in conjunction with AFSCME. The below text also comes from the Milwaukee County First web site.

There was a good turn out at the pro-Milwaukee County rally today which was held by AFSCME and Milwaukee County First.

The vast majority of rally-goers were union people, but there were also disabled and elderly people concerned about losing their services, and subsequently, their ability to live in the community.

For the most part, things were uneventful, with the exception of some heckling between CRG people and the union people.

Staff at Serb Hall had made certain requests of the rally goers, which were readily complied with. The requests were to just keep it on the sidewalk and let cars pass when they needed to. We left two out of three entrances open, and when someone wanted to use the third, the line stopped to let the vehicle(s) through.

Unfortunately, things turned ugly.

There were two men from the CRG crowd that were obviously intent on causing mischief.

One gentleman, in his late thirties or early forties, went around screaming at people, and bumping into them intentionally. One of the people he screamed at was wearing hearing aids. That person had to take the hearing aid out, because the loud yelling shorted it out, and it wouldn’t stop humming.

The other man, more advanced in age, decided to walk down the middle of the two picket lines, throwing his shoulder into anyone he could, including myself. Then he decided to station himself near the sidewalk and yell obscene things at the rally goers. When one of the AFSCME District Counsel officials told him to just go inside, things turned unnecessarily violent, as can be seen in http://www.fox6now.com/news/witi-091004-county-budget,0,4085031.story">this video from Fox6Milwaukee.

As you can see, the Walker supporter was clearly the aggressor. As the news story indicates, the police were called and responded quickly. They looked throughout the building for him, but could not find him.

If you recognize this hooligan, please call the Milwaukee Police Department at (414) 933-4444.

This group needs to address the OSHA abuses, and budget lies that are being peddled in this scandal. I'm not a Milwaukee Co. resident, but I have noticed Children's and Frodert's hospital manicured parking structure highlighting, the already neglected Milwaukee Co. hospital, a loud statement of what we think of our citizens who suffer from mental illness.

I realize that the Co. supervisors have addressed the budget lie, that moving the hospital is financial advantages. But no supervisors have stepped in to make sure the current structure is maintained....The users of this facility need access to medical care and having the hospital across the street is the best place to keep this building. I don't see anyone on your committee that represents this important Milwaukee Co. resource.

Last Fall their was a press conference that covered no assistance scott walker vs. Mayor Barrett I've got the funds to move this transportation project forward...... Milwaukee is so lucky to have the Mayor they do.

I hope your message gets heard because Milwaukee Co. can't afford to have anymore of it's govt. dismantled for financial interests of the suburbs.