Comments for at http://www.riverwestneighborhood.org , comment 1 to 20 out of 20 comments http://www.riverwestneighborhood.org Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:23:45 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.3 http://www.riverwestneighborhood.org/component/content/64-soapbox/3659-the-milwaukee-suburb-that-arms-criminals-in-the-city.html#comment-2194 I am so damned sick and tired of all the flagrant statistical lies about Badger Guns selling firearms to criminals. I am a longtime customer of the store and have seen the FACTS first hand. Yes there have been many firearms traced back to the store but lets look at THE TRUTH behind that fact,,, Firearms are all originally purchased legally, somewhere. Milwaukee has all but run all of the handgun dealers in the city out of business. Badger is NOT IN Milwaukee, the border is the street infront of the store not down the middle of the building as the lies in this article try tto make you believe. Over the years the firearms that are legally sold by Badger are no longer under the control of Badger. Nationally over 80 to 90 percent of ALL firearms that were used to commit a crime are STOLEN prior to being used to break the law... Is Badger responsible for the commission of those thefts? Are YOU responsible if your car is stolen and used to run over an innocent child? Stop tha damed witch hunt. Stop the LIES, come on down to the store and hang out, Watch and see what happens when someone tries to make a straw purchase. The staff there are all over them like white on vanilla ice cream, the police and the feds are in the picture in a BIG WAY, high fives are flying left and right! Here is another little highly neglected fact, one of Badger's biggest groups of customers are law enforcement officers themselves. WE DO NOT WANT Badger shut down, but WE DO WANT the LIES to STOP! The villification of Badger Guns is an organized effort by anti-gun groups with the very specific agenda of preventing the American People from being able to defend themselves, and Political Figures such as Ed Flynn cater to these power groups because they guarantee their jobs. Remember Flynn has gone head to head with our State Atty General over Wisconsin's right to open carry, and has threatened to violate the rights of Wisconsin residents on this issue. He has NO business going after a business that is NOT even in HIS Jurisdiction. It's people like HIM that need to be shut down! A FED with the FACTS - Scott Wed, 10 Mar 2010 09:27:55 +0100 http://www.riverwestneighborhood.org/component/content/69-licenses/3771-tavern-license-renewal-application-for-sayleces-815-e-locust.html#comment-2176 Saylece's license renewal hearing is TODAY @ 2:45pm, City Hall Rm 301-B Please attend if you have ANY concerns or comments, positive or negative ! - MaxTech Systems Tue, 05 Jan 2010 06:04:32 +0100 http://www.riverwestneighborhood.org/component/content/56-nuisance-reports/3746-is-sayleces-a-bad-neighbor.html#comment-2175 Saylece's license renewal hearing is TODAY @ 2:45pm, City Hall Rm 301-B Please attend if you have ANY concerns or comments, positive or negative ! - MaxTech Systems Tue, 05 Jan 2010 06:01:50 +0100 http://www.riverwestneighborhood.org/component/content/56-nuisance-reports/3746-is-sayleces-a-bad-neighbor.html#comment-2037 Yeah, it means someone reported a car stolen. - Dan Knauss Fri, 11 Dec 2009 01:48:09 +0100 http://www.riverwestneighborhood.org/component/content/56-nuisance-reports/3746-is-sayleces-a-bad-neighbor.html#comment-2036 Came home tonight and saw the cops over there. Dispatch log says: 093450200 12/11/2009 02:29:16 AM 815 E LOCUST ST,MKE 5 THEFT VEHICLE Service in Progress Does that mean a car got stolen, or broken into ? Actually, it must of been stolen, 'cause 5 cars got broken into on one night back in August, and they wouldn't come out. I'll be happy to check my cameras if someone gives me a time and description. - MaxTech Systems Thu, 10 Dec 2009 19:06:03 +0100 http://www.riverwestneighborhood.org/component/content/64-soapbox/3770-pull-the-plug-on-riverwestneighborhoodorg-build-it-even-bigger.html#comment-2035 Thanks guys. Keith there is not a lot of big success in "CaaS" that has been attempted, beyond Yahoo Groups. That web+email model has been done in a specifically neighborhood focused way by http://frontporchforum.com/ and by really big, international providers for DIY social networks from http://www.bigtent.com to Ning. Google and Yahoo will morph further in that direction too. The problem is not really availability of services; it is availability and sustainability of functioning online communities that are geographically focused on a very local level and not just affinity based. Self-organizeed success tends to look like 300-600 people on a walled-garden Yahoo group that most of the potential users don't even know about and will not stumble across on the web. These are sustained by organized group(s) (social, block watch, nabe association) or sometimes 1 person who works in a basically microlocal journalistic capacity. On another level, you have "placebloggers" and their regular readers/commenters. The 1% rule applies in that the successes are 1% off the total attempts, and the contributors who make the success are 1% of the total audience or user base. So success in terms of providing not just a service with some level of "use" but actual, meaningful use is pretty rare and seems to rely on a few sustainers/curators to give it personality and perform functions like writing, editing, moderating, contextualizing, gathering. This would be needed even within what I would call an "ideal" CaaS platform now--imagine everyblock converged with Google and/or (somehow) Yahoo plus strong social media integration, so you can really look at one screen and see everything that is being said/done/reported in a particular urban geography LIVE and then zoom in on whatever you want. Even with the ideal interface, this would be just too much, especially in bigger cities. You need the blogger/columnist/critic/journalist/public reaction conversation on the side as an index to what the overall main issues are at the moment, from your "front page" to the police blotter, business page and A&E stuff. This can be done, but none of it really covers the zipcode and neighborhood level, which means a good piece of the urban lifeworld for all city residents. You can give them a bunch of data and 911/311 type reports, but what's missing is a conversation about "what it means." That's the part that's most interesting to me--what happens if you do that? How much potential is there at that point to make things better? Right now there is also a problem with basing anything around email--and in ignoring email. Email use is going down everywhere, especially non web-based email, and that can be seen in the email list subscription rates versus social media channel subscriptions here. However, it tends to be older people and also the volunteer/amateur as well as the professionally engaged community activists and "problem solvers" who use email heavily and powerfully to do their work. Their theme is "Conserve and protect." It tends to be younger and differently engaged people who use the social media channels. Their engagement and influence on the community is strong but on other levels and in other ways that are not "organized" per se. Their theme is "Live, work, and play hard in the city." There is some crossover, cooperation and cross-pollination between the groups as well as certain typical conflict areas. Both are important, but they tend to self-segregate on and offline. - Dan Knauss Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:33:32 +0100 http://www.riverwestneighborhood.org/component/content/69-licenses/3772-liquor-license-renewal-application-for-pick-n-save-1100-e-garfield.html#comment-2034 I post every license and zoning issue (as far as I am able) in or near Riverwest, simply to inform people what is going on in those committees relevant to them. On the rare occasion I add an opinion, that happens on another area of the site. Anyone can post their own articles, comments, etc. On this location, to my knowledge nobody has ever showed up in protest or complained about PicknSave's liquor license. When it was JewelOsco, I think there was a time when residents were upset the store was not complying with earlier promises to sell locally made products, but my memory is foggy on that one. The history on this store is definitely one of a significant moment for the neighborhood. Those who usually oppose new development opposed this whole brownfield being redeveloped, and the alderman supported that view, but the other members of the council said "are you nuts?!" and approved it. I can't see it myself as anything but a overwhelming net good and asset to the area in many ways. - Dan Knauss Thu, 19 Nov 2009 04:12:45 +0100 http://www.riverwestneighborhood.org/component/content/69-licenses/3772-liquor-license-renewal-application-for-pick-n-save-1100-e-garfield.html#comment-2033 I feel everyone should support the renewal of this license. It is a valuable asset to the community, providing jobs and offering a need service. It's well ran and efficent. I feel everyone should support the renewal of this license. It is a valuable asset to the community, providing jobs and offering a need service. It's well ran and efficient. I remember the debate when the store was trying to get established and how foolish and wrong the opponents turned out to be. Along with supporting this establishment, I would also encourage respondents to urge the repeal of the City ordinance which prohibited beer and wine sale after 9 PM. This ill conceived ordinance hurts small family run business and gives the City of Milwaukee a "hick town" image to visitors from more progressive communities. - Jim Klisch Thu, 19 Nov 2009 03:11:50 +0100 http://www.riverwestneighborhood.org/component/content/64-soapbox/3770-pull-the-plug-on-riverwestneighborhoodorg-build-it-even-bigger.html#comment-2032 I concur. Dan, you've done great work with little recognition or no reward, but highly appreciated by those of us who use it. A site with this many features takes a lot of time to keep up. The early success you described was achieved with a very simple web site and list-serve. Maybe that is a possible model to use if you decide to expand web offerings into other neighborhoods: CaaS or "Community as a Service." Simple sites that grow features only as the community can support them. - Keith Murphy Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:15:42 +0100 http://www.riverwestneighborhood.org/component/content/64-soapbox/3770-pull-the-plug-on-riverwestneighborhoodorg-build-it-even-bigger.html#comment-2031 You've done an incredible job. I really appreciate what you've done, and as you suggest, I hope this takes off in other communities and neighborhoods. - Nicholas Crawford Tue, 17 Nov 2009 03:32:51 +0100 http://www.riverwestneighborhood.org/component/content/56-nuisance-reports/3746-is-sayleces-a-bad-neighbor.html#comment-2030 I'm not going to type another long post, or copy the post I just made, but the new Manager of Saylece's is making an honest effort to fix the problems discussed in this thread. If you would like more details, please read the post I just made on the SeeClickFix page for this issue @ http://www.seeclickfix.com/issues/9233 In addition, if you have any concerns about the bar, feel free to contact him at the number or e-mail address he posted above. I am happy to report that he has been responsive to my communications so far. Hopefully this can turn around. - MaxTech Systems Sat, 14 Nov 2009 05:20:22 +0100 http://www.riverwestneighborhood.org/component/content/56-nuisance-reports/3746-is-sayleces-a-bad-neighbor.html#comment-2029 Travis - Thank you for posting. I will agree, that since about mid-September, when you say you took over, things have been improving. I have seen your DJ web site, and you seem to have your sh!t together. I hope you are as professional with managing this bar as you are at promoting yourself. As a neighboring business and resident, all I ask is that your employees and patrons respect the neighborhood and other people's private property. Please do not have staff or customers park in the lot across the street off the alley. Although the businesses are closed when you are open, ALL the parking spaces are still reserved for the residential tenants of the building at night, as well as any employees who may be working late. Just because a spot is open, doesn't mean someone isn't going to show up and need it. It'd be nice if we could share the lot, but it's too easy for it to get out of control - if word get's out they can get away with parking there, then eventually it's going to be a problem for the tenants. I keep track of cars - they'll get one warning and next time they'll get a ticket. If they don't learn after that, they're going to get towed. By the way, it's not just me - the owner of the building told someone at your establishment that they can't park there a LONG time ago, when you first opened. Apparently word didn't get to the right people, either that or they didn't care. I'm just enforcing it because I'm often here late and have a camera on the lot, so the responsibility has become mine. The whole odd numbered side of the street is legal parking, as well as the lot on Bremen & Locust. Once the snow comes, you really won't want people to park here - the owner plows the lot and he WON'T be giving out warnings. He'll tow people immediately ! Please try to keep the volume down. Keeping the door closed will help tremendously ! I used to DJ, so I understand how it is, but I know it can be done and still have it pumping inside. Even more important, please help keep your patrons quiet as they arrive and leave. You may not feel it's your problem if they're not in the bar, but it is. Several of your close neighbors have young children. Not only should they be able to sleep peacefully, but they shouldn't have to hear people shouting stupid, vulgar crap. Last but not least, please take a walk up and down the street after closing and pick up your patron's litter. I've found several liquor bottles and beer cans & bottles and trash that I am 95% sure came from your customers. Maybe it is, maybe it isn't, but considering you're the only bar on the block, if it becomes a big problem, the neighbors and the city are going to blame it on you either way. Also, I've worked at enough clubs and house parties to know that people often slam drinks in the car before they go in. They're not going to want an open container in the car, and they're not going to bring it in to throw it out, so it's going to end up on the street. Running a bar is hard, stressful work & requires a lot of responsibility. Much more than just being a DJ or sound guy. You seem like you're up for the job. Good luck, and remember, a little respect goes a long way. You might think I'm a d!ck. I hope not, but that's OK. Just know I'm not the only one who feels this way - I've talked to a lot of other people who don't like the way the bar has been run in the past 6 months. I'm just the one who's saying something, 'cause having a front row seat, I've seen the problems week after week since I moved here. Don't shoot the messenger. I hope you continue to turn things around and that the bar can be successful AND a good neighbor. Peace ! - MaxTech Systems Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:35:06 +0100 http://www.riverwestneighborhood.org/component/content/56-nuisance-reports/3746-is-sayleces-a-bad-neighbor.html#comment-2028 Thanks for making your presence known Travis. The reality is, people talk to other people and post stuff on the web. Aside from the litter photos posted with other complaints on SeeClickFix, some other complaints go back to march and July. See the comments here: http://onmilwaukee.com/bars/articles/sayleces.html http://accidentalwisconsinite.blogspot.com/2009/03/milwaukee-mysteries-some-solved.html - Dan Knauss Sat, 07 Nov 2009 06:50:45 +0100 http://www.riverwestneighborhood.org/component/content/56-nuisance-reports/3746-is-sayleces-a-bad-neighbor.html#comment-2027 I am now the Manager of Saylece and was the acting manager at the time and date of this post. I will say this, if you have any issues, concerns or complaints feel FREE to contact me first before attempting to attack my establishment via the web. I will be more then happy to find ways to resolve any if any issues the bar may be causing to the neighborhood. 414.736.8555 info.heathen@gmail.com - Travis Chambers Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:48:36 +0100 http://www.riverwestneighborhood.org/component/content/77-notices/3757-riverwest-special-meeting-with-mpd-district-5.html#comment-2026 I assume it's the regular monthly district meeting at the district 5 station, NW corner of MLK and Locust. Riverwest is just getting some extra thematic attention I guess. That is generous, but I hope that does not suggest to others in Brewers Hill, or Harambee, or Halyard Park, to think it is not relevant or time away from their interests. If I have the opportunity or no one beats me to it, I hope to get some discussion at this meeting of the 2200-2400 blocks from Richards to Booth, which cover 3 neighborhoods, 2 aldermanic districts and a good chunk of the problems that probably affect a much wider area. Since July this pocket has been home to a murderer who shot his one surviving victim here, a crop of foreclosures, boardups, arsons, and (the other night) shooting into a house. In May-June the action seemed to be more on the Harambee and BH side of Holton. - Dan Knauss Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:09:14 +0100 http://www.riverwestneighborhood.org/component/content/77-notices/3757-riverwest-special-meeting-with-mpd-district-5.html#comment-2025 Where is the meeting to be held? - Keith Murphy Tue, 03 Nov 2009 13:54:53 +0100 http://www.riverwestneighborhood.org/component/content/64-soapbox/3691-riverwest-time-to-wake-up.html#comment-2019 Yeah, that was my point about the long view--over 10-20+ years it looks pretty good, and real estate sale prices are at 2005 levels now--far above the averaqe in 2000. But that in itself is no cause of stability and it makes a fat, convenient target. In many cases the increasing values in the 53212 area were a consequence of speculation and bad loans, especially in the Richards to Booth area in Riverwest, Harambee and Brewers Hill which is the main source of the nearest supply of violent criminals. I'm saying the problems that exist there now--ownerless, decaying and otherwise out of control rental properties--has come with a marked increase in arson, violence, drug and (mainly wannabe) gang activity. My concern is that, if this is not checked, it's the most likely source of persistent problems in the area that residents, UWM and UWM students are going to have to address. As for the liquor licenses, yes I have been totally against giving them to thug bars (e.g. Montal's and Groovin' Inn) and crappy corner stores (e.g. Clarke Foods whose end was no surprise) that want to sell individual cans of high-octane swill. I am also against issuing new licenses and sustaining the old ones in areas that aren't appropriate. Density/saturation is a real issue because the presence of alcohol outlets of any kind predicts an increase in crime, especially violent crime. Look at the city liquor license map and compare Riverwest with other neighborhoods--see if you like the peers. Centro and Art Bar are located on broad commercial strips that are zoned for and need their presence; both are well-regarded, well-built, value-adding establishments. I never had any doubt they would be great additions. Centro also had the genius idea of taking cash only and having mainly wine. It is also primarily a genuine restaurant as opposed to the typical crappy bar startup scheme where the license applicant tries to stretch burgers or microwave pizza into being some kind of great new addition to the area. - Dan Knauss Tue, 27 Oct 2009 04:39:23 +0100 http://www.riverwestneighborhood.org/component/content/64-soapbox/3691-riverwest-time-to-wake-up.html#comment-2018 For us longtimers, 15+ years, our neighborhood has become a hundred times better. New business help, new restaurants (Centro is delicious) and even new bars (Art*Bar adds class) only help. I see a real bias in your article about alcohol, which is unfortunate for an otherwise well written piece. While most predicted that the "recession" would drive crime to a new heights, that has NOT happened. Real-estate prices going up, while making the neighborhood more stable, was regarded by some as "gentrification" that would drive out the artists, poets, and musicians. So, I guess someone always has a gripe. I believe in the ebb & flow of our neighborhood. While we all work in our own way to make this a better place to live & play- I think that our strong identity will continue to make this the best place to live in the city of Milwaukee. CrimeMap Link: http://spotcrime.com/wi/milwaukee - Captain Kaos Tue, 27 Oct 2009 02:07:01 +0100 http://www.riverwestneighborhood.org/component/content/64-soapbox/3656-chief-flynn-badger-guns-doesnt-care-a-damn-about-the-demographics-of-dead-milwaukeeans.html#comment-2016 Chief Flynn should concentrate on preventing these crimes rather than screwing around with another mans wife. What a 'DIRT BAG" - THE PLUMBER Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:37:08 +0100 http://www.riverwestneighborhood.org/component/content/71-business/3729-free-photocopying-for-any-good-cause.html#comment-2015 Whew ! I'm glad you added the part about needing repair first. When I first read the headline, I was a little worried. Yes, it's true - I am happy to donate the use of my copier to any non-profit Riverwest groups or organizations or other good causes, such as things like the reward posters recently circulated for area crimes, etc. The copier will also be available to the general public for a typical charge per copy ($0.05-$0.10 each, TBD). It's a full sized, standard B&W copier. I may also offer color laser prints too if you bring a file in on a CD or memory card. The store should finally be open in the next couple of weeks. I'm not sure when the copier will be fixed, hopefully by then, or shortly thereafter. Until then, I can still do laser prints from a file for groups if they don't have other resources available, but I'd prefer to wait for the copier to be fixed. Looking forward to serving the neighborhood with fairly priced computers, accessories and service ! (And although my focus is on Macs, Windows & Linux users won't be left out) - MaxTech Systems Wed, 21 Oct 2009 21:12:50 +0100